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An AI view, from the Nature Trail, of TGO’s controled fire wise burn yesterday. – 22 animals I think?

Dave wrote:  Hi Jim, Here are some shots of Cardinals on a snowy day here in upstate NY.  Spring is not here yet. Dave

AND NOW A THOUGHT OF MINE:

Being a photographer offers at least 5 elements of happiness – that is why I recommend photography to all seniors! 1. It helps us study the beauty of the art in what our eyes see (nature, people, & architecture). 2. Post processing gives unlimited opportunity to learn & apply the rules of art that we did not build into our photo when we snapped it. 3. Photography helps us socialize because we have a tangible product we use to trigger discussions with others (not just in person but digitally around the world via all those satellites rocketed up from Kennedy Space Center) 4. The physical demands of a photo shoot can be tailored to match our physical capabilities throughout life – even from a wheel chair if that happens. 5. Finally, if we ever verge on boredom, whip out the digital device and engage for an hour with the nature, people, & architecture of past times – boredom is gone!

Dave wrote:  Hi Jim, I haven’t sent you anything in a while. We have had an open mild winter. Not much around to shoot. We had an inch of snow overnight. Lots of birds around this morning. Robins, Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Starlings and some Rusty Blackbirds. Rusty Blackbirds are extremely endangered. I see them in the spring when they migrate through headed north. I have not seen any for the last two years. I was happy to see and shoot some this morning. Here are a few pictures.  Dave

I looked at the ferry camera on Drummond Isalnd this morning – a big snow storm was happening – Oh my – so I wondered what TGO would look like in a snow storm:

Sometimes it is fun to completely erase any line between photography and art!

It is remarkable what one can do with the iPhone camera. But I missed the shot I really wanted. This guy was being dive-bombed by a Mom and Dad small bird – I assumed they were protecting their nest. I think all the Hawk wanted to do was dry out his wing feathers

Here is a short story in comic format:

Dave wrote: Hi Jim, I haven’t sent you any pictures because we have had an open mild winter with nothing around. We got 8 inches of snow over night the first we have had in 2 months. My feeders were very active this morning. We had this immature male Sharp-shinned Hawk on one of my perches near he feeders.  He was quite cooperative and we took many pictures. Within  2 minutes of his leaving the birds were coming backto the feeders.  Dave

I want to show a Florida weather comparison – This one landed on the windsock at the Radio Controlled Airfield in Titusville last week – and I had my iPhone with me: