As we get ready to leave this area next week, we wanted to look for Whooping Cranes one more time. These magnificent birds spend the winter in the area every year and are not usually too hard to find. They were on the verge of extinction (less than 25 birds), but due to conservation efforts, there are now over 800. They are five feet tall and are a beautiful shimmery white. Also pictured are two sandhill cranes watching the big guys take off.
This photograph taken yesterday near "The Big Tree" in Lamar, Texas. (Nikon Z5, 1/400 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, 400mm)