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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
On my latest trip to our local wetland conservation area called Frank Lake , I was hopeful that in an area such as this , that I would perhaps find some early Dragonflies. well looks like I found one , but it is in the clutches of this redwinged blackbird female , who is apparently stiff competition in my search for this years dragonflies.
judging by the way she is holding her catch , her actions , and the less than pleased demeanor of her nearby mate (see workshop) , I was standing very close to her nest , and that nest more than likely had hungry mouths in it :-) though it would be an amazing treat to see the chicks of this blackbird , I made no attempt to locate it , as likely as not it would wave required a boot full of bog water or two , but more than that , it is a conservation area , and just did not seem the right thing to do...
Frank Lake is a Ducks Unlimited Canada project , a protected wild life area that is home to 190 plant species, 194 bird species and over 16 mammal species , some of which are listed as rare species in Alberta.The wetland area has three basins and around 3,100 acres of flooded area and another 1,700 acres of managed upland habitat , this area is mainly grass land.
in 1952 record amounts of run off lead to flooding in the area ,D.U.C. built a drainage ditch to secure the lake. in 1975 a weir was built on the south side of the lake in an effort to stabilize the lake. despite efforts drought in the 80'2 saw the lake go completely dry. in 1988 D.U.C. joined forces with the municipal , provincial , and federal government as well as local industry to secure a long term water supply for the lake , a pipeline was built to divert water from the Highwood river , and a series of dikes and water control structures where installed.
Frank Lake is a wonderful , bird watchers paradise , on my last trip I was thrilled to get to see a flock of American White Pelicans , and several White faced Ibis and two Blue Herons. I got some in-flight shots of the Ibis , and the pelicans , but the heron where just to far away... hopefully I will land some pictures of a little Higher quality to share here on TN.
thanks for stopping in
regards
Art |
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I really appreciate this shot Art. I've never seen one with food in it's beak. I'll have to get to the swamp now that I see dragonflies our out here. TFS Trevor