The sandhill crane, really all cranes are migratory birds. FYI: migratory birds are federally protected, meaning they cannot be hunted, poisoned, or anything else. Their flight and habitat through the flyways are federally protected too. There is something wrong in NM which permits hunting of sandhill and other cranes. State laws do not supersede federal law, period.
Seventeen states allow hunting of sandhill cranes. Not sure how that make something more wrong with NM than AL, AK, AZ, CO, ID, KA, KY, MN, MT, ND, SD, OK, TN, TX, UT, or WY. Rest assured, no one hunts SHC in our area.
Haha. Cranes actually do put me in mind of some kind of alien, but they’re splendid. The detail on its feathers in the closeup are amazing. The Tangle Heart tree put a song in my head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrZHPOeOxQQ
Have a great rest of the week. Hugs.
Wow! I can’t pick a favorite. I love them all! The crane is up close and personal! The contrail through the tangled heart is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Oh, and the moon… tremendous!
Thank you, Tim!
I was lucky the crane didn’t fly into me and lucky I was able to get him as he turned. I didn’t crop the photo, he was that close. BTW have you heard cranes fly? The wings squeak like leather. Thanks, Angela.
I never have had that blessing. I follow a couple of pro wildlife photographers and I know from them how rare good closeups are. Close enough to hear that is a real close encounter
Recommend keeping your mouth closed with a Crane flying that close overhead ha! The arrow through the heart shot will be a perfect shot for the upcoming holiday.
Off Center & Not Even 
That last one is my favorite.
Thanks, Liz.
You’re welcome, Tim.
The close ups are fascinating, Timothy
Thanks, Roberta.
Cranes are long-legged; in the close encounter you made them look short. Fantastic capture of the strong wing and outstretched neck in flight.
All your pictorial stories are beautiful today –
I love the heart of the branches.
Thanks, abvr.
Hope you like Timothy.
You are welcome.
I loved it.
Oh I am so very happy to hear say that. Thank you.
Just lovely. And well done on the crane shot.
Thanks, Shey. It seems like he was going to fly into us before he turned.
He thought….give the paparazzi something here
He did. Thanks, Shey.
The tangle heart tree is proving a great frame.
the THT is a super frame. Thanks, Couriers.
The first crane shop is pure abstraction….love it.
As I mentioned to Shey, it seemed like it was going to fly into us it came so close. Thanks, Janet.
Are you on the crane flyway?
We are. A lot of birds migrate up and down the Rio Grande. Thanks, Danzig.
The sandhill crane, really all cranes are migratory birds. FYI: migratory birds are federally protected, meaning they cannot be hunted, poisoned, or anything else. Their flight and habitat through the flyways are federally protected too. There is something wrong in NM which permits hunting of sandhill and other cranes. State laws do not supersede federal law, period.
Seventeen states allow hunting of sandhill cranes. Not sure how that make something more wrong with NM than AL, AK, AZ, CO, ID, KA, KY, MN, MT, ND, SD, OK, TN, TX, UT, or WY. Rest assured, no one hunts SHC in our area.
Crane trail
erased the Moon
entangled
Peace.
Perfection!
Excellent! Thanks, Marina.
Each of these has something special, Tim. That contrail is like an arrow piercing through the tangled heart. An early appearance of Sir Valentine?
I’m happy you got the away through the Tangle Heart. Valentine’s Day will be hear before we know it. Thanks, Dale.
Of course, I did. 😉 It will. In the blink of an eye!
Wow, what a shift of perspective when they are up close and personal. Gorgeous, Tim❣️
I though it was going to fly right into us. Thanks, Cindy.
Is that a new moon crane? 🙂
Seems that way. Thanks, Brad.
Haha. Cranes actually do put me in mind of some kind of alien, but they’re splendid. The detail on its feathers in the closeup are amazing. The Tangle Heart tree put a song in my head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrZHPOeOxQQ
Have a great rest of the week. Hugs.
Thanks, Teagan. Perfect song. Bon Jovi was so young in that video.
That tree is trying to grab the plane, but to no avail.
It was like an arrow through the Tangle Heart. Thanks, Geoff.
Someone wasn’t watching where they were flying and nearly ran into a photographer.
I thought it was going to fly into us. Thanks, Brad.
That would have left a mark.
For sure.
Wow! I can’t pick a favorite. I love them all! The crane is up close and personal! The contrail through the tangled heart is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Oh, and the moon… tremendous!
Thank you, Tim!
Thanks, Nancy.
I Love them all but the clear and close capture of the wing feather layout is so amazing. You are both talented and lucky!
I was lucky the crane didn’t fly into me and lucky I was able to get him as he turned. I didn’t crop the photo, he was that close. BTW have you heard cranes fly? The wings squeak like leather. Thanks, Angela.
I never have had that blessing. I follow a couple of pro wildlife photographers and I know from them how rare good closeups are. Close enough to hear that is a real close encounter
I love the title! The photos are beautiful, Tim.
Catching up after a week of storms and outages up here.
Thanks, Lavinia. Sounds awful.
It wasn’t much fun,
I can imagine.
Hahaha! Best close up!
Great Tangle-Heart! Thank you! xx
That crane about mowed us down. It was a bit of a kamikaze moment. The THT has been quite active lately. Thanks, Resa.
AH.. you’ve posted some cool shots of the THT! Hey, also daddy owl by your nest! 🤞🤞
He’s been a hootin’ up a storm standing on the edge of the nest.
Sounds promising!!!
Recommend keeping your mouth closed with a Crane flying that close overhead ha! The arrow through the heart shot will be a perfect shot for the upcoming holiday.
True on both counts. Thanks, Brian.
Enjoying those close encounters …
Thanks, Julie.
Close encounter of the crane kind and moon kind too. Idk how you get that detail on the crane’s wings or the moon’s craters
The Bazooka is a good lens. Thanks, JYP.