Timing is Everything

No matter the skill or preparation, a wildlife photographer with bad timing will miss the shot. This weekend, I executed a classic example of bad timing. I spent the weekend at Bosque del Apache NWR – the desert sandhill crane mecca - in New Mexico. I was late; three weeks late to be exact. Just like in Nebraska, birders and photographers from all over the world come to Bosque del Apache to see and photograph sandhill cranes. I was hoping to do the same- but I missed the shot. Unfortunately, the “Bosque” cranes are well on their way north for the summer. Ironically, these are Greater Sandhill Cranes and do not migrate through Nebraska (we see the Lesser Sandhill Cranes near Grand Island and Kearney each spring).

In my defense, I knew the cranes likely would be gone by the time I was required to be in the area for business. Regardless, I did not want to miss an opportunity to experience this famous place. Even without the cranes, it turned out to be a very worthwhile photography experience. One of my bad habits, besides occasionally arriving late, is to become obsessed with wildlife at the exclusion of landscape opportunities. Well with cranes nowhere to be found, and other wildlife opportunities limited, I was able to focus on the beautiful desert scenery at Bosque del Apache and the surrounding areas. As it turned out, it was time well spent. Here are two representative examples of the area. Had the cranes been present, I likely would have missed these shots. The first one was taken within the Refuge and the second one was taken near the ghost town of Chloride, NM.