Seems that Crex Meadows is slowing down and yesterday afternoon on Trade River south east of Fish Lake there was a Whooping Crane with the sandhill cranes, long way off so not great photography but just seeing was good enough for me. We drove north back to Crex Meadows and went to Phantom Lake to Main Dyke Road and back to East Refuge Road and there was only one doe whitetail deer, not a bird in sight as all the water is frozen and the birds need a lot of water. The weather has been very cold earlier than last year the birds did not leave until Thanksgiving evening, most of the birds are now gone with only a few remaining near Trade River where the water is flowing and not frozen. I was busy painting for Mason Getts this fall so, I did not have time to see many birds in this year’s migration and going into winter I do not have as many wonderful field memories either, since I was painting for others in October, so both my prime fall months September and October were taken up with human needs not wildlife needs.  As I reflect on this I have a varied feel for what has just passed, meaning this takes a lot longer to understand just what has unfolded does not come right away and I need a long time to understand the true meaning. It is like my art I have images taken over a year ago before I pick them up and work, why does it take so long, I am not sure but happens this way all the time. I process things very slowly and if this happens to others you can see this delayed reaction is a part of being human, only God can see immediately how or why the meaning of something, not we humans.

I loved this bald eagle sitting on an almost vertical tree trunk right next to her eaglet in the nest which you can not see, but this year she did not use this nest and so another nest went by the wayside and whether a new eagle family will pick it’s use is hard to say, but I think not because of being close to the road. In 2012 that was a gift in the making to show us her family and  that time has passed. Things are constantly changing and that is all you can really expect is the essence of change, myself I prefer a slower, easier time for all, and forget the change, when the majority of the change is man made usually is, does not mean good all the time. I do not think God prefers to see his humans in so much pain and suffering yet that is what is happening today, everywhere, and no where is without the pain and suffering and no window dressing can make otherwise. Back to the basics today and I have not watched the news or tv much this year and I am slowing that way down and not giving any time to man’s chaos and problems, and prayer for me is the only answer to speak to God by the moment as I paint and pray for his kingdom come here on earth as It is in heaven.

Have a great day, and enjoy, w peace and love.

Jimmy Springett-wildlife painter