Get Out Of the Car

Photography

Sep 28

Crex Meadows is a large, 30,000-acre wildlife refuge in northern Wisconsin. Most of it is marshes and small ponds. A network of dirt roads snakes through the area. At this time of year, when sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, Canada geese, and other waterfowl stop on their way south, the area attracts birdwatchers and photographers who slowly drive by the spots where the migratory birds congregate.

However—and this surprises me—they never get out of their cars and rarely even stop their cars. I don’t know why because Crex Meadows is a fine place to walk. There aren’t many hiking trails, but the roads are soft and easygoing, and some of the lesser roads, like rough two-tracks, are rarely driven. They are great for walking. I was first attracted to the area when I saw that in the winter the roads are kept clear of snow. Vehicles are rare because there is not much to see except flat expanses of snow and ice. So I’m mystified: why don’t people at least get out of their cars? I’ve been visiting the area for a decade and only encountered a few walkers. Most of them were walking their dogs.

The photos below are of yellowlegs. It’s difficult to tell the difference between greater yellowlegs and lesser yellowlegs. I’m not going to try. I can say that they are definitely one of the two types of yellowlegs.

I was able to get these shots only by getting out of my car a couple hundred yards from where I thought these birds might be. I approached the spot carefully and as quietly as possible, a bit challenging on a crunchy gravel road. I was wearing camo and a dull-colored hat. I got to the spot and found a place to sit only ten or twenty yards from the birds. They never gave any indication that they knew I was present. I happily clicked away, and when I got home, I had about 2500 images. The ones below are the best. I could not have gotten them without getting out of my car and walking.