Kip’s Comments - April 10, 2026 — LadagePhotography.com

A Good Story and A Sad Story

A Good Story - (I can’t make this stuff up!) Last night I was notified that a very young great horned owl had fallen out of its nest 30’-40’ feet in the air. I had previously photographed this active young bird in the nest. After consulting with my wildlife rehabilitation expert, it was decided the best response would be to attempt to place the owlet on a branch and hope the adult bird would take care of its youngster. With a plan I headed toward the downed little owl in the rain.

Enroute to the owl on the ground I noticed a car pulled over on a gravel road with the driver down in the ditch. The EMT in me promptly kicked in and I turned around to make sure the driver was OK. Imagine my surprise when the driver recognized me, called me by name, and explained she was catching 3 roosters that had been dumped in the ditch (an irritation for both of us). In just seconds the two of us were down in the ditch attempting to herd the chickens toward me with an almost too small net.

Partial success came quickly. But, the third rooster had no intentions of being scooped up in a net. There we were, the two of us chasing this little chicken in a muddy field of corn stubble with the bird always five feet ahead of either of us. Eventually we did manage to gather all the birds that were rehomed at my friend’s acreage. My chicken catching friend seemed fine and thrilled with our success. I was thankful we netted the birds and even more thankful neither of us tumbled in the mud and that I did not have a heart attack during the chase.

After the soggy chicken chase I then drove to where the downed great horned owl was hiding against a woven wire fence. The young bird was easy to capture and was relocated high in a tree. We were concerned about the rain, but this is what wildlife endures day after day. As of this morning the owlet had climbed high in the tree. Parental care has been observed.

Hopefully this will be the end of our involvement and the young owl will soon have feathers capable of supporting flight.

A Sad Story - Within the past few days a friend notified me of a dead trumpeter swan at a boat ramp at Sweet Marsh. Today I was finally able to check out this report and as was described, there was a dead adult trumpeter swan at the boat ramp. Based on where the swan was laying and the vegetation, it appeared possible the swan floated to the ramp from further out at Sweet Marsh.

I was not able to identify a cause or manner of death. Was the loss from lead poisoning, Avian influenza, some other illness, and unseen injury, or just a natural death due to age? We will never know. After notifying a conservation officer I moved the dead swan to a location away from public view.

Raindrops on Trumpeter Swan Feather - Image 1085131

Raindrops on Trumpeter Swan Feather - Image 1085247

Raindrops on Trumpeter Swan Feather - Image 1085286

Kip’s Comments - April 10, 2026

Home

Fine Art Prints

Galleries

Kip’s Comments - April 10, 2026

Kip’s Comments - April 9, 2026

Home

Fine Art Prints

Galleries