Thursday, 6:27 AM - ​The Barred Owls have been quite vocal in the neighborhood lately. Early this morning I could hear one as I worked on translating the Greek New Testament. It had to be close by the house to be heard so clearly from indoors. When I went out to my truck to leave for prayer meeting, I sounded my owl call four times, but it didn’t respond or come.

I had to laugh at one of the recent email posts on the neighborhood Next Door forum: “My husband saw a large winged owl or other winged predator fly over the back deck (on Tabby Lane) tonight. He heard a screetch noise and saw something flying by and looked up and saw it land on our rooftop. The shadow looked like an owl. We have noticed some of the tree frog population has gone down, and our moth and bug population is up these last few nights. I hope that thing isn't eating our other, smaller bug-eating creatures.”

Their impression of 'that thing' was like a vampire bat or predatory pterodactyl that had no right to be in our neighborhood. Luckily, the owls had some intelligent defenders post brief natural history lessons to benefit those not so familiar with nature. 

Tuesday, 8:20 AM - As I walked out behind the shelter, my attention couldn’t help but be drawn to a noisy bird circling over the Public Works building. One of the Killdeer that is normally darting around on the ground in our parking lot was flying through the air and shouting its name. Peterson's Field Guide describes its call as, "a loud, insistent kill-deeah, repeated." The other Plovers' calls are more pleasantly described as 'a plaintive whistle', 'a musical whistle', or 'a low chucking.' But not the Killdeer, which Peterson’s Field Guide gives a one-word description: 'noisy'.  

Our Killdeer was exemplifying this boisterous description, and simultaneously living up to his Latin name, Charadrius vociferous. Vociferous is from the Latin vociferari meaning "to shout, yell." If you break it down, vox means "voice", and add it to -ferre, meaning "to carry"; therefore, vociferous describes 'voices that carry'. Vociferous doesn’t just describe volume, but also intimates annoying.

​Its loud cries sounded so persistent and urgent that it seemed to be a distress call to summon help for a fallen comrade. I don’t know the real purpose behind his flight and shouts, but he certainly made it known he was in the area. Stokes’ Guide to Bird Behavior may shed light on his purpose when it says, “At other times he may do small circling-flights over the territory, giving Kideah-calls of any type to advertise his presence to females and other males in the territory.” 

​Walton County, Georgia

Tuesday, 6:32 AM - As a beautiful crescent moon hangs in the sky​, it is noticeably less humid this morning as I leave the house to go to the church to pray before work.  It is also noticeably darker. Perhaps we’ll soon be turning the corner on this very hot and humid summer? For a solid month it has seemed to be the same story each day:  high humidity and 90+ degrees resulting in pop-up thunderstorms in the evenings. (I think the weatherman plays the same recording each day on the radio!) Although it is cooler this morning, the summer is still hanging in there and it will be hot and humid each afternoon this week. 

Athens, Georgia

Wednesday, 8:54 AM - I know it is disgusting, but it is still a marvel of God’s creation to me. On my way in to work this morning I spotted this lone Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) enjoying a venison breakfast on Jim Daws Road. I drove past him, but decided to turn around and go back for a photo.  And why not?  Can’t we be amazed by even the “gross” things? 

Walton County, Georgia

​During the hot and humid summer months here in Georgia, the air conditioner in our office has been working overtime but manages to keep things quite chilly indoors. Each morning, the window on the front door of the building is fogged and dripping with condensation. ​The same happens to my camera lens as soon as I walk outside. It can be an irritatingly long wait for the lens to clear.

This morning, I sat on the edge of the pond waiting for the condensation to clear from my lens to grab a shot of a nearby egret. But instead of impatiently wiping the lens, which usually doesn’t work, I used the fog as a filter to open a new world upon the wildflowers.  

Although I’ve never taken the time to try, I’ve read articles about creative lens filter techniques. From spraying water droplets on the lens, to taping yard or fishing line in front of it, anything can serve as a filter. You could even try smearing some oily ointment on the lens… but I recommend putting on a cheap UV filter first! You can even breathe on your lens to get the same foggy effect created by my rapid move from air conditioning to humid air.
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Be creative. If it doesn’t work, who cares! The filters are free and the delete button works magic! ​

Tuesday, 9:17 AM - I am constantly looking for wildlife to photograph. My camera accompanies me everywhere: on hikes, walks, and even at the ready in the passenger seat of my vehicle each day. But how often, because I am always looking for wildlife, do I fail to see other wonders of creation around me?  

Animals are unpredictable; I never know when I’ll capture (or miss) a great shot. But the majority of the time, nothing is encountered when I’m out looking for wildlife. Like the deer hunter who trudged into the woods at 4 AM only to come home without ever firing a shot, the wildlife photographer can also feel frustration spending hours in the field without a single photograph to show for it.

This morning was no different as far as the wildlife was concerned: I didn’t find anything I was looking for. But, something was different this morning. I didn’t find that for which I was looking; but I saw. I saw different subjects; equally beautiful subjects.

I’m not a bug or flower photographer. I’ve walked past wildflowers on many occasions without notice. That’s not what I’m looking for. But this time, they caught my attention. Rather than looking, I saw; and some beautiful images were captured.
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So instead of going out looking for something in particular, I’ll go out and see what is there. Let the beauty come to me. Stop looking and see! ​

​The religious leaders of Jesus’ day failed to see their Savior because they were looking for something else. They eagerly anticipated a leader that would bring political independence and freedom from Rome’s oppression. They were looking for a Messiah with a scepter; and therefore they failed to see a servant-messiah ‘meek and lowly in heart’ (a self-description of Jesus, Matthew 11:29).  
 
Looking is active; we usually only find that which we seek. Seeing is passive; we are brought to discover what we would normally miss because of our biased expectations. When we look with preconceived expectations, we fail to see. How many have failed to see Jesus because they were looking for something else? The evidence for our Creator and Savior is everywhere. Can you see it? Or are you looking for something else?  

Monday, 3:15 PM - When days here at the shelter get this stressful (21 dogs impounded in the last 3 days) I can get to the point where I want to snap, or at least get snappy with everybody.  It is not easy to balance out a shelter, avoid euthanasia, coordinate adoptions and rescues, and still take Facebook flack for the dogs that don't make it out alive because nobody was interested.  I survive, relieve my stress, and relax by taking walk breaks up to the ponds and woods behind the shelter.  

​How many photos can I take of plain old ordinary Canada Geese? Well, this bunch that came in for the afternoon on Monday looked so calm and relaxed (as compared to my upset disposition) as they preened and rested that it warranted a photo. Relaxation therapy for a stressed animal shelter director! 

​Walton County, Georgia

Monday, 3:23 PM - The vernal pool that connects the upper pond with the swampy area behind the firing range has gotten quite low because of the lack of rain. (Once again, Georgia is under a drought notice.) The shallow water covered in green scum and slime bubbles, the buzz of cicadas and mosquitos, and  the stifling humidity give the pond a bog-like atmosphere. One little turtle with slime clinging to his shell decided to climb out of the muck and sun himself on a deeply textured brown driftwood log.

Instead of simply taking a pretty picture and confirming what I already know, I decided to do a little research and learn something new about this “green scum”.  Duckweed (Lemna spp.)  is considered one of the smallest flowing plants, although their tiny white flowers are seldom seen. A closer look at the “muck” revealed it isn’t gross or slimy at all; it is a tiny clover-like leaf called a thallus. It is very high in protein and therefore a favorite food of waterfowl, especially surface-feeding ducks such as mallards, teals, and wood ducks (a few of which I’ve photographed in this very pond). There have even been some efforts to “farm” duckweed for human consumption.

​[i] 1 Kings 4:33
[ii] https://www.quora.com/How-did-the-kingfisher-bird-get-its-name
[iii] Matthew 4:19
[iv] Luke 5:4
[v] John 21:6
[vi] https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Belted_Kingfisher/id
[vii] 2 Corinthians 4:3
[viii] Acts 5:29

I’ve been hunting a big snapping turtle to use during upcoming classroom presentations. So this was my lucky day!  ​This morning before work, right in the middle of the gravel road between the ponds behind the shelter was a fairly big one! His carapace was 9.5 inches front to back. I carried him back to my office, which was no small task. Have you ever held up a 5.5 pound snapper while he consistently tried to kick, bite and scratch his way out of your hands? The kids are going to love this one! 
Walton County, Georgia 

​UPDATE AUGUST 15, 2016 – What a hit!  Boy did this feisty guy make an impression on the kids and hammer the point home of how powerful and destructive our untamed tongues can be. 

​Although he remained his grumpy self and didn’t show it outwardly, I’m sure he was quite happy the next morning to be released back into the pond near where he was found. 

I went back up to the small, secluded pond further back from the shelter this morning. This time I approached a bit more cautiously and with my camera settings already adjusted. I was hoping to get a better photo and identify the ducks that I have flushed out twice in the last week.  Sure enough, as I rounded past some trees, they took flight again; but only 2 birds this time.  I remained calm and fired away as they went overhead. Looks like I have an ID:  Wood Ducks! In February 2014 I managed to get a decent shot of a pair of Wood Ducks on this same pond. 
​Walton County, Georgia​

UPDATE 8/4/16 ​Over the next few days I’ve gone up to the pond each morning and occasional afternoons. Although I am quite far away, as soon as I come into these ducks’ view from the far end of the pond, they immediately blast off from the water.  None of the photos have been of any quality, but have allowed me to count their numbers. There are three drakes and at least seven hens. Perhaps they will stick around this winter. 

I’ve been walking up to the wetlands near the sheriff's firing range each morning looking for a big snapping turtle to use in an upcoming class presentation. This morning, as I came past some tall reeds, I was startled by, and in turn I startled, a pair of Green Herons (Butorides virescens). I can’t be sure if these are the exact same birds, but I have spotted Greens before on this pond.

After they flew off, I walked about 30 more feet and startled a Great Blue Heron that took to the sky with repeated, guttural croaks. It was too fast, and my shutter speed too slow, to get a good photo. As I crossed up to the back pond, several ducks took flight as well.  I guess I surprised all of these beautiful birds as they were searching for a quiet morning snack.
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​Walton County, Georgia

​Each year we’ve had a pair or two of Canada Geese raise their young on the pond behind the animal shelter.  However, this year there is only one pair, and they have only one gosling.  I suppose the other eggs became breakfast for a marauding raccoon while still in the nest.  Each morning I try to start the day with a quick walk around the pond. Mom and dad stay quite close to their now nearly grown gosling, but stay within close enough distance for good photography. I bet they have previously been on a pond where they are used to free handouts from humans. 
Walton County, Georgia

​It absolutely amazes me how a tiny bird weighing less than a penny can fly across the Americas each fall and always find its way precisely back to my backyard feeder. As I hadn’t seen “Myrtle” appear in May this year, I was getting worried.  My daughter named her Myrtle last year because she would sit in the Crepe Myrtle tree next to the feeder and aggressively defend it from any other hummingbirds that tried to get a drink.  

This year, they finally showed up in June, and we’ve been treated to aerial battles of up to four hummingbirds at a time! I’ve only a few times seen a bright throated male attempt to brave her defenses for a drink.  According to allaboutbirds.com, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird flaps its wings about 53 times per second! 
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​Athens-Clarke County, Georgia