 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalms 92:5-6 O LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.  Canada Goose charging through water for bread handout on a small pond in rural Georgia Waiting for the 5 o’clock bell to charge home, I wandered up to the pond to pass the last 30 minutes of the work day. All of a sudden, the charge was on! All of the Mallards came flying at me thinking I had food… even the Canada Geese came steaming through the water right to me. I guess I’m getting a little better at the quick focusing for the flight shots, although my shutter speed was too low. I couldn’t resist some close up Canada Goose shots as they have become quite used to human handouts. Walton County, Georgia       Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on blue pond in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose portrait on in Walton County Monroe Georgia  Canada Goose Drinking portrait
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 Stopped along Olympic Drive on my way to morning prayer meeting and got this shot for the website I maintain for my church, Victory Chapel. Our Fellowship emphasis is all about evangelism, discipleship and church planting. An essential part of discipleship is morning prayer. Our building is open every weekday morning from 6 to 8 AM. Morning prayer each morning before work is a regular habit I’ve maintained for 21 years and has kept me saved and sane.
Athens, Georgia  Creation Speaks is a Biblical teaching ministry that uses nature writing and photography to glorify our Creator and teach the truth of creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9  Teaching my first Creation Speaks lesson using the Canada Goose as the illustration. We had a great time. The kids were fascinated as I pulled down the curtain that covered the Goose and it turned into a 15 minute Q&A session. But moving on to the point, it hit home that we, as Christians, have a responsibility to help lead others to Christ. My hope is that anytime they see a Goose flying overhead or sitting in a pasture, they remember to tell someone about Jesus! See the article here.
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalms 84:3 (ESV) Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird feeding young at nest box I love my patio. I love having a free Saturday morning to enjoy it. While sitting for breakfast I caught a quick streak flyby out of the corner of my eye. “Myrtle” the hummingbird is back! I had put out the feeder anticipating their return, but it had gotten so late in the spring, and the other birds already so active for several weeks, I thought the hummers may not return. The next morning, while enjoying my Sunday cup of coffee, I again heard that familiar whirrrrrr of wings and saw the brilliant red of the male Ruby-throat. He checked out the feeder but immediately buzzed off after sensing my presence.  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird feeding young at nest box The Eastern Bluebirds have been quite active and occupy each box I put in the back last summer. One pair diligently brought grubs and bugs to their young, making repeated flights in close succession. They were so committed to providing for their young that I was able to slowly move in close between their grub runs to get some good photos. Nearby squabbling around the feeders and pine tree were three Jays. One Jay sat squawking in the pine while another brought grubs up to it; another diligent mother caring for her child. She would then dart after a third Jay to run him off. Next, a pair of bright yellow Goldfinches grabbed my attention at the feeder. I was also distracted by the loud rapping of a woodpecker hammering on the trim of the house across the street. Quite an active avian morning! Even a burgundy dipped House Finch paused long enough and close enough for a good “Life List” photo. Athens-Clarke County, Georgia  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird catching grubs sitting on rustic fence in Athens Georgia  Backyard birding Eastern Bluebird feeding young at nest box "God, I had a great time with the Cub Scouts. I love teaching, no matter the capacity. But I’d much rather teach Biblical/spiritual truths. Please anoint the children’s church Creation Speaks lesson tomorrow. My excitement has been building. Make it exciting and profitable for the kids. Help me get the raccoon, skunk and other mounts I want. Let this grow into a ministry!"
God, I want to make this a ministry. “Creation Speaks”. And not just children’s church, but outreaches, renting pavilions at parks. I want to have mounts, live snakes, turtles… I want it to be a long lasting form of outreaches and talks for years to come. Please help me make this happen. I daydream about it at work. Help my wife to understand and appreciate it as a legitimate talent from You. I’d love that beautiful coyote mount on Ebay; a raccoon, a skunk.
Even while falling asleep, and immediately upon waking up, I dream of the Creation Speaks ministry. I see myself standing on a wood platform in the park, surrounded by kids and parents; the beautiful coyote mount, the goose mount, a raccoon mount in a cage, a skunk mount ambling across the front; glass cages with a Black Ratsnake, a Kingsnake, a Copperhead, and a Canebrake; the camo netting background with rustic “Creation Speaks” sign hanging; antlers, skins, traps hanging off that background; a large wooden rustic sign on an easle with the tracks of animals; duck decoys on a couple of shelves. A live owl on my arm…  Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9  Profile photograph of a Canada Goose face. Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Out at the shelter pond getting more Canada Goose photos for my upcoming Creation Speaks lesson on the Canada Goose: “Here Am I. Where are You?” Not the best photos, but they will do for a powerpoint slideshow to aid the presentation. Walton County, Georgia  Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Bird watching a mallard duck dabbling in a small retention pond in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. Springtime activity has really picked up on the shelter pond. A pair of Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) made a one-day appearance.The Mallards are tightly bonded in their breeding pairs and chasing each other out of their respective territories on the pond. The drakes have even begun their seemingly brutal mating and mistreating of the hens. Having been here several years now, the Mallards are quite used to free handouts of cat food and bread. When they spot any person they’ll come flying from wherever they are on the pond right to your feet at the bank. I took advantage of this behavior to practice some autofocus tracking and high shutter speeds to capture some flight shots. I’d step out to the bank with cat food in one hand and my camera ready in the other. As soon as I’d toss the cat food in the water, the ducks would take flight my direction. I have a few seconds to focus and snap some shots. In flight shots are a lot more difficult than I anticipated!  Blue-winged Teal; photo #201504085  Mallard; photo #201504091  William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. Isaiah 65:18 -- But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;  Canada Goose; photo #201504075 I love this shot for some reason. During a light rainfall, the Canada Geese on the shelter pond came right up to the back door of our administration building to eat the Bermuda grass. From my office, I heard their raucous honking and got this shot from the back door. I used this shot as the slideshow title page for my Creation Speaks talk on the Canada Goose: “Here Am I. Where are You?”
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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