Wild Ones

I See You

If you have been fortunate enough to be in the presence of an Owl, then you have experienced the calm and focused knowing energy they possess. When you look into an Owl's eyes, it seems they see you.. the real you. I believe the intellect of the Owl is what their prey fears most. Therefore their prey becomes fear itself. Fear is based from lack of knowledge. If we don't understand a situation, we avoid, judge or condemn it. What if we become more curious to unfamiliarity? If we become scholars of our fears, then light is cast where there were only shadows. Fear is afraid of being discovered..so stand before it and say.. "I See You" ~ J.L. Deitz

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Hawk: "Who are you?"

Me: "I'm strange."

Hawk: "Good, there are others."

The Guardian

The Vulture is not considered a beautiful bird to most. It is one who is often judged by their appearance and "occupation" here on Earth. Who else would volunteer to do the job that they so honorably do for us? When I look at them, I see perfection, beauty and purpose. You have a purpose.. Understanding this allows acceptance for everything that crosses your path. When you're given the opportunity to stand in the light and be seen for the first time, all about you is revealed. The veil disappears and you see who you have become from all of your life experiences. When in doubt, choose to believe that you belong exactly where you are.. as you are. ~J.L. Deitz

"Ye be Pirates in that thar tree.."

Shimmering in the golden light, a Crabapple tree inhabits the lake shore. A large band of birds in flight thieve the sunlight from my eyes. They are here for the berries, flittering about the branches speaking a language only deciphered by their court. This was their merry land, rich with plunder. As I approach, naturally they flee.. I am an outsider for now.

So I invoke my right of parlay, and stand quiet and still until they honor my request for engagement. For what seems like an eternity, only the lapping waves are my companion. Suddenly, the tree began to tremble as they returned by the hundreds! I am beneath a flock of lawless birds enveloping a tree canopy and it is nothing short of magnificent.

Having discovered their loot, there was no turning back.. I must join as a rogue or it's exile for me.

What a colorful bunch dressed appropriately to their character, drinking the fruit from the tree tavern one by one. Swallowing the berries whole, beaks covered in juice this was the life for an outlaw bird, savvy?

At the waters edge, my soul has become full again. Here with the birds it will linger, no matter where my body roams. -J.L. Deitz

Lake Pleasant, Adirondacks
October 4, 2015

Wild and Free

Surrounding ourselves with only like minded people conflicts with get things done. If we are invited to both friend and foe affairs, we are being seen and respected as true leaders. That is where progress is born. If this is practiced, there can be no real enemy.. only ideas. Our ideas then become action.. Our action becomes an unprecedented solution, that cannot be realized without one or the other working together.
~ Jess Deitz

American Bald Eagle
(Adult Female)

Photographed from a rowboat.

Mirage

This is image is real.. I just flipped it over. Her reflection was showing another side of her character. How can we really be sure which side is right side up anyway?

Mallard
Lake Pleasant, Adirondacks

Awakening

I believe our minds are not held captive by our bodies. If your mind is free, there are no limitations to what is possible. This is a photograph of a Bald Eagle rehabilitating in captivity. The light reflects the shadow of a cage on the branch from which he stands..his cage is merely just a shadow. His mind is free because he accepts the room as it is. The infinite darkness that surrounds him is filled with the possibilities of what was, is and will be. He stands fearlessly with integrity..understanding that his current surroundings does not reflect who he really is. ~J.L. Deitz

Bald Eagle
In Rehabilitation

Great Blue Heron

Out of the trees, wingtips nipping the branches behind me.. "SQUAWK!" says the Great Blue Heron.
I restrain myself from reaching for its gigantic feet, while this prehistoric bird coasts just above my head. Never have I had such an experience before..
This was our rendezvous with destiny in the afternoon light.

Kings and Queens

"Five Bald Eagles surrounded us on the waters.. four in the sky and one on shore. She called on her family one by one from the big blue, ordering their descent onto the nearby tree thrones. Our journey had lead us to a court of Kings and Queens, with the halls bathed in gold." - Jess Deitz

More about the photo:
By keeping my distance, wildlife continues to reward me in return. If I had approached any closer we wouldn't have been invited to the party. It was an incredible feeling to watch the Sun go down in the company of Eagles.

Taken handheld from a rowboat.

Mind Power

As you can see here the bounty is plentiful on the Ocean shores.. but nature insists that we put effort into obtaining the prize it so abundantly provides. It could seem that the Ocean is being cruel at first doesn't it?.. so many colorful and beautiful things to choose from, with every wave more is washed in and some taken away.. and when it's finally within our grasp, there is a hardened shell that appears to be impenetrable keeping us further from what we desire. But this is really to our advantage.. a gift.

With so many things to experience during our brief stay here, we need to be more selective with what we put our time and energy towards. This bird is focused. It doesn't care about the incoming waves, other surrounding Gulls.. me clicking my shutter away. It knows what it wants and that tells the source of all things to send more of it and show her a way to master it.
Is this bird actually engaging in such complex thinking? Probably not. But does that make it less intelligent and inferior to the human mind? I say no. It's making decisions based on instinct which we all have but we let thinking get in the way. So who is really the wiser?

Too much mind can lead to too much sorrow and no treasure.

She loves clams. She will go after it no matter what.. find a way to crack open the hard shell. Eat it. Move on. Game over. She won.

Nature has it all figured out and we are all part of it. -Jess Deitz

Common Grackle

Misunderstood because of their personality and social etiquette. Everything you feel when you look at something is a direct reflection of you.

This bird is beautiful ..

Great Horned Owl

A young Great Horned Owl preparing to leave home. Thank you for the time that I've had with you, good luck out there..

Great Horned Owlets

Why edit the branches when they show how difficult your shot was? It's like writing a song and removing all the pain.

The wind was excessive that morning, so I shot handheld and swayed with the trees to keep the Owls in focus. Thanks to the wind and the flexibility of a White Pine for bringing these Great Horned Owlets into the light.

Coywolf

If my Life is taken by a wild animal, please do not take its Life in return. It is by my choice that I go where they are. ~ J.L. Deitz

Coyote Soul

An Eastern Coyote approaching my blind, Winter.

I had sought out to photograph Short-eared Owls. None could be found after a long bitter cold afternoon. Then, in the distance a Coyote is tracking my scent and approaching closer. Within 15' of each other, the sound of my camera shutter abruptly ended our appointment. Both of our hearts beating with adrenaline in synchronicity.

An incredibly misunderstood animal.. Look into its eyes and try to convince yourself it doesn't belong here.

Yellow- bellied Sapsucker

That's fun to say.

Pileated Woodpecker

Osprey and Carp

Poetry

Northern Harrier Hawk

Warrior

I love to see her dance.

This is what it looks like seconds before a Harrier Hawk strikes its prey. The inertia from forward flight comes to a complete halt as she flips her body over and downward towards her target. Her strategy for a successful hunt is instinct, speed and agility synchronized with absolute silence.

Female Northern Harrier Hawk

Gray Ghost

Male Northern Harrier Hawk

Gray Ghost

Male Harrier Hawk

Spirit in the woods

I hope you'll try this for yourself.. stand out in the open woods, it doesn't matter who you are or what you're wearing. Plant your feet on the ground like you're the strongest tree in the forest. Be still, breathe deep and slow.. then close your eyes. Listen carefully to every sound.. every bird song, every leaf in the breeze. When you've encompassed the entire forest that surrounds you in your mind, open your eyes and see what shows up.

The wild can sense your ego from miles away. The secret is to leave it at home.

Innocence

"The Beauty that exists in Shadow"

At last light, deer began to emerge from the dark tree line of Cedars and brush. They approached my hide stepping into the light. This is the moment she realized I was there.

January 7, 2016

Coopers Hawk

It doesn't know I'm looking at it, looking at something that doesn't know it's looking at it.

Honor

Red-Tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Raccoon

Tree Swallow

What a Badass.

Eastern Kingbird

Penny for your thoughts?

Eastern Bluebird

Gold Finch

Leucistic Robin

The bird from Wonderland.

What is Leucism? Here is some info from the web..

Leucism is caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being deposited on a bird’s feathers. As a result, the birds do not have the classic plumage colors listed in field guides, and instead the plumage have several color changes that include:

-White patches where the bird should not have any
-Paler overall plumage that looks faint, diluted or bleached
-Overall white plumage with little or no color discernible

The degree of leucism, including the brightness of the white and the extent of pigment loss, will vary depending on the bird’s genetic makeup.

That makes them something special.. :)

Song Sparrow

High Peaks, Adirondacks

She talks to Angels

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Flicker and Snow

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker photographed against an overcast Winter sky.

Gin and Juice

A Yellow-rumped Warbler, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

There's more to me

A design this complex doesn't happen by mistake.

Wood Duck

Sand Hill Cranes

Last Dance

Great Blue Heron

Gray Squirrel

I bet you think my name is Peanuts or Acorn or something stupid like that.
It's Ted.
Here's the deal.. I'm going to be extra busy soon gathering nuts and stuff. Try not to run me over. I think we all know by now, if I'm lookin' like I'm running left, I'm gonna run right. I hear ya yelling from your cars..
I'm squirrelly, it's just what I do. You KNOW this. Just slow down and give me a second to think so I can work it out.. K?
My family thanks you in advance..
~ Ted

Who's there?

This may be the first time these baby squirrels have seen a human..

Chipmunk

Baby Woodchuck

Why do Groundhogs gorge themselves all Summer and Fall anyway? During the 4-6 month hibernation, a Groundhog will curl up in a frost free chamber of their burrow while all of their life processes begin to slow. Their temperature will drop from 96 to 40 degrees, barely above freezing. Respiration slows to one breath per minute and heartbeat plunges from 110 beats per minute to 4. They achieve a state of unconsciousness until its time to awaken in late Winter or early Spring. (excerpt from the book "Animal Speak")

Imagine the things a Groundhog has seen in this trance so close to the line of life and death!
Groundhogs know deep things..

Watch this families feature film under the "Short Films" gallery