World Meet AAL
It’s the conversations I’ve had with other birders that have opened my eyes to opportunities I wouldn’t have known about without their generosity. One such conversation happened during the last week in January of this year when I’d gone up to Rocky River Park near Cleveland. Numerous images of Harlequin ducks were my goal for the day. However, numerous photos of a beautiful and friendly Wood Duck drake were what I came home with! Just minutes away from Rocky River I was able to see and photograph an exceptionally social Wood Duck. They’re usually swimming away as fast as possible at any hint of a human presence.
He had bright red eyes along with the slicked back iridescent feathers on his head that are reminiscent of a James Dean of the duck world. The variety of colors on the male of his species are such a gorgeouus array of color and while seeing him with a group of male Mallards on a local pond in the suburbs of Cleveland, there’s no question he was a stunner. He even has a name due to banding at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center…you can call him AAL. Que the lyrics of a well-known Paul Simon song playing in your head.
AAL has the behaviors of a Mallard, with good reason. He was raised with a group of them as a duckling and his backstory is one filled with intrigue. On July 20th last year, a nature lover found an orphan Wood Duck hatchling and drove him from Erie County to the LENS. That was his lucky day, as from then until release he would be raised along with five Mallards who were also brought to LENSC as orphans.
According to Tim Jasinski, a Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist at LENSC, a best case scenario for orphan ducklings is to raise them with others about the same age, even if species are intermixed. If placed with older ducklings, fighting and injury is likely. Jasinski also said it’s not unheard of for egg dumping to occur, citing cases of Hooded Mergansers laying eggs in Wood Duck nests as one example and this might have been the case with AAL.
On September 24th, after being banded prior to release with the letters AAL, he and the Mallards he was raised with were released at Clague Park in Westlake, Ohio. Most of the other orphans AAL was raised with have left the park since their fall release but It was there he formed a pair bond with a Mallard female banded with the initials GGG, aka Gigi. If they were humans they’d have sort of a girl-next-door relationship.
However, when breeding season arrives Gigi may end up mating with another Mallard but there’s also a distinct possibility she and AAL will mate and create hybrid ducklings.
Whatever happens, ultimately AAL’s story is one for the ages this Valentine’s Day as his relationship with GGG continues to develop.
More information about the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center can be found at https://www.lensc.org/.
Making a difference in Appalachia and beyond
Cooks Creek Preserve - Great Egrets
Appalachia Ohio Alliance
The image above was used as an announcement for the 20th anniversay banquet held by AOA in November, 2022. I donated two framed images to the organization for the banquet this year. One was auctioned and the other is now hanging in AOA’s conference room. My focus has been both providing photos for the organization and to become a resource for other photographers who are interested in contributing to our efforts. I’ve given several speaking presentations on finding a sense of purpose as a member of AOA and conservation oriented photographer to various camera clubs to discuss the huge impact photographs can make in helping conservation causes. The website link is https://www.appalachiaohioalliance.org/
Eastern Red Bat
Arc of Appalachia
Donating photos to the Arc has been a priority for me for several years. Two of my images were used to announce the 2023 Wildflower Pilgrimage in the latest magazine from the Arc. In April of 2021 I was scheduled to be one of the presenters at the annual Wildflower Pilgrimage, but the event was canceled due to COVID-19. One of my images was used on the cover of the Arc’s annual magazine both in 2020 and in 2016. I’ve felt a high degree of satisfaction in helping this organization in a positive way to achieve their goals. The website link is https://arcofappalachia.org/
Northern Gannet
Nature Photography
It starts with a love of all things nature. Toward that end I try to learn about local spots for bird photography so I can pursue my passion in trying to capture their beauty. However, I am quick to jump on a travel opportunity as well. In the case of the Northern Gannet colony I visited in July, I traveled to Bonaventure Island in Québec, Canada.
I’m based out of Grove City, Ohio and am pushing myself to learn more about landscape and macro photograohy so that I can contribute better imagery for different causes.
