Animals Galleries

Friendly Foxes : August/September 2007:  I had heard of a fox family that was residing near the road about 8 miles from where I live, and after spending an hour or two here and there over the course of a week "visiting" the foxes, they started to get used to my presence and I was able to get a lot of nice shots.  Soon I felt like one of them as they played with each other just a few feet from where I sat.  One in particular was friendlier than the others, and one evening he sat just a few feet to my left as I snapped pictures of two of his siblings playing in the grass.  Every once in a while he would run off to the other side of the road, or depart for a short scouting trip into the woods, but every few minutes he would return and would sit to my left a few feet away.  What an experience!  I have never felt so connected to wild animals before.  This is something that I will never forget.....

Friendly Foxes

August/September 2007: I had heard of a fox family that was residing ...

Updated: Jul 26, 2008 9:52pm PST

Ruffed Grouse :

Ruffed Grouse

Updated: Jul 26, 2008 10:09pm PST

Nebraska Cranes : March 2008:  I spent 4 days photographing Sandhill Cranes (and a few other birds!) along the Platte River in Nebraska.  Each year, the Platte River between Grand Island and Kearney plays host to the largest gathering of Sandhill Cranes in the world.  It is estimated that approximately 500,000 cranes make a "pit stop" on the Platte River to rest and refuel before continuing their annual migration north for the summer.  

This small stretch of the river is critical habitat needed by the cranes because of its shallow depth, multitude of sandbars which provide safe roosting at night and plentiful food via countless nearby farm fields.  During the day, the cranes disperse into the surrounding farm fields to feed on waste grains and any other food they may find.  Each evening, the cranes start to make their way back to the river.  They roost for the night along the river on the sandbars, which provide needed protection from predators.  At sunrise the next morning, they disperse once again to feed for the day.  

The cranes spend about a month resting and feeding along the Platte, generally from early March to early April, then continue on their way north.  Mid-march is generally considered to be the peak week for the birds, which is when I was there.  I was told by staff at the Rowe Sanctuary near Kearney (www.rowesanctuary.org) that there were approximately 300,000 cranes in the area during my visit.  This gathering on the Platte is one of nature's great wonders and if you have the chance to experience it, you will never forget it.  

I also shot some video clips of the birds, which can be viewed by clicking on this link:  Nebraska Cranes - Videos

Nebraska Cranes

March 2008: I spent 4 days photographing Sandhill Cranes (and a few o ...

Updated: May 04, 2008 4:09am PST

Alaska Eagles : March 2007:  I took a 10 day trip to Alaska with the primary purpose being to photograph bald eagles.  While I did explore a lot of the countryside, the focus of the trip was to see and photograph as many eagles as possible.  I had the good fortune of having clear weather almost the whole time I was there.  All of the images in this gallery were shot in Homer along Kachemak Bay with the beautiful Kenai Mountains in the background.

Alaska Eagles

March 2007: I took a 10 day trip to Alaska with the primary purpose b ...

Updated: Apr 24, 2008 11:05pm PST

Animals - By Air : All images in this gallery are of animals in the wild, unless noted otherwise.

Animals - By Air

All images in this gallery are of animals in the wild, unless noted ot ...

Updated: Feb 04, 2008 4:23am PST

Animals - By Land : All images in this gallery are of animals in the wild, unless noted otherwise.

Animals - By Land

All images in this gallery are of animals in the wild, unless noted ot ...

Updated: Jan 10, 2008 12:00pm PST

Loons :

Loons

Updated: Jun 13, 2008 12:48pm PST

ALL IMAGES © TRAVIS NOVITSKY