First Place winner in the 2012 Oregonian newspaper Travel Photo Contest in the "Celebrating Oregon" category. Also selected by the Environmental Defense Fund for a permanent curated collection at their offices in Washington, D.C.

This image also selected for Flickr Explore and awarded "Admin's Choice of The Week" in NATURE'S PRIME for February 26, 2012. www.flickr.com/groups/natures_prime/

A rare delight in the Pacific Northwest to see a nice flock of Sandhill Cranes. This image from Sauvie Island, Oregon near Portland.

Most sandhill cranes live in freshwater wetlands. They are opportunistic eaters that enjoy plants, grains, mice, snakes, insects, or worms. Both the gray adult and the brown immature can be recognized by their very large size and uniform coloration. Note the bare red cap of the adult.