Cry With Me

When I got there she was perched on a sign surveying the vast land that once was her kingdom. She looked confused. She flew down to the flattened earth, reduced to hopping around on barren soil and stubs where once she glided just above the bushy grasses that held her sustenance. I have visited her almost every day for 2 years. With 300mm in my hand, I seldom was close enough to image her in a way that could do justice to her glory. And although she never learned to be close to me, I considered her my friend. I watched her for hours and knew the path that she would take-repeatedly.

Today, they had mowed it to the earth. Progress. Now large houses will replace the habitat that she called home. I cried.


Here are some other friends that I will miss.

Dickcissel

Scissortailed flycatcher

Red-tailed hawk

Eastern Kingbird

Egret Gathering at Home

And the northern harrier.

A nice tribute Angela. I feel your pain. Not really much else to say...other than the obvious (this just sucks!).

I hope you find another special place with a new set of friends.

Take care...

Brad

So sad. Heartbreaking really. And it goes on and on...

Angela, I'm very sorry that you are losing one of your favorite places and the many friends that you had there.

At the risk of making you sadder, Angela, habitat loss is a major factor in the classification of nearly one-third of America's bird species as threatened, endangered or in decline. One-third. We see it happen in our backyard and think the loss is only ours; it's not and it is very nearly too late to stop it. And the U.S. is far from the worst. Brazil has lost an average of 18,500 sq. km per year since 1990.

I do cry with you.

As lovers if nature, I think we've all seen this happen many times in our bakyards or nearby. It certainly behooves us to stay on top of porposed projects. As photographers we often have excellent documentary evidence about this value of small and large natural areas that can be useful in making sure that growth (it's inevitable) occurs in a planned way that considers the true costs of a development. That said, I understand your sadness.

Petere

Very sad and I feel your pain. There is a large pond in my area with surrounding wetlands and farmland that has been purchased by the township. They want to 'tame' the wild areas and put in walking paths and use the fields for soccer, tennis, and baseball. We gave them documentation of 130+ bird species seen there, but it doesn't seem to mean much. How long will it take for people to wise up?

And they call it progress!!! I feel for your loss and the many birds and animals that call it home.

Sonja

Crying about this will change nothing.

The longer I live in southwest Houston, the harder I have to work at finding backroads to get to my backroads. My favorite shooting is in Brazoria County, and it seems to be getting more urban with every trip, especially the route to Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.

A sad commentary, but beautiful photos and great memories.

A very sad truth about the reality in which we find ourselves, very sad indeed Angela.

And my views would be considered 'extreme' or even crazy by a lot of people. I dont think there's anything crazy about mourning the exponential loss of natural habitat.

Angela,

Very touching....I dread the loss of habitat that forces these magnificent creatures to change their daily habits due to our hand. A very moving post.

Thanks

Rick

The same exact thing happened to a place I went almost daily. It was a large empty subdivision lot and wetland than once the recession hit, no houses were being built. It got nice and overgrown over 3 years and there was a family of kestrels, 5 different sparrow species, Dickcissels, Buntings, etc. They mowed it in mid-summer last year and everything left. No house still have been built. I don't think developers have any idea the wildlife that old overgrown fields support. Sorry, but just keep looking, you will find another one.

Your pain is felt here as well. It is never easy to see more wild land succumb to development. It really does stink. Problem is, it will never stop and in the end we will lose our own existence. The ultimate penalty that very few understand or consider. Hopefully most of your friends will find other habitats nearby.