Reflections from a Prairie Landscape

This is the pond at the Ellis Bird Farm, very different from the mountains and not a typical prairie scene with an endless vista of  grasses. It always helps to have clouds for variety and it was a beautiful bright day with challenges for taking photos of birds, you know bright light, sharp shadows. When I first came to the prairies 33 years ago(time flies!) I was surprised to discover that most of the trees out here are not native, but were planted by the settlers especially as wind breaks. I had never heard words like coulees, sloughs, buttes, etc. I was glad for the trees as I am attached to trees and water because I came from Ontario which has plenty of both. The prairies have taught me to notice the subtleties in the changes in the colours of the grasses and the wild flowers and of course an approaching storm can be seen for miles. In this area it is very picturesque with the rolling hills dotted with groves of Aspen and Spruce, hosts to many kinds of birds.

©Jane Chesebrough