We took a day trip to Wisconsin to meet Gabe's mom and sister. They were coming from Minnesota, so we chose a location about halfway for both of us. Ima found an amazing place! Necedah National Wildlife Reserve is 7,800 square miles of awesomeness. Our first stop was the Observation Tower, where Anne spotted pelicans and a Northern Harrier treated us to a show.  |
| Northern Harriers are easy to tell from other hawks and falcons they may share habitats with. From a distance, the white "rump patch," and up close the owlish face that helps them hear small mammals like mice, rats, and voles. |
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| Female Northern Harriers, like this one, are brown with a white neck ring, while the males are light grey and white. |
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Northern Harriers like open grasslands, marshes, and fields in winter, and, during migration, they can also be spotted over mountains and coastlines. |
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| Not only do their faces look owlish, but Northern Harrier faces function in the same sort of way, using stiff feathers to direct sound to their ears. |
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| Northern Harriers eye color changes over their lives, going from pale green-yellow for young males or chocolate brown for young females, to lemon yellow as a adult. |
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| Northern Harrier fossils have been found dating back to 11,000-40,000 years ago. |
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| Northern Harrier |
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| Northern Harrier and Whooping Crane |
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| Northern Harrier hunting |
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| Northern Harrier |
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| Northern Harrier |
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| American White Pelicans (Note that the far right Pelican has a fish) |
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| American White Pelicans (Note the 3rd Pelican is scratching their pouch and the 4th is looking at me) |
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| American White Pelicans corralling fish |
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| Wispy rainbow |
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