Woodridge birder reaches new heights with photo
Bill Pavlecic’s not-so-secret love boasts slender legs.
And elegant wings.
And a call that sounds like trumpets.
The Woodridge man is so enamored, in fact, that he convinced his buddy of 34 years, Mike Davern, to drive nearly 100 miles at 4 a.m. in November to admire the “beautiful” creatures that make his heart beat just a little faster.
Their destination?
Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in Medaryville, Ind.Every fall, tens of thousands of sandhill cranes descend on Jasper during their migration ritual. Sandhills, one of only two crane species in North America, are Pavlecic#146;s favorite fowl.
At sunrise, the birds socialize in pastures before soaring off in groups to feed in nearby farm fields.
#147;It#146;s almost like O#146;Hare Airport,#148; Pavlecic, 55, said. #147;Every minute or so, a little group will take off.#148;
They fly at speeds close to 40 mph, so Pavlecic wasn#146;t expecting much when he whipped out Davern#146;s Nikon D7000 digital camera to try to capture their flight.
But a handful of sandhills flashed within 100 yards of the camera#146;s 300 mm lens.
#147;They move so quickly, it#146;s a bit of luck,#148; Pavlecic said.
Lucky or not, Pavlecic#146;s image captured first place in our December Photo Finish contest as judged by the DuPage County photo staff. Pavlecic will receive a $50 gift certificate from PJ#146;s Camera, 662 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, as his prize.
He says he doesn#146;t even consider himself a #147;quasi-photographer.#148;
Birding, though, has been his passion for eight years. He always totes his essentials: field guides, a set of binoculars and a journal.
Pavlecic says he has recorded sighting of more than 400 species, including a rare olive-sided flycatcher. He#146;s observed them in areas ranging from the Grand Canyon to regions of the Midwest. In northern Wisconsin, he spotted the sandhill mating dance.
#147;They face each other and jump in the air and spread their wings,#148; Pavlecic said.
There is one thing he knows about photography, though.
#147;Expect the unexpected,#148; he said.
About our contest
Each week our Neighbor section includes at least one entry in our Photo Finish photography contest. Our photo staff picks one overall monthly winner to receive a prize. If you would like to submit a photo, email it in .jpg format with at least 300 dpi resolution to ssanders@dailyherald.com.
<b>Inside</b>
For a look at some of this weeks entries, see Page 2.