JPG

I will be writing more about the "sagebrush safari" that I enjoyed with my "Ann Appel and her husband, Rich, whom I met in person for the first time on 26 May, 2009 ... but this brief moment on our journey through some eastern Nevada back country may well stand as my most memorable piece of it:

On our very first photo op stop, in Lamoille Canyon, we got out to shoot a glacial waterfall that was running down one wall of the gorge. Ann was kneeling on the pavement, shooting up.

As we looked up the road, we noticed a plump bird, about the size of a small chicken, emerging from under the guardrail. As it waddled toward us, I kept expecting it to realize that we were humans, and take flight. Closer it came. Closer and closer.... until it was right up to us.

The sage grouse clucked and warbled - a barely audible throaty, rasping sound. It came right up to Ann, cocked its head and began "talking" to her. The wild bird showed no fear of any of us, but seemed particularly taken with the nice lady itrying to take photographs from the roadside. I daresay, we were all amazed by the bird's peculiar behavior.

It walked all around Ann, who remained on the ground, and at one point, climbed right up on her foot! I was fascinated by the interaction that I was witnessing here!

First of all; grouse tend to be timid, flighty creatures. I have never known one to allow a human being to get within 50 yards. This bird had attitude!

On the other count, Ann was cool and calm, chuckling at the crazy grouse antics -- until it made a jab at her with its beak. Somewhat less amused, but still undaunted, she continued to shoot from the ground, watchful but apparently not the least bit intimidated.

The grouse, I think, would have followed Ann all day, had not someone intervened and distracted it so she could get back to her shooting.

During that brief encounter, I deduced many things about my new friend, Ann:
1.) She is comfortable with Nature and animals.
2.) She is not easily disturbed.
3.) She is as addicted to photography as I am.
4.) Regardless of any differences in our backgrounds, attitudes, or experience, we were going to get along just fine!

And from that moment, I knew this was going to be one extraordinary adventure!