Posted by David Stokely on July 14, 2006 at 12:35 PM
I was on my way back from a one day business trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, I had been on I-94, but the traffic backups were just crazy. There's lots of construction, between that and several accidents, it was just a parking lot at times. So anyway, I came back using state routes rather that interstates and the I-80/90 tollroad.
I had known of this wildlife area, but really hadn't spent much time there. It's only about 20 miles from my house, I don't know why, but I just have never gone there much. Boy, is that going to change.
I came out of Michigan into Indiana on 327. This is in the extreme northeast corner of Indiana. Stuben county, is the most northeast most county in Indiana. As I came into Orland, just north of town is a beautiful Fawn river Indiana DNR fish rearing station, with lots of ponds accessable from the Orland City park. This is just a jewel of a little park on the Fawn river. Lots of wildlife activity even at the 6:30/7:00 p.m. when I went through, a very very nice area. Further west of Orland starts the Pigeon River wildlife area.
Just lots of stuff to see, even driving in a car. I passed a wheat field with a deep pond in it, right on S.R. 120. A mama doe and triplet fawns were wading in the pond only 50-100 yards from the road. I stopped, got out my tripod, etc., but spooked them before I could get setup from the roads edge. Again, not to far from there, going down a little dirt county road, I passed a soybean field with two sandhill cranes feeding on something very close to the road. I just stayed in the car and watched them. The one fellow, didn't like me being there. He kept picking up weeds, throwing them in the air and kind of flapping his wings at me, I think trying to scare me away.
I took the turnoff for the Curtis creek trout rearing station off of S.R. 120. I passed just wonderful scenes of the fawn river, meandering through wonderful wetland areas, reminding me almost of pictures I've seen of cyrpess swamps down south. It was chock filled with lots of wildlife, again in my just passing through from a car.
My lunch hour is over and I've got to get back to work, but if you live the area, this Pigeon river fish and wildlife area looks to be just a great place for nature photography.
Thanks for the tip Dave. I drive from Indy to Detroit a few times a month and am always looking for little detours to enjoy. I'll be going up next Thursday and I may try to check it out.
I was going through my pictures from last night. This isn't very sharp. It's hand held through the open window of the other side of the car, but it shows what these crazy sandhills were doing. I spoke of the one picking up weeds and throwning them in the air. That was the one on the left. Then the one on the right started jumping around. I don't know, I guess they were just feeling frisky.
Wonderful pictures Dave. My wife & I lived in Williams County, OH (NW corner of that state) and I found many fantastic places in Steuban Co. IN to photograph nature.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on July 19, 2006 at 11:13 PM
Neat pics, David!
There is also a Pigeon River wildlife area between Holland and Grand Haven in MI near the Lake Michigan shoreline!
Posted by Scott Hussey on July 20, 2006 at 6:45 AM
Those cranes were probably feeling frisky all right. There was a pair near here, I should try to get out an see them.
Discussion
6 repliesI had known of this wildlife area, but really hadn't spent much time there. It's only about 20 miles from my house, I don't know why, but I just have never gone there much. Boy, is that going to change.
I came out of Michigan into Indiana on 327. This is in the extreme northeast corner of Indiana. Stuben county, is the most northeast most county in Indiana. As I came into Orland, just north of town is a beautiful Fawn river Indiana DNR fish rearing station, with lots of ponds accessable from the Orland City park. This is just a jewel of a little park on the Fawn river. Lots of wildlife activity even at the 6:30/7:00 p.m. when I went through, a very very nice area. Further west of Orland starts the Pigeon River wildlife area.
Just lots of stuff to see, even driving in a car. I passed a wheat field with a deep pond in it, right on S.R. 120. A mama doe and triplet fawns were wading in the pond only 50-100 yards from the road. I stopped, got out my tripod, etc., but spooked them before I could get setup from the roads edge. Again, not to far from there, going down a little dirt county road, I passed a soybean field with two sandhill cranes feeding on something very close to the road. I just stayed in the car and watched them. The one fellow, didn't like me being there. He kept picking up weeds, throwing them in the air and kind of flapping his wings at me, I think trying to scare me away.
I took the turnoff for the Curtis creek trout rearing station off of S.R. 120. I passed just wonderful scenes of the fawn river, meandering through wonderful wetland areas, reminding me almost of pictures I've seen of cyrpess swamps down south. It was chock filled with lots of wildlife, again in my just passing through from a car.
My lunch hour is over and I've got to get back to work, but if you live the area, this Pigeon river fish and wildlife area looks to be just a great place for nature photography.
Mike
There is also a Pigeon River wildlife area between Holland and Grand Haven in MI near the Lake Michigan shoreline!
Nice shots.