Rare Limpkin Standing

The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), also called Crying Bird and Carrao, is a water bird in the family Aramidae that looks like a large Rail or a small... more

by Morris Finkelstein

Title

Rare Limpkin Standing

Artist

Morris Finkelstein

Medium

Photograph

Description

The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), also called Crying Bird and Carrao, is a water bird in the family Aramidae that looks like a large Rail or a small Crane. They measure about 26 inches in length and about 2.4 pounds in weight. Their plumage is dark brown with white streaks. They have long gray legs and a down curved yellowish bill with a dark tip. Their preferred habitat includes freshwater marshes and swamps with mangroves and reeds. Their preferred diet includes apple snails as well as other snails, mussels, insects, lizards, and crustaceans. They forage mostly during the day, but also at night. Limpkins are found mostly in Central and South America, and in Florida and the Caribbean. This Limpkin photographed in Missouri is one of about a dozen sightings since May 5, 2023, when the FIRST Limpkin was reported in Missouri!

This rare Limpkin perched on a fallen tree trunk was photographed mid-morning at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County, Missouri mid-morning on 10-10-2023. I used a Nikon Z9 camera body and a Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S telephoto lens to capture this image. Settings: 1/2500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000. The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area was acquired by the State of Missouri from the federal government in the late 1940's. This 7000-acre area was used during World War 2 for production and storage of TNT and DNT, and during the 1960's for the processing of Uranium ore. Subsequently, the large property was thoroughly decontaminated, and then used as a wildlife conservation area.

I am honored that my photograph was featured in the Fine Art America groups:
Wildlife One-A-Day, 1-25-2024
The Road To Self Promotion, 1-29-2024
Five Star Artist, 2-6-2024
Midwest America Photography, 3-17-2024
Wild Birds Of The World, 3-20-2024

KEYWORDS: rare limpkin standing, limpkin, aramus guarauna, family aramidae, shore bird, water bird, wading bird, rail, crane, bird, avian, nature, natural, wild, wildlife, outdoors, wings, feathers, plumage, brown, white, long legs, long bill, foraging, standing, walking, perched, perching, one, rare, uncommon, tree, trunk, branches, leaves, water, freshwater, mudflat, wetlands, autumn, fall, midwest, midwestern, august a busch memorial conservation area, st. charles county, missouri, morris finkelstein, st. louis, missouri, photograph, digital, horizontal, close up, portrait, nikon z9, photography

Uploaded

January 25th, 2024