The Great Plains Pillows

Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type.

The Great Plains, sometimes simply "the Plains", is a broad expanse of flatland in North America. It is located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, and grassland.

On a road trip to Denver from Ontario, we had tired of driving the I80 and took a little-used, parallel route through Nebraska and on into Colorado, The road was fascinating as it took us through so many small towns, all of which had an intimate connection with the railway. It is that that I wanted to capture with this image of the silo next to the tracks and the Union Pacific freight train rumbling by. If I remember correctly, this is the silo in a town called Roscoe in Nebraska. The day was dreary, but the dramatic clouds did make a great backdrop to the scene.

Show everyone you enjoy Lake of The Plains in Michigan.

Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type.

Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type.

Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type.

Morning Arrivals Joining the Flock by Debra Martz Mostly American White Pelicans and a few Double-crested Cormorants herding fish together. More Pelicans started dropping in on the feast along with one curious seagull flying in as well. Captured at the Great Salt Plains State Park in northern Oklahoma during Fall Migration in early October. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved

This group of Ruddy Ducks couldn't have turned and departed any faster. They were close to the bank when I stopped but took off before I could get out of the truck. So a lake scene it became instead of a Duck image! Great Salt Plains Lake is located in northern Oklahoma and I visit often for my hobby of bird watching. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210121-DSC_3154.NEF

MINIONS USA MONTANA

Early Morning Arrival of Egrets by Debra Martz It's that time of year; fall migration of birds passing through northern Oklahoma. Camping at the River Road campground at the Great Salt Plains State Park is a great place to watch the birds as they start moving in early in the morning. These Great Egrets along with one Snowy flew in and landed directly behind our campsite at dawn, their white feathering reflecting beautifully on the water of the Salt Fork River. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6487

Early morning and the American White Pelicans begin to gather along with a few Snowy Egrets. It was a cool autumn morning at the Great Salt Plains State Park and steam was rising off the warmer waters on the spillway. Where the water comes off the spillway of the lake it flows into the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in northern Oklahoma. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 20201004-DSC_0533.NEF

Incoming Pelicans Egrets and Gulls by Debra Martz Great way to start the early morning by bird watching from my campsite during fall migration in northern Oklahoma. The Great Plains Salt Lake flows through the spillway into the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River directly behind the Riverroad Campground. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211001-DSC_6507 Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet and Cherokee, Oklahoma

Pelican Togetherness by Debra Martz These two appeared to be paired together and still looking a bit dreamy eyed on this early morning. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211003-DSC_6958.NEF

This portion of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma is just below the spillway of the Great Salt Plains Lake. The upper portion of this image is the Riverroad Campground where we like to spend time especially during Spring and Fall bird migration. Was odd to see the campground completely empty on this January day as there are usually at least a few campers even when not the best weather. On the lower bank of good ol' Oklahoma red dirt are 3 American White Pelicans and a lone Great Blue Heron reflecting in the water. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved 20210121-DSC_3072.NEF

Snowy Egret Catch on the Move by Debra Martz I could not believe what I was seeing on this particular morning. I've watched Snowy Egrets "fish" for many years. They position themselves in an area and watch the water closely before probing for a fish as they see it go by them. But on this morning, several Snowies were leaving the peninsula and half running, half dragging their feet while stirring up some fish and then would nab on the go! It was a most spectacular sight to witness! ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends 2" 20211003-DSC_7097.NEF

It is April and it is breeding season. Most birds change colors in plumage during this season or get additional features. The American White Pelicans grow a plate on the top of their massive bills and the colors of the bill become much more vibrant. They are a migratory bird that mainly breeds in the north and into Canada but some have become residents of the Great Salt Plains Lake in northern Oklahoma so I get to see them in all their phases. ©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved In My Gallery/Collection: "Feathered Friends2" 2021-04-08-DSC_2793

Happy American bison buffalo illustration

Seal Of The Osage Nation

Inspired by my home state of Kansas. Bison are the state animals and sunflowers, the state flower.

At sunset, on the plains of the American Wild West, a woman in a dress and fur shawl stands upon a hill looking out over the never ending sea of golden grass that stretches' to the horizon. The winds of the prairie whip over the landscape and cause the woman's dress to flap and picks up her hair to obscure her face. This western woman appears to be on the lookout for something or someone dangerous as she rests a rifle on her shoulder. This is one of those scenes that just popped in my head one day. I wanted to keep the environment rather minimalist, with just grass and sky making them go off forever into the distance. I added the woman along with a horse originally, but the horse seemed to obscure too much of the view, so I took...

Wichita Keeper Travel Sticker

Kayaking to the Spillway by Debra Martz If you read my descriptions on my bird photography, you might recall my mention of the spillway as the location. It is one of my favorite places to bird watch in this state park. But after the birds do their morning feedings and preening in the water, they all but disappear until evening. I only see one lone seagull in this image myself. Just like the birds possibly, I was back to my comfortable place taking a break just after high noon. I had a quick lunch then went back outside and saw this couple kayaking so went back in the RV for the camera. The people give the image a sense of scale and the textures on the flowing water and those reflections were shining bright and very picturesque to...