whooper second fiddle? never

• 

I never, never, never, never, never to the power of 10 never, thought I'd ever be at Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge and a whooping crane—yes Grus americana, world’s rarest crane, only 500 in existence—would be forced to play second fiddle, noticed, observed but not gawked at. And a first year whooper at that, still sporting some of its cinnamon colored plumage of youth, a direct release colt, a young whooper that found its way to Tennessee by following an adoptive parent figure. Brave little cuss.

But, that has been the case this week. The exotic hooded crane from Asia has been garnering all the oohs and ahhs.

Here's an amateur video shot through a spotting scope from the viewing gazebo. It's a bit shaky in the beginning but bear with it. It's a wonderful testament of this week at Hiwassee.

•