Subject: Redhead, Aythya americana

Location: Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado

Stock Number: 04-1994

Comments: Redheads suffered terribly from systematic commercial hunting in the nineteenth century, and they still are uncommon. I have always thought they are a beautiful bird, and I wanted to photograph them.

Accordingly, Teresa and I headed out for three days at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in South Texas, where I had read that 80% of redheads spend the winter. We loved Laguna Atascosa, and saw many terrific animals, but the only redheads I was able to photograph were swimming far out in the Gulf of Mexico. Nice group photos, but no individual portraits.

I got my second chance while visiting Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge in southern Colorado. This time I didn't make the trip specifically to see redheads, but see them I did, in reasonable numbers. Redheads breed at Alamosa, and these two birds have paired off in preparation for raising a brood. The female leads the way.