The majestic white crane only flies on rare occasions. Researching and attempting to capture this wonderful bird was inevitably an arduous and nearly impossible task. Here's how the journey unfolded.
It was in a deep forest setting that I first set my eyes upon this magnificent creature. She had come out of nowhere, having been hidden by the large towering trees. It was a beautiful sight. This particular forest housed a specific group of trees that attracted a large group of fireflies. Millions of them. They were nesting in the trees, glowing and lighting the night. It was a breathtaking sight. And as I was admiring this natural phenomenon, I noticed her. The crane. She stood there, amongst the thickets, stretching her glorious wings. I crept closer and closer. Then an amazing thing happened. Known for avoiding human contact, I was expecting the crane to take off. But when it noticed me, it allowed me to join it in its strange nocturnal ritual. So I was able to share a very intimate time with the crane.
Having thought that I had established myself into the bird's trust, I came back the next few days in order to capture it to tag it. Tagging is very important, it allows us researchers to track the migratory patterns of the bird, as well as its daily territorial movements such as hunting tactics and nesting strategies. Unfortunately for me, I had forgotten how difficult it is to gain the trust of a white crane. I miscalculated its space of comfort and when I got to close, it flew away. I tried several times, but in all occasions I inevitably failed. So I had to go with a different strategy. I call it the method of easeness. The idea is to ease my way into the trust of the crane. To sit within sight of the crane, but never appear to be a threat, allowing the crane to get used to my presence until I become a part of it's habitat. This took a great deal of patience and effort. And it was also a risky decision because of the upcoming winter. That was also something I had miscalculated. But through this strategy, I was able to study the white crane in depth. And it's undoubtedly a magnificent creation.
The white crane is an interesting creature. It's a very free spirit, flying around its huge territory, ruling over all of its domain. It has no real predator and sits on the top of the food chain. It feeds on fish and occasionally wheat, as well as frogs, mice, and smaller creatures. Being the top of the food chain, it maintains the balance of the ecosystem within its territory. The crane also has a unique personality. It's very wise in what it does. I can only assume that it is a very experienced and tested crane. And don't let its appearance fool you, even though it appears very calm and friendly, it is a very powerful and territorial bird. When it feels threatened, it will show its authority.
And thus, my research was going well. I was easing my way into the birds trust slowly but surely. Then my miscalculation ruined everything. Winter hit like sudden earthquake. I wouldn't have noticed, but the crane and it's natural ability to hint the change in weather alerted it. And one day, the crane took off into the sky in a different fashion. It took off more powerfully than before, with the determination not to fly back again, until the next spring.
And so I must put my journey on hold, the journey to capture the white crane.
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