Photograph and text by Ken Arni
From the October 2022 issue

In the fall of each year in this area, northern shovelers — named for their spoon-shaped bills — come in to local ponds. I saw this one paddling with his mate, and knowing that I must be ready for the take-off, I set my camera on the male and waited. Then, in a split second, the shoveler took off. I was glad I had focused on my subject while it was just swimming so I was able to capture the sudden explosion of action when he followed his mate into the cool autumn air.