{"id":16099,"date":"2014-10-12T04:05:01","date_gmt":"2014-10-12T10:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=16099"},"modified":"2025-04-24T04:55:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T09:55:26","slug":"wildness-and-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/10\/12\/wildness-and-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildness and Connections"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Solitary<\/p>\n

Solitary Coot in the morning mist of the Lower Lake<\/span><\/p>\n

This Terry Tempest Williams quote strikes a chord within me because I feel very connected to nature and wildness and that connection is with me every day of my life. I’m not separate from nature I am part of it. We all are.<\/p>\n

I might purposely separate myself from people who affect my life in a negative manner by blocking them out but I can’t fathom blocking out nature. I need it as surely as I need air.<\/p>\n

There are those people who can separate themselves from wildness and being authentic and who connect to money, greed and ego instead but I have to wonder if they are whole.<\/p>\n

I wonder if they are complete behind the wall they have built to disconnect from wildness, nature and themselves.<\/p>\n

I’m back from my trip to extreme southwest Utah and the Mojave Desert, more on that later!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to view more of my American Coot photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Terry Tempest Williams quote strikes a chord within me because I feel very connected to nature and wildness and that connection is with me every day of my life. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[137,1513,27,223,12,608],"tags":[4010,4021,4175,3984,4421,519,4035,5485,4475,5486],"class_list":["post-16099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-coots","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-avian","category-centennial-valley","category-montana","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","tag-american-coot","tag-bird-photography","tag-fog","tag-foggy","tag-lake-fog","tag-nature","tag-nature-photography","tag-terry-tempest-williams","tag-wilderness","tag-wildness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-coot-mist-red-rock-lakes-ttw-quote-mia-mcpherson-8307.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-4bF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15344,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/07\/08\/wigeon-pond-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":16099,"position":0},"title":"Wigeon Pond, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The amazing birds and animals keep me going back to Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge but the scenery and wildness of the area does too.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wigeon Pond, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/red-rock-lakes-wigeon-pond-mia-mcpherson-0532.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5192,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/06\/16\/the-morning-mist-at-red-rock-lakes-nwr\/","url_meta":{"origin":16099,"position":1},"title":"The Morning Mist at Red Rock Lakes NWR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I don't have much time to post today but I wanted to share a few photos taken this week of the mists at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. Red Rock Lakes NWR is an incredibly wild and beautiful location that has stolen a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "American Coots"","block_context":{"text":"American Coots","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gruiformes\/american-coots\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/red-rock-lakes-lower-lake-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-8279.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/red-rock-lakes-lower-lake-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-8279.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/red-rock-lakes-lower-lake-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-8279.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/red-rock-lakes-lower-lake-sunrise-mia-mcpherson-8279.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3851,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/12\/17\/coyotes-birds-cruddy-weather-and-camaraderie\/","url_meta":{"origin":16099,"position":2},"title":"Coyotes, Birds, Cruddy Weather and Camaraderie","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I had the pleasure of photographing with not just one but two wonderful friends and fellow photographers. To be sure they are much more \"fellow\" than I am but I don't hold that against them.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Coyote in a frosty field, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-frosty-mia-mcpherson-9137.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-frosty-mia-mcpherson-9137.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-frosty-mia-mcpherson-9137.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/coyote-frosty-mia-mcpherson-9137.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55836,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/01\/28\/adult-american-coot-with-a-dirty-bill\/","url_meta":{"origin":16099,"position":3},"title":"Adult American Coot With A Dirty Bill","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"An American Coot with a dirty bill wasn't shy at all when it climbed out of the pond close enough for me to take portraits of it.","rel":"","context":"In "American Coots"","block_context":{"text":"American Coots","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gruiformes\/american-coots\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Coot with a dirty bill, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-dirty-bill-mia-mcpherson-5596.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-dirty-bill-mia-mcpherson-5596.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-dirty-bill-mia-mcpherson-5596.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-dirty-bill-mia-mcpherson-5596.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6313,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/10\/10\/american-coots-on-thin-ice\/","url_meta":{"origin":16099,"position":4},"title":"American Coots on Thin Ice","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The temps are dropping here in the Salt Lake Valley, two days ago it was below freezing when we went out shooting. Winter brings challenges and birds we don't see during the summer so I am excited about that.","rel":"","context":"In "American Coots"","block_context":{"text":"American Coots","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/gruiformes\/american-coots\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"American Coot on slippery ice, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-ice-mia-mcpherson-1068.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-ice-mia-mcpherson-1068.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-ice-mia-mcpherson-1068.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/american-coot-ice-mia-mcpherson-1068.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17168,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/11\/20\/the-idea-of-wilderness-needs-no-defense\/","url_meta":{"origin":16099,"position":5},"title":"The idea of wilderness needs no defense","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This past Saturday I watched the movie \"Wrenched\" with two dear friends so it seemed only fitting to share a quote from Edward Abbey some time this week.","rel":"","context":"In "Conservation"","block_context":{"text":"Conservation","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/conservation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The road to the San Rafael Swell","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/san-rafael-swell-ed-abbey-mia-mcpherson-1909.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/san-rafael-swell-ed-abbey-mia-mcpherson-1909.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/san-rafael-swell-ed-abbey-mia-mcpherson-1909.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/san-rafael-swell-ed-abbey-mia-mcpherson-1909.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}