morganheim_warrentonmallard-1807b
Female mallard duck, on the shoulder of New Youngs Bay Bridge in Warrenton, OR. Just as the New Youngs Bay Bridge makes landfall in Warrenton, lies a wetland that often appears to be a metropolis of waterfowl. You can see hundreds of birds foraging along its banks. In spring 2018, I can only imagine as this female mallard swooped in to the marsh only to be struck as she came in for a landing. This was a particularly precarious place to make a portrait as I was sandwiched by the edges of the bridge and traffic passing at 55 mph. These bridges are a gauntlet for birds, who either have to cross them while approaching their wetlands, or are otherwise drawn to the updrafts.