by John Jefferson

In the late 1970s, the word “Ecotourism” was just beginning to be heard in a few clandestine circles. And communications were conducted by U.S. Mail, telephone, or through what was called “the newspaper.”

Telephones were the kind that either hung on the wall or sat at arm’s reach on businessmen’s desks. Only law enforcement and Dick Tracy had a phone that could be carried everywhere they went. It was a nice time.

I was toying with the idea of offering photo workshops focusing on wildlife. I approached Charlie Schriener, IV, at the Y.O. Ranch with the idea, which he had been thinking about, too. The Y.O. was an ideal place for it with over forty species of foreign game, abundant white-tailed deer, Rio Grande turkeys, and enough rustic but comfortable log cabins (with indoor plumbing!) to house city folks seeking something new. And ranch style meals in the “Chuckwagon” filled the bill as well as the stomachs!

That was the beginning of ecotourism in Texas, although there were already whooping crane tours out of Rockport.

I knew there were bald eagles wintering in Texas. Along with golden eagles, they had become apex predators of newborn sheep in the Hill Country. That had prompted Charles Schreiner III, the Y.O.’s owner, to send a famous letter to Washington. He spoke of his sheep ranch and that eagle depredation upon new lambs was costing the ranch money. He acknowledged the Government’s role in protecting the eagles for “the people” and his legal inability to protect his livestock, but ended the letter by saying, “Please come get your d – – – eagles!”

I also felt photographing eagles would appeal to workshop participants. But I needed pictures for promotion. Friends helped me get permission to photograph eagles on a ranch near where eagles roosted along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. I left Austin at 3:00 a.m. and drove to the river. In the dark, a massive flock of turkeys just leaving the roost nearly scared me into waiting for daylight. After calming down from that, I climbed the bluff above the river.

Finding a likely spot against a mature cedar tree overlooking the Guadalupe’s headwaters, I wove my legs among the bare roots to keep from falling off the bluff. And dozed off to sleep before daylight.​

I awakened hearing a soft “whoof … whoof … whoof.” It was daylight, and a bald eagle was flying by me fifteen feet away!
All I could do was raise my camera, attempt to focus, and snap off a couple of quick shots.

The telephoto lens, however, let me down. Its minimum focusing distance was 23-feet. Both images of a fuzzy, dark bird with a white head were sadly out of focus.

It was a long drive back home.

I later led a couple to photograph eagles. We saw two on the Y.O. and twelve along the river … from ground level!

We opted to not climb the bluff in the dark after a short night’s sleep.

JJ