Beautiful Bird Spotted on New Year's Eve!

The final post for this year and this decade couldn't be better than this photo of a Great Blue Heron, looking for his breakfast this morning. I've seen (and shot photos of) a lot of herons, but this fellow is definitely the most handsome bird I've ever seen. I'm so very glad I had my camera handy! Although, seeing him with my own two eyes is the ultimate gift. What a beauty, huh? Now you know why I love living here in south Florida, in the Everglades!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Tuesday's Turkey Vultures

Upon arriving at the office this morning around 8 AM,
this pair was basking in the glow of the morning sun.

Often called buzzards or carrion crows, turkey vultures are not related to either family. One of two vultures found throughout south Florida, the turkey vulture is protected by Federal law and cannot be killed without proper permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The turkey vulture is approximately twenty-five inches tall and weighs from 3.5 to 5.3 pounds. The wingspan measures some seventy-two inches. This bird is blackish brown and has its own distinguishing features. As you can see in the photograph, they have a red head and legs, the tips of the bills are white, and the undersides of their wings are lined in gray. In flight, their tails extend past their legs.

Turkey vultures live in landfills, pastures, or wherever they can find sources of carrion (dead or decaying flesh). They will occasionally eat vegetable and plant matter or prey upon young, sick, or weak animals but carrion is their main diet. Turkey vultures have a well-developed sense of smell to help them find new sources of carrion.

Vultures are communal roosters and have two interesting habits: they defecate on their legs to keep cool (It must be effective. Why else would they do it?); and, when threatened with attack, vultures disgorge their stomach contents. This might explain why the word vulture conjures up such ill feelings and dark images. Historically, vultures were once thought of as spiritual messengers and symbols of strength. Today, they are important as natural garbage disposals that eliminate costly cleanup of our roads and pastures.

In south Florida, vultures are often observed soaring at great heights, riding the wind currents. They are elegant birds when in flight, a contradiction to their reputation as an evil dark bird. As an avid bird watcher and nature lover, it's important to understand that vultures are an important part of the ecosystem. We may not like them, but we need them ...

Iguanas ... and then some!

It's iguana mating season in south Florida and these guys are everywhere! Here along our canal this morning I counted 16 iguanas of all sizes. In this photo, you can see two, but there were four more scattered around the Brazilian Pepper tree. Keep in mind that both the critters and the tree are invasive exotic species ... but they sure are fascinating to watch!

Bird of the Day ... Cattle Heron

I've decided to capture images of birds I see every day. Now, I see birds every day. But, I don't always have my camera in my hand. Which is about to change for this little "bird a day" project of mine. Let's see what happens ...

These little guys are a fairly common site around these parts. Of course, with a cow pasture next door to my office, I may get to see them more often than others, but you still see them quite often even in the dense urban areas along the east side of the county.

Found this info on the Seminole Audubon web site:
Bubulcus ibis (BUE-bul-kus EYE-bis) Other Names: Cattle heron, cattle egret, buff-backed heron. Voice: Some croaking notes in nesting season; usually quiet.

Food: follows cattle and eats insects frightened from grass as cattle walk and graze; grasshoppers, crickets, frogs, spiders, toads; differs from other herons by feeding on insects and vertebrates in fields and pastures away from water.

Color: An all-white heron; yellow or orange-colored bill; eyes and legs yellow; in breeding season, spring to late summer, orange-buff plumes on crown and nape and white to golden plumes on lower foreneck and mantle; legs coral pink.

Nest: Usually with other herons in various habitats; mangroves, willows, live oaks and red cedars; nest built by female of twigs and branches gathered by male; 10-18 inches across; 5-12 feet above ground. Eggs: April and May; 3-5 per clutch. Egg color: light blue. Incubation time: 22-24 days; only species of heron able to breed in first year. Fledge: Young can fly after about 40 days.

Habitat: Dry or moist open fields. Range: Established on every continent. Observations: Apparently flew across Atlantic from Africa to South America; first seen in Florida in 1941; population is exploding.

Woodstork Watch

On my arrival at my office this morning, I spotted this guy.

He was fishing for his breakfast. I got a few shots of him,

then ...
he flew away!

Woodstork Breakfast Shop

Woodstork feasting this morning, around 7:30 AM
He's been around for a couple of days now, and it's such a joy to watch him work!

Bird Watching

Anybody know what kind of bird this is? He or she has been hanging around our office for about a week now. I heard him before I saw him and when I saw him sitting up on the power lines, I ran for the camera. He likes this spot. I suppose he can see all around from that vantage point. And, I've seen him there more than once.

I looked through hundreds of bird photos on the internet and at Flickr's photo web site, but nothing. So, if you know what it is, would you tell me?

Beauty & the Beast

Sunday afternoon we took a spin down to Homestead for the International Orchid Festival. The orchids were absolutely spectacular as was Fruit & Spice Park where it was held. But, it was the ride back that was r-e-a-l-l-y AMAZING! We took Krome Avenue north to Broward and stumbled on an entrance to the Everglades. The vista was beautiful beyond words and I wish my camera could have captured the majesty of it all!


A boot and a Budweiser in the Everglades ... and hundreds of spent gun shells on the ground left me feeling violated. Targets had been set up 100 yards away and were riddled with bullet holes while the ground was littered with broken beer bottles. A huge mound of burnt trash indicated a fire. A very recent fire. There was still the smell of smoke. And, what really frightened me is how easily this area would have burned if a spark had been blown out on the parched, dry earth of my precious Everglades. It's been so dry for so long ...

Everglades Land Grab

They say it's going to be a 10-story building. Right next to the Everglades. And, they act as if they're surprised that the "environmentalists" are outraged. Well, let's look at the map ...

It's just a little triangle of land. The Sun-Sentinel says it's 22 acres. It's not much, I suppose, but it's right there next to the Everglades. Next to a major canal. Next to a water conservation area. Next to an area that already has more traffic than they know what to do with. And, they want to build what?

I don't normally weigh in on these issues. I've known since I arrived here in 1974 that Florida belongs to the developers. But, this time is different. You see, I received an e-mail from Grant Campbell, an advocate for Audubon, early last week, right before Earth Day. When I read about the "re-zoning issue" related to this project coming before the Sunrise Commission, I thought other people in my inner circle would want to know about it. So, as I've done many times before, I forwarded it (blind copied, of course) to the commissioners I work for along with my boss and fellow workers and close friends and associates who care about these things. And, I used my "business" e-mail address, as I usually do. And, that, I thought, was the end of it.

A week later, on the day before the Sunrise hearing, I got a telephone call at my office from the developer's attorney, Dennis Mele. He was irate that I had sent this e-mail "around!" I told him I had shared it with my inner circle, including my employers. He said I had given Campbell's e-mail "credibility."

Whoa! Mule!

He said there weren't going to be any warehouses. He said this project had been "approved for 20 years." To which I responded, "Just because it's been approved for 20 years doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do." And, he responded with an abrupt, "You need to do something!"

What the heck did he think I could do? I am nobody! I'm just the lowly "outreach" person. The one who visits schools and teaches little kids about the Everglades and how to keep our waterways clean. Anyway! I simply said, "I appreciate the call. I have to go now. Good-bye."

The next morning (Tuesday) was pretty dicey. My boss got phone calls from the commissioners in protest to my forwarding the message. (Now, remember, I had forwarded it to all six of them, too, as I've done with many other issues of note related to water management. But I suspect they didn't read it.) And, my boss requested a copy of my original e-mail message plus any responses I had received. Three responses, all from teachers. Oh! And, the December 2008 article in New Times titled "Everglades Land Grab." I had the information ready for him when he got to the office because I knew he'd be wanting it. And, then ... I waited.

The long and short of it is, my boss disagrees with the project, but realizes as I do that there's nothing we can do. He agreed that it had gotten people talking, which was a good thing. What wasn't good was that I'd sent it from my office e-mail address. Hence, the "credibility" that Mr. Mele had alluded to. And, therein lies the rub.

My name was on the message, NOT the commissioners. I could easily find another job doing something else, but I believe in what I do as an environmental educator! I don't like the idea of a 10-story anything being built right next to a water conservation area! I am genuinely concerned that it will open the door to further development in the Everglades! But, I am supposed to separate what I do professionally from who I am as a "private citizen." And, this is a concept I do not understand!

I'm writing this as a private citizen concerned about Florida's Everglades. I work for six elected officials who make decisions and set policy related to water management within our district boundaries. Those boundaries do NOT include the parcel in Sunrise. But, the Everglades belongs to all of us and as a teacher, I speak for the students and teachers I work with who care very much about this wonderful, magical, one-of-a-kind ecosystem!

As the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland says: "Off with their heads!"

I am sad to report that one of the burrowing owl babies died this week.

First reports were it had been run over by a car. But, upon investigation, I learned he had been trying to fly all day the day before and they believe this activity in some way contributed to his/her death.

Nature is not kind. Nor is it ever easy. When they say, "survival of the fittest," they are not kidding. The strongest, the biggest, the smartest ... they are the ones who carry their genetic material into the future and guarantee the continuation of a species.

It still makes me sad.

Burrowing Owls
stand guard at
Pioneer Middle School

This gallant pair of burrowing owls stand watch over their young while traffic flows along 90th Avenue in Cooper City. This burrow is located in front of Pioneer Middle School and the owls seem oblivious to the students or the cars.

In this photo, you can see the first baby emerging
from the burrow. It was about 11 AM.

Here you can see two of the babies have emerged
from the burrow and the top of a third one's head
is visible. One parent is on the right.

Around 1:30, I checked in on them and only two babies
were outside the burrow, fussing in the direction
of the only visible parent.

Finally someone showed up with food and this
agressive little one insisted he/she could
do it alone. Tear up the lizard, that is ...

Bird Watching

The ducks and the finch, top and bottom, are new residents of the canal next to my office. The ibis flock was just passing through. On any given day I will see makes and models of birds that are so very different from one another. The diversity of the wildlife here in the Everglades is so amazing to me. And, this is just watching from my office. Imagine if we took an airboat out into the sawgrass plains! What might we see there!

Christmas Bird Count Documents 112 Species at Everglades Treatment Wetland

Above: Roseate Spoonbills.
Below: Everglades Snail Kite
(one of only 650 remaining birds)

Audubon/SFWMD Birding Tours
Take Flight in 2009,
Can Generate Benefits
to Local Economies

An Everglades restoration project just south of Lake Okeechobee lived up to its reputation as a national bird-watching location as volunteers with the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society partnered with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to document 112 species and more than 92,600 birds during the 109th national Christmas Bird Count this January. Known as “citizen science,” bird counts are vital to studies of the long-term health and status of bird populations.

More than 50 participants made the trip to Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) 5 in Hendry County for the day of bird watching. Of the diverse array of bird species sighted at the constructed wetland, American coots were by far the most abundant with 37,618 counted. Birders also took note of 31 snail kites, which are endemic to the Everglades area, and spotted some rarer species such as the short-tailed hawk and Cassin’s kingbird, a species more common in states west of Texas.

“You might spot a sandhill crane in your backyard, but it is a truly special experience to see hundreds of them together with so many other species of all sizes and colors in one beautiful place,” said SFWMD Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle. “Along with their recreational value, these treatment wetlands are wildlife havens that remind us of the environmental and economic significance of Everglades restoration.” The bird count at STA 5 served as a prelude to another partnership year of Audubon/SFWMD birding tours that showcase wildlife and public access on lands managed in perpetuity by the District for Everglades restoration. The 6,000-acre constructed wetland, just south of Clewiston, is today one of 489 sites on The Great Florida Birding Trail. Sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the sites are selected for their prolific bird watching or bird education opportunities.

Birding, a national pastime, is big business, with 48 million people observing birds both around the home and through vacation travel. A 2001 report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that nationwide birding generated $32 billion in retail sales and created 863,406 jobs.
Non-consumptive bird use (non-hunting activities) supported more than 19,000 jobs in Florida in 2006, and wildlife viewing activities generated more than $3 billion statewide that year, according to a state report. Second in the nation only to California, birding generates an estimated $477 million in retail sales in Florida every year.

Fast becoming renowned as havens for birds and wildlife, Stormwater Treatment Areas are the water-cleaning workhorses of Everglades restoration, cleansing phosphorus from the water flowing into the remnant Everglades. Over the last 15 years, the District has constructed more that 45,000 acres of treatment wetlands to improve the quality of water entering the famed River of Grass.

For more information about recreation on public lands managed by the District, visit the SFWMD recreation guide. For more information on Florida bird watching, visit The Great Florida Birding Trail.

Vultures clean up after the freeze ...

The first picture is a vulture and his mid-day snack. I couldn't quite make out what he/she had to munch on, then when I tried to get in a little closer, he/she hopped up on the fence post and stayed there longer than I wanted to hang around. It's just too darned cold today! 43 degrees Farenheit at 11:35 AM today! Now, you're probably thinking that 43 degrees isn't much when the northern part of the state is in the teens, but this is south Florida! Our "normal" winter weather averages in the 70s in the day time and in the 60s at night. Last night's low temps along the beach were in the 30s for cryin' out loud! West of I-95 there was a freeze warning for temperatures to drop below 32 degrees.

The problem with this kind of weather is that most of us don't have enough clothes to endure a long cold spell. Maybe two or three days ... that's all I have clothes for! Tomorrow is supposed to climb into the 70s with one more cold night tonight, but only in the 40s this time! Only in the 40s!!! Hmph!

As for the vulture, I suspect he had a young iguana. The iguanas don't do well in prolonged cold like we've had this week. They become very sluggish, as if someone drugged them. This makes them vulnerable to predators, including humans.

C'mon sunshine!