Photos under the Sun

Southwest Florida Pet and Wildlife Photography

Monthly Archives: January 2009

Great Blues and Juvies and…

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Posted in Wildlife

…Alligators! Oh my! Yes, there was quite a lot happening at the Venice Rookery this week. Usually, you can hear the click-clacking song from the Anhingas but this time, there was a whole lot more of sound effects. To begin with, the chick below put up such a racket, I thought there was an invasion of some species that I hadn’t encountered before.

[caption id="attachment_163" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Feed me, feed me, feed me""]

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No wonder this Great Egret (below, left) was probably rethinking the whole “chicklette” thing. All those beaks and all that noise!!

[caption id="attachment_164" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""I must be out of my mating feathers mind!""]

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Jim noticed an alligator that was at least 8 feet long under the vegetation on the little island. It was waiting, no doubt, for a tasty morsel in the form of an egg or a fledgling to fall from a nest. Now, I have to say that I cringe when I think of this. I can rationalize with all my might but I can’t reconcile myself with the idea that nature, while awe-inspiring, can also be cruel. It didn’t seem to faze the birds up above, though, – they just went about the busy business of romance, mating dances, nest building and fishing for the chicks and juvies.

One juvie that I’ve had my eye on was quite agitated this time. He didn’t have a parent near the nest and kept looking wistfully everywhere. Perhaps it’s time to leave the nest? I’ll have to follow up on that next week.

[caption id="attachment_165" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""I need food, food, food...""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_166" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Moooom, Daaaad, anyone...?""]

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In another part of the island, I could hear a very loud beak snapping rhythm. It was coming from a gorgeous Great Blue who was furiously trying to attract a mate. He wasn’t having any luck and I think, in desperation, he tried to appeal to a Great Egret for sympathy.

[caption id="attachment_167" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Am I cool or what?""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_168" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""you're cute!""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_169" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""May I have this dance?""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_170" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Sheesh, she could have been more diplomatic!""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_171" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""What's it like with your people?""]

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Meanwhile, the Great Egrets on the other side were busy with the business of romance.

[caption id="attachment_172" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Will you be mine?""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_173" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""let's seal the deal with a great 'gret kiss""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_174" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Love is a beautiful thing - y'all sing it now""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_175" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Honeymoon's over "]

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Ah, Love! Here’s hoping your life is full of it.

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It’s the Beginning of a New Era…

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Posted in Events, Wildlife

[caption id="attachment_154" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="'Hey, y'all! Something AWESOME happened today!""] 'Hey, y'all! Something AWESOME happened today!"

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…in our nation and what an exciting day it has been! The significance of this auspicious event (and its implications for everyone) has released trillions of colorful balloons in my heart. President Obama’s inaugural speech will surely instill new vigor in our lives and help us thrive once more.

In the wildlife world, things are happening at the rookeries here in Southwest Florida. Last week I showed photos of some gorgeous Great Blue herons getting acquainted. Two weeks later, they were among the busy birds building nests.

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The juvenile in the bottom right-hand corner above has grown even more. I was fortunate to witness her/him testing its wings. I’d love to see the parent teaching little juvie. Perhaps next time!

[caption id="attachment_158" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Hey!!! These wings really ARE huge!""] "Hey!!! These wings really ARE huge!"

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The Great Egrets were furiously courting too. If any of you more mature people, like myself, need a revisit to the excitement of first love or a reaffirmation of true love, then the beauty of these magnificent birds will take you there.

[caption id="attachment_160" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Whoa! You've GOT to be the coolest 'gret here!""] "Whoa! You've GOT to be the coolest 'gret here!"

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Until next time, may you walk with a skip in your step!!!

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What a Wonderful Day…

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Posted in Events

…to be alive and see history in the making. That sounds trite in the face of so much hubris lately from the powers that be but today, however unoriginal, it rings true. At last, wrongs have the beginnings of being put to right. So here’s to a NEW REGIME! Welcome and God bless you Mr. President, Barack Obama.

I’ve lived many years but I think I’ve rarely been so moved at an election outcome as when I saw Jesse Jackson’s tears during the telecast last November. The TV cameras panned the crowd of exultant supporters and came to rest on his face: an expression that encompassed the map of that long, seemingly impossible road that he, along with Dr. Martin Luther King and so many selfless others walked and still do. I read the look on his face that night as being the turn on the road. At last!

And now, let’s celebrate. I don’t have pictures of fireworks – it’s been too depressing for too long to even pretend but here’s my picture of hope:
flockofibis-1
Let’s all take to the sky and soar. “Celebrate, oh! yeah!”

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Love Is in the Air…

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 Posted in Wildlife

…and it’s not even Valentine’s Day yet. Here in Southwest Florida, there’s been a feverish rush to find a mate, starting with the Great Blue Herons. Mating and nesting season for the Great Blues start in November and continue into late Spring. Last week, at a rookery in Venice the place was a-buzz with ferocious activity. There was a lot of click-clacking sounds (Anhingas nattering at the herons and egrets); guttural grunts from busy egrets building their nests; and loud squawking from juvenile and baby herons anxious to be fed by the parents.

greatbpairone-1

greatbpairtwo-1

[caption id="attachment_96" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Parting is such sweet sorrow" but we need more fish"]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Awesome! I'm down to the last one!!"] Awesome! I'm down to the last one!!

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Both parents build the nest and take turns feeding the chicks when hatched. Very evolved, aren’t they?

In one comical instance, I could sense that the parent was on the brink of kicking the juvie out of the nest. The lad (or lassie?) was quite big already and pecked and poked the parent relentlessly. Happily, it ended on a mutual note!!!

[caption id="attachment_102" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="The "Getting attention" game"]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_101" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="If grabbing the wing doesn't work.."]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_103" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="...try biting the beak! Usually works."] ...try biting the beak! Usually works.

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_122" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Maybe it's time to leave the nest - try spreading your wings!""]

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_105" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Who're we trying to kid?""]

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Elsewhere, Great Egrets wave and dip their magnificent mating feathers to each other in their courting dance while others gather sticks and such for the nests…

[caption id="attachment_120" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Love is a beautiful thing.."] Love is a beautiful thing...

[/caption] [caption id="attachment_108" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Don't drop it, don't drop it, don't drop it""]

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And, of course, we have the juvenile “peeping toms” making fun of their older fellow species ..

egretfeathersone-11

[caption id="attachment_126" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="Get a room, already!"][/caption]

Here’s a Great Egret that caught my eye among the reeds by the little lake:

egretinreeds-1

This poor heron, below, was pacing back and forth at a nearby water spot and finally took off in search of that special one. He/she landed near a barnacle-encrusted measure stick looking out, seeking, searching that horizon for true love.

gbflying-11