Monthly Archives: January 2010

Update on Rookery Activity

Sunday, January 17, 2010 Posted in Music, Wildlife

Yes, I know I said that I’d be back with the Roseate Spoonbills on this post but I just couldn’t help myself.  I had a quick look-see at the Rookery this afternoon and here’s the report:  looks like things are going swimmingly with Great Blue Heron pairs overseeing the nest:

The Great Egrets with their ethereal fan of mating feathers and key lime “eye shadow” were there en masse:

And while egrets and herons seemed to co-exist peacefully for the 45 minutes of my time there, I did hear a few grunts and signs of imminent fracas.  It turned out that this particular Great Blue wasn’t too happy to find a Great Egret in his backyard:

[caption id="attachment_1450" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Hey, whachay'all doin' in my yard?""][/caption]

Oh, oh, things are getting a little heated up:

[caption id="attachment_1451" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Go on, now, git!!!""][/caption]

The Great Egret made a wise decision of flying to more friendly bushes:

[caption id="attachment_1452" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Y'all got no bidness in mah bush!!""][/caption]

So, all is normal in the bushes at the rookery and life goes on. Meanwhile in MY yard, every bush, tree, flower and plant has withered to either brown and black stalks or dropped its leaves giving the false impression of “green” lawns after the Florida Freeze.  This morning, surveying “Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang” to quote The Bard himself, I noticed  a lone grackle screeching to unseen cohorts to come and git the bird seed.  In comparison to the immense tragedy in Haiti, this is trivial stuff indeed.  The grass will grow again; the trees and plants will spurt forth in new leaves and fronds; and blossoms and flowers will whisper joyful sonnets in the butterfly-filled air.  :D

Here’s a link to something that’s going through my head after my time today at the rookery. Enjoy :D

VHYKEQMS8UQN

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Great Blues Herons Surviving in Freezing Florida Weather

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 Posted in Wildlife

Southwest Florida did not escape the frigid weather other places in the nation and world have been experiencing lately.  There are reports out about thousands of fish and wildlife dying or suffering from the  sustained cold and freezing temperatures–a cold spell longer than we’ve had in many years.  I had planned for this post to be about Roseate Spoonbills having fun but under the circumstances, I decided to post a picture of vibrant activity at the rookery.  I’m not sure if the Great Blue Heron baby chicks survived the freezes but as of Monday, January 11 this was what I saw:

[caption id="attachment_1444" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""For me??? Oh, ya shunnnt hev!""][/caption]

It is some consolation to know that romance, presenting and nest building is not only surviving but going at a feverish pitch at the Venice rookery.  I’ll keep you posted on these gorgeous birds over  the next weeks and  I’ll be back in a few days to talk about the Rosies and their antics.  Meanwhile, wherever you are, keep a warm hearth and heart going.  :D

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Tutorial on Crab Fishing from a Yellow Crown Night Heron

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 Posted in Music, Wildlife

Some time back, I wrote about the art of fishing. I’ve provided a direct link to that post at the bottom but now I’d like to introduce you to a Yellow Crown Night Heron who has become a fast friend of mine and the avian community in general. Though she doesn’t mingle with the crowd over at Ding Darling (she’s a bit shy and tends to wander by herself along the pond shores), out on the barrier islands she is quite the social butterfly.  She is very popular with Maya the Great Egret, Neptune and Juno, the Osprey siblings, Julio the Cormorant, and Baudelaire the Great Blue Heron. Juno the Osprey teases her endlessly about her penchant to fret and fuss and dissect every possible nuance of every possible situation she comes across. She had counseling about this several times.  In the end, she admitted defeat and declared to all:  “Laik Popeye, I yam what I yam and I’ll be who I yam. ‘Nuf sedde!!”  A huge whoosh of clapping wings went up when she had finished her speech and her name was changed from WorryWart to Fretelletta the Yellow Crowned Night Heron. (Hereafter known as Fretelletta the YCNH—hey carpel tunnel and all that, you know…!)

So, here she is and today she’ll talk about her mode of catching crabs:

[caption id="attachment_1424" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Hello, y'all. Today, I'll show ya how I catch a tasty crabbe as seen in the next photo Ms P puts up.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1425" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""This tasty one was caught one evening as the sun was settin'--lovely time fer crabbe fishin, in my opinion.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1426" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""First, I tekke a look-see round the water ta see if anythin' worthwhile is stirring..Oh, is that me??/ I look kinda cute in this light, I...yes, Ms P. I'll get on wif the tutorial.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1427" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Thainne, I plunge the ole yellow head in and squish around unnerneath.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1428" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Most times, I come back out a tha water wif a mighty tasty bit o' crabbe.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1431" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Ms P, canne ya give the folks out thar a better look-see? Nice, hein????""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1432" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="'Now, the crabbe ain't what y'all call ready ta dance yet so I hafta do somefin extra. Next photo, pleez Ms P""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1433" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Yup, I gotta flip 'im good fer 'im ta dance right while keepin' all my eyes on tha prize.""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1434" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""Mmmmmmm, yup, that wuz goooooooooodddddddeeeee if a tad over salted at tha end there!""][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1435" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption=""So, y'all, I hope y'all learned how ta ketch crabbe and come back soon, an' leave a comment or Ms P will lose....yes, Ms P. Fretelletaa the YCNH here wuhsin' y'all Happy New Year .""][/caption]

So, now you’ve met my new friend. Thank you Fretelletta the YCNH, you did very well with your tutorial.   I’d like to wish everyone a very, very fruitful New Year and please, be good to our earth and its wildlife.  Here’s ABBA to sing Happy New Year. And here’s a link to the post on the  art of fishing . ENJOY :D

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