World Turtle Day

By Jess Yarnell

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

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Time to shellebrate! It’s World Turtle Day!

Green Sea Turtle at Sunrise

World Turtle Day was established in the year 2000 to celebrate sea turtles, teach people about them, and in doing so, encourage protection of our favorite sea creatures.

If you are in Florida for the summer, consider going on a guided sea turtle nesting walk. Volunteers with special permits take groups out onto the beach to watch the turtles lay eggs. They have special colored lights that do not disturb the turtles but allow you to see as the creature drops her eggs in the sand. The eggs hatch a few months later, and the babies make a mad dash to the ocean. Those that survive grow up alone, never to meet their parents. Yet female turtles return to the same exact spot on the beach to lay their own eggs in adulthood. It’s amazing.

Rich and I have done turtle walks with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and my family’s favorite “Turtle Museum”, aka the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.

Hope your day is turtle-rific!

** Turtle puns provided free of charge at most turtle walks. ;-)

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A Rainy Morning and an Unexpected Lifer at LAWD

By Jess Yarnell

Sunday, May 20, 2018

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It was a rainy day at the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. It wasn’t the ideal morning to be out with a camera, but the birds were still happy to see me.

One of my first birds turned out to be three birds. When I saw a Black-necked Stilt lying down, I wondered if she was brooding some babies. She didn’t make me wait long to find out. She stood up quickly and plop! two fuzzy powderpuffs were left uncovered, wondering where their umbrella had gone!

Black-necked Stilt with Chicks

My next bird was a surprise. I noticed a kingbird on the power wires, and in the bad light, I assumed it was an Eastern Kingbird. They have been migrating through the area recently. When I got home and saw the bird closer, I had to pull out my bird identification books. Turns out I had seen a Gray Kingbird. I confirmed on eBird that one has been sighted at the wildlife drive recently. Lifers are especially fun when they are unexpected!

Gray Kingbird

The Red-winged Blackbirds were in full voice that morning. The males sit high above their nesting territory, singing and defending their growing families. This one did so while showing off every inch of his red and orange stripes.

Red-winged Blackbird Song

Juvenile wading birds are showing up all over the drive. You can both hear and see the frustrated juvies flapping their wings and begging for food. The problem is, some of them are old enough to start feeding themselves! This juvenile Anhinga stuck his head waaaay down his mom’s throat in order to eat some regurgitated food.

One of my favorite subjects at the wildlife drive is ready to put on their best show. Meet this year’s juvenile Barn Swallows, who hang out on tree branches and wait for Mom and Dad to fly by with food. The babies are so cute as they dance for their dinner. Look at those gaping mouths!

Begging Barn Swallow Babies

This Barn Swallow mom flew in with a nice dragonfly. The problem is, she had two babies who both wanted to eat it. How to choose? Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe. Into which mouth shall it go?

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

The top baby was the victor. :)

Springtime Nature Therapy at LAWD

By Jess Yarnell

Sunday, May 13, 2018

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Last Saturday was a beautiful spring morning. I headed out to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive for some nature therapy. Of course my Beast came with me, but it was so great to be outside that I found myself listening and watching more than photographing. Spring migration is largely over, although I saw some Bobolinks and Michael found a few American Redstarts at the Crazy U. The wildlife drive is now full of nesting birds. Come with me and explore…

I saw these Bobolinks as I drove in through the Lust Gate. Bobolinks migrate through Florida each spring and fall. You often see them in large flocks. Or in my case, I heard them before I saw them. They were fairly far out in the field, but I didn’t recognize their calls, so I knew there were migrants around. They let me get a few quick snapshots before they flew farther away.

Bobolinks

The Black-necked Stilts came back to Florida several weeks ago, and already they are settling down to nest. I spotted this nest off in the marsh. The bird’s mate stood on guard nearby. It’ll be fun to watch this nest and see the babies grow up!

Black-necked Stilt Nest

Speaking of babies, the Common Gallinule chicks are already all over the wildlife drive. They look like adorably ugly little aliens. This one didn’t mind as my car stopped nearby. He stood tall and proud on a bit of branch sticking out of the water, showing me just how much of a big boy he really is. :)

Common Moorhen Chick

Here’s another Common Gallinule, this one on a nest. The nests are made on the ground out in the middle of the marsh. There isn’t a whole lot to protect the eggs from predators. Maybe that’s why the gallinules lay several clutches of eggs every summer, and every clutch is pretty big.

Common Moorhen Nest

I was surprised to see a couple of Fulvous Whistling-ducks up close. They are very common at the drive, and I’ve seen groups of several hundreds of ducks fly in the air, but the marsh is big and the birds often hang out far away from the cars. (Smart birds.) I certainly didn’t mind a chance for a close-up.

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Another bird that is nesting right now is the Red-winged Blackbird. They make a small cup-shaped nest in a bush, often over water. Sometimes you see the nest being constructed…

Red-winged Blackbird Building Her Nest

…and sometimes you have to look closely to see that the nest is already occupied!

Red-winged Blackbird Female in Nest

I was happy to find the Interceptor Road part of the drive open again after repairs from Hurricane Irma. Interceptor is where you find the adorable Barn Swallows and their cute begging babies. I had such fun photographing them last year, and I’m looking forward to more fun this summer. In the meantime, here’s a nice adult who posed for me and promised me cute babies soon…

Barn Swallow Portrait