Green Cay

 I photographed this Great Egret during the spring which is breeding season. This bird normally would have a yellow bill, but appears more orange at this time. They prefer to feed in the open freshwater marsh areas. Most of the wildlife within Green Cay is habituated which means accustomed to having people around. Even weeping land developers. If your camera has telephoto capability you can get great shots. Remember to be quite and patient and the payoff is rewarding.

  The Anhinga, pronounced Anhinga (I hope this helps) is also called the snakebird because of their serpentine neck and head. Their feathers lack the water repellency of other waterfowl which enables them to swim underwater and hunt for food. They also have to spend a good deal of time drying off in the sun like this one perched on this palm tree stump. You can frequently see their heads popping up in the water as they search for fish, frogs and water snakes.

 When I think of storks I picture new babies and pickles because of a lifetime of bombardment of TV ads. In real life Wood Storks are a magnificent bird that is fighting for its right to make their own babies and survive. They are also on the endangered species list and I am thankful there are places like Green Cay for them to thrive. I believe this to be a juvenile stork because of its size and lighter colored bill.

Wood Storks retreat to Florida during the winter months where they breed. They are monogamous and have one brood each season. Their eggs take 27-32 days to hatch and the babies are fed by both parents. Great role models! Maybe that is why storks have been a symbol of parenthood by the media. I am still confused about the idea of using a stork to sell pickles.

 Sunset at Green Cay is magical. The majority of wildlife activity happens at this time as well as early in the morning. It is the best time to take photos. The one down side of this pristine site is that its boardwalk attracts “power walkers” that sometimes forget this is a nature park and tend to be quite loud while they socialize with fellow walkers. “Use your indoor voice,” my mom would say. Good advice.  Most all the visitors have left by late afternoon, which seems to be the quietest time of the day. I was a little put off by the developer sitting on a bench loudly weeping.

The Florida Redbelly Turtle is very cleaver. It lays its eggs in alligator mounds which are ideal because of the constant temperature and humidity, but mainly for the protection afforded by the gator because it protects both its eggs and that of the turtle. This turtle has evolved a strong shell just in case the gator catches it in the act of trespassing or the gator gets wise to this trying to hide the egg scheme.

 Florida Redbelly Turtles are frequently seen basking in the sun on a convenient log and seem not to mind a little company. This looks like a turtle conga line. While I was taking this shot a distant car backfired and these turtles bailed out in a flash looking for cover.

 A resourceful hunter, the Green-Backed Heron has been observed using a floating feather as a lure to attract fish to the surface. I guess that would be considered a tool and it was once thought that only humans and apes use tools. Very interesting!

 Remember plants are wildlife as well! This is a Broad-leaved Arrowhead and blooms year round. Seminole Indians used to treat alligator bites with this plant. I wonder how well it does with a missing leg?

 The Roseate Spoonbill is similar to a Flamingo and is well sought after by bird watchers and photographers. You can see why. This is another bird almost completely wiped out by man and is still vulnerable. This bird feeds by sweeping its bill back and forth in the water. Sensitive nerve endings snap its bill shut when prey is encountered. I am hoping that land developers will accidently stumble onto this website and develop a conscience.