© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~* http://MyMobileAdventures.com Taking a break this week from the Critters on the Castle series; while selecting the Rookery Bay sunset photo for yesterday, I came upon this shot of two osprey posing rather prettily for me in their nest. I’ve published this one before, I believe, but I thought it bore repeating. If you’re an amateur photographer like me, you will know the feeling when I tell you that it’s...
© Copyright 2008 Tink *~*~* http://MyMobileAdventures.blogspot.com The Scarlet Ibis at Disney’s Animal Kingdom This is the scarlet ibis (pronounced: EYE-bis; click photo to enlarge). A native of South America, the scarlet ibis is also found in Trinidad and Tobago, where it is one of the birds featured on the national coat of arms. The ibis is a wading bird, and most of them here in Florida are white with a long curving red bill....
Sunset Cruise on Rookery Bay, Southwest FloridaSaturday 26 April 2008Part 5: The Osprey (aka, the “sea eagle”) The rookery was practically teeming with osprey. They make their nests on top of the channel marker signs, and boats can cruise by them and even stop at a respectful distance to observe them. There were generally two juveniles in each nest we passed, waiting on a parent to come by with a meal. Visual: Osprey chicks...
Sunset Cruise on Rookery Bay, Southwest FloridaSaturday 26 April 2008Part 3: Native vs Invasive Keewaydin Island and The Florida Panther At one point, we cruised past an island that had actual strands/beaches here and there, and rows of wooden piers where boaters could tie up and go ashore. Carol took the microphone at that time and told us a bit about Keewaydin Island. You can see more of this map and other resources for...
Sunset Cruise on Rookery Bay, Southwest FloridaSaturday 26 April 2008Part 3: More About The Mangroves Dr. Jackson told of a time he went to Costa Rica and visited old growth mangroves, which were a hundred feet tall and 3 feet in diameter. He said we don’t have old growth here in Florida any more because mangroves had been cut down and used to make furniture, but they’re starting to make a comeback. Anyhow, he...
Sunset on Rookery Bay Naples, Florida April 26th, 2008 Many, MANY thanks to all of you who have posted encouraging comments and sent really nice messages regarding the Rookery Bay Sunset Cruise series. We’re about half through, and it’s nice to know that this sort of blogging is appreciated. Today is just a little pause for Wordless Wednesday; there’s more of the series to come tomorrow and Friday. Hope to see you here again!
Sunset Cruise on Rookery Bay, Southwest FloridaSaturday 26 April 2008 Part 2: Into The Rookery Dr. Jerry Jackson Dr. Jerry Jackson is a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. He’s kindly and energetic, and demonstrates a keen, bubbling-over enthusiasm for his subject, namely – birds! Dr. Jackson doesn’t always do this eco-tour; I have the impression it was a special treat for all us public radio geeks who listen to his radio spot on...
Sunset Cruise on Rookery Bay, Southwest FloridaSaturday 26 April 2008 Part 1: The Road to Good Fortune Thanks to those of you who followed along Saturday evening while I was floating blissfully on Rookery Bay in Southwest Florida. As you could see, I did indeed have a cell phone signal out there on the bay. BONUS: I learned how to take video with the cell phone and send it off to Utterz for posting...
