If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Report: Ding Darling and other places
I inquired on this newsgroup several weeks ago on the status of Ding Darling
since the hurricane. There were no replies from anyone who had been there recently. The Ding Darling NWR website is not really very up to date and helpful either. I did get there this week and was pleasantly surprised. While the damage is very apparent in the mangroves where the upper level is largely gone, the trees and bushes have largely replaced the leaves blown off by the storm. The refuge road shows no damage. A prime concern is the opportunity for invasive plants to take hold with the tree canopy opened up. Turning to the wildlife, we spotted Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Anhinga, Cormorant, Osprey, Roseate Spoonbill, White and Brown Pelican, Black Crowned Night Heron, Yellow Crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Ibis, Tricolor Heron, Wood Stork and Little Blue Heron. The Osprey were gathering nesting material. Wood Stork do not appear to be ready to nest, which is supposedly late according to one refuge volunteer. Also saw large Alligator (10 to 12 ft). The refuge is not abiding with the recent Sanibel Island ruling to remove any alligator over 4 feet long. I don't have a list on the shore birds, but there were many. Roseate Spoonbills were numerous. I also went to Corkscrew Swamp where there is no apparent effect from the hurricanes. Our one day list there has 28 species; spare me copying the details. It was good. Red Shoulder Hawks are starting to build nests. Water is high, which is not good for Wood Stork nesting. I got some good close up images of a Water Moccasin and Alligator. Best sighting was a Painted Bunting at a feeder on the left trail as you leave the center. No photo in this case since I will not take an image with a feeder in it. Finally, we tried to locate some Burrowing Owls in Cape Coral. Our friends who live there had researched for us and found little activity; it might be early for them to nest. We drove by over 20 sites and only saw one bird; it was very skittish. But, on the final evening I did find two at a burrow. My advice is to drive around residential areas looking for the four white stakes that the city (or someone) puts up around burrows to protect them from mowing and such. They are usually in vacant building lots. The unmowed weeds is a give away to the burrow. There are usually two wood perches (crosses, really) inside the little plot which is on the order of 7 feet on a side. Hope this is useful. PSsquare |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
This is very helpful, thanks! How about the Venice Rookery? Roger Roger, Did not have time to get up there. Sorry. PSsquare |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On 1/10/05 10:06 PM, in article , "Roger N. Clark
(change username to rnclark)" wrote: How about the Venice Rookery? Roger Roger I don't think it took much of a hit during our fun times here in Florida. The town of Venice was pretty much missed by all the stronger winds. From what I heard the Pelican Rookery on Pelican Island, near Sebastian, Florida The East Coast) was hard hit and does not have many nests on it this year, at least so far. If you really want to know about the Venice Rookery, (maybe you want to make some plans for this seasons rookery shoots) I will take a quick trek down there to check it out, and report. I am about an hour away. Except... I really, really encourage you to try the St. Augustine Alligator Farm during, ... Late March to Late April or Early May. It is so much better for everything except Great Blue Herons and Anhingas. Plus, it is sometimes has Wood Storks and Spoonbills. I have no stake in this company, but it is the best Rookery around. I would rather drive the 4 hours to go there, and pay the entrance fee than drive the one hour to the Venice Rookery. PWW -- PWW (Paul Wayne Wilson) Over 1,000 Photographs Online at, http://PhotoStockFile.com |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Art Morris led a group to these areas a couple weeks ago, he told me Ding is
"funny" and a bit erratic because of the way the water is released these days (a problem the past couple of years) but that the other spots were very good. Here are some shots from one of his recent "Bulletins" ... http://www.birdsasart.com/bn158.htm Bill |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Art Morris led a group to these areas a couple weeks ago, he told me Ding is
"funny" and a bit erratic because of the way the water is released these days (a problem the past couple of years) but that the other spots were very good. Here are some shots from one of his recent "Bulletins" ... http://www.birdsasart.com/bn158.htm Bill |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|