Always Something to Learn!
Brown Pelicans are my heroes! They’re the true representation of “the come-back kids'” having become close to extinct in North America in the 1950s and 1960s due to the heavy use of harmful pesticides with DDT in them. The brown pelicans incubate their eggs by lying or standing on their eggs with their feet and as their egg shells became extremely thin as a result of the DDT, eventually all eggs would crack leaving no pelican chicks to raise. Over 40 years later colonies of brown pelicans have reappeared and we now see these sometimes laughable birds enjoying life in North America again. I just love their antics!! The incredibly beautiful photo used in this blog post was taken by Sandy Scott, nature enthusiast among other great things, but I will allow him to introduce himself through his remarks below. And, thanks, Sandy, for my newly gained factoids about one of my favorite and entertaining birds!!! “For starters, as a retired airline pilot and avid skydiver, I can’t resist anything that has wings or flies. One of my favorite birds is the goofy, friendly, incredibly interesting pelican. This shot was taken on the Gulf of Mexico in St. Petersburg, FL. It shows the interesting detail of the plumage of this adult brown pelican. Here are a couple of interesting factoids about pelican fishing techniques, the finer points of which usually go unnoticed due to the speed with which it happens.They utilize a fascinating fishing technique of diving into the water at high speeds, crashing into the water upside down hence stunning the fish near the surface, and then scooping them up in their pouch. They then drain the up to 3 gallons of water in their pouch, and maneuver their prey so they are in position to swallow headfirst down the hatch. This maneuver happens so quickly that I was never aware of the technique they used until I stopped the action with my camera. Just prior to hitting the water, they tuck in their heads, rotate to the left and then land upside down. Interestingly, the reason for that left turn is that the bird’s trachea and esophagus are both located on the right side and the left turn technique protects vital parts from being damaged on impact. There is one other physiological feature of the bird that helps protect it during its high speed fishing dives. They have air sacs throughout their bodies that not only help cushion them on impact, but also enhance their buoyancy in the water. Because of these numerous air sacs throughout the body, pelicans are much lighter than they appear.” How totally amazing is our Creator!! ...
Read MoreA Sight to Behold
One of my favorite past times is birding in wetlands. Waterfowl are especially interesting to me. I enjoy their beauty and the way God programmed them to live, raise families and survive in nature. Early in my birding years, the first Anhinga I encountered literally brought me to tears. I was walking around a lake on Hilton Head Head Island, SC, in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Chasing after a rather elusive Pileated Woodpecker, I was patient hoping for the perfect photography opportunity. I captured numerous “less than perfect” shots of the woodpecker and decided to walk to the shell ring area left nearly 4,000 years ago by Native Indians who traveled to our east coast. This shell ring is amazing, but that’s another entire post for later. As I walked down the trail beside a lake, I glanced over at the water and the view literally took my breath away. There sitting on a piece of an old tree sticking out of the water was a majestic looking Anhinga with its wings spread all the way out showing a gorgeous pattern of white stripes on it’s wings…very Native American looking design to me. Once I cleared my eyes of tears, I began focusing in on the bird praising God as I zoomed and focused. Such beauty, I thought. Thank you, Lord! The bird remained in that perfect position as I was amazed at the time he was giving me to photograph. His reflection in the water was just lovely! I had no idea what kind of bird this was but I DID know that I felt blessed to be viewing it. Once I identified and researched the bird’s identity, I learned that they have no oil glands in their feathers so following diving and feeding in the water, they stand fanning out their wings to allow their feather to dry. Just a little nugget of information but such detail that our Creator went to in their life design. 🙂 Fast forward a few years and I see these interesting birds all the time now in low-country SC, Georgia and Florida. I remember this first experience every single time I photograph these birds years later. Joy...
Read MoreKeeping One’s Eye on the Prize
For nearly three years now, I have been a seeker of the Roseate Spoonbill. I admit that birders can be looked upon as a little weird by some, but among ourselves, we see ourselves as focused and patient. Those two traits are absolute necessities a birders learns very quickly or the sport is just not for you. Whenever I go birding in a new area, I research what birds one might see there so that I know what my targets are. Mind you, the only birds I shoot are shot with my camera. I have looked in SC low-country, Georgia coastal areas and in Florida for the big pink bird with the unusual bill…shaped like a big spoon, hence the name “spoonbill.” But, in each location, I have searched and inquired and finished each day with pretty photos of gorgeous birds, yes, but the spoonbill, No! Each time, I give thanks for the ones I did see as well as safety along my journeys. I spent the Christmas holidays with my Florida family and after returning to NC, receive a photo message from my land-developing son-in-law showing me the picture HE captured of some spoonbills on a piece of land he is developing. Wow! What luck, I thought, as I grumbled a bit to myself. I WILL find that bird!! Well, my house sold more quickly than I thought it would so I had to get back down to FL to find my new home. I planned to drive about half-way, spend the night in Jacksonville and then, do a little birding at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville, FL. It was a beautiful day and I got great photos of a variety of birds, the ponds and the marshes. Of course, I was seeking the Roseate Spoonbill, but I enjoyed all the diverse birds there. There were many white American Pelicans, egrets, herons, all sorts of ducks, and white ibis. As I moved along the path, I saw flying above me a lovely and graceful Roseate Spoonbill. No time to get the picture but I SAW THE BIRD!! I was walking the path and another birder passed by and I whispered, “Did you by chance get a photo of that spoonbill in flight?” He said, “No, but there’s a bunch of them feeding down that way.” As I was shooting a large gathering of the pelicans, I zoomed out a little further and saw PINK!!! There were two spoonbills foraging nearby. Praising God the entire time, I snapped my camera as quickly as I could with some care. Then, I quickly headed in the direction of where the man had come from and what a feast!! ‘Twas a feast the 20+ spoonbills were enjoying and a feast for my eyes as well. Perhaps it was so enjoyable because of the long search I had had to finally see them. Perhaps it was simply because of my appreciation of God’s creativity, artistic design and His sense of humor in that spoon-shaped bill! Whatever, it was a glorious bit of time as I snapped away. Once I felt I had enough, I started the trek back to my car. I must have passed 6 or 8 other birders walking toward me and EACH one slowed to whisper the same question, “Were there any roseate spoonbills down that way?” This made me smile inside and out for I was imagining their oncoming gasps and ooos and ahs set ahead of them. Love me some Roseate Spoonbills!!! Thank you, Lord!...
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