Pine Snake Feeding

Snakes must be on the coolest animals out there.  How something with no limbs can be such a stealthy killer is mind blowing.  Our Pine Snake at work is a beast of a snake and it makes short work of eating 2 X-breeder mice each week.  I love watching the snake show, even if I can't say I love touching the dead mice as I thaw them out for the offering each week.  If you have never witnessed a snake eating then drop me a line and I'll see if I can arrange it for you at the nature center.

Book Review: Trees of Panama and Costa Rica

Trees of Panama and Costa Rica by Richard Condit, Rolando Perez, and Nefertaris Daguerre is a beautiful tree field guide.  I love the bright plates that look like the real leaf is in your hand. 

The Peterson for botanists in the tropics, the Trees of Panama and Costa Rica is a delightful guide full of some of the best color plates I’ve ever seen.  Maybe not as detailed as Sibley’s Guide to Trees but in some ways, with those stunning photo plates, I found this guide more appealing.  The use of up-close bubbles to provide attention to detail is nice on the leaves and berries.  The range maps are well thought out and are included on the same page as the plates, which I love.  The text is small be detailed.  The only confusing part for those not so scientifically trained is the use of latin names but I find this helpful to avoid confusion among species.  In the tropics, with so many types of trees, it would be hard to classify the book in any other way. 

If you're planning a trip to Panama or Costa Rica (or any other Central American country for that matter) this may be the perfect guide for you if you wonder what trees you are walking under.  It's a little on the heavy side to take in the field, with almost 500 pages, but as a reference when taking photos of trees or mulling over a few small samples, this book should come in handy.  I am looking forward to giving this book a try when I visit Panama this year on my Canopy Tower trip. 

This review copy was provided by Princeton University Press.

Oliver the Owl

Yesterday I posted a photo of our new education Kestrel but if you're visiting Green Cay you shouldn't definitely ask at the front desk if Oliver is out on our perch.  He usually sits behind the desk and delights visitors daily.  We've had Oliver for a couple of years now and he's such a cute guy.  We use him with our nightwalks, our school programs, weekend programs, and outreaches.  He's easy to handle and has quite the personality.  

Oliver was hit by a car and has an amputated wing.  He can never fly again and he was rehabbed at Busch Wildlife Center.  Now he lives at Green Cay and educates the public about birds, nocturnal animals, and human threats on wildlife.  Mostly he's a grumpy little guy but I do find him endearing.  It's a pleasure to work with such a beautiful animal.

Education Kestrel

Our new American Kestrel is doing well at Green Cay.  We are still in the process of getting his outside enclosure ready but so far he's eating well and working okay on the glove.  He's been a gem so far and we've already used him around the nature center when we have guests.  Friday he had his first chance to entertain a school group.  We had 30 homeschoolers in for a Birds class and he stole the show.  I'm really glad that we have him for our programs.  If you're interested in helping us with the naming contest then leave a message on the Green Cay Facebook page. 

Job Offers and Good News

October 1st marks Palm Beach County's new fiscal year 2012.  The three County nature center were on the chopping block this year and there was a real possibility that not only would we close but all the staff would be laid off.  I spent the summer with my pink slip in hand and hoping that things would turn in our favor.  Finally, the Commissioners voted to keep our jobs and a big sigh of relief was felt.  Fortunately, the next week I was offered a job interview with Oleta River State Park.  I have decided to turn down the opportunity since it would be a decrease in pay and a downsize in job but honestly, it was very relieving to see that even if I had lost my job, there was a possibility of new things on the horizon.  

Thank you all, for writing your local politicians, for making calls, for supporting Green Cay during these tough times, and for always believing.  You have made my last few months much more bearable.  I could not have done it without people like you, my volunteers, and my co-workers.

Because of all our supporters I can continue to offer great programs, get kids outdoors, and help people make connections in their everyday life to the outside world.  I am honored to keep working for the Green Cay Nature Center.

North America Migration Count

The Green Cay count was loads of fun this year and we had 55 species for the day with 504 individuals. Thanks to Holly, Andy, Emily, and Linda we were able to find 9 warbler species, 2 vireos, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and a few FOS species like Green-winged Teal and Sora. We had a few big misses such as White-winged Dove, Cattle Egret, and Black Vulture. With more time we may have been able to pick up 5 or more species and break 60 but it was a great count and one of our best.

Here's the break-down for those that are interested:
[_4___]____Double-crested Cormorant
[_24__]____Anhinga
[_1___]____Great Blue Heron
[_7___]____Great Egret
[_1___]____Snowy Egret
[_4___]____Little Blue Heron
[_10__]____Tricolored Heron
[_5___]____Green Heron
[_3___]____Black-crowned Night-Heron
[_26__]____White Ibis
[_3___]____Glossy Ibis
[_1___]____Roseate Spoonbill
[_1___]____Wood Stork
[_7___]____Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
[_1___]____Green-winged Teal
[_21__]____Mottled Duck
[_21__]____Blue-winged Teal
[_1___]____Turkey Vulture
[_1___]____Osprey
[_1___]____Cooper's Hawk
[_3___]____Red-shouldered Hawk
[_1___]____Sora
[_1___]____Purple Gallinule
[_130_]____Common Moorhen
[_1___]____Limpkin
[_2___]____Killdeer
[_15__]____Rock Pigeon
[_4___]____Mourning Dove
[_4___]____Chimney Swift
[_1___]____Ruby-throated Hummingbird
[_1___]____Belted Kingfisher
[_5___]____Red-bellied Woodpecker
[_22__]____Blue Jay
[_43__]____Fish Crow
[_12__]____Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
[_6___]____Northern Mockingbird
[_1___]____Brown Thrasher
[_1___]____Loggerhead Shrike
[_12__]____European Starling
[_1___]____White-eyed Vireo
[_1___]____Red-eyed Vireo
[_2___]____Northern Parula
[_1___]____Cape May Warbler
[_2___]____Black-throated Blue Warbler
[_3___]____Yellow-throated Warbler
[_3___]____Prairie Warbler
[_2___]____American Redstart
[_2___]____Ovenbird
[_1___]____Northern Waterthrush
[_1___]____Common Yellowthroat
[_10__]____Northern Cardinal
[_39__]____Red-winged Blackbird
[_23__]____Boat-tailed Grackle
[_2___]____Common Grackle
*Egyptian Goose

Thanks again count crew, you guys made this one a lot of fun!

 Photo by Emily Lark, this was her first official NAMC and she was in charge of counting all the Anhingas.

Airboats at Night and Virginia Key

For my brother's birthday I bought us a nighttime airboat ride in the Everglades.  It was a fun experience and our guide was really great.  I am a bit critical when it comes to nature guides (since I am one myself) but this guy went way beyond my expectations and I even learned a thing or two.  Plus he was very accommodating with people on the boat.

We saw some nice gators on the ride, also cormorants and a Great Blue Heron.  The best part was when our guide turned the boat off and all the lights in the middle of the Glades.  As we sat there we could see distant fires burning (as forest fires spread across parts of the Everglades) and hear the cacophony of frogs.  It was very peaceful being out there, even with a boat full of people.

Actually the best part may have been going real fast on the airboat!  I did enjoy that as well and it was nice that my brother could join me for this little adventure.

My brother lives in South Carolina and doesn't have the chance to visit often so I always try to find new things for us to do.  On the following Sunday we woke up in Miami and headed out to Bill Baggs State Park.  After swimming and chilling on the beach we sought some refuge from the sun and heat by hitting up Jimbo's.  If you haven't been to Jimbo's then you haven't seen some real Florida.  It's a hodge podge of squatter camp, manatee viewing deck, cheap beer, bocce, artwork, photoshoots, run down vehicles and shacks, and all around great place to grab a few drinks.  Andy, Rosana, and Emily joined us for the day and we had some nice down time altogether.

From the dock you can see the Miami skyline, a huge contrast to the abandoned school bus and shacks scattered about the property.

It was the perfect way to end my mini weekend trip with my brother.  I hope he had as much fun as I did.  Certainly I'm looking forward to the next sibling reunion.

Kayaking with John at John MacArthur State Park

It's funny how when we get older that old sibling rivalries tend to die and instead you end up being good friends.  I like to think that my brother John Charles and I are friends, even if we have different political views.  I won't fault him completely for that, agree to disagree kind of thing.  So it was with great pleasure that he had the chance to come visit me this summer.  It's been too long since he's made the trip and I have lived in 3 different houses since his last time here.  I tried to line up a really fun weekend and we started by a little kayaking at John MacArthur State Park.

The weather seemed daunting but it held off from raining and gave us a beautiful day with blue skies and puffy white clouds.  We kayaked around the mangroves out into the intercoastal.  As we passed under a bridge we cooled in the darkness and then as we paddled towards some small islands we saw a huge school of fish running and jumping out of the water.  It was a nice sight and John headed straight for the fish.  They dove right under his kayak. 

We found our own private beach and took a dip in the murky waters.  We watched boats pass by and dolphins swim in the distance.  In one direction we had mangroves and nature and in the other direction we had the skyline near West Palm Beach.  It was a mixing of worlds. 

Tomorrow I'll have a post up about the second half of his visit.  What do you think we did at night in the Everglades? Come back to find out! 

Ginnie Springs Camping II

After my trip to Ginnie Springs, I was eager to go back for another float down the river.  When Emily was back from Colorado we decided to make a weekend trip and show a mountain girl how to camp in summertime Florida.  We selected the weekend that Hurricane Irene was supposed to make landfall on our coast but instead she steam plowed up the eastern seaboard and skipped Florida.  This was perfect for our weekend plans so we set out on a Friday and arrived to a mostly empyt campground. 

This was a drastically different experience than my last camping trip to Ginnie Springs. The campground was quiet and peaceful.  We even found a campsite right by the Santa Fe with NO ONE in eyesight.  It was amazing! 

Scores of animal life was around us this time around.  We saw a raccoon, a Gray Fox, Emily's lifer Prothonotary Warbler, and many other birds.  Each morning a Carolina Wren would fly around our campsite singing joined by Tufted Titmouse and a White-eyed Vireo.  Also by the fallen trees we found mushrooms and centipedes.  My favorite non-bird sighting of the weekend was a striking Luna Moth by the bathrooms.

As always, it was a lovely camping trip with Ms. Lark.  We spent our days lazily floating downstream and swimming in the springs.  The perfect weekend getaway.  I am in love a little with the springs of Florida.  If you haven't been, they are nice any time of year.  Refreshing to swim in during the summer and if you come to Florida in the winter they are the perfect refuge for Manatees.  You can't go wrong either way.

Snapping Turtle

Meet our Common Snapping Turtle at Green Cay.  This guy lives in our laboratory and we use him for education programs.  Actually he was a very kind and gentle turtle until last year and then once we started feeding him pinkie mice, he became a much more aggressive turtle.  Now we are just waiting to take him to the big tank so that the general public can see him on a daily basis.  I'll feel much better about keeping him inside once he has moved to the other tank.  If only he would play nice with the other turtles!

Canada Warbler at Green Cay

Migration has been pretty good at Green Cay this year.  Last week Linda Fell (photo taken by her above) found a Canada Warbler.  I was lucky enough to go out the next day and relocate it.  Also seen were American Redstarts, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warblers, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, and Worm-eating Warbler.  A couple of Red-eyed Vireos and some Blue-gray Gnatcatchers made for a very interesting day at the "Chickee Hut" island. 

Earlier in the week I had birded Matheson Hammock in South Miami and had a very cooperative Swainson's Warbler, Northen Parula, Worm-eating Warblers, and Blue-gray Gnatatchers, all found on the service road.  This area has given Miami birders a Thick-billed Vireo, Kentucky Warbler, and Cerulean Warbler in the past month.   I wish I had seen that Cerulean!  You better believe I'll be out there trying this week. 

Saturday is the North American Migration Count and birders around the country will be out counting in mass.  I'm hoping for something good on this year's count.  I'll be birding the normal Green Cay/Water Utilities areas.  This will be my 5th year leading this count area and I continue to be surprised.  Migration is coming through, don't miss it!

Michigan Camping

Our mini-Jekyll reunion took place near Ludington, Michigan this summer.  Katie, Melanie, Heather and I all met up near the lake for some camping and catching up.  We consumed some beverages, mostly beer.  We went to a few bars: The Mitten Bar being my favorite but The Rail treated us well too.  And we explored Ludington State Park.  The big lake was cold but invigorating and I enjoyed swimming with some of my favorite ladies in the big icey pool.  We also had some lounging times at another small lake but probably the best part of the trip was just hanging out at the campfire.  I loved our campsite and the weather was perfect for being outdoors.  I can't wait until the next reunion with these fine folks!

Best bird of the campsite: Least Flycatcher

Best beer of the campsite: New Holland Mad Hatter

Ginnie Springs Camping

Ginnie Springs Campground may be one of the most fun in Florida but also the loudest.  We arrived for our camping trip around midnight and by the sound of it, the party had just started.  We found a campsite in the Beaver Landing area and set up our tents.  After the humidity soaked us through we walked down to the springs for a little night dip.  Ginnie Springs is also the only spring that I know of that actually keeps a lights on at night for swimming.  This is one of those private, anything goes kind of places.

For the next two days we enjoyed swimming, floating down the river, and hanging by the campsite.  The mosquitoes weren't too bad and the heat of the day was spent in the cool 70 degree waters to cool us down.  If you're looking for a camping destination in summer while in Florida, I believe the only place that is bearable are the springs.

Even with the large crowds were found bits of natural encounters.  Damselflies of all kinds would ride the rafts with us down river.  And the snorkeling is easy in these clear waters.  We saw bass, catfish, and sunfish of all kinds.  We also woke up each morning to a cacophany of bird calls from the Fish Crows roosting above our campsite. 

I highly recommend a trip to Ginnie Springs, even if its just a day trip.  Floating down the Santa Fe River is so relaxing and then swimming in one of the parks six springs is also a nice way to unwind from a hard work week.  I will definitely be returning to this little piece of Florida heaven.  Maybe next time I'll try on a less busy weekend.

Swarvoski Product Tester

So far the new Companion CLs have been giving me great results.  I've taken them to Michigan camping, the Florida Springs camping, the beach on numerous trips, the hammocks, the local parks, Lake Okeechobee, and out to the agricultural fields.  Each time they have been easy to use, light to carry, and given me nice looks at not only the bird life but also the interesting features of the landscape.  Yesterday I used them on the beach to watch a hang-glider come sailing down the shoreline.  Then I passed them to my friend to see her lifer Sandwich Tern.  These little bins are perfect for traveling. 

John MacArthur State Park

Went for a swim at the beach this weekend. Dozens of Sandwich Terms soared by and a few Brown Pelicans. The highlight was watching newly arrived Sanderlings chasing each other near the surf.  Emily and I are getting good use of my new Florida State Parks pass!

New Education Kestrel!

Green Cay Nature Center is proud to have our newly arrived education American Kestrel.  I went to pick him up today from another nature center.  Over the weekend was the Kestrel Count mentioned but I didn't see any kestrels flying around Washington D.C.  But I was really happy to come back to work today and be able to pick up our new education bird.  If you want to see our new addition he will be used in upcoming programs.  Currently, we are running a naming contest for him at the front desk of the nature center and on Facebook.  If you would like to enter then drop a name idea over at the Green Cay Facebook page.

The Great Kestrel Count 2011

Robert Mortensen at the Birding Is Fun! blog has put together an idea to honor the American Kestral.  I invite you to participate in this year's event.  Here are the specifics:

When: Labor Day Weekend! Friday, Sept 2nd - Monday, Sept 5th

Where: Wherever you live or are birding that weekend

Why: To celebrate the American Kestrel, which is the ABA Bird of the Year, to introduce someone to birding, and to have fun!

How:
1. Take your kids, a family member, a neighbor or a friend on a drive, a walk, or a bike ride to look specifically for Kestrels for at least an hour during the long weekend.

2. Submit an eBird report of all the birds you see and count (all birds, but especially the Kestrels).

Please send Robert pictures, stories, and video clips of your celebration of The Great Kestrel Count 2011 and he will post them at http://www.birdingisfun.com/ to share with the world.  His contact info can be found on his website.


Follow and Share you experience on Twitter by using the hash-tag #KestrelCount

I'll be in Washington D.C. for Labor Day weekend and while I know I won't have much time for birding you better believe I'll have my eyes open for a stray kestral on my adventure!