Birds of Florida

Florida is for the birds.

Song birds, seabirds, snowbirds…. You get the idea.

We’ve seen and heard so many different types of feathered friends over the last couple of months. We’ve heard the owls lurking in the woods, saw vultures and hawks soaring overhead, and watched the anhingas drying their wings by the water. These diving birds are as fast and graceful underwater as any loon, but can startle a paddler when they come up alongside, as they swim low in the water and their sinuous necks resembles a snake.

While in Ochlockonee River area we searched in vain for their rare red cockaded woodpecker – whose name is misleading as there is very little colour on this tiny grey bird. The yellow bellied sapsucker, however, was dropping pieces of pine bark almost on our heads while we were walking.

Now that we are further south in the state, we are finding bigger game to chase. Quite common around here is a very noisy and very large bird, the sandhill crane. They are often seen along the roads, in pairs, nibbling at the grass or prancing suggestively around their mate. Our current campground even had a mating pair that produced a small family for a couple of years. This year they removed the tempting tall grass along the golf course for fear that an errant ball would take out a fledgling. 

They don’t seem to feel the same concern for the windows in the trailers along the first hole.

A trip to Homosassa Springs gave us the opportunity to see colourful wood ducks along a tiny river. Since there is so much development in this area of the country, these pretty little birds almost disappeared in this area. State parks and conservationists now put up specially made nesting boxes.

The warm Homosassa springs attract many other birds, especially tourists. These particular birds flit in and out, making a lot of noise and mess. And yes, I know that I’m one, too.

The river’s biggest draw for the tourists are the manatees that come to warm up in the tepid water. They float serenely along the bottom, vacuuming up any underwater vegetation they find. It is interesting that they are not bothered by the more aggressive alligators. In fact, their only predator is humans.

Speaking of birds of prey, we saw a hawk sitting on a flag pole, eyeballing the mourning doves out on the golf course.

And I wonder if one of the many ospreys we’ve seen down here have a nest along the Bay of Quinte?

At the Mardi Gras dance held at the campground, we saw lots and lots of old birds. Some of them had feathers, too, but mostly on their flashy masks and hats.

As two of the old birds in attendance, we danced to a live band, a small band with brass and strings, entirely populated by campground residents. Our footwork may have been slightly improved by the two dancing lessons we’ve taken, but quickly forgotten in the fun of just dancing.

By far, the ugliest bird we’ve seen here is the wood stork. Although their body and wings are a brilliant white, it is the grey, bald head that you notice. It even sits on the ground in a funny way!

I would hate to think what kind of babies it brings. Maybe alligator?

So far, we have only seen the iconic flamingo in a zoo. Perhaps we have to be even farther south to see them in the wild. We’ll let you know. We’re heading that way next.

Until next time,

The Lovebirds