Saturday, June 21, 2008

Anhinga & Baby Florida Gallinules

Outside our apartment, as I've said before - we have a lot of wildlife. I'm still trying to get a shot of the baby 'gator!
Anyway - this is an Anhinga. Locals call him a "Water Turkey" or "Snakebird". John actually i.d.'d him as a Snakebird first. They swim with their bodies underwater, with just their long, snake-like head and neck showing. The thing is, they don't have an oil gland - so their feathers aren't waterproof.
Here's Jake the Snakebird drying out his feathers...
...and watching me watching him.

Circling each other. Doesn't look like "Jake" is too happy...

Next to Jake was a group of Florida Gallinules. Here are the mama and daddy and their babies (there are 5 babies total) - a group of these little birds (also called Common Moorhens) is called a "plump."

Huh?


And this picture is for Mom. She loved watching the parents while they were trading spots on the nest, waiting for these little babies to hatch.





1 comment:

  1. I liked your post on my race report! Just think though - if you start doing races (duathlons even!) - just think of all the wildlife you'll get to see!!

    Spectre would love going to races!

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