Usually, when we think of milkweed, we mostly think of the orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), also called butterfly weed.  There are actually more than five (5) species of milkweeds found in this area, one being the beautiful white milkweed (Asclepias variegata).  All species support the monarch butterfly, but also the queen butterfly, as well.  This particular milkweed can be found in rich deciduous woods, standing out with its deep green foliage and beautiful white flowers.  Check out the closeup photo, which reveals the amazing detail and unique shape to the tiny flowers in the cluster.

The hairy skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica) is a beautiful purple flower that is also best appreciated up close and personal.  This little flower can get lost amongst the toadflax, lyre-leafed sage, and other purple flowers, but by taking a closer look, you can really appreciate the hues of purple coloring, delicate fringed flowers, and pubescent (fuzzy) surface of the irregularly shaped flowers.  The lower lip of this little flower forms a landing pad for insects to pollinate it, even to the point of providing a white “landing strip” that is easily seen by butterflies, moths, and other flying insects!

Found right smack on the ground, the partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is an evergreen, trailing, and perennial plant that runs along the ground as a beautiful ground cover.  The flowers are unique, in that they are fused at the base, giving rise to its other common name, twin-flower.  After the flowers drop, the fused ovary develops into a bright red berry.  Upon close examination, you can see that it is actually two berries fused together.  The berries are edible, but they are pretty bland and tasteless. 

It’s easy to see the colorful birds, large wildflowers, butterflies, etc. in the spring, but many times we overlook some of the most beautiful tiny wildflowers right underneath our feet.  Get yourself a magnifying glass and check out some of these little gems up close.  You’ll discover a whole new world that takes nature’s beauty to a whole new level!

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The Florida burrowing owl, unlike it’s western cousin, pretty much digs its own burrows.  Occasionally, they will inhabit gopher tort0ise holes, but for the most part, they’re do-it-yourselfers, preferring to make their own way.  They line the burrow with grasses, palm fronds, roots, etc. and make a comfortable home.  Outside the nest, they “decorate” it with bits of paper, foil, plastic, and other unique things, hopefully in an effort to disguise the burrow.  They can be active all during the day, preferring to hunt in late evenings and early mornings, but also at night, where they feed on small rodents, insects, reptiles, amphibians, etc.  They can catch their prey by hovering in place and pouncing or by running or hopping after their prey on the ground.

During the nesting season in the spring, they will lay 2-8 eggs, with the female incubating the eggs for about a month.  after hatching, the little nestlings will appear just outside the burrow in about two weeks.  Usually, in 4-6 weeks, the fledglings will be able to start flying, eventually leaving the nest at about 12 weeks.

Although very adaptable, these little owls still face issues.  Living close to people, they face the constant threat of injury or death from dogs, feral cats, invasive and exotic Nile monitors (a type of lizard), and collisions with cars, especially young fledglings learning to fly.  Thankfully, they have found a home and a friend.  The city of Cape Coral, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and  a group called the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife have embraced these tiny residents and have imposed strict rules to protect burrows, owls, babies, and eggs.  The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife have a trained volunteer program that watches out for the well-being of the owls and even have an “adopt a burrow” and “start a burrow” programs to take it a step further.  Heck, there’s even a Burrowing Owl Festival (pretty cool, right?)!

Well, with the efforts of the above groups, protection, and a little luck, too, these owls seem to be in pretty good hands.  I certainly enjoyed watching the little guys and I think my wife,  Gabrielle, is smitten!  If you get a chance, visit the city of Cape Coral and their most famous residents.  I’ll just bet you’ll be smitten too…

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Northern Parula Warbler

Summer Tanager

Painted Bunting

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One of the birds that you can see at the refuge complex of Donnelley and also Bear Island WMA down the road are the delicate-looking Black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus).  Not only are they seen, but they are one of the few shorebirds that we see in the summer and that also nest here.  They use their long legs and thin beaks to walk around in muddy, shallow ponds and delicately pick food from the water.  Of course, when I say long legs, I mean LONG LEGS (why else would they be called stilts, right?)!

As incredible as it is to see this striking black and white bird

Throwing debris to line the nest

with long pink legs, it is equally incredible to watch them build a nest, lay eggs, and incubate them until hatching.  They literally live on the edge, building a nest in a pile of mud that is wallowed out and then lined with wet vegetation that is thrown up into a pile by both males and females.  The female lays 2-4 camouflaged eggs and she begins to incubate them, with her immensely long legs folded up beneath her.  After about 25 days, the eggs hatch and the precocial young (meaning they can almost immediately open their eyes and start feeding within hours after they hatch) begin to move around and start looking for food.

These birds are truly fascinating and are such odd but beautiful birds. They are even more beautiful when there are two to three little stilts still in their down, following Mama and Daddy around the mudflats.  Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I’ll have some of those pictures to show you, but until then, keep your eyes peeled and take a visit to see the beauty of the Donnelley and Bear Island WMA’s found only in the Lowcountry!

The post Black-necked Stilts – Living on the Edge… appeared first on Nature Nook | Lowcountry Photography.

  Well, there is still some evidence today with the impoundments being managed still for waterfowl, migratory shorebirds, etc., but one uncommon bird that had an amazing impact during the rice era can still be seen if you pay attention and get a little lucky!

Before rice was grown and before agriculture took hold, the bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) was not very common in the Lowcountry.  Once rice became established as a crop and the technology and work force increased to make it the largest crop of the early colony, this bird began to make its presence felt.  Bobolinks, themselves, are handsome birds that are members of the blackbird family and now only move through our area during migration.  They are mainly black with a white back and golden nape or back of neck that makes them beautifully patterned and striking, especially when perched up on a grain head, calling for all they are worth!  Also called the rice bird and butter bird, the bobolink shifted its migration to take advantage of the prolific crop and soon became one of the biggest pests of rice.  In fact, it could take almost 20% of a rice crop during migration!  Thousands upon thousands of bobolinks would descend upon the rice fields to feast upon the maturing grain, causing the plantation managers to take to the fields beating pots, pans, and anything to make noise to scare off the birds.  Shotguns were used to shoot as many of the birds as possible.  The birds got so fat from the rice, they would literally explode when hitting the ground (hence the name “butter bird”).  Because of this, the bobolink was cleaned and eaten on plantations and the recipes using them are still around in books like Charleston Receipts, which call for a certain number of “rice birds” cleaned and picked for dishes such as bird pies, casseroles, etc.  The sheer number of birds and rich fat rendered from cooking them made them a resource that was not to be wasted.

Even though they were quite a nuisance back in the day, to see thousands of these handsome blackbirds perched on top of the golden rice grain heads must have been a sight to behold!

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As fun as it is to watch these little kits play, chase, and “attack” each other, they are building valuable survival skills and getting in shape to survive on their own.  Mama fox has began the process of weaning the kits and, as touch as it is to say, not all of these kits will survive to become an adult.  Even as an adult, the life of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is tough, where the lifespan of a red fox in captivity is over 10 years, but sadly, in the wild, red foxes only live around 2-4 years.  Of course, this means that the little fox kits have to grow up fast.  Many things can happen to the little fox kits, whether it is disease, such as rabies, distemper, parvo, etc.  predation from feral cats, raptors, coyotes, etc., and even death by other foxes.  As sad as it is for me to see a little kit perish, as a naturalist, I know things like this happen for a reason.  It’s hard not to grow attached to the little pups, especially after watching these dens for over 7 years, but at the end of the day, they are wild animals.  It is survival of the fittest, and nature must take her course.

For now, though, I will continue to watch the kits, and laugh, smile, and yes, even giggle, a the cute and comedic antics of the little fox pups.  Even though I’m a naturalist at heart, I’m still human on the inside, right?

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2013 Fox Kits

or on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/LGvDvCMfgZ4

If that doesn’t warm your heart, not too much will…!

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In addition to our songbirds and other birds migrating in, a couple of shorebirds start showing up in a few areas and I absolutely love to watch and photograph them.  They are two of our more “unique” and larger shorebirds, but their striking plumage patterns and other morphological features make these birds fascinating to see and observe.

The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a strikingly patterened black and white bird with (of course) a black neck, bright red eyes (when you can see them),and long, thin, red legs, giving it the name “stilt”.  They have the longest legs of any shorebird in proportion to their body and are second only to the flamingo for the longest legs.  They use these legs to stalk along the shallow waters of marshes, flats, ponds, lagoons, and other wetlands, on the lookout for aquatic invertebrates, fish, crustaceans, etc.  In our area, they breed and build small nests along the edges of these wetlands, giving birth to comical and cute, fluffy chicks that are precocial, meaning that they can walk around and forage literally hours after they hatch.  Stilts are very protective of their territories and will dive-bomb potential predators and also exhibit an anti-predator behavior of multiple birds surrounding the “assailant” and hopping up and down, flapping their wings, to confuse and intimidate the predator!

Winter Plumage Avocets

The other bird that I am absolutely fascinated by is the American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana).  The scientific name of “recurvirostra” gives away one of its unique features in that it has a beak that curves upwards, to which it uses to sweep side to side in search of aquatic invertebrates, fish, and crustaceans.  It is an elegant bird with strongly patterned black and white wings and, in the winter, pale to pale gray head, neck, and back.  Until recently, I only thought we’d see winter plumage birds, but this time of year, we can see avocets start to get the rusty red head and neck of breeding plumage.

Avocet with the beginnings of breeding plumage

I’ve always wanted to see these birds in full breeding plumage and thought it was a lost cause, because they normally overwinter here and then fly far out west and northwest to breed.  Recently, however, I found out that a few birds actually breed here in South Carolina.  I stopped at a place to specifically look for black-necked stilts, when, to my surprise, there were American Avocets in full breeding plumage!  Since it was July, I figured that they weren’t going anywhere and sure enough, when I asked one of the refuge biologists, they confirmed that they have a few breeding pairs.  Chalk one up for persistence and luck!

Avocet in Full Breeding Plumage

If you get out to a few of our refuges, take some time to look for these amazingly colored, patterned, and “anatomically gifted” shorebirds.  Whether it’s the long legs of the stilts or the recurved “shnoz” of the avocet, they are beautiful and worthwhile to observe, and, when you’re out and about, you should always be on the lookout for the unexpected.  Mother Nature won’t disappoint you, I’m sure!

The post Strange and Colorful Shorebirds – Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets Ready for Spring appeared first on Nature Nook | Lowcountry Photography.

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are probably one of the most despised birds around due to their ability to find, catch, and eat fish.  The USF&WS will even issue nuisance permits for stocked ponds, fish operations, even communities that determine they need it.  I remember meeting with a group of folks at a local “environmental” community, where they were looking to improve the fishing in their ponds.  One gentleman was adamant (or ignorant, depends on your point of view) that cormorants and otters were wiping out “his” ponds and he wanted to shoot ‘em all.  It’s this kind of thinking that drives me crazy as a naturalist.  YOU dig a hole and YOU put fish in it and then YOU have the audacity to get mad at wildlife for coming in and eating the fish?  Really?

Getting ready to swallow…

As much of a nuisance as cormorants can be, you can’t help but marvel at their ability to catch fish.  Whether it’s one on one or as a group, these birds are amazing!  They have big, webbed feet and a sharp, hooked, serrated beak that is perfect for catching fish.  Add to that strong propulsion and the ability to dive and maneuver around underwater and you have the perfect fishing machine.  They are called double-crested cormorants due to adults having two rows of raised feathers during breeding season.  Most have never seen these crests, but we’re getting into the season where you can see them if you look closely.  Adult males and females are completely black, with a yellow beak and throat pouch and brilliant emerald green eyes.  Immatures are dark, with a light brown, mottled neck and chest.  They are most often found in small to large flocks in the water or seen with their wings outstretched, drying in the sun.

Now, most cormorants usually eat fish that are between 2-6″ in length, but they can catch smaller

Down the hatch!

stuff as well as larger fish, too.  Add to that the fact that most cormorants eat about 1 lb. a day in fish and you can see why folks get upset, but studies have shown that most cormorants feed on small fish found close to the shorelines, and actually have little impact on fisheries.  In fact, my opinion is that they help our ponds by taking out numbers of fish to help keep populations of certain fish in check.  But in a fish pond operation where all the fish are between 2-6 inches, watch out!

Normally, cormorants will catch fish and swallow them whole, but they are equipped with a hooked beak to take on larger fish, if they need to.   To watch as a cormorant dives, swirls the water, and then pops up with a fish is a feat in itself, but I’m sure it’s just salt in the wound to an unsuccessful fisherman who has just fished in that same spot and didn’t catch a thing!

Take a chance to actually watch the cormorant in action and you won’t help but be amazed at how these fish eatin’ machines operate, but don’t be upset with the cormorant.  They aren’t affecting our fishing, they’re just better at it than we are!

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The American Wood Stork or Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a large wading bird with white plumage and black primary feathers visible in flight on the underside of the wings.  They’re about 4 ft. tall with a wingspan of about 5 ft. and can be seen soaring on thermals way up in the sky or wading around in shallow waters in search of fish, invertebrates, crustaceans, and other aquatic food.  Their feeding behavior is unique and fun to watch.  They are tactile feeders, meaning they feed by touch (an even fancier way of saying it is that they feed by “tactilocation”, impressive, eh?).  Woodstorks feed by moving their beak around in the water and when something bumps against it, it snaps closed in a flash.  They increase their odds of catching prey by moving or stirring their feet underwater to scatter baitfish into hitting their beak, or they canopy feed/wing flash, where they suddenly open up one or two wings to startle their prey into bumping their beaks.

Wood storks are colonial nesters and these nesting areas can be 1-2 nests mixed in with other birds or they be many nests, taking up a few acres.  These areas are fiercely protected by wildlife agencies for good reason. Many years ago, due to the loss of nesting and feeding habitat, the numbers of wood storks plummeted, but now, thanks to hard work and amazing efforts by local, state, and federal wildlife officials, the numbers are at least holding steady and in many places, increasing.  Because these birds are so sensitive and susceptible to loss of nesting and feeding habitat, the wood stork population needs to be carefully monitored and disturbances in these areas kept at a minimum.

Here’s where you come in…keep your eyes open throughout the spring and summer for banded wood storks.  We need your help in finding and reporting banded birds which helps to provide important information such as dispersal, population dynamics, age, feeding areas, etc. and really gives biologists an ”extra” set of eyes to help monitor these magnificent birds.  If you see a banded bird, go to this website, http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/species/wadingbirds/index.html , for information about what to report, what to look for, etc.  This website provides information about banded birds, the efforts of the banding program, previous year’s results, etc.

Remember, keep your eyes open for wood storks and have a good time watching the only stork that breeds in the U.S.  If you notice a banded bird, report it, but whatever you do, please don’t call our wood storks ugly!  They are beautiful birds that are graceful in flight and stately in stature.  As we all know, they aren’t the only mammals that are bald and wrinkly, right?

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