Some of the best birding I did in Florida, or maybe rather some of the most productive, was along the many innocuous canals and watercourses that seemed to form as intertwined a network as the roads themselves. There is so much water, running in channels through neighborhoods, along streets and highways, through developments projects, and around any designated birding destinations, it's impossible to avoid.
We have canals in Arizona of course, and they support a fair amount of bird life as well, but these winding water features don't have near the visibility or lushness of the Florida canals, and within these ubiquitous road-side canals I saw my first Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills of the trip. They also produced many White Ibis, Egrets, and Anhingas.
There often wasn't enough room or time to pull over and photograph the feathery roadside attractions, as the canals take the place of shoulders on many of the roads where I was driving, but at one canal behind a Holiday Inn (yes, have no shame as a birder, especially in a new and distant land!) I found a Tri-colored Heron terrorizing near the tules.
This was another stunning bird that, although seen in Arizona briefly, definitely benefitted the birder with its home-feild advantage in Florida. They were more common, more visible, and more comfortable around people. As such, I got to sit and watch this elegant eater hunt along its canal with only the occasional honking-car disturbing the ambiance.
It was always just a bit too fast for me.
As in any state, especially one with many good birding attractions, skulking along the canals hardly feels like proper, dignified birding. And yet, it's also an irremovable part of the backyard birding scene in Florida and similar states, just as much as feeder-watching or taking note of what's around the neighborhood. These Venetian waterways are a part of all the communities in the area, and the birds are as well.
It also provided the nice security of knowing that even if I dipped on some of the target species at my designated birding sites (which I did, a lot), I'd still see some cool stuff on the way there, or back.
It's good stuff. It doesn't matter where they hang out; it's just all good stuff! I am always overwhelmed by the birds and water elsewhere. We are so used to dry deserty landscape that we forget many parts have water flowing everywhere. When I look at a river back in Wisconsin or elsewhere, I now marvel at the beauty and birds found around the edges. Locals look at us as if we are crazy, but that bird is a rare delight here and yet common there. There's nothing better than seeing a quick lifebird with better observations. Even better are the long photo shoots provided:)There are several birds on my list that beg for better pics:) There are some that don't have any at all! Congrats on this exciting expose!
ReplyDeleteFlorida is a veritable Waterworld, though a much better one that that post-apocalyptic movie.
DeleteBeing able to travel is a boon for birding, especially to see them in their most well-established locales.
Thanks for stopping by Chris.
Great shots of the Tri-Colored heron. Florida has some awesome birds. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eileen.
DeleteCatching up on your Florida posts... great stuff! Jealous of many of these birds, and certainly don't judge the inclusion of a grackle in your last post... How's the healing coming along?
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Jen.
DeleteAlas the news is bad. I have to have surgeries later in June and fabricate a few new tendons from my thigh or something. It's science and it's taking forever.
I'll be like those injured birds around parking lots--messed up but surviving. I'll sell the movie rights soon. Interested?
As a young man, I mocked the very idea of Florida for all the obvious reasons. No longer young, I go there for a month in the winter now. All the neon flamingoes and white belts are still there, of course, but I absolutely agree with you about the birds, landscape, and the waterways. The tricolored heron is one of my favorites. Your shots are great—you’ve managed to get his colors much better than I ever have. If you’ve never tried the Loxahatchee NWR, a little west of West Palm Beach, you might consider it if you’re at all nearby. Good luck! (And I wrote that before I read that you have a health problem. I’ll go on and post it now, but will also catch up on your Florida and health posts. Good luck again).
ReplyDeleteThanks for signin' your tune Banjo.
DeleteI've heard of Loxahatchee--would love to check it out sometime.
Tri-colored is a really special Heron. I always expect them to be Great Blue size, and am surprised by their compactness, but in the elegance and color department they're tops.
There are many reasons to decry Florida, and many jokes to make at the state's expense, and as you say, none of this detracts form the fact that it has some downright fabulous birding.
Laurence, your post made me homesick for Florida and that is okay! Tricolored Herons are awesome subjects no matter where they are found.
ReplyDeleteTricolored's are sexy.
ReplyDelete