SUNDAY BIRDS

self | April 22, 2012 | swampsniper

[SWAMPSNIPER]

More from the rookery.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

pinglist

[expat1000]

Beautiful! Put me on the ping list, please.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Oh my gosh! You’ve already gone out, took these pictures, and posted them? They are beautiful. (I’m still in my PJs.)

Good Sunday morn to you.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Not today, couple of weeks ago.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Done!

[Jemian]

Beautiful birds! Thanks for posting these.

[Tucker39]

Ping, please. Thanx!

[Pat4ever]

What a treat to see. Thanks!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Whew! I feel much better now. I’m dressed for church and ready to leave now, but you got me going, at least.

[left that other site]

Great Shots!

[Dinah Lord]

Beautiful! Thank you.

[thesearethetimes...]

So beautiful. How far is the rookery from your place, and how did you come upon it, if it is not nearby?!

May God continue to bless and keep you.
Tatt

[rockinqsranch]

Thanks for the ping SWAMPSNIPER. Enjoyed.

[squarebarb]

T^hank you! Beautiful shots.

[Celtic Cross]

Beautiful. I lived in Florida for a few years and it really is gorgeous once you get away from the tourist traps and suburbs, although I never did get used to the snakes and gators.

[Islander7]

Love, love that second shot. Perfect exposure and composition.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I'm about 15 miles from it, this rookery is over the gator bayou at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. They are wild birds, and they didn't start nesting there until the gator farm added the swamp exhibit. At that time the gator farm folks realized just how much good they had done and they've improved the exhibit every year. The birds feed in the swamps, bays and marshes all over this area. Some birds, the storks and roseate Spoonbills, were in trouble and very seldom seen in this area. I believe that the gator farm gave them the foothold they needed to regain breeding viability.

There are some real tourist traps around here but the gator farm is solid gold, one of the best zoological parks to be found.

You can find rookeries almost anywhere that gators are plentiful and there are enough good sized trees.

The birds instinctively know that the gators will keep tree climbing predators away from their nests.

People who gripe about gators don't realize just how vital they are to many other species.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

You just weren’t properly introduced!

[TEXOKIE]

Thank you and God bless you for using your gift of vision from God to share these gorgeous images with us as we give Glory to God this day for all good things.