Danger Mango

[keithcurrypochy]

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

A family of Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

Cypress Trees

Newnans Lake

Gainesville, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

To generate more money for the state, Florida's popular state parks could see more than just timber harvesting and cattle-grazing added to the bird-watching, camping, canoeing, kayaking and hiking activities allowed now.How about hunting?

Hunting should not be allowed in State Parks, period. It is against the principal purpose of what the state parks are there for. Hunter already have lands in the many Wildlife Management Areas around the state, and I believe that the current systems works very well in allowing hunters room to hunt without interference while allowing hikers and others to enjoy nature in areas where there are not hunters. 

[dangermango]

Winding down/changing

This blog is winding down for now. We are moving out to the bay area (California!) so I’ve sold my kayak and am spending all my time packing. I’m excited to go exploring out there as soon as I have time, I will probably post pictures of whatever I find here rather than starting a new blog, but obviously that’s going to be wildly different...so if you were following this for north central florida wildlife, well, there’s not going to be any more of that pretty soon.

[dangermango]

A tree frog took up residence on our sliding glass door this evening. While I was running out the front door to go around the house and take pictures of him, I encountered a mamma toad hanging out by the recycling bins.

[fairy-wren]

Burrowing Owl

[keithcurrypochy]

Roseate Spoonbill (Pl at by alea ajaja)

Celery Fields, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)

Lake Tohopekaliga, FL

[typhlonectes]

Shenandoah National Park - VA, USA

A pair of Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) have built a nest outside my office, and I’ve been watching them catch insects to feed their hungry babies. The wrens are prolific hunters, snatching up spiders, moths, caterpillars, etc. They have been giving me wonderful “trophy moments” as they pause on a perch with “dinner” to make sure there are no other birds around before returning to their nest.

~ Ranger N.L.

[keithcurrypochy]

Happy World Turtle Day!

Today we celebrate Turtles! (tortoises and terrapins too)!

Here are a few turtles and a tortoise I have met in my travels!

[keithcurrypochy]

Big Cypress Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger avicinnia)  

A unique subspecies of Fox Squirrel found only in Big Cypress. This subspecies is listed as threatened due to habitat loss and hunting.

Big Cypress National Preserve, FL

[magicalnaturetour]

This is the moment an angry one-and-a-half ton bison decided to assert its dominance by charging directly at a stunned photographer. Luckily for local photographer Marc Latremouille he was able to take the heart-stopping shot from the safety of his car before driving off. ‘The bison was sprinting to convey dominance over other bison,’ explains Marc. ‘Luckily for me, he didn’t try to assert his dominance towards my car.‘Picture: Marc Latremouille / Media Drum  - Telegraph)

[typhlonectes]

Glass Architecture Is Killing Millions of Migratory Birds

Architects, however, are becoming more attuned to the issue.

by Anne Quito

Starting this week, a dedicated gang armed with flashlights and Ziplock bags will be roaming the streets of Washington D.C. Braving spring’s early morning chill, the 20-plus volunteers who signed up for Lights Out D.C. will comb a four-mile route for birds that crashed into windows and glass buildings overnight.

Working in pairs, the participants typically start at 5:30 a.m. and work efficiently to beat the street sweepers and janitorial crews who power-hose the sidewalks in the U.S. capital.

Most casualties are small—sparrows, starlings, warblers, and wood thrushes (which happens to be Washington’s official bird). Twice a year during spring and autumn, millions of birds travel thousands of miles, tracing ancient routes or flyways in search of fertile feeding and nesting grounds. Smaller birds are night owls, so to speak, and like to travel at night when the air is calmer, relying on stars in the sky for navigation…

(read more: Archetizer)

photographs by Sam Droege

[dangermango]

Cormorant, Ichetucknee Springs 05-03-2015

I’m so used to seeing Anhingas out here, but today there were none, Instead I found this Cormorant, who didn’t mind letting me get some closeups.

[dangermango]

Great Egret, Ichetucknee Springs 05-03-2015

Great Egret looking like a weirdo.

[dangermango]

Gator Creepin’, Silver River 05-02-2015

From a distance I wasn’t quite sure what I was seeing but as I paddled past, he kept turning to keep me in view.