Florida Natives

Images from the Land of Flowers

[nemfrog]

“Historic drainage patterns of South Florida.” Everglades Wildguide. 1972. 

[thebeakerblog]

Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut is hosting its first-ever Florida manatee – an 800 pound creature rescued last week from the waters of Cape Cod Bay in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Sarah Callan from Mystic Aquarium said it’s uncommon, but not unprecedented for manatees to travel this far north. But biologists got concerned when the animal didn’t head back south, as water temperatures drop. “Typically they are in water temperatures ranging from about 75 to 80, 84 degrees,” Callan said. “We actually picked her up just in time because water temperatures in Cape Cod are at 67 right now.”

After being pulled from the water, the manatee was driven to Mystic Aquarium. It was lifted by crane into a pool – and will stay there briefly before being flown to an animal rehab clinic in Florida. “Basically we’re the holding facility for her, just to make sure that she’s eating well and that her health is good,” Callan said.

Callan said the animal is eating well - getting about 80 pounds of lettuce and spinach daily.

The Florida manatee is federally protected, but numbers have been increasing in recent years. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 6,300 manatees are now in Florida, up from around 1,000 in the early 1990s.

The animal at Mystic is recovering and officials say it’s not on view to the public.

(Image Credit: Mystic Aquarium)

[npr]

Manatee news in Connecticut! -Emily

[typhlonectes]

Stone Knife and Mastodon Bones Point to Earlier Arrival of First Americans (May 2016)

A sinkhole in Florida’s Aucilla River is an “archaeological gold mine” that offers a rare glimpse of life in ancient America.

A thousand years before big game hunters who used what are known as Clovis spearpoints spread across North America, earlier arrivals were living near Florida’s Aucilla River alongside mastodon and other animals now long extinct. So say archaeologists who spent four years investigating an underwater sinkhole known as the Page-Ladson site, located in northern Florida east of Tallahassee.

A “bifacial” stone knife—one with a blade chipped to sharpness on both edges—and other stone artifacts found in riverbed sediment dated to 14,550 years ago provide “unequivocal” evidence of human habitation, says one of the principal investigators, Michael Waters of Texas A&M University. The researchers’ findings were reported Friday in the journal Science Advances...

[natureconservancy-deactivated20]

One that would have the fruit must climb the tree. Biologist Gina Kent climbs a loblolly pine in search of swallow-tailed kites. These birds nest at the tops of trees so biologist must use climbing techniques to monitor swallow-tailed kite chicks. Climbing high to get the job done—photo by Mac Stone @macstonephoto. (at Withlacoochee State Trail - Inverness Trail Head)

[typhlonectes]

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) mother and chick, Northern FL, USA

photograph by Andrea Westmoreland | Flickr CC

[insomnemnoctis]

When your crocodile knows its name🙂 #crocodile #alligator

[speciesofleastconcern]

Think that’s an alligator, and it’s VERY cute

[tailsandco]

I’M??? IN LOVE???

[theinturnetexplorer]

[fatfrogsblog]

Lithobates capito aesopus - Florida Gopher Frog

[typhlonectes]

Everglade Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus)

The endangered Everglade snail kite’s diet is almost exclusively made up of apple snails. As you can imagine, this makes the management of apple snail populations critical to the recovery efforts of snail kites in Florida.

photograph by Andy Morffew | Flickr

(via: USFWS - Open Spaces)

[mypubliclands]

“Everyone should believe in something; I believe I’ll go fishing,” H.D. Thoreau famously said. With that spirit, BLM Eastern States employees, along with dedicated  volunteers, host fishing on public lands events throughout the east!

This past year, the Jupiter Inlet Outstanding Natural Area in Florida held their first annual Veterans fishing event. 65 wounded, injured, or ill military veterans and their families on a shoreline fishing expedition. This event provided the Wounded Warriors an opportunity to fish, relax, and enjoy camaraderie. David Hu, Washington Office Fisheries Biologist said, “This event is great because it brings together several agencies to help connect Wounded Warriors to our public lands through fishing. What better way to spend the day?”

[typhlonectes]

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera), Levy County, Florida, USA

These large robust flightless grasshoppers are found in and around habitats with dense vegetation across much of the SE United States. The nymphs (juveniles) are black, with yellow stripes. The adults may reach a length of up to 8 cm. Here you see a typical adult color pattern, but there is also a color phase of black adults. These grasshoppers are toxic, and these toxins may cause severe vomiting or even death in various predators.

photograph by Dick Bartlett

[iamjanosik]

Morning Blue Heron by Steve Janosik Via Flickr: Pensacola Beach, Florida. It was such a beautiful September morning.

[theinturnetexplorer]

Being a nature photographer seems great, maybe I should try…

[floridanatives]

For the Scrub Jay ❤️

[typhlonectes]

Gopher Frog (Lithobates capito), Southestern U.S.

Hear the deep vibrating snore like call here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOagTL4Wrmk

photo: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

[typhlonectes]

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

Long-legged, boisterous and sociable – these are words often used to describe the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. If you live along the Texas coast, consider building a nest box for these beautiful birds. You can make a nest box out of half-inch marine plywood.

Learn more from the USDA Forest Service website:

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/wildlife/nesting_birds/birds1.htm Photos: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Alan D. Wilson

(via: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Southwest Region)

[headlikeanorange]

Southern crested caracara

[sixpenceee]

That’s Not a Bird

This is one of Diana Beltran Herrera’s exquisite paper birds. Yes, that’s paper. This one’s an Eastern Meadowlark.