"Wet and Woolly"

Once in a blue moon you find yourself asking, "Is this really happening"? The photo you see was certainly one of those times. When you experience something so raw, so wild, so woolly...I dare say it can change your life. Why? Because it opens your mind to what your missing-lost in the concrete jungle. Have you ever seen a bear swimming across alligator infested waters? We hadn't and as we sat shaking as she crashed through the forest...I thanked God, I praised God. I almost cried...WHY? Because God's creatures are awesome. Wild, untamed, and just downright amazing. While the photo is not the best technically, the subject matter is-in my opinion stunning. I approached her carefully, and stayed back to avoid trouble for all involved, mainly her. I shot in auto...with no time to think about f-stops, flash, etc. She exited the water, looked back at us and disappeared into the dark swamplands.

WILD AND WOOLLY YA'LL! ©

"Getting a buzz"

If you've never been "buzzed" then you don't know what your missing. If your an adrenaline aficionado, junky, or if your just looking to scratch something off your "bucket list" then you simply must experience a warning from the Great Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake. Now, I am not suggesting you harass, bother, molest, or disturb this fascinating nasty. First know, that they aren't hunting you, looking for trouble or even remotely interested in harming you... Unless you bother one. So, just a suggestion. DONT. They are fairly common in certain areas of Florida and a few other states, but alas they aren't very "cute or cuddly", thus many are killed without a care. Snake bite statistics tell us that most bites occur when someone is attempting to capture, harass, or kill one. Out of those individuals many have been drinking. Go figure!? So the next time you get a buzz...Don't get a buzz. Does that make any sense? Many times you will see them crossing a road...just let em be. They aren't hurting you and they are just looking to get their mouse on. So don't be hating on the the incredible Eastern Diamond Back; The largest North American pit viper. Wild huh? Woolly-YES...©

"No time to wallow in the mire"

It's been a while...Fires burn throughout Florida but it seems that many burn in the central part of the state year after year. Florida is a landscape that needs fire, but not really like this. Beginning back in the early 1900's we started to fight fire. We ran out all of the natives, and cut down all the trees. This-among other things, created the problems that we face today... Development of course didn't help. Then there's climatic changes; La Niña, El Niño, and burritos; all affect the fire regime. Continued drought in Florida has lead to "tinderbox" conditions. The shot above was taken at 1.00 am, that gives you some perspective on the conditions. A fire usually lays down at night, but stiff winds and extra-dry conditions let this one cook. My main concern while shooting this was not fire, it was alligators and snakes. Indian Lake has a few, and I was standing in waist high vegetation and a half-foot of water. Man, I go to great lengths to get these incredible shots! Whew... Wild and Woolly ©

Mouth full of teeth

It's that special romantic time of year! We're about a month out from alligator mating season. These delightful creatures will frolic and prance about the swamps exchanging that knowing glance, gator digits, and glasses of cheap sawgrass wine. The largest in Florida was only 14' 5/8". They really don't pose any harm to humans do they? Well, since 1948 there have been 275 documented attacks on people resulting in 17 deaths. The Fish and Wildlife Commission in Florida receives approximately 15,000 alligator related complaints each year. Here's a complaint...Cut the costs of permits to hunt alligators. They make it tough for the little guy to get out and take one. The estimated number of alligators in Florida is currently around 1.25 million. That's a lot of gator tail. Remember-a gator less than four feet long is not usually a danger to pets or children, but from about four-foot and up- its time to reconsider. They can quickly become a nuisance and even dangerous. REMEMBER never let children or pets play near fresh or brackish water in Florida... ©

Listen to the sounds of this species below!

http://video.fws.gov/sounds/27alligator2bellow.mp3

The Sandhills of Florida

It's been awhile..."Blogging is HARD!"
So anyway, these are Florida sandhill cranes, (Grus canadensis pratensis). The adults are male and female, mother and father. The little fuzzy one crying is their offspring. This family of cranes were very patient with me as I followed them around. They foraged and fed the little ones while simultaenously keeping a close eye on me. If you get to close i figure they'll poke your eyes out with their big sharp beaks. However, I did get in close to get the shot of this little one. Remember, you should never harass or stress wildlife, and if you just cant keep yourself from getting in close-then I suggest doing it and then leaving them alone. Furthermore, I suppose it should go without saying that some species will not be patient with you and will defend their young to the death. So if you have any fancy-smancy ideas about getting out of the truck and photographing an alligator, bison, rutting buck, ferel pig, or woolly mammoth, use caution and THINK before you approach Wild and Woolly wildlife of any kind. © Listen to the call of this species:
http://www.savingcranes.org/images/stories/audio/Sandhill_Crane_Unison_Call.wav

An Silhouette appears...

A good silhouette is often easily produced. However, from my experiences they are seldom produced with forethought or intent. I personally have produced a few that I like. This is one of them. After a long day at my regular work I took off a little early in search of that ever-elusive award winning nature photo. Well, as usual things started off a little slow then tapered off. I was cold and ready to go home...I prayed, I waited and I watched. After a few hours in the field with little or no action I wandered upon this Great Blue Heron standing in top of a palm tree. Now, Great Blues are truly beautiful, but for some reason they don't seem to get the attention they deserve. I am guilty as well. Rarely do I even bother shooting them. My assumption is that they are just so common. As I stood there with my finger in my ear I realized that night was fast approaching. It then dawned on me, this bird would be leaving soon, it wasn't on a nest and it certainly wasn't going to spend the night standing in an exposed palm tree. So I waited, and I waited, and I waited some more-with my camera focused on him. Sure enough, when he launched, I was ready and I took four shots. All were good, and all showed action. This one however, spoke to me the most. About now, you are probably asking yourself what the point of all this is. Well, it concerns a number of issues. Number one, Never give up, never stop praying, and BE READY. A few months back I had two baby black bears ramble right up close to me... They were back lit, frolicking, and unafraid-I HAD NO CAMERA. I will never forgive myself for this. So, be ready, be patient, and be reverent. ©

Eagle, Hawk, Vulture?

I am guilty and more than likely you are too. I have often had people exclaim..."Look an eagle!" I then have to ever so quietly and kindly tell them that it is not an eagle but a vulture or hawk. So how does one distinguish between the different larger birds of prey? There are many ways, the most subtle and often overlooked are often the simplest, such as time of year, proximity to water, forest community type, and behavior. The most relied upon and accurate means however is to identify the silhouette, size, wing configuration, etc. Vultures soar with their wings in a "V" shape, eagles wings are flat and hawks are as well... An eagles wing span can be 7-8 feet across. A hawks span is typically around 4 feet. If you can get close enough, a mature bald eagle is easy to identify. The large white tail feathers and white head are prominent, and the legs are very yellow. If you are looking for them on a body of water, search for a soft-ball sized patch of white in the upper part of a tree-line. Of course there are many other birds of prey-and depending on where you are you might find some really interesting or unusual species. Kites, merlins, falcons, owls, and ospreys are interesting and fun to watch. Many areas have full-time resident eagle populations while other areas of the country have limited or migratory groups. To learn more check with your local wildlife management agencies. Keep on Birding. © listen to songs of this species

Did they not know or just not care?

They probably never thought they would destroy almost all of it. Did they know? Did they not care? Surely the vast bottomland forests seemed almost infinite. They stretched all over the south. What now remains is only a tiny fraction of what was. The remaining fragments are impressive for us...But we never saw the original tracts of ancient trees. HUGE TREES by what we know today. There are still small remnants here and there...Some were not worth cutting, some were fairly inaccessible and some, so it seems were looked over, and others were fought for by people with foresight. If you have never seen an old growth Cypress swamp then you are missing out on a truly magnificent community. So, when you are wondering what your next adventure might be, take the time to research the bottomland forests of the southern U.S. Try the Cache river in Arkansas, Dagmar WMA for example will leave your head spinning. Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and Mississippi all have good chunks to check out...If your thinking that I'm a tree huggin' hippy, I guess your right. But who wouldnt be? While most of it is long gone, some of what remains was here and viable when Christ was born. Wanna see a 2000 year old tree? How about a 3000 year old tree? Check out the "Senator" in central Florida...3500 years and still kickin it...

"Old growth style"

[note: The tree pictured is not the senator-it was shot in Mississippi] ©

Goat in a bucket

"He loves animals and they love him back!"

I am not an accredited zoologist nor do I hold an advanced degree in any of the environmental sciences...I am simply an enthusiastic young man with a sixth grade education and an abiding love for all God's creatures... "Today we will meet some animals that aren't cute or cuddly..they're weird! and I'm very excited and a little scared."
Our first guest enjoys eating tin cans and what-not...Meet, Goat in a bucket. He has devil eyes.
I bet if this goat could talk he would say things like curse-words and call people doo-doo head..Take him away! That's one funny looking dog. Did you see that weird goat? He has devil eyes.
Thank you Brian Fellows, thank you.

When in Florida...

My friend Kevin reminded me about a few things when I moved to Florida...

"Remember, where ever you are, there is something in the water or woods that can eat you." I often look around wondering how close "they" are...the gators, the sharks, the snakes, the bears, the whatever. When I first saw this fin slicing through the water, I thought for sure I would be strafed and then drug to the depths of the sea, never to be heard from again, then I was introduced to the dolphin...People from Arkansas dont know danged ole nuthin bout no dolphins...they looked like every movie borne shark scene I ever knew. So there you go, if your in Florida watch yourself, watch your hands, your feet, etc. And remember, if that dolphin got the notion, it too could tear you to shreds with lighting quick lethality. ©

Sunflowers that move

Not the wildest, woolliest photo, but one of raw emotion...If you know, "the rest of the story". I heard about this field of flowers from a local woman who spoke of how beautiful it was. What she didn't know, nor did I, was the true beauty that lie in the dirt of this field. Probably no more that a couple of acres, it is certainly a nice place when in bloom. As I stood on the side of that dirt road shooting photos a guy drove up and asked if I was from the local newspaper. I told him "no-just hanging out." We talked for a while about the beauty of the area, his job, his house, etc. He then asked me if I knew the story behind the field. I replied that I did not...Well, apparently the old man across the road owned the property and had been planting it every spring for many years. "It's his wife's Mother's Day present every year", he said. The house faces the field and every morning she could look out the window and see her gift. I tried to cut the conversation short, I was getting a little wet-eyed. I thanked him for the information and waded out into the middle of the field inspired and invigorated that such love and romance still thrives. This shot is the culmination of that day when I learned one more thing about life. ©

Slow and Low

One of the world's slowest and lowest...the St. Johns River stretches from south central Florida to the Northeast, near Jacksonville. Yes, it flows north. I know; "It just don't make no sense." The river's low elevation and corresponding low velocity cause it to be affected by wind and tides as far as 150 miles inland. Its full of Alligators, Manatees, and all forms of "Wild and Woolly" stuff. When traveling the river near where I live, I typically choose to stay in the boat. Between its headwaters and its confluence with the Atlantic it only drops 30 feet. The St. Johns is # 6 on the American Rivers-America's most endangered rivers list for 2008. The primary threat is considered unsustainable water use. I suppose one could surmise that there are plenty of other issues at hand as well... Pollution, development, over harvesting, stupidity, etc. From 1500' it looks quite beautiful. ©

On the recollection of so many and great favours and blessings, I now, with a high sense of gratitude, presume to offer up my sincere thanks to the Almighty, the Creator and Preserver.
~ William Bartram

The "Pimpin Limpkin"

(Aramus guarauna)-Prior to moving to Florida I had never heard nor seen this wonderful creature. They are specialized with their funny bill and unceasing want for Apple Snails. They have no close relatives within the bird world and are typically arrogant and self absorbed, with their fancy apple snails and specialized feeding areas. How they get them out of the shell is still a mystery studied by NASA and the C.I.A. The Limpkin is a resident of Florida, Mexico, and South America. Often found wading in freshwater marshes, flooded timber, and along river banks, it feeds almost exclusively on Apple Snails. However, its not afraid to expand its tastes to the occasional lizard or frog. © listen to songs of this species

Espátula rosada

Espátula rosada- Thats spanish for Roseate Spoonbill! (Ajaia ajaja) OR (Platalea ajaja)...Whatever... its a pretty pink bird with a big bill. As with many endangered, threatened, or species of special concern...they don't seem to like people. Hmmmmm, ya think? So it goes without saying that when you find them interested in something you shoot lots of photos. These were hungry and interested in only one thing... Crabs. (I think). Considered a species of special concern, this bird of the Ibis family was nearly brought to the brink of de-struc-tion - Say it-Cajun Man Style, via plume hunting during the mid 1800's to the early 1900's. Often found in small groups foraging, they sweep their bizarre spoon-like bills back and forth under the surface of the water picking off small fish, crabs, and other aquatic invertebrates. Roseate Spoonbills get their pink color from the pigments they obtain by eating crustaceans. Many folks traveling through Florida mistake them for Flamingos. Courting pairs can be aggressive towards one another but may also be seen sitting closely, clasping bills, eating hourdevours and watching chick-flicks. ©
listen to songs of this species

God is awesome

Resurrection fern...(Polypodium polypodioides)- According to my research it is an epiphyte. Stunning, beautiful, and small by fern standards. Trying to capture it in its glory is not easy. It is what it is. I think this shot does it at least some justice. So the story goes, it dries out turns brown and shrivels up. Then when there is a rain event, it seemingly comes back to life! *Bling*-

Resurrection Fern. ©

Oong-ka-choonk, Oong-ka-choonk, Oong-ka-choonk

Ahhhhh...

The American Bittern, (Botaurus lentiginosus), Elusive, shy, strange, a master of camo. This one was stretching the ole wings-tired I guess. Or maybe trying to hide? I had seen it only once before. Why it let me shoot without worry I dont know. Maybe too tired to care, I can relate to that sometimes. This bird's call is just as strange as itself....The Cornell folks describe it as a deep pumping "oong-ka-choonk." That's funny for a number of reasons... ©

Listen to songs of this species

"Ya want fries with that?"

Listed as a federally endangered species, the Wood Stork, (Mycteria americana), is not just the most beautiful thing to ever fly...However they are fun to watch and can be rather comical. I think they are cute in a ugly kinda way. Anyway, they are interesting and while they are endangered you seem to see them everywhere in Florida. I have seen them in front of the Krystal Burger, the auto zone, and McDonald's. The other day I saw one with a hamburger bun in it's mouth... Seriously, I did. He asked me for a dollar so he could get some fries off of what he called the "So-called value menu". ©

Listen to songs of this species

"Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?"

They seem to be everywhere in Florida. You can find them in the deepest, darkest swamp, or in your suburban backyard. The Barred Owl, or Strix varia...It is also known by locals as the Wood Owl, Striped Owl, Barn Owl, Rain Owl, etc... Regardless, it is an impressive bird. The most common local name is "Hoot Owl". It is typically heard at night or early in the morning...Calls can be highly variable and depend on whats happening in the owl's busy life. Listen to songs of this species Primarily nocturnal they feed mostly on mice. However, I have seen them eat fish, grasshoppers and even squirrels. When living in proximity to humans they will often become quite tolerant and can many times be approached with ease. Throughout the world, many cultures believe that owls are messengers of impending doom or death-or that they carry the spirits of the dead to the underworld. Conversely, others think that they bring luck or enable shamans to talk to the "other side", or even see at night. ©

Chills up my spine

Within the woods of Florida there are many wonderful things...and some, not so much. There are things that dwell within the wild and woolly woodlands that most folks dont wanna talk about. They are secretive, silent, and stay hidden for the most part. They send chills up the spine, make the hair stand up on your neck, "Make you run into trees"-Richard Pryor, pee your pants-(I've heard) and even defy gravity. So next time you find yourself up to your neck in water, brush, or grass...just tell yourself; "It'll be OK, there's not one in here." ©

"Please God, PLEASE...Please-Jesus, don't let there be one in here."

Something simple

Sometimes something simple that is not particularly special catches ones eye...Ole mossy log caught my eye...still not sure why. I like it...Its green, its pretty, its cool and it is essentially nothing compared to so many amazing things one might find on a woodland jaunt. Ole mossy log is the thing that made me smile that day. The mosquito's ate me up while I prepared to shoot it. I still am unsure why it fascinated me...Well there you go, sometimes its the simple quiet things that make an impression. "Rock on" Ole mossy log. ©