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Life is precious. Step outside. Breathe deeply. Tell someone you love them. (Our handlers released the latch to the door of our confinement and we furtively stepped onto the soft grass. It took a few moments for us to realize that we could once again spread our wings fully. In unison, we ran forward, flapped vigorously and were propelled into the bright blue sky. As we … “slipped the surly bonds of… Read More
(Click image to enlarge, click again to zoom.) We had not taken a road trip for quite awhile. March is the month in which we married, 56 years ago. Time to celebrate. Several locations in southwest Florida have been on our “sure would like to go” list for several years. As we reviewed the map, two new spots and one long-time favorite were declared the winners. The vehicle was serviced, hotel reservations… Read More
“Look at those red eyes!” No, Gini was not referring to me. A handsome (that immediately disqualifies yours truly) brown and white bird ran, stopped, cocked its head, ran a few more steps, stopped, grabbed a grasshopper, gulped it down and – wash, rinse, repeat. The behavior, plumage and beautiful dark red eyes belonged to the Killdeer, a member of the Plover family. Although a “shorebird”, it is more often encountered inland,… Read More
(Click on image to enlarge, click again to zoom.) A splash to our right caused us to reflexively look in that direction, although we knew the source. An Osprey rose from the lake’s surface with a small catfish, shook off excess water and flew to a nearby pine tree limb to enjoy her finny snack. She and her mate have been busy with their annual home-improvement project. Soon, the branches will have… Read More
“All men would be tyrants if they could.” – Daniel Defoe One of the special treats we enjoyed when living in Texas was the year around presence of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. Their graceful flight, efficient hunting technique, subtle plumage and courtship displays were highlights of many field trips. We miss them. Winter migration brings us gifts of a diverse selection of birds we would not otherwise be able to observe here in sub-tropical… Read More
Our Natural Places 