MISCELLANEOUS

I seem to be having one health issue after another. Nothing serious or life threatening, just annoying enough to keep me laying low. Even today, I am battling a nasty Spring cold, complete with migraine. In between ailments I have been photographing. Unfortunately, the photos have been residing in my camera, but today I have finally downloaded them. Here are a few snaps of what I've been up to.

I've spent a fair amount of time in the garden, planting veggies and tending to beds and perennials. A couple of my favorite early bloomers are the Clematis and ...

...the profuse blooms of the Formosa Azalea. They just suddenly pop and for a brief week or so fill the garden with vibrant color. I wish there was a way to keep them blooming all summer. 

On a Saturday morning in March, I volunteered at the Seagrass Awareness Festival at Shoreline Park. It was an opportunity for children and their families to learn about our shorelines and the seagrasses that provide habitat to so many small sea creatures. I worked at a touch tank that we had filled with all manner of marine life that had been seined from the seagrasses that morning. It was great to see the excited looks of the kids as they got to hold pipefish, snails, tiny blue crabs, baby croakers and many more. A great educational opportunity for everyone, especially me! I learned a lot.

One of the exhibitors at the Festival was the Northwes Floridat Wild Animal Shelter. They take in, care for and give homes to wild animals that have been injured and brought to them for care. It is an incredible organization. They treat and release those that can return to the wild and provide homes for those that cannot be returned to nature. 

Like this beautiful kestral that is one of the permanent residents of the refuge. It was hit by a car and one of its wings is permanently damaged. He's been at the shelter for many years and has earned his keep by teaching children and adults about kestrals and other birds. 

As has this blind barn owl. Isn't this tiny creature beautiflul?

Tomorrow I'll post about my exciting bird banding adventure with the Audubon Society.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Been away for awhile. Suffered through a bad case of vertigo, something I've never experienced before and hope to never experience again. While sitting, keeping my head as still as possible, I noticed the interplay between the house finch and the mourning dove at the bird feeders. Since the doves were too big for the hanging tube feeders, I had put out a bowl full of seed and nuts for them. However, madam finch was having none of the intrusion.

What's this? A new blend of food? I'll have to sample it...

This is wonderful! I just love the combined flavors of the seeds and the peanuts. 

 

 Hark! Who is this intruder looking hungrily at my new feeding bowl?

I'm waaatching you

Ok, Ok. I'm leaving. But I'll be back!

Think she'll see me in here?

TWO FOR THE ROAD

Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money, 
Maybe we're ragged and funny 
But we'll travel along 
Singing a song 
Side by side.

~Patsy Cline

FISH IN TANKS

"God created fish, man created aquariums." 

~Me

 (I took liberties with the Jacques Deval quote: "God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.)

Normally, I'm not a fan of containing animals of any kind. However, two weeks ago we went to Atlanta and spent a Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium, purported to be the world's largest aquarium. The GA features more animals than any other aquarium in more than 8 million gallons of water in more than 60 exhibits. Each exhibit is "designed to inspire, entertain and educate." The GA is striving to be the leading facility for aquatic animal conservation and research. There is a state-of-the-art animal health facility--the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health--designed by veterinarian professionals and conservation organizations. It is the only integration of an aquarium and a veterinarian teaching hospital. I have to admit, George and I had the most wonderful time. It really is an impressive facility and we came away having seen fish and mammals we otherwise would never have had the opportunity to see. The Aquarium docents were able to give us an enormous amount of information and were able to answer all of our questions. Despite my misgivings, it was an amazing day.

Here are just a few pictures. I hate to admit it, but my camera ran out of juice pretty early in our visit. I had to resort to my phone camera and I haven't downloaded them yet. I don't have a lot of hope that they will be good pictures (I have a rather basic phone.) But if they I, I'll share the with you.

 Spider Crabs

Beluga Whale

Beluga Whale

Whale Shark (largest animal in the water--approx. 40+ feet long)

Surrounded by fish

Whale Shark

Dum, dum, dum, dum,...

Whale Shark (can you tell I was fascinated by this fish)

Albino Alligator

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Whale Shark reflected

Seahorses

BIRD DOG???

I've been watching this pair of birds for about a week now and they never stay still long enough to either identify them or photograph them. Finally, the other day, they perched for a minute or two allowing me to snap a few pictures before they went swooping around the yard again. Armed with my Audubon and Selby field guides, I finally ID'd them as a pair of loggerhead shrikes. A first for me, so I was pretty excited. 

While all of this frenetic swooping and flying and playing was going on, my faithful Dakota watched with an expression of pure boredom. After I took her picture, she looked at me with pity, sighed and flopped over on her side for a nap in the sun, perhaps to dream of a less pathetic caretaker. 

A GIFT

Did some downloading from my camera and found this lovely December sunset. I love finding reminders of moments I have forgotten. I remember this evening now and recall how I shared it's beauty with my soul mate.  It was a silent exchange of the gift of a magical moment.