Wildstate Gallery

FLORIDA & ITS WILDLIFE Galleries

ST MARKS NWR - FLORIDA : St. Marks NWR is located south of Tallahassee, Florida and is a terrific spot for ducks in the winter. A drive along marsh and brackish empoundments makes the bird accessible. For those who wish to wander off the path, there are many trails that take you close to wildfowl, Bald Eagles and the occasional Wild Cat or Deer. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is close by and is a must visit for nature photographers. In addition to the scenic 30's era resort where some notable Hollywood films were made, there is the Wakulla River. Gushing forth from a 100' deep spring at the resort, the river provides winter refuge to many species of ducks. Local canoe and kayak rental vendors and the resort's own pontoon boats give exceptional access to the wildfowl.

ST MARKS NWR - FLORIDA

St. Marks NWR is located south of Tallahassee, Florida and is a terrif ...

Updated: May 20, 2006 4:41pm PST

FLORIDA WILDLIFE : Florida is America's Africa. Its Everglades are very similar to the Okavango Delta in Africa; it has the birds and even the panther which is as close to a leopard as we'll get anytime soon. Like Africa, the animals are under pressure from development and pollution and man's general avarice and stupidity. Let's hope we pay attention before it is too late and don't let politicians buckle to special interests that would ruin our wild heritage. There is only one "wild state" regardless of what state it is in; once it is gone, until the meteor comes again, it's likely lost forever! Photos are from Merritt Island NWR, Vencie Rookery, Wakodahatchee, Viera Wetlands, Ding Darling, Corkscrew Swamp, Everglades National Park, Ding Darling NWR, Mayport, Joe Overstreet Rd, Cape Coral, Lake Kissemmee and who knows where else.

FLORIDA WILDLIFE

Florida is America's Africa. Its Everglades are very similar to the Ok ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:24pm PST

CARA CARA, BLACK & TURKEY VULTURES : Ignored studiously by most people, vultures (that's buzzards to us Floridians) are actually very intelligent, curious and colorful birds. If you watch them, you can find them entertaining (trust me on this) and humorous. The Cara Cara is found from mid-state south, especially near Lake Okechobee and Lake Kissimmeee. Joe Overstreet Road is an excellent place to see them on most days.

CARA CARA, BLACK & TURKEY VULTURES

Ignored studiously by most people, vultures (that's buzzards to us Flo ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:25pm PST

PELICANS : Brown Pelicans have very dramatic breeding lores and colors while the White Pelican is a beautiful flyer that exhibits unique and interesting feeding behavior, caled "Toilet Bowling" for obvious reasons.

PELICANS

Brown Pelicans have very dramatic breeding lores and colors while the ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:26pm PST

HERONS and BITTERNS : Little blue herons, great blue herons, little green herons and lesser bitterns provide endlesss entertainment as they hunt for minnows and small fish.

HERONS and BITTERNS

Little blue herons, great blue herons, little green herons and lesser ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:30pm PST

GLOSSY AND WHITE IBIS, LIMPKINS : Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, and Limpkins photographed throughout Florida make up this gallery. Where can you see them? Vierra Wetlands and Wakodahatchee Wetlands have been very consistent places to observe the glossy ibis while Ding Darling NWR almost always has hundreds of the white ibis.

GLOSSY AND WHITE IBIS, LIMPKINS

Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, and Limpkins photographed throughout Florida ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:31pm PST

EGRETS : Little Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Great Egrets are showy birds that exhibit a wide range of interesting behaviors as they fish, display and nest. In breeding plumage, they have dramatically colored lores and extravagant plumage. All photos are from Florida locations including the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, Ft. Desoto State Park; and Ding Darling NWR.

EGRETS

Little Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets and Great Egrets are showy birds th ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:35pm PST

DUCKS, COOTS, MOOR HENS, ANHINGAS & COMORANTS : Florida hosts a huge variety of ducks as well as moorehens, anhingas, and comorants. Some are year round residents while others just are passing through or wintering over. Merritt Island NWR is a good location for ducks as is Viera Wetlands. The Everglade National Park is unsurpassed for comorants, anhingas, moorhens and gallinules.

DUCKS, COOTS, MOOR HENS, ANHINGAS & COMORANTS

Florida hosts a huge variety of ducks as well as moorehens, anhingas, ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:36pm PST

OYSTERCATCHERS, SHOREBIRDS, TURNS, AND GULLS : The edge of the water is home to dozens of different species of birds that poke, strain, prod and skim to get their meals. You can find them almost on every pond, sea shore or sand bar in the state. Among my favorite locations are Ft. Desoto State Park, Huguenot Memorial Park in Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay.

OYSTERCATCHERS, SHOREBIRDS, TURNS, AND GULLS

The edge of the water is home to dozens of different species of birds ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:40pm PST

WOOD STORKS : Wood storks were definitely at the end of the line when the good looks were being handed out. In fact, it looks like they missed the session altogether. While no beauty to look at up close, in flight, they are one of the most dramatic and beautiful of the Florida birds to watch. Powerful, graceful flyers, they are Florida’s answer to the African Marabou Stork. Both butt ugly, they prove that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” You can find these graceful flyers at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine and around the public boat ramps near the town of Okechobee.

WOOD STORKS

Wood storks were definitely at the end of the line when the good looks ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:41pm PST

BURROWING OWLS : Burrowing owls are tiny, only about 6-8 inches high. They are found in some surprising;y urbanized places like Cape Coral, Florida. Their nesting holes are marked with sticks and tape so they are pretty easy to spot. Drive around the town, you'll soon see their nest sites. Sadly, continued development of the area is eliminating their nest sites and domestic cats and dogs pose a continuing hazard. The best time to see them in action is in the spring when they have chicks to feed. For more information, click to http://www.naturescapes.net/022004/hf0204.htm

BURROWING OWLS

Burrowing owls are tiny, only about 6-8 inches high. They are found i ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:42pm PST

ALLIGATORS, CROCODILES AND TURTLES : Alligators have come back from near extinction to record numbers; you can find them almost everywhere and anywhere in Florida, even in your swimming pool. The American Crocodile, however, is almost extinct. The one in this gallery is the last one in Ding Darling NWR. It looks like there is no mate for her in site, so the future isn't bright. Telling the gator from the croc is easy, if it’s snout is round like the tip of a shoe, it’s a gator, more pointed, it’s a croc. Just remember, allagator shoes... Florida has several species of turtles including the cooter, red ear, painted, soft shell, and alligator snapping turtle. In days gone by, the locals would hunt the soft shell for it’s meat. Yes, it does taste like chicken.

ALLIGATORS, CROCODILES AND TURTLES

Alligators have come back from near extinction to record numbers; you ...

Updated: Feb 28, 2006 3:32pm PST

SPOONBILLS : Spoonbills draw a crowd whenever they appear. Best sites for them are Ding Darling NWR, Rookery Islands in Tampa Bay, and Flamingo.

SPOONBILLS

Spoonbills draw a crowd whenever they appear. Best sites for them are ...

Updated: Feb 26, 2006 4:45pm PST

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