Tag Archive | Nature Story
Boat-tailed Grackles Evoke Nostalgia
One of my fondest memories is being greeted by the calls of boat-tailed grackles at the Florida welcome center after driving nearly a thousand miles from New York. The calls along with the warm Florida sunshine signified an escape from the cold wintry weather of the north and the start of our family vacation. Boat-tailed […]
Slimy Slugs
Venture out any evening in the warmer months in Florida and you are likely to see slugs slithering at a snail’s pace on the sidewalk, on the house and on the plants. One species is the Florida leatherleaf slug. It was formerly native to the Caribbean and southern Florida but has expanded its range throughout […]
Curly Tailed Lizards Invade Cocoa Beach, Florida
Walking along a wooden walkway that leads to an Atlantic Ocean beach, 8-inch stocky lizards scurry and dart through the slats of the wooden railing. I stop and look over the railing to get a better view of the lizard. This creature was standing with its feet in the sand under a grove of sea […]
Weaving for Love!
In the swampy lowlands of Kenya and Tanzania, a female taveta golden weaver intently watches a male weaver intertwine fine grasses and reeds with its claws and beak. The finished product is an intricate oval nest. If she is impressed with his abilities, she will choose him over other males to mate with. These weavers […]
The Bald Eagle Makes a Come Back
Before retiring, I worked as a biologist and environmental educator on Long Island in New York. Stationed at the Connetquot River State Park Preserve, a 3,500 pine barren park, I always became excited when a bald eagle appeared during the winter, a rarity at that time. One year, an extended cold spell froze lakes and […]
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