10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

I am, of course, referring to Alligator mississippiensis , more commonly known as the American Alligator , or, colloquially, as gators. Though alligator attacks are rare they do happen. According to Wikipedia : Alligators are capable of killing humans, but are generally wary enough not to see them as a potential prey.

Alligators 168

Alligators Reptiles New York City Florida 168

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2016

This example is important because it appears that the protector species, not just the protected species, gains a benefit, the latter having been documented many times before. For the many breeding birds facing high nest-predation pressure, enemy-free space can be gained by nesting near more formidable animals for physical protection.

Alligators 120

Alligators Protection Leopards Birds 120

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2019

A giant alligator lolled near a pond, herons and egrets stalked the shallow mudflats for prey, Black Skimmers flew low over the surface of the water to scoop up tiny fish. And I never forget to look for alligators. The highlight for me in the inland wetlands remains a Marbled Godwit , my first. The best part?

Wildlife 127

Wildlife Alligators Raccoons Deer 127

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2018

Mom became especially enraptured with the baby alligators we spotted – less than a foot long, they basked in the grass next to their mothers, or crawled atop her back and tail for extra protection. Baby alligators. I so badly wanted to spot their chicken-like forms. Cute right?

Alligators 113

Alligators Sharks Turtles Florida 113

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

Wakulla holds such bird delights because it is completely protected. Alligators may have drawn the loudest cheers on the boat – especially from the two elementary school boys on the bench behind me – but we remained drawn to the small Pied-billed Grebes and Common Gallinules. We opted for the 12:30 p.m.

Alligators 119

Alligators Turkey Family Hunting 119

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2012

And while finding snails is not difficult for a long legged bird that is not afraid to wade into alligator-infested marshes it is difficult to extract the yummy snail meat from its protective shell. That is, they eat snails of the genus Pomacea to the exclusion of all else, provided the snails are available.

Meat 163

Meat Alligators Florida Collecting 163

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2022

Fortunately, as I found out over the next four days, High Island, the Bolivar Peninsula, the whole east Texan Gulf coast area is a place of diverse habitats, some protected, some accidental, all offering fantastic avian opportunities. Corps of Engineers to protect Galveston Bay at the end of the 19th-century.

Houston 220

Houston Texas Sanctuary Sparrows 220