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Birding With Alligators

10,000 Birds

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.

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Everglades Long-Legged Birds Feed Their Young To Alligators, Everything is Good.

10,000 Birds

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. Previous research has shown that wading bird nesting colonies could provide substantial food for alligators in the form of dropped chicks.

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Spring Migration on South Padre Island, Texas

10,000 Birds

So, maintaining habitat along the coastline is vital to supporting these species. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Wilson’s Warbler Painted Buntings Another spot to check is the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center is focused on educating visitors about the animals that live on the Gulf Coast, including a nice variety of alligators.

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A Single Purple Gallinule

10,000 Birds

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. The species was a life-bird for my mother. I so badly wanted to spot their chicken-like forms. Cute right?

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Returning to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

10,000 Birds

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?

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How The Bird Got Its Beak

10,000 Birds

The feature distinguishes birds from other species; All birds have them, no other species do. Beaks vary across different kinds of birds, and this great diversity in beaks is part of the great diversity of the 10,000+ species of birds that exist today; Beaks thus facilitated the diversification of birds. Here’s the thing.

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Graduation Birds

10,000 Birds

So, on the morning of his Gainesville commencement ceremony, I amused myself the way any birder would: how many species could I see from the stadium? The University of Florida’s mascot is an alligator, but a Red-tailed Hawk is a good emblem for any transition from one phase of life to the next. Red-tailed Hawk in Flight.