ChickChat

W...is for Wood and Whistle!!! Today I couldn't decide, so I chose both. Two of my favorite ducks - the Wood Duck and the Black-bellied Whistling Duck . For the longest time, I envied    the photos of other photographers pictures of the Wood Duck. So, it was definitely on my bucket list! Finally, one day on an outing I discovered them in a pond in a neighborhood lake. I was beyond thrilled to say the least.  The Whistling Duck are fun to watch and they have a very distinctive sound that they make. I love watching them but their chicks can be easy targets for predators, such as alligators, which I witnessed on another one of my outings. Wood Ducks The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather; the elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees o

Vultures Two species of vulture occur in Florida, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and the black vulture (Coragyps atratus). Turkey vultures have reddish heads while the heads of black vultures are black. The turkey vulture holds its wings in a slight "V" while soaring, whereas the black vulture's wings are held straight. The tail of the black vulture is usually more fanned out in flight and is shorter and broader than that of the turkey vulture. The black vulture flaps its wings more and soars less than its relative. From below it has whitish patches near the tips of the wings, whereas the wings of the turkey vulture lack these patches. Vultures eat carrion in the form of road-kills or dead cattle in pastures. Black vultures are more aggressive and may occasionally kill or injure lambs, calves, cows giving birth, or other incapacitated livestock. Vultures are under state protection, therefore it is unlawful to shoot or harass them without a per

Urchin   or   Urcheon aka Sea urchin Photo by Cheryl Howard Sea urchins   or   urchins  archaically called   sea hedgehogs , are small,   spiny , globular animals that, with their close kin, such as   sand dollars , constitute the class   Echinoidea  of the   echinoderm   phylum. About 950 species of echinoids inhabit all oceans from the intertidal to 5,000 meters (16,000 feet; 2,700 fathoms) deep.   The shell, or "test", of sea urchins is round and spiny, typically from 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) across. Common colors include black and dull shades of green, olive, brown, purple, blue, and red. Sea urchins move slowly, feeding primarily on   algae .   Sea otters ,   starfish ,   wolf eels ,   triggerfish , and other   predators   hunt and feed on sea urchins. Their   roe   is a delicacy in many cuisines. The name "urchin" is an old word for   hedgehog , which sea urchins resemble. Photo by Cheryl Howard Sea urchins are members of the   p

T...is for Terns Terns are related to gulls but are generally smaller and more slender, with relatively long pointed wings and straight pointed bills. Most terns feed exclusively on small  fish captured by plunging headfirst into the water from flight; some noddies and some terns pluck prey from the water's surface rather than plunge-dive. Most species forage singly but gather in noisy flocks where food is concentrated. These feeding frenzies may also include gulls, especially small species, and jaegers. Terns roost in dense flocks on sandbars or beaches. Least Tern (above is a picture of an adult breeding Tern). Common locally around nesting colonies; uncommon to rare elsewhere. Nests on sand dunes just above high-tide lines among scattered debris and grass, as well as flat rooftops near water. Much smaller than all other terns, with relatively slender wings, short tail, and very large bill. In breeding plumage note white forehead and yellow bill. Be blessed and b

Relationships The best relationships always have love at their core: love through service (Galatians 5:13); love through stewardship (1 Peter 4:10), which is to say using the gifts God has blessed us with to help one another; and love through sacrifice of our time, talents, and, yes, even our treasure. (1 John 3:16-18)  Is love at the center of your relationships? Be blessed and be a blessing!

"S" in my nature series is for Stilt The Black-necked Stilt is somewhat local on shallow ponds with muddy bottoms and grassy edges. Often in pairs or small groups. Walks delicately, tilting forward to pick food with its needle-like bill. Slender shape, black and white plumage, and extraordinarily long red legs are unmistakable. It's call is a loud sharp pleek or keef or wreek ; often repeated incessantly. Be blessed and be a blessing! Source: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds