CHRISTMAS EVE; December 24, 2012

Bald Eagle on nest, and mama alligator with baby on her back (look closely)

Black Crowned Night Heron's are back. December 9, 2012

Black Crowned Night Heron's (upper left, bottom right).  We counted 30 Black Crowned Night Heron's December 8th.

Juvenile Alligators sunning. Dec 8th (warm shorts weather in the upper 80's); well warm for us, not so much for Alligators.  They like to keep their body temp. at around 90 degree's Fahrenheit.

A siege of Great Egrets.  Wading birds are moving in for the drying up of the water. Very early this year in Big Cypress. (Dec. 8th.)  Also there is a Great Blue Heron in the photo; can you find it?

Spiders can be easily seen this time of year, due to the heavy dew and fog associated with autumn in south Florida.  The dew and fog attach to the web and make it very visible.

LOW WATER; DECEMBER 3, 2012

SINCE WE STARTED THE AUTUMN IN A DROUGHT SITUATION, WATER LEVELS ARE POOR, THE CYPRESS STRAND IS ALREADY DRY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE WALK, I FEAR BY THIS SPRING THE ANIMALS WILL BE IN A LOT OF DISTRESS.  BUT, THE ANIMALS ARE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT TODAY!  THE GREAT EGRET IS FISHING FOR BREAKFAST; AND THE YOUNG ALLIGATORS ARE SUNNING ON THE LOGS; ENJOYING THE DAY THEY HAVE!!!  HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY TOO!

LATER GATOR
the evergladeslady

DEATH OF A LEGEND August 21, 2012

I know this is stupid, BUT, this is a photo of the ancient alligator that ruled the gator hole at Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk for many many years. This photo was taken about a year ago. She was in very poor condition at the time of this photo. I found her dead today. Now, I know it's stupid to cry about a dead alligator, but this one was like an old friend. Whenever I would visit the gator hole with guests, that alligator would come out to see me. Even if other people were already there, she would appear when she heard my voice ( I don't believe she liked me, I just think my voice was a familiar sound to her). She will be missed.......... She was banished by another younger alligator from the gator hole, probably about the time this photo was taken.  When I found her dead, she had gotten as close to her beloved gator hole as possible, without trespassing into it. 

POND APPLE TREE aka CUSTARD APPLE

Here is a link for Australia that shows our native Pond Apple trees are quite invasive there.  Isn't that ironic??
http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/documents/Biosecurity_EnvironmentalPests/IPA-Pond-Apple-Nsplan.pdf

JULY 5 2012 ORPHAN FAWN IN THE EVERGLADES

This fawn was spotted back in May 2012 along the wildlife drive.  Apparently it is an orphan, it has been in the same area and no adult since May.  We are all cheering that the fawn continues to thrive.  The tour guides believe it has not been eaten by predators, because the area it is staying in has lots of human scent.  Will continue to update about the fawn as I can.

FLORIDA PANTHER WEB ADDRESS and PANTHER PROJECT video

web address for the Florida Panthers, it's: http://www.floridapanther.org/  This website is, the website we receive news letters from.


 For a video on the PANTHER PROJECT and how they catch and collar a Florida Panther copy this link and paste into your browser:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvNphm7VQn4

JULY 2, 2012 THE WATERS BACK!!!

It's been pretty bleak in the lower Everglades, water was just barely visible in the deeper channels.  Until Tropical Storm Debby!  During the end of Debby; the Coastal Prairie was completely underwater with waves cresting due to the high wind gusts.  Now the water has gone down, but is sheeting the land; as it should be!

MAY 2012 Dry ground :-(

Extremely dry along US41 in the Coastal Prairie, even the channels are drying up.

APRIL 3, 2012 BLUE WING TEAL

Today spotted Blue Wing Teal along the wildlife drive. Not many birds in the lower Everglades now.  It is getting pretty dry, even the channels that had water 1 week ago are now just mud.  The alligators seem a bit interested in one another romantically; already.  What appears to be a male (very large), and an female; have moved into the gator hole at the boardwalk, and seem to be interested in one another.  Kind of early for that, probably due to a warm winter.

APRIL 2, 2012 BABY ALLIGATORS

This is the clutch from August 2011 at the boardwalk

MARCH 24, 2012

Today's wildlife; Barred Owl, Boardwalk; Water Moccasin, Wildlife Drive

MARCH 21, 2012

 CAN YOU FIND THE DEER?

 BABY ALLIGATORS (look close)

MARCH 19, 2012 Baby Alligator

Baby Alligator on Boat Ramp Airboat ride

MARCH 18, 2012 Baby Alligators

Baby Alligators

Guided Alligator and Hog Hunts

For a guided Alligator hunt or Hog hunt contact:  Billy Jackson at 239-633-4967

MARCH 13, 2012

Today was a half day tour. I got to visit with a lady I hadn't seen in almost 50 years.  It sure was great to see her and meet her family and show them airboats and Alligators.  Everyone on the tour was so nice and really seemed to enjoy learning about the Everglades.  See ya later Alligators.
the evergladeslady

MARCH 10, 2012 Mama Alligator w/babies

Today's wildlife photo's; Mama Alligator with babies in lower right hand corner; another pic of mom and babies, this time mom is almost invisible and the babies are really showing (taken a different day); last pic a large Alligator at airboat ride.

MARCH 7, 2012 Blue Heron, Anhinga, Snake eating frog

Today's wildlife photo's; Great Blue Heron, wildlife drive; Anhinga swimming with fish and Pond Apple trees, airboat ride; Garter snake eating tree frog, Boardwalk.

Alligators Bellowing in Florida Everglades

I was wrong in the video, I said "just the males, make that sound".  Turn's out both male and female alligators bellow.  There were two large alligators in this recording, you may only hear the one in front of us.  I will work on getting a better video.  See ya later, Alligators.  the evergladeslady

MARCH 5, 2012 Alligator HOTA position, White tail deer

Today's wildlife pictures; American Alligator "head oblique tail arched" (HOTA) position, gator hole at boardwalk. Florida Whitetail deer (Seminolus), on wildlife drive.

FEBRUARY 26, 2012 Alligator

Today's wildlife photo, alligator at the gator hole.

FEBRUARY 23, 2012 White Pelicans

  We saw White Pelicans, and mama Alligator was right next to the bank. One lady was so eager to board the tour bus, she climbed between seats to get aboard. LOL  I knew my tours were good, but dang!  It was a great day in the Everglades.  See ya later Alligators, the evergladeslady.

Today's wildlife photo's, White Pelican's; Mama Alligator; and Bald Cypress trees leafing out.

FEBRUARY 20, 2012 Red Shouldered Hawk, Lubber Grasshoppers

Today's wildlife photo's; Red Shouldered Hawk, at the Boardwalk; Lubber grasshoppers, at the Boardwalk

FEBRUARY 19, 2012 Baby Alligators

Today's wildlife photo's; baby Alligators the boardwalk, Big Alligator at the gator hole.

EAGLES ON THE BOARDWALK

A bit of bad news this week.  The pair of Bald Eagles that nest near the boardwalk,  have abandoned their nest.  I was told by a volunteer; that a visitor, had spotted Vultures perching on the side of the nest.  Which is a very bad sign, the Eagles would have never tolerated that; if the Eaglets were present.  We are not sure if the eggs did not hatch, or perhaps the Eaglets perished somehow.  Hope they have better luck next year, and hope they have a nice summer to recover. the evergladeslady

FEBRUARY 16, 2012 Baby Alligators, Red Shouldered Hawk

Today's wildlife photo's a Red Shouldered Hawk, and the baby Alligators, both sightings were during the Boardwalk stop.