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Posted by Paul-the-other on 05:34:14 09/11/06
Okeeheelee was very quiet Sunday. One cat bird was heard and otherwise just many butterflies and squirrels. Returnng visitors will find about 30% of the pine trees destroyed by Wilma, The increased sunlight is stimulating bracken fern, biden, vitas vine, Caesar weed, and much rank understory growth. Many of the dead pines are still standing which bodes well for woodpeckers and nuthatches comes Spring. The Nature Center building is intact and appears from the outside none the worse for wear, or is it tear? No painted buntings yet, nor oven birds, ducks, or thrashers. Okeeheelee is awaiting its day in the birders sun.
Wakodahatchee also shows a new face. Many trees are down or gone from the berms and no replanting is evident. The copicing is interesting on most of the leaning or down trees. The water plants are more open than last year this time and holds great promise for photographers and viewers alike. The numbers of coots, gallinules and moorhens is still low compared to years past. A red-shoulderd hawk was heard for 30 minutes and finally broke cover and sailed over my head for an attack on baby moorhens. It missed me by inches and the moorhens by about three feet as mom and chicks scattered. What a racket then broke out as every living creature took up the alarm. Hawks just can't get "no" respect! The day was hot, very humid. There are still few power walkers. The tri-colors are about in good numbers as are several great herons. Three whistling ducks (black bottomed") circled and whistled for 6 passes then headed west, probably to Green Cay. All paths are now open. The baby alligators have hatched and are on their own. Terns are gone and only a straggler swallow or two passed by.
All in all: Okeeheelee and Wakodahatchee are still not quite ready for prime time.
Did I say it hot and humid? It was a three quart of water morning.
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