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Posted by Alex Harper on 08:58:03 06/11/10
*By Chekika, I mean the road from Krome Avenue, and the road running North-South through the Everglades.
I headed out to Chekika the other night in search of snakes and nocturnal birds. First off, snakes were ON THE MOVE. I arrived by 6:00 but had to leave by 9:00 to pick up my Dad from the airport. Snakes are active as long as the roads are still warm. By the time I left, I saw nearly 40 snakes crossing the road of 7 species. Most incredibly, five Striped Crayish Snakes were seen! A very seldom seen aquatic snake that feeds almost exclusively on crayfish. If I could have stayed out until the usual 10:30 or 11:00, I'm sure I could have reached 100 snakes and 10 species. I was unsuccessful yet again in my attempts in turning up my nemesis snake, the Rough Green Snake, during the daytime. Any pointers from other herpers (e-mail me)?
The snakes here are within the National Park, so please to not touch them. We have been stopped before by a park ranger thinking we were collecting snakes, but you are allowed to pull up on snakes and photograph them as long as you are not preventing them from crossing.
Very refreshing to see snakes so easily, after a nearly snakeless month of May spent in Peru. We did see plenty of birds though.
During daylight, waders and Eastern Meadowlarks were prevalent. A Common Yellowthroat was singing at some point. For those South Floridians feeling the summer birding doldrums, maybe try heading out to Chekika at dusk to watch large groups of Common Nighthawks. Black-crowned Night-Heron, King Rail, Chuck-wills-Widow, and Barn Owl were all seen or heard.
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