Wildewood Wonders

Amazing - an Alligator in Pineneedle pond!

Why hello new neighbor!

Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought changes.

After Helene, Pineneedle neighbors met a new (we think) resident of our wildlife habitat. An American Alligator, a creature native to Florida! I asked Reptile professionals to identify it; I wondered if it was an alligator or crocodile. It's an Alligator. I took these photos with a telephoto lens.

After Hurricane Helene's horrific sea surge, a few neighbors and I first saw this alligator. I saw it for a few days, but after Hurricane Milton, I have not seen it. Every day I look.

Lake Doctors pond specialist Terry Peeler told me a story of an alligator sighting in the big pond over 20 years ago.

A couple of thoughts.

I'm making friends with the idea of having this new neighbor :). These facts help.

Alligators are found in most Florida ponds.

Walking our small dogs at the pond edge has never been safe. This is a reminder.

A concern is whether humans feed the alligator, birds, or other wildlife. Another reminder from our state wildlife professionals: do not feed wildlife.

I've heard some fears and desires to remove the alligator, but the alligator would be killed. Plenty of carp, turtles, and snakes are in the pond for food. We live in a wildlife area. We share this land with furry, feathered, scaled, and skinned beings. There is room for all of us.

From the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The main threat facing the American alligator is the destruction and degradation of wetland habitat. Destruction of wetlands frequently occurs in association with human development. (Perhaps you noticed the clearing of wetlands at 75th and Cortez Road to build about 6000 units and shopping.) Alligator nests may be depredated by raccoons and bears, and juveniles are vulnerable to predation by wading birds, otters, and larger alligators.

YCNH, three chicks jumping into the nest

This is what happens when Yellow-Crowned Night Heron chick parents aren't around.

Papa Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is standing on the side of the nest, asleep.

The chicks are asleep in the nest. But then, quick as a snap of my fingers, the young bundles wake. Papa's beak-point-skyward response makes me think he is making a bit of a "get ready, the kids are up" gesture.

In a papa-night-heron mimic or feed me gesture—chick says, "I can do that, too."

What is clear—the chicks are up!

Papa night-heron stretches his wings. "I'm going to fly this coop!"

Wait, wait. We'll settle down. Too late, Papa night-heron takes off. When he leaves, the chicks get active. Real active.

They step on the edge of the nest.

Out of the nest.

(The nest is about 30 feet above in a Slash Pine tree.)

There's wing-flapping.

One flapper ignites another flapper!

I can't contain my laughter. They stand on the edge and flap-hop into the nest.

They take turns. (Sort of.) I get nervous. I don't want to take a chick to wildlife rehab.

(I'm counting on you knowing that this is all projection—you know, my imagination creatively adding narrative to this observation.)

As quick as it all starts, it ends. Exhausted from play, the chicks plop in a restful heap inside the nest. There they stay, though twice raised up, perhaps looking for parent night herons bringing a fiddler crab meal.

I usually walk by a Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird, March 20, 2024. Happiness day.

I notice I walk by certain birds.

I rarely pause to observe or photograph Northern Mockingbirds. Not today. Like a crow's caw cutting through my thoughts, this one sang many different melodies. I stopped as if invited to a personal concert. The songs were for another - probably a female nearby.

From another view, they were also for me, just like any person we pass or flower we see is for our delight in this gift of the day we wake to.

One hour litter clean up - a success!

Night-Blooming Cereus, photograph by Steven;

34th Street, Wildewood Springs and Springlakes

Why pick up litter? To support this incredible habitat we share with all residents, including those who preceded us - birds, trees, butterflies, and all wildlife. This Sabal Palm and Night-Blooming Cereus is located in the area we worked today. In May, we will look again for its blooms

Thank you to the many neighbors from various villages for picking up litter at the 34th Street entrance. Thank you, Marc for taking photos.

This is Maureen Matson. She is a Wildewood Springs litter pick-up champion!

Joanne Golden and Maureen (without hat)

This is Emily. She also cleans up this area regularly!

Lynn! Thanks Marc for taking photos, but now we don't have one of you.

This area is more beautiful because of the volunteers.

One hour, many hands - we will do this again!

Merlin, a small falcon

Merlin, photo taken January 5, 2024

Vicki texted. "Watching a Merlin devour its prey..." Immediately I responded, "Here in Wildewood?"

We shared a bird walk the next day, and she showed me where she spotted it off of Wildewood Drive near the pool across from the pickleball courts. In a magical-feeling gift - Merlin was on the same branch!

At one point, it fanned its feathers.

There were two squirrels a short distance away. Or it could be it saw a nearby Mourning Dove.

In December, I photographed an American Kestrel (in Cortez, FL), another smaller falcon. They are slender and more pale than Merlins. Kestrels have a strong facial pattern with two "mustache-like" stripes that Merlins lack.

Last stroll through WWS of 2023

Barred Owl, December 29, 2023

A new year begins. May it be rich and meaningful!

As you might know about personal loss, the two months since Terry died have been full of grief with a particular loneliness and longing to talk to him about this remarkable dying experience. John O'Donohue knew of this when he said, "Lonesome for all the conversations we never had," and more. Conversations spontaneously arise in my mind as I wonder what Terry would think.

When a wave of grief arose, I'd step outside and start walking. To be with the birds and trees. With nature.

Poet Rainer Marie Rilke's recommendation for when things get turbulent and troublesome: stay close to nature. I have. So here are some things I noticed and photographed.

I'll begin with the lucky sighting of a Barred Owl two days ago, around 4 PM, across the pond from the butterfly garden in Pineneedle near my place. I've heard it multiple times very early (3 - 5 AM), and then yesterday, I heard caterwauling, so it looks like a pair might nest nearby.

Cormorants on the big pond. Many of them!