Pic of the Day

Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga (female); Anhinga Trail, Everglades NP; Florida

     Shot this about a month ago while shooting in Florida.  While visiting Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park I found that some Anhingas had young that had already fledged and others that were just starting to nest.  This bird was shot near its nest that was very close to the boardwalk.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4; 1/500 second @ f 6.3

Pic of the Day

Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga; Anhinga Trail; Everglades National Park, Florida

     I have traveled to the Everglades dozens and dozens of times over the last 46 years, and I have never tired of Florida’s magnificent “River of Grass.”  Pollution, agriculture runoff, water rationing, and habitat loss has certainly taken its toll on the glades and its wildlife.  Today, there is less than 10 percent of the number of birds in Everglades, than there was 125 years ago. 

     The Anhinga, or Water Turkey is a common bird in the glades.  It has a dagger-like bill that it uses to spear fish while swimming underwater.  While submerged the Anhinga spears a fish, then rises to the surface to flip the fish into the air and catch it head first.  

     This Anhinga was photographed along its namesake, “Anhinga Trail,” that runs a quarter mile along Taylor Slough.  It had settled on a perch to preen feathers after its morning of fishing.  Anhingas are very easy to approach along the trail and allow people to get up close, and personal.  This bird paid little attention to me and my camera while I snapped dozens of images.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/200 second @ f8, 

Pic of the Day

     Anhinga – Anhinga Trail: Everglades National Park, Florida:  Strolling along Anhinga Trail in the Florida Everglades I came upon this Anhinga perched on the wooden rail along the trails path.  As you can imagine the red eyes caught my attention immediately.  As I readied my tripod and lens the Anhinga latched onto every move I made, and would not take its eyes off me.  This was just what I wanted, the bird looking directly into the camera lens. 

The red eyes are certainly the center of interest and the gaze into the lens makes them even more poignant.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4,  Arca Swiss ball head on Gitzo Tripod, 1/200 sec. @ f8

ISO 200

Pic of the Day

     Double Crested Cormorant Eating Mayan Cichlid -- Everglades National Park, Florida: While photographing bird on Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park my son came running to me, calling to come and photograph a cormorant that had just caught a fish. I picked up camera and tripod and rushed to the site and began to shot as a Double-Crested Cormorant was beating a Mayan Cichlid against a rock. The purpose of beating the fish against the rock was to break the bones so it would be easier to swallow. After a number of attempts to swallow the fish the cormorant finally got the cichlid down. This image was captured just as the fish was headed down the gullet. What I find most intriguing is the connection between the eyes of both predator and prey, and the drama of life and death in the wild.
On another note, the Mayan Cichlid is an exotic fish in the Everglades. Cichlids, Oscars and other exotics are not native to southern Florida and compete with native fish threatening their survival. Cold weather and predation by native birds help hold these exotic fish in check.

Nikon F5, Nikkor 500mm f4, Provia 100