The Birds, and the Bees (and Gators???)

Howdy all Ya'll,

I sent out an e-mail to some folks around my work here at N and I have gotten some questions from folks over at V. I think I knowwho the "leak" is but that's ok. I figured if it generated that much interest I would send a note out to all.


I had an interesting weekend and went to see my in-laws in B. Take a look at the photo of what we found in the back yard then ext morning.



Ok... Ok... so it wasn't in the back yard but still it is not veryoften that you come across one.
My mother-in-law asked if we wanted to go down to High Island to a little bird sanctuary which they had gone to the previous weekendand seen the baby birds with their mothers. She was telling us that it was pretty cool because there is a pond that has a small island on it and many different kinds of birds come and roost and build nestsfor their young every year. It is kind of cool to go looking for the different kinds of birds, last time we did this in March we were ableto see eagles in the wild and I was able to get a good picture.

So we set off on the grand adventure.

When we got to High Island (middle of nowhere actually, AKA "TheSticks" to my girls), I parked the car and did not have any problem with getting a parking spot. We did not really see anyone else thereat all. S grabbed a package of fig newtons and off we set ona hike to the pond on a very well marked path.

About halfway to the pond, and I can only tell you that because I have been there, we did not know we were only halfway there. Did I mentionit was HOT and HUMID and we were all pretty well soaked in sweat? Anyway at about the halfway mark to the pond we began hearing this loud whirring sound, Linda told us that it was the birds out on the island as she began swatting at some flies that seemed to like her hairspray. We stopped and sprayed everyone except myself with bugspray and then continued on (I can't stand the way bug spray makes you feel oily). We passed a small building and the whirring sound was now considerably louder (did not sound like birds roosting). Everyone was now having to swat "flies" out of their hair and off of each other's backs before they got BIT, the flies did not seem to bother you unlessyou were sweaty. Did I mention it was HOT and HUMID and we were allcovered in sweat? The flies did not have stingers but they seemed about the equivalent of "tse flies" or maybe just extra large fireants with wings. We all took off running for the lake and finally made it there and the flies became tolerable.

The view was great and we saw spoonbills, egrets, and many other kindsof birds that you don't normally see in the wild. We then decided to go to the other side of the pond and catch a better view of the backside of the little island. As we began heading around the pond we came to an area about three feet wide and in the middle of the pathwas the gator shown in the picture being prodded to move out of the way by yours truly. Anyway he was not impressed and barely even acknowledge that we were there except to look around and see if we would present much of a challenge for him to eat. He was more interested in finishing his siesta than moving and letting us pass. He did not try to make us pay any toll and so we decided that it would be better to turn around and head back the other way.

The flies took the "toll" out of our flesh on the way back to the car.

Note to self... next time I go looking for birds make sure to pack a cattle prod, and air conditioned bee keepers body armor.

Later Gators, KjS