Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk at ARC
A Limpkin stalking Michael
our targeted species. It was a beautiful day and we saw a great variety including Ospreys, Anhingas, Gallinules, Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Red-shouldered Hawks, Tri-colored Herons, Snowy Egrets, Glossy Ibis. We were surprised by flocks of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Fulvous Whistling Ducks. The Fulvous Ducks were enjoying a swim, but the Black-bellied Ducks were resting on the bank. I imagined that maybe they’d just eaten and needed to rest before returning to the water. Of course, that’s probably not the reason, but it was interesting. Probably our favorite was a female Belted Kingfisher, who happily posed for us as we drove under her, exposing the beautiful “belts” on her breast. Kingfishers are so elusive that we seldom get off a good photo as they fly away when they see us. One species that made me glad we rode in the truck were the alligators. They came in all sizes. Some were sunning on the banks and some were swimming where we could only see their eyes above the water. Alligators are at the top of the food chain on Lake Apopka. There are also mammals including bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, armadillos, rats, mice, and otters. Very occasionally you may see hogs and bears on the property. Also, there are a great number of amphibians including frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Additionally, many reptiles call this place home: turtles, lizards, and snakes. The most common type of snake is the water snake, either the banded water snake or the brown or green water snake. These are all non-venomous snakes. And then there’s everyone’s favorite reptile, the alligator. Alligators play an important role in the eco-system as top predators because of the abundance of food on the lake Apopka shore. Visitors to the north shore usually have a lot of questions. The most common being “how big can alligators get?” Well, the Florida state record is 14 feet 3.5 inches. The abundance of wildlife is evidence of an active food chain where birds eat fish and alligators are the top predator. These animals are a natural part of this system and they belong. Alligators do not naturally prey on people but if you want an up-close photo, use a long camera lens. Even closer to my brother’s home is the Avian Reconditioning Center (ARC) at 323 Lester Road, Apopka. The center is open on Saturdays starting at 10 a.m. weather permitting for viewing a wide variety of raptors either being reconditioned for eventual release or permanent residents because they are unable to fend for themselves in the wild due to injury. At 3 p.m., birds on view are taken back to their home cages.
FOR THE BIRDS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 | 22
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