School Begins Anew

Well there are not only school children returning to school but also many forms of juvenile wildlife learning the ropes to survival. Several groups of young alligators have been seen moving around the property. For those of you who do not know young alligators stay close to their mothers for quite awhile. This affords them protection from predators including the male of the species.

Alligator females construct their nests by digging holes and lining them with leaf litter which through the process of decomposition heats the eggs and allows them to incubate at the correct temperature. Female alligators tend their nests sometimes removing debris to cool down the eggs while at other times adding debris to up the temperature.

Well afternoon rain storms are becoming a little more frequent but so far we have been spared any real tropical systems. Areas that are low are now holding water which will start to affect vegetation growth.

An interesting fact I just saw my second summer hummer. Hummingbirds that are here year round are the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds but I only see a few and never before late July or early August. This year they seem to have waited till mid-August to show themselves. I have been unsuccessful capturing a picture so far but I won't give up just yet. Northern male hummers also start their migrations southward, sometimes as early as late August to early September.

Here is a picture of a Ruby-Throated male from this past summer. The two I have seen lately appear to be a female and a juvenile male.

Hope to see you all back here soon.

Susan