Kongo returned to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine on Sunday to visit its famous swamp rookery. This 4-acre preserve is home to a wide variety of species that include spoonbills, herons, all kinds of egrets, storks, and others. From February till June you can see the nest building, mating rituals, nesting, newborn chicks, and fledgling birds getting ready to head out on their own.
Kongo was hoping for a nice day and plenty of wading bird activity. He wasn’t disappointed! There were hundreds of wading birds and a constant cacophony of bleating cries from new hatchlings hungry for another meal. Mothers and fathers had their hands full rushing back and forth with food, building nest additions to accommodate their growing brood, and tending eggs yet to hatch.
Over an area the Farm calls its rookery swamp is a wooden trail that enables visitors to get up close and personal to the birds. Beneath the walkway are dozens of alligators.
There were also a couple dozen birders and photographers in attendance as well. For a brief moment, the monkey thought that he had wandered into a Canon convention and it was hard to get around without tripping over somebody’s tripod.
You can learn all about the Alligator Farm at its website
Besides the birds, there are always the alligators!
Travel safe. Have fun..
A little different than the San Diego Zoo!
Nicely composed pics – I know it isn’t easy! I love all of them. The last gator pic shows depth really well. Keep going to the rookery – as the babies grow they get really funny looking as their feathers grow in.
Amazing array of photos of the birds and alligators, Kongo. It must have been a bit challenging to take clear shots, since I suppose many of them would be scampering around for food. Hope the alligators stayed away from the birds and Kongo didn’t get too close 🙂