tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35520006412239084962024-03-24T16:32:46.798-07:00Connecting with NatureGail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-48200176943091677012024-03-24T07:58:00.000-07:002024-03-24T07:59:10.859-07:00Getting Intimate With Gallinules<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zn32Wsqy2pocKOumaAdyVn2HrJ6NvwlTe4hXOWrFOhJ3FJvnh1oihDH2AzUL30eNHWS7vQxW2zQAmkPTix394JGD0OZ5NLYAROXzyd5VOjgyGfideknQXtvi-8s61pzvEnhwwow57ENranXWj1oiEV8vg-GKKxOt8SwAbReBC-N5IUwMPSsfPr64Lec/s1207/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%201%20Moorhens%20mating%20DSC2093%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1207" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zn32Wsqy2pocKOumaAdyVn2HrJ6NvwlTe4hXOWrFOhJ3FJvnh1oihDH2AzUL30eNHWS7vQxW2zQAmkPTix394JGD0OZ5NLYAROXzyd5VOjgyGfideknQXtvi-8s61pzvEnhwwow57ENranXWj1oiEV8vg-GKKxOt8SwAbReBC-N5IUwMPSsfPr64Lec/w400-h398/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%201%20Moorhens%20mating%20DSC2093%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Back behind the busy winter beaches, Common Gallinules (aka moorhens) go about their lives largely undisturbed. Except when prying photographers invade their space, and maybe get overly involved in their family business.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Last November, I was sitting quietly near a flooded wetland area, after a couple of weeks of rain. You might think that’s a messy place to have a meditative moment, and in fact I later realized that the log I was sitting on was full of termites (when they started crawling on my legs). But some birds prefer hidden, muddy places like this, and it has become one of my favorite birding and resting spots. Though it’s better if I bring something to sit on. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After a little while two gallinules came into view from different directions, and I noticed that they were approaching each other. Since I had my camera with me, I thought it would be good to get a picture of two of them together, with their bright red bills and face shields. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When they met up, they seemed to quietly bow to each other. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4UypIEPmgKL8KRwUEOILoOyBZWPjI5lyYpzOumJFl38I-31vi48xOT5ohS1zjdDQJS4oO-Js23sVb2eBaFONzwyzrgHsL4KYK_OfNKFL6dpA3dJGEDgWRLHE7SpA5kcqb8mrB0zp8eXNUKXyfaHcsnxIL03mwKR-mg0eCHAymRgfBtbZ3Wbf0pYLrp0/s1299/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%202%20galllinule%20moorhen%20couple%20bowing_DSC2097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1299" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4UypIEPmgKL8KRwUEOILoOyBZWPjI5lyYpzOumJFl38I-31vi48xOT5ohS1zjdDQJS4oO-Js23sVb2eBaFONzwyzrgHsL4KYK_OfNKFL6dpA3dJGEDgWRLHE7SpA5kcqb8mrB0zp8eXNUKXyfaHcsnxIL03mwKR-mg0eCHAymRgfBtbZ3Wbf0pYLrp0/w400-h370/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%202%20galllinule%20moorhen%20couple%20bowing_DSC2097.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then after about a minute or so he put his foot on her back and began to climb up. Oh. Even with a telephoto lens, behind some bushes, I felt like I was maybe intrusive. They didn’t seem to notice me though, and I didn’t want to disturb them, so I stayed put and observed their intimate moment. (And then, of course, I couldn’t resist putting the photos in the newspaper.) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi2G87rHRqZfNJvn_zsQ8xP7ppucrskJbPGKKZgDxFInu_G1hsTjTupCl-Ae0XSgZW19pTEv3fq7UHn46crEN3e2NhsA7nmiSTUYBq_dcfGU8PfOvAw9RYXdhKPOM29Y0bfRx7EQjXW9cbx8hiVAwGZCnpGBNinQ4-TVUZlzoHldfrbuCJCDx24C5w0U/s1600/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%203%20Gallinule%20moorhen%20climbing%20up%20_DSC2081.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1600" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi2G87rHRqZfNJvn_zsQ8xP7ppucrskJbPGKKZgDxFInu_G1hsTjTupCl-Ae0XSgZW19pTEv3fq7UHn46crEN3e2NhsA7nmiSTUYBq_dcfGU8PfOvAw9RYXdhKPOM29Y0bfRx7EQjXW9cbx8hiVAwGZCnpGBNinQ4-TVUZlzoHldfrbuCJCDx24C5w0U/w400-h338/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%203%20Gallinule%20moorhen%20climbing%20up%20_DSC2081.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After a few weeks I returned and started looking around for their nest, since the eggs usually hatch after about 3 weeks, and gallinule nests are sometimes pretty much out in the open and easy to spot. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyw1wjUI86lfPC3NmR7WgjRqMCDXeeWrIsI3Q0fdrNfdw6em5glPFmbxA_m5RhbOmZCJF2pWgn7TQm7haSSEo9RmY02YkuNRfJh9CFftNYkGTsF_eFOmKYbFcIN1DncmfkAPuPohNd48sAmzxNLTEJr2xOYCaY9ry8sHfo0Jidb9My2gK-rO4JBMTOAk/s1650/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%204%20gallinule%20moorhen%20and%20nest%20DSC_0305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1650" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyw1wjUI86lfPC3NmR7WgjRqMCDXeeWrIsI3Q0fdrNfdw6em5glPFmbxA_m5RhbOmZCJF2pWgn7TQm7haSSEo9RmY02YkuNRfJh9CFftNYkGTsF_eFOmKYbFcIN1DncmfkAPuPohNd48sAmzxNLTEJr2xOYCaY9ry8sHfo0Jidb9My2gK-rO4JBMTOAk/w400-h364/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%204%20gallinule%20moorhen%20and%20nest%20DSC_0305.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When the gallinule chicks are very small, they stay in the nest under the protection of the mother’s feathers. They have dark, fluffy feathers and red bills, and are partially bald, with red patches on the tops of their heads. Both parents feed and care for them. But very soon the chicks were ready to come out and start swimming around the pond, foraging with their parents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTm-aUhdyatloS5Kg7RwOuEe_DiAfR97zHvVMd4FYBjqQs_a1T5O06rz4CvteNFGmhxnfyWO0UtXPjvkS7mu-fEUkZmBgSC9E3nFhbc-Soe-2B5oAhvA4gyM5YbRvhmVzOcke3YwRBZGV5oBAOtLfBVXpvESoetK_-2Nx5YAI9E7hgv8RyHj6MiSBAUQ/s1535/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%205%20gallinule%20moorhens%20in%20duck%20weed%20_DSC2540.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1535" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTm-aUhdyatloS5Kg7RwOuEe_DiAfR97zHvVMd4FYBjqQs_a1T5O06rz4CvteNFGmhxnfyWO0UtXPjvkS7mu-fEUkZmBgSC9E3nFhbc-Soe-2B5oAhvA4gyM5YbRvhmVzOcke3YwRBZGV5oBAOtLfBVXpvESoetK_-2Nx5YAI9E7hgv8RyHj6MiSBAUQ/w400-h353/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%205%20gallinule%20moorhens%20in%20duck%20weed%20_DSC2540.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As it happened, by the time the chicks emerged the small pond was almost entirely covered with tiny, floating aquatic plants. It looked at first like green algae but was actually a type of duckweed. It didn’t seem like a good environment for the little chicks to try to swim through. However, it turned out that the<span> </span>gallinules liked to eat the tiny green plants, and swam through them easily, gobbling up the weeds as they went along.<span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">By early February the chicks were getting pretty big. Their bills had turned yellowish, and their feathers had grown in, now gray and brown, with no bald spots. They seemed to be thriving on the duckweed, and were almost as large as their parents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8lobe1dR6jAZZ2ubnfx2eTXkhrZUOdeoofeGtdnog8LZBVZ6uXRWjYUHBLaNcEI7DRYt6tC2Rz21OEKjA90Qzqm2Wk8wCZ1jvcjnq6fzoAMzb_nIFLs7FiXIWtEPvFTFMo0vjbLk5jcjR5hOmzs8L-jqdbzZKN_1lsZs9oEfJ_nVXqSXK8AznsAwJew/s1728/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%206%20Gallinule%20moorhen%20young%20eating%20weeds%20DSC3088.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1728" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8lobe1dR6jAZZ2ubnfx2eTXkhrZUOdeoofeGtdnog8LZBVZ6uXRWjYUHBLaNcEI7DRYt6tC2Rz21OEKjA90Qzqm2Wk8wCZ1jvcjnq6fzoAMzb_nIFLs7FiXIWtEPvFTFMo0vjbLk5jcjR5hOmzs8L-jqdbzZKN_1lsZs9oEfJ_nVXqSXK8AznsAwJew/w400-h348/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%206%20Gallinule%20moorhen%20young%20eating%20weeds%20DSC3088.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When I returned in late February, the pond water had cleared. Did they eat all those little plants? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The chicks were close to being adults now, but still seemed to be pestering their parents for food. Or maybe just arguing, like teenagers do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2ai1MR5AduQHdxhKoGpWM_QBwu46vnsOp90PiDDRnb7KAa6DIfFJXqui7yjW4sKpDdfwxKv2YGG0Jsei3wIOY40JmYgfDBFXN976NCQWkj6RjdpEPvDOTHPLfHq7QlEa0tg1fY2EYnYQq17ijG9Hdozoxmx3XrQ5_ryf9FXXwDv7SX8JaWccuwgR2X4/s1668/VIS%20March%2024%20Photo%207%20gallinule%20moorhen%20and%20chick%20DSC_0304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="1668" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2ai1MR5AduQHdxhKoGpWM_QBwu46vnsOp90PiDDRnb7KAa6DIfFJXqui7yjW4sKpDdfwxKv2YGG0Jsei3wIOY40JmYgfDBFXN976NCQWkj6RjdpEPvDOTHPLfHq7QlEa0tg1fY2EYnYQq17ijG9Hdozoxmx3XrQ5_ryf9FXXwDv7SX8JaWccuwgR2X4/w400-h315/VIS%20March%2024%20Photo%207%20gallinule%20moorhen%20and%20chick%20DSC_0304.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The next step towards adulthood is to grow dark feathers, and a red shield above the bill, which is the trademark look for Common Gallinules. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2bcBnsM_7EBpoOUbFH_OgZgJ4aQHzxBGMmuxCM3HXyr3bJbsWDmg0TtCMU5ifGAcn_DZWMcgLsc9P_1e-Ra6YECxjo0fyu09viDrdsOGF5d4RLDCuVPG8hIGnxnF5ZUKS5qLiCE6Z5Qg-07NmpmgUs2IVIYZxK4VCoK7IswI8bg7-pEfUpDHHvL1GFU/s1783/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%208%20Gallinule%20moorhen%20young%20adult%20_DSC2269.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1783" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2bcBnsM_7EBpoOUbFH_OgZgJ4aQHzxBGMmuxCM3HXyr3bJbsWDmg0TtCMU5ifGAcn_DZWMcgLsc9P_1e-Ra6YECxjo0fyu09viDrdsOGF5d4RLDCuVPG8hIGnxnF5ZUKS5qLiCE6Z5Qg-07NmpmgUs2IVIYZxK4VCoK7IswI8bg7-pEfUpDHHvL1GFU/w400-h336/VIS%20March%202024%20Photo%208%20Gallinule%20moorhen%20young%20adult%20_DSC2269.jpg" width="400" /></a></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The shields may provide some protection to the birds’ heads, but will also swell up and get redder and shinier during breeding season, in part to attract mates. Fortunately, the birds don’t seem to mind that their red heads also attract curious pond paparazzi. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-40901485870166066962024-02-20T04:13:00.000-08:002024-02-20T04:13:43.098-08:00The Birds and Bees, and Love in the Trees<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGQEB06ufGXwNFvzPTeANUUEYXKtSfffMKdy73217rKFtl202W84hfcNdCzH3V6dbUFJg852095EouM2yF8cUqMyTWEn6pBbm78ju8Dvm6j08IQKBsnochICHCjagMchyVcYgfEUTGjvXbpRQ8FklQphEuo3o59sz6OKQkNCZexgQWld8xrw58BrCXgg/s1800/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%201%20Pearly-eyed%20Thrasher%20with%20Ginger%20Thomas%20flower%20DSC_1146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1777" data-original-width="1800" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGQEB06ufGXwNFvzPTeANUUEYXKtSfffMKdy73217rKFtl202W84hfcNdCzH3V6dbUFJg852095EouM2yF8cUqMyTWEn6pBbm78ju8Dvm6j08IQKBsnochICHCjagMchyVcYgfEUTGjvXbpRQ8FklQphEuo3o59sz6OKQkNCZexgQWld8xrw58BrCXgg/w400-h395/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%201%20Pearly-eyed%20Thrasher%20with%20Ginger%20Thomas%20flower%20DSC_1146.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pearly-eyed Thrasher holding out a Ginger Thomas petal </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Even the birds offer gifts of love, while native bees embrace their favorite flowers. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H5wSLPVqJxJzaZLcJJoRIKEf5cJkjTfT3fpC79zLqsS2FWWcDnV3md5ykHL5AhliaEkZ4crLBcw_914TQ745UkwPLwpPmZ1YCSxyPseBipI_RraHP9lH5x_55IDGC64e3aBV3ayJpCjp1INksuG7c2QazyAoRgvJirFO189Irudk9qa_3awB7FFqlv4/s1500/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%202%20Carpenter%20bee%20and%20ginger%20thomas%201145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1500" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6H5wSLPVqJxJzaZLcJJoRIKEf5cJkjTfT3fpC79zLqsS2FWWcDnV3md5ykHL5AhliaEkZ4crLBcw_914TQ745UkwPLwpPmZ1YCSxyPseBipI_RraHP9lH5x_55IDGC64e3aBV3ayJpCjp1INksuG7c2QazyAoRgvJirFO189Irudk9qa_3awB7FFqlv4/w400-h368/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%202%20Carpenter%20bee%20and%20ginger%20thomas%201145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female carpenter bee embraces a Ginger Thomas flower </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">For people, flowers are widely viewed as symbols of romance, whereas birds and the bees are more often associated with learning about the mechanics of human reproduction. Which is quite odd because neither birds nor bees have all that much in common with humans when it comes to sexual reproduction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It’s true that, like people, certain types of birds do form pair bonds with their mates that are enduring and look pretty romantic. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAVEEHZrv2mU7pFkbuO9sT49LngmXlIgm0spP-egOJzJDPDkOhqH4lUr82hoXX9EkbVhwa_0ZXV_PUAm1VSjVPn0bgVGj36nj6X7AeIyBDT4UnuArgARDkeHYe7rlCfw-3duZrk3tZSy06UKgs2pZjC81gTeEPucjuQINO0REEUJ4qnZSVLGJmTHCUmM/s1800/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%203%20Ground%20dove%20couple%200767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1800" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAVEEHZrv2mU7pFkbuO9sT49LngmXlIgm0spP-egOJzJDPDkOhqH4lUr82hoXX9EkbVhwa_0ZXV_PUAm1VSjVPn0bgVGj36nj6X7AeIyBDT4UnuArgARDkeHYe7rlCfw-3duZrk3tZSy06UKgs2pZjC81gTeEPucjuQINO0REEUJ4qnZSVLGJmTHCUmM/w400-h348/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%203%20Ground%20dove%20couple%200767.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Common Ground Dove couple smooching</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some birds may also engage in frequent and enthusiastic reproductive activities. However the actual mechanics are not the same as for humans. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i683TK7lKh_nDdOJKXnLwIBaQQf3oJvRW37C5mbwcKqk34jQ-YaiMqTI8eywd3MoQl89IH11cQGeaNQ70c9iL7fWDJAb84XsQC_6xKwg0EcfESSs9jfV1lwtqeDBjquClkwyz5cztcq1CWWoNVOiPmZozs_fyH4wzzXE7eQLszT-GStVaE5_2Noq0SY/s1800/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%204%20kestrels%20mating%201995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="1800" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1i683TK7lKh_nDdOJKXnLwIBaQQf3oJvRW37C5mbwcKqk34jQ-YaiMqTI8eywd3MoQl89IH11cQGeaNQ70c9iL7fWDJAb84XsQC_6xKwg0EcfESSs9jfV1lwtqeDBjquClkwyz5cztcq1CWWoNVOiPmZozs_fyH4wzzXE7eQLszT-GStVaE5_2Noq0SY/w400-h365/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%204%20kestrels%20mating%201995.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Kestrels mate enthusiastically </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And they more often demonstrate their devotion with gifts of food rather than flowers.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXQhDpSSsYrvF3Bieakul6zp63Y40bXtHW2ZpZwYtaX7KFONGJeTemTjc4DbYW1hRy8YNL_kGrHv9Mg5OJOTjKDgb1BK9cvarRmbEifaSDgj9jHR5h766oSG0uQM8hpfQwrC_uiM1NDwmsCFm6pQJ8Mmh0nV6t7fmtzZVRnxY3Ew30qm2CZRvX2FNf1k/s1500/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%205%20male%20kestrel%20offering%20mouse%202035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1500" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXQhDpSSsYrvF3Bieakul6zp63Y40bXtHW2ZpZwYtaX7KFONGJeTemTjc4DbYW1hRy8YNL_kGrHv9Mg5OJOTjKDgb1BK9cvarRmbEifaSDgj9jHR5h766oSG0uQM8hpfQwrC_uiM1NDwmsCFm6pQJ8Mmh0nV6t7fmtzZVRnxY3Ew30qm2CZRvX2FNf1k/w400-h338/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%205%20male%20kestrel%20offering%20mouse%202035.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A male kestrel offers his mate a mouse </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><sub><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sub></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Meanwhile, for the large, black female carpenter bees mating is a once in a lifetime thing. They will seek out the smaller brown males for a brief liaison, but do not engage in any long-term bonding. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Instead, these bees are intimately involved in the mechanics of plants’ sexual reproduction, carrying packages of male pollen to female receptors in flowers, facilitating the development of seeds, and new plants. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The intimacy of this co-dependence is often touching to see. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Female carpenter bees will wrap themselves in a tight embrace around the pollen-laden stamens of the passionfruit flowers. In exchange for pollination services, the flowers offer food for the bees, and for their offspring.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTuVUzKOXot6uSP1cMX3zDdr6B94yGb2gRJ8qP7K54L-PPDAbIUxQJgodrf_vQ0V7GhvkGKP2FmTdvAYkZwXhk7Ub4MX2KnhRdy8G2ENYOup9W71YIEvFEsP7GlP9SB0V5DLdC82YBve3ElIxaVOVE9VkFKZ0vAjnRazkLOMAZy8j3BuIav-1Mo_oJLo/s1800/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%206%20Carpenter%20Bee%20with%20Passion%20Flower%200959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1685" data-original-width="1800" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTuVUzKOXot6uSP1cMX3zDdr6B94yGb2gRJ8qP7K54L-PPDAbIUxQJgodrf_vQ0V7GhvkGKP2FmTdvAYkZwXhk7Ub4MX2KnhRdy8G2ENYOup9W71YIEvFEsP7GlP9SB0V5DLdC82YBve3ElIxaVOVE9VkFKZ0vAjnRazkLOMAZy8j3BuIav-1Mo_oJLo/w400-h375/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%206%20Carpenter%20Bee%20with%20Passion%20Flower%200959.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Passionfruit flower attracts a female carpenter bee </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The smaller Canker Berry flowers also receive enthusiastic hugs from the female carpenter bees.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhzQHyTZ2Z2Ckq3sUWX6v4roLy44ztv4kDHHjYvMSCvib9qH-JIyHUU-qHAAPhILea0ZFQ4M07mIFodKuzTR170tIuRes4j-aRk9PlEiSGXQKtPS6HGgd2gG9Tsuv6sGwX9U7G1y697_mjKbq0pIOtF5SJa7Po6dM4MBZ1KLTwiZlssq5dEWKn1S1ODQ/s1682/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%207%20Cankerberry%20flower%20with%20carpenter%20bee-8095%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1682" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhzQHyTZ2Z2Ckq3sUWX6v4roLy44ztv4kDHHjYvMSCvib9qH-JIyHUU-qHAAPhILea0ZFQ4M07mIFodKuzTR170tIuRes4j-aRk9PlEiSGXQKtPS6HGgd2gG9Tsuv6sGwX9U7G1y697_mjKbq0pIOtF5SJa7Po6dM4MBZ1KLTwiZlssq5dEWKn1S1ODQ/w400-h358/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%207%20Cankerberry%20flower%20with%20carpenter%20bee-8095%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female carpenter bee hugs a canker berry flower</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some birds have special pollination relationships with particular flowers as well. The shape and colors of the heliconia flowers are specially adapted to attract hummingbirds. And don’t they look gorgeous together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdZ5Ks0JXgdG_5eR6xG9Y9qx2eVj9gEiImBf6fvTt8msxLz0tVwhOZPkz-IdhzCk0QWEi_IyfXSlChJhvyZ8gjuxTz7zz4qP81ttBnMqm46uD3oaXEhi7DHms98NUSSrxsgsfkElN3Ybm4EhWy8VZ_0ULZit2yxiKmtAeqvRFRgmEt4irrHijw3Rv4yg/s1538/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%208%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20drinking%20from%20heliconia%202437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1538" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdZ5Ks0JXgdG_5eR6xG9Y9qx2eVj9gEiImBf6fvTt8msxLz0tVwhOZPkz-IdhzCk0QWEi_IyfXSlChJhvyZ8gjuxTz7zz4qP81ttBnMqm46uD3oaXEhi7DHms98NUSSrxsgsfkElN3Ybm4EhWy8VZ_0ULZit2yxiKmtAeqvRFRgmEt4irrHijw3Rv4yg/w400-h394/VIS%20Feb%202024%20Photo%208%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20drinking%20from%20heliconia%202437.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Green-throated Carib hummingbird with a heliconia flower</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m not exactly sure what lessons we should be learning from watching the birds and the bees, but it certainly is entertaining to look and wonder. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-67327753656686919882024-01-19T06:48:00.000-08:002024-01-19T07:19:27.928-08:00Building Community by Looking for Birds<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIXZXKGVXGBr7aWNdlbEkmB6zJk8QuVgjX9z3Nn3tHJj4lJ_FqrkJ2cz0SRoSLW_IRQUFzZmniKfo2NPMlmuti4etHpjl0Jg4VgNfp6-Hc_UxXHNMXxo5jnrsHgSVnL7FO2TheUD67hhyGFt2lzfB7F1E19weI6oQpY6JvFmmyVvksE7DdzWY9RiR3pc/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%201%20Birders%20by%20Nancy%20Borowick.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1500" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicIXZXKGVXGBr7aWNdlbEkmB6zJk8QuVgjX9z3Nn3tHJj4lJ_FqrkJ2cz0SRoSLW_IRQUFzZmniKfo2NPMlmuti4etHpjl0Jg4VgNfp6-Hc_UxXHNMXxo5jnrsHgSVnL7FO2TheUD67hhyGFt2lzfB7F1E19weI6oQpY6JvFmmyVvksE7DdzWY9RiR3pc/w400-h356/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%201%20Birders%20by%20Nancy%20Borowick.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">St. John birdwatchers (l-r) Nancy Senger, Oskar Beasley-Lassen (holding Nancy’s cane), Victoria Beasley and Gail Karlsson (Photo Nancy Borowick)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The annual December bird count on St. John is one of my favorite activities. It is sponsored by the Virgin Islands Audubon Society, and represents our local contribution to a widespread ‘citizen science’ bird census that was started by the National Audubon Society in 1900. The reports we file on our bird sightings are put together with others from across the Western Hemisphere and the results are used to support a variety of research and conservation activities. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The bird count on St. John brings together a loose group of bird lovers, some of whom snoop around in hidden ponds, or scan offshore islands by boat. Others stay closer to home and report on bird sightings in various neighborhoods around the island. The information helps us get a sense of how well the different birds are doing. (I was first invited to join a bird count walk 25 years ago by my neighbor Beverly Biziewski, who recently passed away, and will be greatly missed.) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Laurel Brannick, who was a National Park Ranger on St. John for 30 years, has been leading the count team, and tries to get people organized to cover as much territory as possible, including some of the offshore cays. There were 44 counters this time, compared to 33 last year. Some people walked out alone or looked from home, while others paired up, or went around in a small group. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The count team reported 66 different types of birds. The species with the highest number was the Gray Kingbird again (244 total, compared to 236 the year before). Several of us showed up at the dock in Coral Bay at daybreak near where many of the Gray Kingbirds roost for the night. When the sun came up, we counted the birds as they flew up and went off to search for breakfast. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaq_2EPUwYIrDsJsECQvwj3dW_ZyvRCiqL_NV604-h6U25NuJ2bClAQEzML5N6VhdvOdda4sOUNMzKDJY-w_-eYslFMZuU2OJjrePK_d9eGPs6XZwV-X0XC-lA2HDWq43KhX6pPkmxepR-86JiX2oezW40v9N8wKoBaTvQMHK_OTve3adnr1Ml4EidcY/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%202%20Gray%20Kingbird%20-%20Francis_DSC2533.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="1500" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaq_2EPUwYIrDsJsECQvwj3dW_ZyvRCiqL_NV604-h6U25NuJ2bClAQEzML5N6VhdvOdda4sOUNMzKDJY-w_-eYslFMZuU2OJjrePK_d9eGPs6XZwV-X0XC-lA2HDWq43KhX6pPkmxepR-86JiX2oezW40v9N8wKoBaTvQMHK_OTve3adnr1Ml4EidcY/w400-h336/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%202%20Gray%20Kingbird%20-%20Francis_DSC2533.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">Gray Kingbirds fly out from the tops of trees to catch insects</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Gray Kingbirds can be seen all around St. John. Also Bananaquits, which had the second highest number counted (167), though this was relatively low compared to the past couple of years, probably due to the rainy weather. The pesky, fruit-stealing Pearly-eyed Thrashers (122) are also widespread. Whether you realize it or not, these birds often share your space and provide a background of natural sounds you can hear during the day. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Some common birds perch on treetops, or the power lines outside your house, including Scaly-naped Pigeons (<i>who, hoo, hoo, hooooo</i>), White-winged Doves (<i>who cooks for you)</i>, and Zenaida Doves (<i>who are you you you</i>). The forest-dwelling Bridled Quail-Doves (<i>who-whooo</i>) are much more reclusive. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Brown-throated Parakeets (also known as St. Thomas Conures) came to St. John with the 2017 hurricanes and have now spread out around the island. Though there aren’t all that many, they call attention to themselves by chattering very loudly wherever they go.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-lMe2LtONkKVuoPFARWwDEdn3f3_0YHnhFBbVWSubmcdozjdQsjIWWQlIaAA0Iwx_nuCfddh5NqovQL6_zTpFVnmJo12kb-18lLYtBiFo_ExhnkML0Dst5I8S7EPCXc3nSRIGQYzcHFDKiUva8o-I5zEWezK0JtxwrpolUYfDIPnEz5ipiJScgCYsrE/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%203%20Brown-throated%20Parakeet%20DSC_0050.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1500" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-lMe2LtONkKVuoPFARWwDEdn3f3_0YHnhFBbVWSubmcdozjdQsjIWWQlIaAA0Iwx_nuCfddh5NqovQL6_zTpFVnmJo12kb-18lLYtBiFo_ExhnkML0Dst5I8S7EPCXc3nSRIGQYzcHFDKiUva8o-I5zEWezK0JtxwrpolUYfDIPnEz5ipiJScgCYsrE/w400-h341/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%203%20Brown-throated%20Parakeet%20DSC_0050.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">Some St. Thomas Conures (Brown-throated Parakeets) have moved over to St. John</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Hummingbirds are precious companions found around many homes, but they are pretty quiet except for the whirr of their wings as they hover. The Green-throated Caribs are more numerous now (48) after recovering from the effects of the hurricanes of 2017. However the Antillean Crested hummingbirds are still relatively scarce (only 8 reported, the same as last year). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Certain birds, like the native White-cheeked Pintail Ducks (116), are quite numerous but only visible if you go out and look into the ponds and wetlands. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdnTFQY8tKuz1c6EnbqHfVR_pPW2omJoHbVLSpVBu-Q9LwU5a61E4-xNM6Y1NhKQ3h3ow3H1VJckdwWe3k7fYjyTOv_TpGJlleeUK__uDEWvqB6c0KyyNxDQ58bn50HbJ6_1neJBN5UzJ2lxlIjDIDN7OfEFgP96iN72XjjpQ1yRkyf2vhjeLs5MDS-s/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%204%20White-cheek%20pintail%20duck%20with%20babies%20_DSC2302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1500" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdnTFQY8tKuz1c6EnbqHfVR_pPW2omJoHbVLSpVBu-Q9LwU5a61E4-xNM6Y1NhKQ3h3ow3H1VJckdwWe3k7fYjyTOv_TpGJlleeUK__uDEWvqB6c0KyyNxDQ58bn50HbJ6_1neJBN5UzJ2lxlIjDIDN7OfEFgP96iN72XjjpQ1yRkyf2vhjeLs5MDS-s/w400-h341/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%204%20White-cheek%20pintail%20duck%20with%20babies%20_DSC2302.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">White-cheeked Pintail ducks raise their families in island ponds</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There were only 23 Great Egrets counted on St. John, but they are generally much more noticeable because they frequently come out and hunt for lizards along the roadsides. Mangrove Cuckoos mostly remain hidden in the wetlands and are still scarcer than before the hurricanes. They can sometimes be heard in the wetlands making their distinctive drawn-out song (<i>dat dat dat dat dat dat dat</i>), which is somewhat similar to the vocalizations of the also secretive Clapper Rails (kek, kek, kek, kek, kek, kek), though not nearly as loud. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-aifew2-WKe9AZGo94GCT0jS6-8EeYvUQYfaWU5okgaGFWIBl17CKwoVl0B4Yr5EcYnkhlZAtdTqfC5-I1Z8gDmwDnqLZGixwp9RX6Bk8_r4EOy077uQXM5ZdcLDh2zRzXkHPOMbS8v71Lw8uedfga7e-U-ZdDGU4cAJEtY0_vXEdWiuokdr4ZpSAxE/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%205%20Clapper%20Rail%20DSC_0794.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1331" data-original-width="1500" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-aifew2-WKe9AZGo94GCT0jS6-8EeYvUQYfaWU5okgaGFWIBl17CKwoVl0B4Yr5EcYnkhlZAtdTqfC5-I1Z8gDmwDnqLZGixwp9RX6Bk8_r4EOy077uQXM5ZdcLDh2zRzXkHPOMbS8v71Lw8uedfga7e-U-ZdDGU4cAJEtY0_vXEdWiuokdr4ZpSAxE/w400-h355/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%205%20Clapper%20Rail%20DSC_0794.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">Clapper Rails are hard to see, but make very loud klacking sounds when they are disturbed. </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">At the beaches, you can see Brown Pelicans out fishing (87 counted) along with the larger, soaring Magnificent Frigatebirds (32). It is particularly fun to be in the water and have a Brown Booby fly by low over the surface looking for a fish for dinner. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Migrating warblers that come for the winter are very difficult to spot unless you know what to look for and are willing to dedicate some time to sitting patiently in a wooded area. This time there were new records set for American Redstarts (23) and Ovenbirds (5), plus reports of a few Prairie Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, Northern Waterthrushes, and a Palm Warbler. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabAEp1h9he4KoBSpUql8hip4kGLQAN3cE2zt0bsEfs1sZ6C7hZPtQFDqFHYsyXWqtEX96ZhtBD15WXn1yBeHZGOlxpdzwEV4BozQVkrR3lP0VyvfEqQA7zy2SoVgjGOlMPEd9rf6aZg-4X1vTet1U51LoflYc68LrZgeD5MwuUD9-4lv7TVyXGZhKvT8/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%206%20American%20Redstart%200996.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1500" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabAEp1h9he4KoBSpUql8hip4kGLQAN3cE2zt0bsEfs1sZ6C7hZPtQFDqFHYsyXWqtEX96ZhtBD15WXn1yBeHZGOlxpdzwEV4BozQVkrR3lP0VyvfEqQA7zy2SoVgjGOlMPEd9rf6aZg-4X1vTet1U51LoflYc68LrZgeD5MwuUD9-4lv7TVyXGZhKvT8/s320/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%206%20American%20Redstart%200996.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">There were more wintering American Redstart warblers reported than usual. </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There were no lingering Laughing Gulls this time. For the past couple of years there were a few that stayed late into the winter, but that was unusual. They are mostly around St. John in the summer, when they come to breed on the offshore cays and cause a noisy ruckus as they go fishing along the popular beaches. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Sadly, there were also no American Flamingos seen on St. John this time. There was one recorded in the last bird count, and about 16 others appeared in south shore ponds later in the winter, most likely having come over from the British Virgin Islands. We are hoping that one day a group of them will come back to St. John and decide to stay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We did have a couple of sightings of rare migrant birds. A Whimbrel (a large shore bird with a curved bill) was spotted out past Coral Bay - a first for the Christmas bird count. And two Indigo Buntings (small finches) showed up at Francis Bay. The males are bright blue during mating season in the spring up north, but are mostly brown in the winter, with just a few tell-tale blue feathers. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd_j3d85mpyvqYTvyFz9P5RrcSB74o_0vvKaCxCrIYmpyuPes_GxftCu2dRKk4uHHLkTfRaa8Lv79TiFdCcfkqklxzJO1sFF4waHgD1QKdtNNO76HmSEBc8PK8v_KkNhlJNzissIXgUVGBuyevcsvT6V9s7vnyMvxHW_paGHjWHvh-DTBblAaRk-rjGo/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%207%20Indigo%20Bunting%20DSC2450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1500" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd_j3d85mpyvqYTvyFz9P5RrcSB74o_0vvKaCxCrIYmpyuPes_GxftCu2dRKk4uHHLkTfRaa8Lv79TiFdCcfkqklxzJO1sFF4waHgD1QKdtNNO76HmSEBc8PK8v_KkNhlJNzissIXgUVGBuyevcsvT6V9s7vnyMvxHW_paGHjWHvh-DTBblAaRk-rjGo/w400-h343/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%207%20Indigo%20Bunting%20DSC2450.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">During the winter, Indigo Buntings are more brown than blue. </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In order to record a Scarlet Ibis for the count, I had to make a special scouting effort around the Fish Bay wetlands. A few weeks earlier my neighbor had said he saw two of them fly up at the same time, and I was hoping to spot a pair. Other neighbors with a view over the pond showed me photos from last summer when there were clearly two red ones there, and another paler one that looked like a juvenile. Maybe a mating pair and a baby? Too bad I was away over the summer and couldn’t document it. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When I did spot one Scarlet Ibis to include in the count, it was not with a mate, but instead walking around with a Snowy Egret. I couldn’t help assuming they were the same two birds that have been keeping company consistently for the past few winters. Where are the other Scarlet Ibises? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2oDPmqzm37llx6zi4YRREmFbw-yN6osxl5tOKaR1y-k6zzV5-NT1f0Pzo598adNB1JSWQnXod1aUW1YeIcLykMh38jJvRy1AK1VcVpZKFsxZrKWzO7kikswy9tZ6tkQCUZ1CDNSB0pcdbLVsGaUoQ298Y902HXNVeqwBkBVyC0cQQMmwBnA8mg4MzGo/s1500/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%208%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Snowy%20Egret%20DSC2659.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1500" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2oDPmqzm37llx6zi4YRREmFbw-yN6osxl5tOKaR1y-k6zzV5-NT1f0Pzo598adNB1JSWQnXod1aUW1YeIcLykMh38jJvRy1AK1VcVpZKFsxZrKWzO7kikswy9tZ6tkQCUZ1CDNSB0pcdbLVsGaUoQ298Y902HXNVeqwBkBVyC0cQQMmwBnA8mg4MzGo/w400-h365/VIS%20Jan%202024%20Photo%208%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Snowy%20Egret%20DSC2659.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: start;">A resident Scarlet Ibis and migrating Snowy Egret seem to be reunited again for the winter</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In my neighborhood, discussion about the Scarlet Ibis drama has definitely brought people together. And so has participating in the annual bird count. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When we look closely at the birds and other wildlife around us, we are more likely to want to also look out for them, to wonder about how they experience the places we inhabit, and to deepen our connections with life force we all share. We might even feel a bit more grounded in the world as we approach the challenges of the new year coming.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">One member of the St. John count team, Beverly Melius, is also a poet and sent me this poem to share: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">if birds are we are<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">what is it about counting birds? Perhaps<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">it’s about turning busyness to patience<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">unwording ourselves, becoming birdlike<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">growing wings, lifting from heaviness<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">taking flight into the unknown or maybe <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">it’s about hope that we can sidestep our <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">vanishing because they say we are in the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">throes of the 6<span class="s2"><sup>th</sup></span> Extinction, maybe it all <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">comes down to a lucky number but what <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">about the two rainbows weaving among <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">those feral storm clouds, maybe it's about <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">peace descending with the first sighting <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">of the day or that stillness when suddenly <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">something new flies into your vision or nine <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">joyful Pelicans swooping in the surf, or the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">moment a fleeting sliver of sunlight sends six<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Pintails sparking with iridescence as they <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">skim across the pond inches above the water<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">or maybe it’s the soft drizzle of rain on <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">bare skin while bewitched by Grebes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">and Grassquits, quite possibly though it’s<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">about huddling in a thicket taking cover <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">from the downpour and being mesmerized <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">by a Great Blue gripping the tip of a snag<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">twisting her long neck to see what the <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Christmas winds are kicking up, turning back<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">then hunkering down into herself<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">waiting and watching together <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 16.2pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="bumpedfont20"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> beverly melius </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> Christmas Bird Count 12-16-23</span> </p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-14752553205776955862024-01-18T11:29:00.000-08:002024-01-18T11:39:57.069-08:00 Celebrating Tamarind Trees This Season<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIbztxFGJiKYUq-ix68u2P1p5QcH9G4nt4hSgdMbzcnteYFsFFD7EnzmYvu8otGOjzSgK6O8MaLDdmkFS1Aa7zEkfYLb_-Qxe4hMvle19iNYJOWoo54i31AkrXqvhdR4vXg-47WpDXRAqywmm7rPRVdqwqFKDApkKz_zvp9gOvYEnWScvCXFXqdQoNto/s1294/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%201%20Tamarind%20tree%20IMG_0387%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIbztxFGJiKYUq-ix68u2P1p5QcH9G4nt4hSgdMbzcnteYFsFFD7EnzmYvu8otGOjzSgK6O8MaLDdmkFS1Aa7zEkfYLb_-Qxe4hMvle19iNYJOWoo54i31AkrXqvhdR4vXg-47WpDXRAqywmm7rPRVdqwqFKDApkKz_zvp9gOvYEnWScvCXFXqdQoNto/w325-h400/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%201%20Tamarind%20tree%20IMG_0387%20copy.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The tamarind tree by our house on St. John has grown remarkably tall and bushy recently. It is also wonderfully full of life even around the winter solstice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The hummingbirds that come to my sugar water feeder in the morning will go over and rest in the shade of the tamarind’s feathery leaves. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyguz3tUtOVxCPGY4EyonZVBD7KShFkI1LiYSdHiwdd6uUfESt9QBXPEACazfLxLBLHDbQRy7Xi1lTtDJw38ve9SjFel-boYjorpwbg9uctlJ2MN_yHThYWfdg9U4-WP7BIg8ri-Md5ncC0kqgGyxarJvLixj22Ees7vVWAdVAjU4ysnFORS7gHcOaZgM/s1362/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%202%20Tamarind%20with%20hummimgbird%20_DSC2309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="1362" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyguz3tUtOVxCPGY4EyonZVBD7KShFkI1LiYSdHiwdd6uUfESt9QBXPEACazfLxLBLHDbQRy7Xi1lTtDJw38ve9SjFel-boYjorpwbg9uctlJ2MN_yHThYWfdg9U4-WP7BIg8ri-Md5ncC0kqgGyxarJvLixj22Ees7vVWAdVAjU4ysnFORS7gHcOaZgM/w400-h395/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%202%20Tamarind%20with%20hummimgbird%20_DSC2309.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">A Green-throated Carib hummingbird takes a break from its search for nectar. <sub><o:p></o:p></sub></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The strange black Smooth-billed Anis explore the top branches, and sometimes snack on the wasp nests lower down. They have communal nests and usually move around in a pack of five.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><sub><o:p></o:p></sub></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1HBYOOh5tQs1qtmQV2QLSOP9gbohb90c_JgTi87FN7PrA382JZ6CCrzzNopqILeIST-fwyuQw6gsUfNhrl53R0ZHzA71jc0pIPRCbMKjb5Ie4MNJ4a3NTYWufJ3sisqYa7qR9h33xStWkGzedR3tIFzPif5lRp8Y5iW54rQLTWJaYRP2_q39BmD6M88/s1500/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%203%20Smooth-billed%20Ani%20in%20Tamarind%201045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1HBYOOh5tQs1qtmQV2QLSOP9gbohb90c_JgTi87FN7PrA382JZ6CCrzzNopqILeIST-fwyuQw6gsUfNhrl53R0ZHzA71jc0pIPRCbMKjb5Ie4MNJ4a3NTYWufJ3sisqYa7qR9h33xStWkGzedR3tIFzPif5lRp8Y5iW54rQLTWJaYRP2_q39BmD6M88/w400-h400/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%203%20Smooth-billed%20Ani%20in%20Tamarind%201045.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Smooth-billed Anis are related to Cuckoos but have much thicker bills</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My Swedish ancestors endured long days of darkness surrounding the winter solstice, but also found solace in the evergreen firs and spruce trees filling the northern forests. Bringing cut trees inside and hanging lights and decorations on them has remained a beloved holiday tradition for many families. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Here in the Virgin Islands we can enjoy an outside tree with live decorations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YodH1hLXtewwPkfTl6JFmWkZblWHDfRiP0pbISLHl2inoAcyCyJCoGzobfotjMQDHbLKZtl-XaCCvTk_OrX3FsM0tdDlNvGiWbVUfNatfEXEsdgobboOVSobdloWgqYpTIx0LHuKlQ3QolB0taIU3g9bdG0DMM0Rjh5DflmzdnpYPopFL9GDwS2jSIA/s1640/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%204%20Tamarind%20flowers%20DSC_4863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1640" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YodH1hLXtewwPkfTl6JFmWkZblWHDfRiP0pbISLHl2inoAcyCyJCoGzobfotjMQDHbLKZtl-XaCCvTk_OrX3FsM0tdDlNvGiWbVUfNatfEXEsdgobboOVSobdloWgqYpTIx0LHuKlQ3QolB0taIU3g9bdG0DMM0Rjh5DflmzdnpYPopFL9GDwS2jSIA/w366-h400/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%204%20Tamarind%20flowers%20DSC_4863.jpg" width="366" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The tamarind tree has tiny delicate flowers for such a big tree. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I recently learned about a different Scandinavian tradition, which appears to date back to the Viking age, or even earlier. It involves planting a special tree in the middle of the yard on a family farm - a Vårdträd, or guardian tree - which was viewed as sacred. Some of them can still be seen by farms across the countryside. Caring for these trees is a way of showing respect for the ancestors who have lived on the land, as well as the nature spirits thought to dwell within the trees. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">With roots deep underground and branches reaching into the sky, trees have held social and mystical significance in many cultures, including in the Virgin Islands. Large trees, especially, can be seen as representing deep connections between the land, human societies, ancestors and the spirit world, even as they support today’s people and wildlife. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWP1ic7BFxOHaby8JEcTa5FB8sXB6GT7UWUAAN4utOGxMCk2m_0Qr6ue26bjAPwgzJRXgKXo_lAfXFn6gGKlOBC8Np-V4UGVh973c1HGCSNowFEvQveWmETzvIWgAeY1cPgJCbhzRmAsOhSssajcB99IZaDE-snK4RuV25ZwH2ggQRQBCIijDidQk8lU/s1500/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%205%20Tamarind%20with%20Hammock%20Skipper%20butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1455" data-original-width="1500" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWP1ic7BFxOHaby8JEcTa5FB8sXB6GT7UWUAAN4utOGxMCk2m_0Qr6ue26bjAPwgzJRXgKXo_lAfXFn6gGKlOBC8Np-V4UGVh973c1HGCSNowFEvQveWmETzvIWgAeY1cPgJCbhzRmAsOhSssajcB99IZaDE-snK4RuV25ZwH2ggQRQBCIijDidQk8lU/w400-h388/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%205%20Tamarind%20with%20Hammock%20Skipper%20butterfly.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">A Hammock Skipper butterfly examines the tamarind flowers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We didn’t plant the tamarind tree in our yard ourselves. It was fairly small when we started building the house almost 20 years ago, and probably grew from a seed dropped by a bird or animal. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">But we have nurtured it. Early on, my husband spared the young tamarind tree when he was out with his machete trying to clear out the somewhat similar-looking false tamarinds or tan-tans (<i><span style="color: #333333;">Leucaena leucocephala</span></i>). The tan-tans were originally introduced in the mid-1800s to feed cows on St. John. They will grow quickly on disturbed land, producing foliage for fodder and large quantities of seeds, but no tasty fruit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Tamarinds (<i><span style="color: #040c28;">Tamarindus indica</span></i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #040c28; font-size: 15pt;">) </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">are native to <span style="background-color: white;">Africa, are widely naturalized in Asia, and have been transported around the world. They were probably brought here around </span>the mid-1600s, because people enjoyed cooking with their tart (sometimes sweet) fruit. They are not as widespread as the tan-tans, but can get much larger and live longer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately, as the trees get taller, it gets harder to pick the fruits. Sometimes only the birds can reach them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryxhoiM6vd6fIrr5Ux0MYpLj6tHYqjGX7C4_lYIBEfF9lyKbi-ltpc3MWf3UZoVt8JfZKaB9F0Qomuhra5yXBGU20sZPYByx-IaLiV_8R347NsItkEZjiSws3Li7R3xBw6nYf6bbCwNnfv0jRpgomrp1xJR9a9ls94TWJSLyxBVYISRF_QX4jAPgl9Mo/s1500/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%206%20Tamarind%20with%20fruit%20and%20thrasher%20DSC_0448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryxhoiM6vd6fIrr5Ux0MYpLj6tHYqjGX7C4_lYIBEfF9lyKbi-ltpc3MWf3UZoVt8JfZKaB9F0Qomuhra5yXBGU20sZPYByx-IaLiV_8R347NsItkEZjiSws3Li7R3xBw6nYf6bbCwNnfv0jRpgomrp1xJR9a9ls94TWJSLyxBVYISRF_QX4jAPgl9Mo/w400-h360/VIS%20Dec%202023%20Photo%206%20Tamarind%20with%20fruit%20and%20thrasher%20DSC_0448.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">A Pearly-eyed Thrasher has its pick of the high tamarind fruit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The tamarind tree has definitely become a cherished feature in our yard. And fortunately it’s not right in the center, so it doesn’t block the walkway - or my view into the wetlands pond below the house.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-36506032965510672512023-11-27T04:04:00.000-08:002023-11-27T04:05:39.526-08:00Have You Found Birds Nesting on Your Deck?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4j8uuJuR6_Ro3cB6elMylPpPjC9gKeyhZXRcReFwUFCXty0xr9YK-Fxm96WmPLu1B2yyT6LiBI4cV1OY79eS0l_mAh5PVqd944wod7u8rWS43CgwxQapIVQgrzJgW_Yquhfgtqpx804b3vPI-wfcaGyhoOHU1IzJ-g3rKPIBq_vQcW0U_VuAaIksEE4/s1200/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%201%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20babies%20_DSC1991.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1200" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4j8uuJuR6_Ro3cB6elMylPpPjC9gKeyhZXRcReFwUFCXty0xr9YK-Fxm96WmPLu1B2yyT6LiBI4cV1OY79eS0l_mAh5PVqd944wod7u8rWS43CgwxQapIVQgrzJgW_Yquhfgtqpx804b3vPI-wfcaGyhoOHU1IzJ-g3rKPIBq_vQcW0U_VuAaIksEE4/w400-h391/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%201%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20babies%20_DSC1991.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">Two bullfinch babies quietly opened their mouths hoping for food</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we came back to our house late last month, I saw that there was a nest in the corner rafters of our screened-in deck downstairs. We had left a door open at one end while we were gone so it wouldn’t be blown out if a bad storm came by. We soon discovered that a couple of Lesser Antillean Bullfinches had used the cozy deck area during our absence. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I first noticed the nest, I assumed it was empty. I didn’t see any birds around, and it was right above where we usually sit to eat dinner, so I was planning to remove it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">However, when I stood up on a chair and peeked inside, I thought I saw something moving down in the bottom. I looked more closely, and saw a small, gray, slightly twitching pile, and an unopened eye on what seemed to be a newly hatched chick. Oh dear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When there is consistent warm weather and an abundance of food, most resident birds can breed throughout the year. In the past we have come back in the fall and seen remnants of nests around the house, but mostly by late October the birds were finished, and the nests had fallen down. They never really seemed very sturdy anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can see both the parents gathering material to build nests and working on it clumsily, apparently without a lot of construction expertise. Still they do manage to reproduce successfully and are abundant on many of the smaller eastern Caribbean islands. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The females are light colored, with a mix of tan and beige feathers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcdVze5Wpob7In2Fbpuhokbxglfu-rTHnDBdaIWtPqMKZOH-kn7t7j76C6P-B9zfOGgqXbhn0boSOMEqM2_C58Y4LFh6ve-xFtclLgmjiUZeXfgHmk9gkHGBa2Bam7892vJ8Su5qP0CWkXObrvhVopMdXBhPHU-DCsH68vdv4q1zra4iNZ3HZSVXfT9U/s1200/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%202%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20female%20with%20nest%20materials%20DSC_6300.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcdVze5Wpob7In2Fbpuhokbxglfu-rTHnDBdaIWtPqMKZOH-kn7t7j76C6P-B9zfOGgqXbhn0boSOMEqM2_C58Y4LFh6ve-xFtclLgmjiUZeXfgHmk9gkHGBa2Bam7892vJ8Su5qP0CWkXObrvhVopMdXBhPHU-DCsH68vdv4q1zra4iNZ3HZSVXfT9U/w400-h400/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%202%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20female%20with%20nest%20materials%20DSC_6300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">A female bullfinch gathered nesting material from a pygmy date palm tree</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The males are black with red patches on their throats, above their eyes, and under their tails. They are quite aggressive, at least about boxing out the Bananaquits at the sugar feeder when I fill it. Yet it turns out they are good partners and providers when it comes to parenting. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGffusXcVb7LOaVJ1uuw6vRyLHE8hxpcGBuN-OLmO_i1-QkFxTfPDFlhQcJUhXOctPtE9_EXE-wmcvnoW_ztQj1zTjIzNXreQUNERgpOsV9yU7SDFTsGGhZUnGRgBWcU2y2MjLKsmfvdpSK7XKt0IBNFbI0-EKwa27Rp5l1W9zecl83llVrndWSHSasEw/s1602/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%203%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20male%20with%20stick%20DSC_6330.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGffusXcVb7LOaVJ1uuw6vRyLHE8hxpcGBuN-OLmO_i1-QkFxTfPDFlhQcJUhXOctPtE9_EXE-wmcvnoW_ztQj1zTjIzNXreQUNERgpOsV9yU7SDFTsGGhZUnGRgBWcU2y2MjLKsmfvdpSK7XKt0IBNFbI0-EKwa27Rp5l1W9zecl83llVrndWSHSasEw/w375-h400/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%203%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20male%20with%20stick%20DSC_6330.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">Male bullfinches also bring sticks for the nest.</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We mostly stayed off the deck after I looked into the nest. From inside I saw both parents through the screen. They seemed to be consulting, and then decided that it was okay to fly across the deck to the nest. We were hot and dark inside, though, so I did sometimes open the door from the kitchen to get some more air and light. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One day about a week later I looked out and noticed something moving in the nest. Of course my first thought was to get my camera. Sitting far back inside the house, I used my telephoto lens to check things out from a distance. Now the nestlings had gotten bigger, and I saw two mouths sticking out of the nest, not making any noise yet, but obviously hoping one of the parents would come with food. The babies’ mouths have yellow lines around the outside, and are bright red inside, so the parents have clear targets for dropping the food. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I figured that one of the parents would show up soon, so I sat there very quietly, holding my camera. I actually had to wait for almost an hour. A wildlife stakeout operation in my own kitchen. Then suddenly the dad appeared with some food in his beak, and when I raised the camera to take a photo, he turned and gave me a hard look. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUwLYRKGS2eSQJNTd6ZnWpYoBJ4RMWbbW1wDfxxir3naqkN1mHYQVx7UlY8LLAiVkSzUwL2KfIOSFTfiYOswsZn3eBT0BP8D2odKTLp5ZtXPyvUWKEkwHSsmklvq57zxSrBDf60otBaU_ERTU7tO1AG0R_WXs9H7fPLtz4k_xf_AGymF7ldH5JZ7d4gE/s1543/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%204%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20dad%20with%20babies_DSC2005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUwLYRKGS2eSQJNTd6ZnWpYoBJ4RMWbbW1wDfxxir3naqkN1mHYQVx7UlY8LLAiVkSzUwL2KfIOSFTfiYOswsZn3eBT0BP8D2odKTLp5ZtXPyvUWKEkwHSsmklvq57zxSrBDf60otBaU_ERTU7tO1AG0R_WXs9H7fPLtz4k_xf_AGymF7ldH5JZ7d4gE/w389-h400/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%204%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20dad%20with%20babies_DSC2005.jpg" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">The bullfinch father came by to feed the babies</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After that look, I kept all the doors to the deck closed. I didn’t want the parents to get scared off and abandon the nest. I couldn’t see very much from inside, so I wasn’t sure what was happening. At one point the nest seemed to be falling apart, and I wondered if the parents were still coming. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then about two weeks after we got back, I saw some movement outside the nest. I opened the door to the deck, and just then a baby bird dropped onto the chair below the nest, and then flopped onto the floor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblagUpRgBSzq4R5lhPXdg5OBWqJxduunhHqeNje3nvhmeUSZB3Gv0xT79BdaiZcacX76ldrYX20n5ie5TXo_kur-y6MoSJeak-uCKtnlAPG8kZwMGqzuPqHSJHD4vv_ukmPX13eM6j3DXbH88vDFpwFkcpNkkbxIJTt40VN7Lf3K0pv3gjGJJoJTA_n0/s1230/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%205%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20fledgling_DSC2169.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiblagUpRgBSzq4R5lhPXdg5OBWqJxduunhHqeNje3nvhmeUSZB3Gv0xT79BdaiZcacX76ldrYX20n5ie5TXo_kur-y6MoSJeak-uCKtnlAPG8kZwMGqzuPqHSJHD4vv_ukmPX13eM6j3DXbH88vDFpwFkcpNkkbxIJTt40VN7Lf3K0pv3gjGJJoJTA_n0/w390-h400/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%205%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20fledgling_DSC2169.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">When the baby bird dropped out of the nest it couldn’t fly</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was worried about its safety, but the dad quickly appeared and gradually led the baby along the deck and out the door into the low bushes next to the house. I was very relieved. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was no further activity around the nest after that. I hopedt that the other baby had already fledged while I wasn’t around. I was also happy to be able to open the doors so we could use the deck and cool down the house a bit. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I could still hear them calling to each other outside though. Like many other young birds, the bullfinch babies will beg for food from the parent for quite a while, even after they have learned to fly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUZhUUd5sVjLF2nAZSCuBCy57mLGH1i9TRFDnbSPfXEKDbqzZOeJ6UqQFpXYFBIr7qIHJ4iptkHk_vY4svT-r_xGkho_3NmZtXXNvS1fMLszcdgBW_atdLfBLVlI_wOgr2ttyRmyMNUux-L2-2HnQY5acH3MI534cjQGlVq7iWfG2vVpHbcMsF4byqmw/s1468/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%206%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20mom%20and%20baby%20DSC_9365.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1468" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUZhUUd5sVjLF2nAZSCuBCy57mLGH1i9TRFDnbSPfXEKDbqzZOeJ6UqQFpXYFBIr7qIHJ4iptkHk_vY4svT-r_xGkho_3NmZtXXNvS1fMLszcdgBW_atdLfBLVlI_wOgr2ttyRmyMNUux-L2-2HnQY5acH3MI534cjQGlVq7iWfG2vVpHbcMsF4byqmw/w400-h399/VIS%2011-2023%20Photo%206%20Antillean%20Bullfinch%20mom%20and%20baby%20DSC_9365.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">A hungry bullfinch chick appealed to its mother for food <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It would be interesting to hear about any birds that have chosen to nest on your decks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #555555; font-family: Merriweather;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-10337906775538721322023-10-30T04:42:00.002-07:002023-10-30T04:42:45.896-07:00Yellow-rumped Warblers Could Be On Their Way To The Caribbean<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRomB-L1JupiB09lErLlQ55oOdRJtJ-1WEqvxwsUTN5p-F7OFi9467d72DhCWdhH0T6rNLu5PmJmyQvfNGZXRV5CNIzsSWyANZ0Vuh-S9AK0pEqY58kE_V3ByguyBB0EvGnPgKzRtOMMYb0nFIss8SkUFixg-1j9f7MSpA1IHGKQxFcKrRhkdovWFLSJU/s1500/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%201%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20DSC_0078-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="1500" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRomB-L1JupiB09lErLlQ55oOdRJtJ-1WEqvxwsUTN5p-F7OFi9467d72DhCWdhH0T6rNLu5PmJmyQvfNGZXRV5CNIzsSWyANZ0Vuh-S9AK0pEqY58kE_V3ByguyBB0EvGnPgKzRtOMMYb0nFIss8SkUFixg-1j9f7MSpA1IHGKQxFcKrRhkdovWFLSJU/w400-h325/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%201%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20DSC_0078-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I am wondering if they will make it as far as the Virgin Islands this season. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Last year I saw quite a few of them migrating through New York in late October, and then soon afterwards I thought I saw one flitting around the sugar bowl on St. John. But then I realized it was one of the resident Bananaquits, which are about the same size. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You don’t often see Bananaquits showing their flashy yellow backsides, because their wings close over their butts when they sit down. But wow, when one flies up with its back towards you, there it is, so don’t get confused by them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxE14DoDOX2_FttcVtJZJm5yvGzefpGq-KoZh9IjRPvhHHeY1iwHCzIsZLcKBRpW50c9wOPJ5oye5yrZye-psrin4Um6aiqPQU9DfbQz9RkPPOUCFA5tHTKYA3xzkGnNuHj44uaFuwfSiQo9fL5zoR3tHwaZz_kEFfLd8ihe1eS56ngJUFMNG6aAxkV0o/s1500/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%202%20bananaquit%20showing%20yellow%20butt%20DSC_6845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1500" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxE14DoDOX2_FttcVtJZJm5yvGzefpGq-KoZh9IjRPvhHHeY1iwHCzIsZLcKBRpW50c9wOPJ5oye5yrZye-psrin4Um6aiqPQU9DfbQz9RkPPOUCFA5tHTKYA3xzkGnNuHj44uaFuwfSiQo9fL5zoR3tHwaZz_kEFfLd8ihe1eS56ngJUFMNG6aAxkV0o/w400-h324/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%202%20bananaquit%20showing%20yellow%20butt%20DSC_6845.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bananaquit</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">During the summer, the Yellow-rumped Warblers breed in Canada and down into New England. Then in the fall they start to migrate further south. They tend to leave their summer places later than other warblers, often in October, and then they go back north again as early as March or April. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7HaJMCnUp6RLz6P3YSa8sQm8jqbQMpVdIJP_zqrWSPawEpcfj963hlx2PSZUzxtysVf1ahnmTXjTGEPZgL3L5A444a2asK8W6ms2CFKMgKDqrXB8Nx1GIpewIrf9NFitNVN33asLce6_RfQJMTUWyMcRdhBmCqPNvFl8SSg5Dq89KUNq3j7OciYgWuw/s1500/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%203%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20_DSC1612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1500" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7HaJMCnUp6RLz6P3YSa8sQm8jqbQMpVdIJP_zqrWSPawEpcfj963hlx2PSZUzxtysVf1ahnmTXjTGEPZgL3L5A444a2asK8W6ms2CFKMgKDqrXB8Nx1GIpewIrf9NFitNVN33asLce6_RfQJMTUWyMcRdhBmCqPNvFl8SSg5Dq89KUNq3j7OciYgWuw/w400-h318/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%203%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20_DSC1612.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warblers breed in northern coniferous forests<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">. </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">Members of the subspecies of the Yellow-rumped Warblers on the east coast of the US are called Myrtles, and those are the ones that show up in the Caribbean. But some of them just stay along the east coast for the winter, not even going very far south. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">In the Virgin Islands, t</span>hey are ‘irruptive’ - usually rare but then some years showing up in a big bunch. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">It seems a bit of a mystery why some of them stay in the states, while others come down to the Caribbean, and then occasionally keep traveling this far. Winter migration is mostly about food, not warm weather, so it might be because some years there is not enough food in certain areas, or perhaps there are too many birds clustered somewhere along the pathway and so the later arrivals just keep on going. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">Like most warblers, they primarily eat lots of insects. Not sugar, so they will not come to the sugar bowl. During the spring and summer, they forage on the ground, and in trees, and also grab bugs out of the air. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidrkgQChQjfDgw6U1G57UL-WlHDRTQ4EAy6rdlQCddFoDgxwm5nQsSvm-PZ1l2kNblfL9j4ISknH6uYrHaGuBD7lK-i3bcyPRmqcwdVec-ljjyDVCNJGGVBM8yjec7W_SO2PdqRac02JnaE9milwOtJZnj34pgt4IKfiD3yEdDxBBnUs8eC8l5VaVVFw/s1500/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%204%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20with%20worm%20_DSC1375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1500" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidrkgQChQjfDgw6U1G57UL-WlHDRTQ4EAy6rdlQCddFoDgxwm5nQsSvm-PZ1l2kNblfL9j4ISknH6uYrHaGuBD7lK-i3bcyPRmqcwdVec-ljjyDVCNJGGVBM8yjec7W_SO2PdqRac02JnaE9milwOtJZnj34pgt4IKfiD3yEdDxBBnUs8eC8l5VaVVFw/w400-h325/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%204%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20with%20worm%20_DSC1375.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler pulling a worm out of the ground</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">But Yellow-rumped Warblers are more versatile than many other warblers. They can digest berries too, and that allows them to spend the winter in cooler areas that have winter berries, even after the insects get scarce. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3gRfPrA1dYEP_VzoCL946q873xlxntuhEtzJdI7o6cfCZgT_74KxPm_U_WEMYPs2_bCesM_aA4EzcRpBtfNp0r4HyO7H93rrg1TAO40KPVTRFIKLba3LGhwBPHC7ruwx1F4NlD8LyCkR5dyWWVSaxIMkkvJ1JXT3fAilf4HmiT0oXXo1LIVC36MERLU/s1500/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%205%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20eating%20berries%20DSC_9074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1500" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3gRfPrA1dYEP_VzoCL946q873xlxntuhEtzJdI7o6cfCZgT_74KxPm_U_WEMYPs2_bCesM_aA4EzcRpBtfNp0r4HyO7H93rrg1TAO40KPVTRFIKLba3LGhwBPHC7ruwx1F4NlD8LyCkR5dyWWVSaxIMkkvJ1JXT3fAilf4HmiT0oXXo1LIVC36MERLU/w400-h323/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%205%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20eating%20berries%20DSC_9074.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler eating berries</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">A few years ago I did actually see a large flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers on St. John, in the mangrove wetlands near Annaberg. They were creeping around on a stand of dead trees and seemed to be picking through the spider webs, eating trapped insects and maybe the spiders too. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kSL5Z8G3BrtAIt9HWSEd8-wc_Q6fFTgMmNM2xVlGT-P49WjnJuFKCMe341eWfrHJFGURJaS9pWsKEHJ8EInrFOwlP67FupLUm7Oc_itkmfSvxzKoGQJ-7N2z2SdHB9HH8vADTrfOwfqs_QZASOv0zO0tm5tdTeKKecxuNAn4v1Y1gmAViBMFt9aWYvE/s1500/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%206%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20St%20John%20DSC_0070-2%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1500" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kSL5Z8G3BrtAIt9HWSEd8-wc_Q6fFTgMmNM2xVlGT-P49WjnJuFKCMe341eWfrHJFGURJaS9pWsKEHJ8EInrFOwlP67FupLUm7Oc_itkmfSvxzKoGQJ-7N2z2SdHB9HH8vADTrfOwfqs_QZASOv0zO0tm5tdTeKKecxuNAn4v1Y1gmAViBMFt9aWYvE/w400-h326/VIS%20Oct%202023%20Photo%206%20Yellow-rumped%20warbler%20St%20John%20DSC_0070-2%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler finding insects in spider webs in the mangroves</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Often called ‘butter butts’ by birders,<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"> these are among the most common and widespread warblers in North America. Their numbers have not been decreasing, unlike some other types of migratory birds. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">However, there was an incident in Chicago recently where many of them died, along with other warblers, when they collided with a building. Most warblers migrate at night, and can become disoriented by brightly-lit buildings. They sometimes also get confused when they are looking for food during the day and fly into glass windows that reflect trees, which knocks them out. That is why people in many areas along the migratory bird routes are currently pushing for legislation requiring buildings to adopt bird-protective measures. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;">It is possible that only a few Yellow-rumped Warblers will get down here this winter, but I’ll be keeping a lookout for them. And let me know if you see any.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #232323;"><br /></span></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-9786808399132612162023-10-03T03:45:00.016-07:002023-10-03T03:49:56.223-07:00Are Those Fiddler Crabs Waving at Me?<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1GcgZY89NdVTHbwRWv2w-nqV4qpAbqqRjQWOclyDCBnbJB6lHIm8uL8ZAAyd2YlgjEDFlnm5lb4fQLANyTIOTIgFTjwYZVFW7gi0GsXW2A0bfODz1Gh2UL_trf_luOip0cF8_covn9pYFog_svS1NlM27JsngVoqduuqMtt9YPlchcNqVsrxcirGff0/s2100/VIS%20Fiddler%20crabs%20waving%20DSC_9163.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1593" data-original-width="2100" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1GcgZY89NdVTHbwRWv2w-nqV4qpAbqqRjQWOclyDCBnbJB6lHIm8uL8ZAAyd2YlgjEDFlnm5lb4fQLANyTIOTIgFTjwYZVFW7gi0GsXW2A0bfODz1Gh2UL_trf_luOip0cF8_covn9pYFog_svS1NlM27JsngVoqduuqMtt9YPlchcNqVsrxcirGff0/w400-h304/VIS%20Fiddler%20crabs%20waving%20DSC_9163.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A male fiddler crab has one large claw that he waves around.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I mostly see these tiny crustaceans along the edges of the salt ponds. There might be hundreds of them in a small area, and some of them are enthusiastically waving their claws in the air.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span>They are so cute that I want to get close enough to check them out. But when I approach, suddenly they are all gone. Even when I move very slowly and quietly. Fortunately, when I am out on bird walks at Francis Bay, I can sometimes catch pictures of them with my telephoto lens before they disappear into tiny holes in the mud.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span>The crabs each have a hole in the mud close to the edge of the water where they can drop down and hide. Predators like herons, egrets and clapper rails feed along the edge of the pond and will snap up these little crabs like popcorn if they don’t hide quickly enough. So most of the time the fiddler crabs stay close to their burrows. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span>The burrows are up to about a foot deep and besides providing the crabs with shelter, they also help the mangroves trees around the pond by watering and aerating their roots.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79ND3Yf9HgULdS15UbKV4QyPL7UcwWQ_jXoH31uqjYEzr5mTDYoEHFhEnnhwXs7qc_Y3c7_djz1nFesf_ylPxhmLrNusfuSdlBO32ulDQRxVLPXOfhToJB2uXtSL5LJDCQZDX0VwAWRWfOXA9FAZXvxj3GE2Q4TBjDbBzPc1fyIuO_UcJieHnY30rGo8/s1800/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%202%20Fiddler%20crab%20in%20roots.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79ND3Yf9HgULdS15UbKV4QyPL7UcwWQ_jXoH31uqjYEzr5mTDYoEHFhEnnhwXs7qc_Y3c7_djz1nFesf_ylPxhmLrNusfuSdlBO32ulDQRxVLPXOfhToJB2uXtSL5LJDCQZDX0VwAWRWfOXA9FAZXvxj3GE2Q4TBjDbBzPc1fyIuO_UcJieHnY30rGo8/w400-h300/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%202%20Fiddler%20crab%20in%20roots.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This fiddler crab found a cozy spot in a relatively dry, pond-side area.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;">One time I saw a group of fiddler crabs out in the deeper water hanging onto a branch. I was happy to have them out of their burrows and sitting in plain view for a change, but it didn’t seem very safe. Maybe they were forced out of their burrows by a heavy rain and were clustered together on the branch for protection.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCn67_Vkj9iwL1vX-TEGohzPRkZU_Krh04SkKZEmnhlOyFlDVnfa1u1UCPt0ZXSkR4PUzNiAv_WTR8GiHn9gUpwOkGV5WOaTcu_ZunBycduU7AdnCms3FHyoRI7oOdiZ7FCbRyyvSUhdmcfq0xxFas8q4uphFbV9bIqYM9H0IPE4RjEBgNEuybOJrESA/s1800/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%203%20Fiddler%20crabs%20on%20a%20stick%20DSC_5760.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1800" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCn67_Vkj9iwL1vX-TEGohzPRkZU_Krh04SkKZEmnhlOyFlDVnfa1u1UCPt0ZXSkR4PUzNiAv_WTR8GiHn9gUpwOkGV5WOaTcu_ZunBycduU7AdnCms3FHyoRI7oOdiZ7FCbRyyvSUhdmcfq0xxFas8q4uphFbV9bIqYM9H0IPE4RjEBgNEuybOJrESA/w400-h311/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%203%20Fiddler%20crabs%20on%20a%20stick%20DSC_5760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">These fiddler crabs were hanging out just above the surface of the water.</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.66666603088379px; text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span><span style="font-size: 14px;">It</span> is only a male fiddler crab that has the one oversized claw, and when he is waving back and forth it is usually in hopes that a female crab will come into his burrow. Sometimes the males will also use their claws to keep rivals away from their territory, or even fight each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">The females have two small claws, but when I was looking through my photos, I couldn’t find a clear image of a female fiddler crab, only a few blurry ones. Maybe the females are more reclusive, lounging down in their burrows.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">When a female is ready to mate, though, she comes out of her burrow and walks around the neighborhood. At that point she is very vulnerable to predators. As she quickly scuttles around, she is looking for a male with a good-sized claw. When she finds an acceptable one, she will follow him into his burrow to mate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Interestingly, some male fiddler crabs are born with their large claw on the right, and others have the big one on the left. I have seen both kinds. It’s not clear whether the females have a preference. </span><sub><o:p></o:p></sub></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: red;"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: red;"></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk-wOyL93KnbQfeaVvwAShqK1sG-uxqNR24Wh4b15v8d1B8b0WBAWX9tK6OTtmshSB07ieZzcIq8YFwjubC0Il5QlVWeutdGOqPpqGKk21y03Z4MTOtaByXlaU5mKkhZpCSGZpK1kn1nE2FBj7c5SSia4yjKWvFuqweaKSf_8AjssNDDQ43DXzticnLw/s1800/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%205%20Fiddler%20crab%20right-handed%20DSC_2397.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1800" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPk-wOyL93KnbQfeaVvwAShqK1sG-uxqNR24Wh4b15v8d1B8b0WBAWX9tK6OTtmshSB07ieZzcIq8YFwjubC0Il5QlVWeutdGOqPpqGKk21y03Z4MTOtaByXlaU5mKkhZpCSGZpK1kn1nE2FBj7c5SSia4yjKWvFuqweaKSf_8AjssNDDQ43DXzticnLw/w400-h305/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%205%20Fiddler%20crab%20right-handed%20DSC_2397.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: red;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53iRVuJ71SYMiLOm8ufWrc5i9J-bCmg8wIZb_yUDAH6v1Bvstq0cKWYKckNii_GVUQczn3geCKX4T94COHa9Cuk-hx3GlqCkTZoNEgzH6vUFUajvupPVcGVYYJIsGcvpi19undlMTP-pBbbv4cpUilJqx0ckeUnrKbN3tUsLVCW_am59pCKN4oancESA/s1800/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%204%20Fiddler%20crab%20left-handed%20DSC_2392.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1800" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53iRVuJ71SYMiLOm8ufWrc5i9J-bCmg8wIZb_yUDAH6v1Bvstq0cKWYKckNii_GVUQczn3geCKX4T94COHa9Cuk-hx3GlqCkTZoNEgzH6vUFUajvupPVcGVYYJIsGcvpi19undlMTP-pBbbv4cpUilJqx0ckeUnrKbN3tUsLVCW_am59pCKN4oancESA/w400-h301/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%204%20Fiddler%20crab%20left-handed%20DSC_2392.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">A few males might lose their big claws somehow. Maybe from fighting, or escaping a predator, and in that case the smaller claw (on the other side) can grow larger to take its place. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">The other prominent feature of these crabs is their eyes. Many crabs have their eyes on stalks that stick up on top of their heads. But these fiddler crabs are very small, and their bodies are often obscured by the big claws, so mostly all you see is eyes and claws.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOvDheZi6nHT90oOuqxErTcB6_rqGSqIfI8kCd0Q12AEme1sCSwXqgY4DJNBP4xLdbl1IxQFmzPEnhxy3PEkrjdxk2O4okhHYF2HMOKcA7u2_u-b0dSuUJ7vuMW8Y7QS-HAieUTV5boauuLz9k-XUp52yoFP3fXE1XSEvr7p2jZTAHA7BKzX0cpEkONA/s1800/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%206%20fiddler%20crabs%20group%200620.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1800" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOvDheZi6nHT90oOuqxErTcB6_rqGSqIfI8kCd0Q12AEme1sCSwXqgY4DJNBP4xLdbl1IxQFmzPEnhxy3PEkrjdxk2O4okhHYF2HMOKcA7u2_u-b0dSuUJ7vuMW8Y7QS-HAieUTV5boauuLz9k-XUp52yoFP3fXE1XSEvr7p2jZTAHA7BKzX0cpEkONA/w400-h272/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%206%20fiddler%20crabs%20group%200620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Those high stalks allow them to get a long-distance perspective. That’s why they know to hide when I am approaching but not yet close. They don’t have great visual focus at a distance, though, so they probably can’t actually tell the difference between me and an egret. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Their compound eye structures also give them a panoramic view, so they can see what’s behind them without moving their eyes or turning their heads, and can see what’s around them both on land and under the water. Scientists have become interested in studying the structure of fiddler crab eyes as they design complex artificial vision devices and robotic applications. <span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1L8tyVfmGCNpBMeEjOA6uPrVu5tiielgjM43L_V6416YB21xiylXxCtQPxjSm1aZ2zswGHuU8xUJXeMtqxOCIHaLFEehasApuG7Sek-hWnApQZZCvInV7c7XJANKNkHhqsmvpY5vi9L5ze38zMCu1Uw2Y43PsAtJjPdkWSNbJmyXmr6ooK_NUeGAU3s/s1800/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%207%20Fiddler%20crabs%20water%20edge%20DSC_0621.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1800" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1L8tyVfmGCNpBMeEjOA6uPrVu5tiielgjM43L_V6416YB21xiylXxCtQPxjSm1aZ2zswGHuU8xUJXeMtqxOCIHaLFEehasApuG7Sek-hWnApQZZCvInV7c7XJANKNkHhqsmvpY5vi9L5ze38zMCu1Uw2Y43PsAtJjPdkWSNbJmyXmr6ooK_NUeGAU3s/w400-h301/VIS%20September%202023%20Photo%207%20Fiddler%20crabs%20water%20edge%20DSC_0621.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fiddler crabs are exposed and vulnerable when they are out on the mud flats.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 14px;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">When I tried to figure out what species of fiddler crabs I was seeing at Francis Bay, I found some pictures on the Internet that made me think their scientific name might be </span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Minuca burgersi</i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">, which is one of the common types in the Virgin Islands. I was mostly focusing on their reddish color.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">For confirmation, I asked some local nature experts, including Caroline Rogers, a former research biologist with the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center. She contacted Paul Jobsis at UVI, who forwarded my photos to several others, including a UVI professor, Guilherme Corte, who in turn connected me with Helio Checon, an ecologist in Brazil. Checon informed me that the claws (and the teeth on them) are key to identifying different fiddler crabs - more so than coloring. Though most of the crabs in my photos do seem to be <i>Minuca burgersi, </i>the claws on the ones in the first photo look heavier, and Checon suggested those are a different species. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Despite their big claws and sophisticated eyes, quite a few fiddler crabs get picked off by birds foraging along the edges of the ponds. Fortunately, however, there are still many of them around. Be sure to give them a wave from a distance when you see them. </span><span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><o:p style="font-size: 14px;"> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-5515829400767722182023-08-23T05:38:00.001-07:002023-08-23T05:38:20.883-07:00Seeing Zenaida Doves, Not Mourning Doves, in the Virgin Islands <p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eP0MHzxWAmx_NI2XseXI_jgpSjBtjDEueEHl17lq343adUVvEo9yPv18GbPFv3qNIzzreM2BzwiA8o1bNb0bTSzN4jDWXVpd43oeqFhK46DzWTB6Yi1_mVJQmQ_8ZAm7NPgmTNI5bGVfWMU9NTUrYX9oiwSr03PYt3FsRMc_2W4lwlaFt6PUdbVfJfM/s1500/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%201%20%202023%20Zenaida%20Dove%20DSC_2555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1500" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eP0MHzxWAmx_NI2XseXI_jgpSjBtjDEueEHl17lq343adUVvEo9yPv18GbPFv3qNIzzreM2BzwiA8o1bNb0bTSzN4jDWXVpd43oeqFhK46DzWTB6Yi1_mVJQmQ_8ZAm7NPgmTNI5bGVfWMU9NTUrYX9oiwSr03PYt3FsRMc_2W4lwlaFt6PUdbVfJfM/w400-h339/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%201%20%202023%20Zenaida%20Dove%20DSC_2555.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Zenaida Doves show white patches when their wings are folded</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There are two closely related types of doves that look very similar. But Zenaida Doves (</span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Zenaida aurita)</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">, are only found in the Caribbean area. I first noticed them hanging around on our dirt road and then flying up just as I came by in my jeep, making a whistling sound with their wings, and then sometimes flying alongside the car for a few seconds. They seem to like foraging in the road.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Mourning Doves (<i><span style="color: #040c28;">Zenaida macroura</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">)</span></i> are similar but are more widespread. They are residents across much of North America, and I recently learned that they also live in the Greater Antilles, as far east as Puerto Rico. In addition, some of them are northern breeders that migrate down into the Caribbean in the fall. So I suppose it is not impossible that a Mourning Dove could show up in the Virgin Islands at some point, though I haven’t seen one here yet. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">How do you tell them apart?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The most obvious difference is that a Zenaida Dove has w<span style="background-color: white;">hite tips on its wing feathers that show up as a white patch or ‘check’ when the bird is standing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jwj5xh2ARn52pVs1bgsOFKA1J9gFr4VjIPemx1U-8LCt7_rH56kq3PG4R5FLzoCN8_mVFJfRo3WPStwDnvBky6mTwV4YBbCOn481N83nNrwFXdwtZ5rN5ZxYXoQcIvpT_2kFK_WjfpHsEvXdBXomR4TMnp6gut0rsSerlI8A-pjMCq1mWBQ0zoJVKN0/s1417/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%202%20Mourning%20dove%20DSC_9183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1417" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jwj5xh2ARn52pVs1bgsOFKA1J9gFr4VjIPemx1U-8LCt7_rH56kq3PG4R5FLzoCN8_mVFJfRo3WPStwDnvBky6mTwV4YBbCOn481N83nNrwFXdwtZ5rN5ZxYXoQcIvpT_2kFK_WjfpHsEvXdBXomR4TMnp6gut0rsSerlI8A-pjMCq1mWBQ0zoJVKN0/w400-h338/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%202%20Mourning%20dove%20DSC_9183.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mourning Doves don’t have the white wing patches</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">It is fairly easy to see the white wing patch (or lack of it) from a distance. It would be harder to notice that the Mourning Doves are also a bit larger, and browner, with lighter bellies and longer, pointy tails. The rings around their eyes also seem bluer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">Both types of doves have similar five-note cooing calls, which can sound sad, though some people confuse their ‘<i>hoo-Hoo hoo-hoo-hoo</i>’ with owl calls, which are not considered particularly melancholy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;">For both types of doves, the males have iridescent purple feathers on their necks, which are most visible when they are cooing loudly, puffing out their necks and trying to impress the females. (</span>In the Virgin Islands, the breeding season for Zenaida Doves is from May to August.) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra4pHERasQECHlmJCtLvZbpubklPwQmESoIi_rPp1WXHsNnUTOT2PVBpWbRDqsqrne8mLBUU7Io5mJT-7mxKJJ9fkAzZ-ig5EHQQorqEz3aa3kvm4iiufdGmzLAhdhYprcirDbDsu35qDqxdcEzRyGkRoztmWRPGpw57cBKxZ8X3Lz4XZnD2neqeunGQ/s1500/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%203%20male%20Zenaida%20Dove%20DSC_0579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1500" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra4pHERasQECHlmJCtLvZbpubklPwQmESoIi_rPp1WXHsNnUTOT2PVBpWbRDqsqrne8mLBUU7Io5mJT-7mxKJJ9fkAzZ-ig5EHQQorqEz3aa3kvm4iiufdGmzLAhdhYprcirDbDsu35qDqxdcEzRyGkRoztmWRPGpw57cBKxZ8X3Lz4XZnD2neqeunGQ/w400-h304/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%203%20male%20Zenaida%20Dove%20DSC_0579.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;">A male Zenaida Dove displays his iridescent neck feathers</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I also recently learned that doves are not really so peaceful – the males will sometimes fight during breeding season. Last April, a reader on St. John, Susan Crane, sent me a video from a driveway camera showing two blurry smallish, brownish birds chasing around, edging up to each other and then whacking each other ferociously with their wings. By their size and coloring she thought they might be kestrels, which are raptors and therefore more likely to act aggressively. But after studying the video, I thought I caught a glimpse of a white wing patch. When I looked online, I was surprised to find several Zenaida Dove male combat videos. Who knew? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The name ‘Zenaida’ actually has a slight link to a very combative historical figure - Emperor Napoleon. His nephew, Charles Lucien Bonaparte, was a naturalist and ornithologist who married his first cousin, Zenaida Bonaparte, and named these doves for her. The name is used not only to identify this particular Caribbean dove species but also for a broader genus that includes White-winged Doves and Mourning Doves. In Greek, Zenaida means (roughly) ‘related to Zeus’, the supreme god in ancient Greece, and it seems to be a popular girl’s name in a number of cultures. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">After all the fighting and breeding is over, the dove couples are said to mate for life. They are also reported to be monogamous, though I’m not sure how closely they are monitored. You do often see them together, mostly walking around on the ground looking for seeds and insects. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">You might also find them perched right next to each other. Other times you might hear them calling back and forth from different trees.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhl-dcSovMwnZwJltM5m6MEu41xw_6rYSu_cVumj2jWvi1Kl23zl6w8ysVg0pijUFADuLk9aQDOgu7HT_iP0ktgFariTitW0yzAQyPuAY-aoC4ukbHCPW09kDxazUT81U7KD59AUPWI7EZQ8IoGnyKxznXmV0KwEJYnwJt1D-CXE-dIIhida1E0a3vbA/s1500/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%204%20Zenaida%20Dove%20couple%20DSC_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1500" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhl-dcSovMwnZwJltM5m6MEu41xw_6rYSu_cVumj2jWvi1Kl23zl6w8ysVg0pijUFADuLk9aQDOgu7HT_iP0ktgFariTitW0yzAQyPuAY-aoC4ukbHCPW09kDxazUT81U7KD59AUPWI7EZQ8IoGnyKxznXmV0KwEJYnwJt1D-CXE-dIIhida1E0a3vbA/w400-h310/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%204%20Zenaida%20Dove%20couple%20DSC_0912.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;">Male and female Zenaida Doves are devoted mates</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In our yard, the Zenaida Doves can sometimes be seen foraging with other similar, but much smaller, doves. These are not babies but Common Ground Doves, which are members of a subspecies only found in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands <i>(Columbina passerina portoricensis</i>).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW-bR6vn6IZZQ_nmyvdXn4x0t8_YTH95_4DW9DxhmU97n5X_E2Nec6fSoMVpZaQwnFH9XdTXnm_996zE28sOkMupPuY1T1tiAoOLp0BqaB9Xh70FPuLbyEZzrfN0g2-LaW2C8mdMHYFEW29QneDxAOS-l8-wRT6QqA1S-aQhSTzWrzuBekQRE1djuwlQ/s1500/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%205%20Common%20Ground%20Dove%20and%20Zenaida%20Dove%20DSC_1093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1500" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJW-bR6vn6IZZQ_nmyvdXn4x0t8_YTH95_4DW9DxhmU97n5X_E2Nec6fSoMVpZaQwnFH9XdTXnm_996zE28sOkMupPuY1T1tiAoOLp0BqaB9Xh70FPuLbyEZzrfN0g2-LaW2C8mdMHYFEW29QneDxAOS-l8-wRT6QqA1S-aQhSTzWrzuBekQRE1djuwlQ/w400-h314/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%205%20Common%20Ground%20Dove%20and%20Zenaida%20Dove%20DSC_1093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;">Zenaida Doves are much larger than Common Ground Doves</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When they do have babies, the Zenaida Doves make their nests in trees to provide some safety from potential predators on the ground (like rats, mongooses and outdoor cats). Local bird expert Laurel Brannick told me that she sometimes finds Zenaida Dove hatchlings that have fallen out of their nests (more often than other birds), and will try to put them back in the nests to protect them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FNQvgbgrCvAuRzDB9W5cbEEOdVoY4vACAzyKYiIOgnq_7xzLNqB1PIYDM5nKG_wI-vszblCeUYDu3rPwNum55iVqbNTPUQXoXn_7FhEqtDe5VO152BbrTP6Xv5FVcxfBeaey_8rBZ31107gOp8AGgglcY0YUw6yA3LMCfmEDZGahLQXffCkTY3HGJqI/s1500/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%206%20Zenaida%20Dove%20in%20nest%20DSC_1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1500" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FNQvgbgrCvAuRzDB9W5cbEEOdVoY4vACAzyKYiIOgnq_7xzLNqB1PIYDM5nKG_wI-vszblCeUYDu3rPwNum55iVqbNTPUQXoXn_7FhEqtDe5VO152BbrTP6Xv5FVcxfBeaey_8rBZ31107gOp8AGgglcY0YUw6yA3LMCfmEDZGahLQXffCkTY3HGJqI/w400-h319/VIS%20August%202023%20Photo%206%20Zenaida%20Dove%20in%20nest%20DSC_1455.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;">Zenaida Doves nest in the crooks of trees</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In addition to predation, many birds are also challenged by human-related habitat loss and climate change. Zenaida Doves, like other seed and insect eaters, can easily become food-insecure during hurricanes, droughts and other calamities. In general, planting native trees and shrubs will support local birds and wildlife and, in times of crisis, providing bird seed for the doves can be helpful.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But in many places people pose direct threats to doves. Mourning Doves are widely hunted in the northern hemisphere during the fall, mostly for sport now, though sometimes for food. Zenaida Doves can also be hunted legally in certain Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico. So it would not be surprising if these doves do, in fact, sing rather mournful songs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><br />Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-20930486450443847022023-07-28T09:13:00.005-07:002023-07-28T09:13:35.504-07:00Black Mampoo Trees Attract Local Birds, Wasps and Pollinators<p> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6TEL7K6KRyD_HfYcHNDjIZraEmHc_lcQgOAYuV6UDpflQpzBpRAagSKm4azym6Vx_eq7Sge7dWhyPIIo_t2pUcXqj-BiZU4Cd5c-ia1adOx3jbCso-bYddLS8o-doTZtY9SKhotuhiKrpZkngQsxhvcwBVVMIpoYnd7Z3PHIZ4GpmRkGvJDUnwd5DBg/s1800/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%201%20Thrasher%20and%20black%20mampoo%20berry%20DSC_4892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1800" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6TEL7K6KRyD_HfYcHNDjIZraEmHc_lcQgOAYuV6UDpflQpzBpRAagSKm4azym6Vx_eq7Sge7dWhyPIIo_t2pUcXqj-BiZU4Cd5c-ia1adOx3jbCso-bYddLS8o-doTZtY9SKhotuhiKrpZkngQsxhvcwBVVMIpoYnd7Z3PHIZ4GpmRkGvJDUnwd5DBg/w400-h281/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%201%20Thrasher%20and%20black%20mampoo%20berry%20DSC_4892.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Pearly-eyed Thrasher eating an unripe Black Mampoo fruit</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Although Black Mampoos are among the most common native trees in the Virgin Islands, they tend to blend into the wooded areas and are not usually noticeable until the summer, when they produce flowers and fruit. And even then, they are certainly not flamboyant. Nevertheless they are attractive to a variety of local creatures. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">These are relatively tall trees, 30 to 40 feet high, often with one straight trunk that doesn’t start branching until fairly high off the ground. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmD-eoUurkQvsNvXaLiypphwzEOTD1lw2H0sy3htxg9rLc40GAiMeAn7DNvSqV0DWCRLvDVioV44UbZOoHKp2fW9oihgUikxiP0qbsMCKorLGJmzgpSfSxPFzkw_ABzmpLNekne7ISO4TKA0Za6DGhPLDmva8uRQj4EEjFteqsc6VVWWlJXz8zI7WEdE/s1327/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%202%20black%20mampoo%20tree%20on%20hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmD-eoUurkQvsNvXaLiypphwzEOTD1lw2H0sy3htxg9rLc40GAiMeAn7DNvSqV0DWCRLvDVioV44UbZOoHKp2fW9oihgUikxiP0qbsMCKorLGJmzgpSfSxPFzkw_ABzmpLNekne7ISO4TKA0Za6DGhPLDmva8uRQj4EEjFteqsc6VVWWlJXz8zI7WEdE/w316-h400/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%202%20black%20mampoo%20tree%20on%20hill.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black Mampoo tree</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Their fragrant flowers start out as small buds at the ends of high branches. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GYWt0PH5EerGlqUmlA2YkLovO2Mi3Dj926H9uWq4z4U607s1TqSGD-_AGw1XlAMbhYpqcZbwptbbhFC6LAbab2tEErFMAuDP96lnkt27aUoQD2iSj96q591z7fLfIN3evG8GuWsdBVmIeiApQDGsFz6vW4tiOyHaqnjhGvGFLBwcAJaqNoUicd3DS4k/s1800/-%20VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%203%20ani%20in%20black%20mampoo%20%20DSC_4239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1800" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GYWt0PH5EerGlqUmlA2YkLovO2Mi3Dj926H9uWq4z4U607s1TqSGD-_AGw1XlAMbhYpqcZbwptbbhFC6LAbab2tEErFMAuDP96lnkt27aUoQD2iSj96q591z7fLfIN3evG8GuWsdBVmIeiApQDGsFz6vW4tiOyHaqnjhGvGFLBwcAJaqNoUicd3DS4k/w400-h278/-%20VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%203%20ani%20in%20black%20mampoo%20%20DSC_4239.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Smoothed-billed Ani in a Black Mampoo tree</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Soon the buds open up into tiny yellow cups with white, wispy stamens sticking out. The flowers are not bright and showy, but their smell seems to be attractive to a variety of insects. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohdMQDCI4zSq3WoRgfJwMSpSuHWW6cbnBQgJKoxWAJRW5G-eq4_TJRPqxXssngDFcA6yMN-KHQVpwfha_2nYkej6pLFzNLKbktS5reMh5illHDlO6zAJJMwS_lGr1cWkhQ8MvPWShT_GVZuGmtweqfl81wvseUiMzUsIqJNJq5AEle1pi0IquCGkgDTM/s1800/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%204%20black%20mampoo%20flower%20DSC_4947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1800" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohdMQDCI4zSq3WoRgfJwMSpSuHWW6cbnBQgJKoxWAJRW5G-eq4_TJRPqxXssngDFcA6yMN-KHQVpwfha_2nYkej6pLFzNLKbktS5reMh5illHDlO6zAJJMwS_lGr1cWkhQ8MvPWShT_GVZuGmtweqfl81wvseUiMzUsIqJNJq5AEle1pi0IquCGkgDTM/w400-h318/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%204%20black%20mampoo%20flower%20DSC_4947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When the fruits first come out, they are light green. Then after a while they start to turn reddish purple. <o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEQKnDUT_xlJccTyM90FPF1E_Z2A8QtKjArXRw1CO1_aZLhXiKVcKMOe7HOTaFtIkptHd9_GJ_1iYzzfgFhfyASGliWvhyPkwItLydbvKONU9kr5j-mpCE7jPVJt1pQJ61cHUmqJi2e3vIf4B57Ki1liT2ypXhWYmK-R983pYz6rkIZi9ej9zxzyll3w/s1800/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%205%20black%20mampoo%20berries%20early%204916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="1800" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEQKnDUT_xlJccTyM90FPF1E_Z2A8QtKjArXRw1CO1_aZLhXiKVcKMOe7HOTaFtIkptHd9_GJ_1iYzzfgFhfyASGliWvhyPkwItLydbvKONU9kr5j-mpCE7jPVJt1pQJ61cHUmqJi2e3vIf4B57Ki1liT2ypXhWYmK-R983pYz6rkIZi9ej9zxzyll3w/w400-h344/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%205%20black%20mampoo%20berries%20early%204916.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">And when they are fully ripe, the fruits are very dark purple.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJmZnJIqoeorkod17j4Cf6ON0cBSlzEekGRxfr97_uWn_q22NZzQ0qGR4_5wdKZ3Jc8W7Xu5gpH8KBOXx9STPblfEMtVWFNCSfxBqHsQnBfOrJ2ZOwvr_rkaRrFKp8LX-J-Da5yd1QJ6M-wb0VB5ppr4FxbjTHR54VeJSVVZUDX15clTJIOUuR7gaHIA/s1800/-%20VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%206%20black%20mampoo%20dark%20fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1800" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJmZnJIqoeorkod17j4Cf6ON0cBSlzEekGRxfr97_uWn_q22NZzQ0qGR4_5wdKZ3Jc8W7Xu5gpH8KBOXx9STPblfEMtVWFNCSfxBqHsQnBfOrJ2ZOwvr_rkaRrFKp8LX-J-Da5yd1QJ6M-wb0VB5ppr4FxbjTHR54VeJSVVZUDX15clTJIOUuR7gaHIA/w400-h321/-%20VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%206%20black%20mampoo%20dark%20fruit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">One interesting characteristic of the Black Mampoo trees is that their leaves tend to have strange growths on them, like little dark balls. These growths are called galls. They are caused by a type of very small wasp in the <i>Cynipid</i> family that has developed a parasitic relationship with this tree. These wasps deposit their eggs on the leaves, which is irritating and stimulates <o:p></o:p>them to grow new defensive tissue, which then forms the round, brown galls that serve to surround and protect the wasp eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the tissue inside the galls until they are fully grown, and then exit out of tiny holes in the galls. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOEC5RTGKNXKbi4YijvphPDV1HO_sGd50KT5wamLLq4M9dBSOkqygTI7b3ffIueObqfgb_6Gq4ioMQ5Vf8Y3drFzZSDiSh7d52jVDoQXGw1Blefx_70m_AawZsF7Aq0E_0wD6YI341iZzu-aATvtxZyfnCm4yixUd-jNPG4o7o830r8OL_asCGIJI-JM/s1800/VIS%20mampoo%20leaf%20with%20galls%20IMG_1338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="1800" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOEC5RTGKNXKbi4YijvphPDV1HO_sGd50KT5wamLLq4M9dBSOkqygTI7b3ffIueObqfgb_6Gq4ioMQ5Vf8Y3drFzZSDiSh7d52jVDoQXGw1Blefx_70m_AawZsF7Aq0E_0wD6YI341iZzu-aATvtxZyfnCm4yixUd-jNPG4o7o830r8OL_asCGIJI-JM/w400-h335/VIS%20mampoo%20leaf%20with%20galls%20IMG_1338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Although these galls look unpleasant, they don’t seem to do much damage to the trees. Still, growing the galls uses up some of the trees’ energy without any obvious benefit. That sounds annoying, ‘galling’, in fact. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Just so you know, there is another, very different native Virgin Islands tree that is also called ‘mampoo’ - the Water Mampoo<i>. </i>These trees are much larger and quite dramatic, with thick exposed roots, pale ghostly bark, and several spongy, plump trunks that spread out quickly from the base. They are found in drier forest areas, and their absorbent trunks allow them to store water, which helps them survive in times of drought. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aTsBlEqEBFbjq8BV92LXpOT6o4JBeMe4SfY-nrHU1xbNLounUK9cSSGk_0r6Z9CjtqKk6vcUUFdfib9j3nxQVHdAfbl94-6UWP6_rJRhQlRqqAYivKcuWOxfaC9ntV80fImtzH7XdDrwa2sHV__xR80nJbbCVvHedPD0G7DOyWPhrQinhEAW_YvCv2c/s1125/-%20VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%208%20water%20mampoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aTsBlEqEBFbjq8BV92LXpOT6o4JBeMe4SfY-nrHU1xbNLounUK9cSSGk_0r6Z9CjtqKk6vcUUFdfib9j3nxQVHdAfbl94-6UWP6_rJRhQlRqqAYivKcuWOxfaC9ntV80fImtzH7XdDrwa2sHV__xR80nJbbCVvHedPD0G7DOyWPhrQinhEAW_YvCv2c/w320-h400/-%20VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%208%20water%20mampoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Water Mampoo tree</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Water Mampoo leaves are more rounded and (unlike the Black Mampoo) there are male and female forms. The female ones produce clusters of small, sticky fruits. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-K5YAjsrtN0sAu-C1U6QMJJfDURBbgSUwWry0oLxzf5EiMlYA2E_Zw7tBfXpIEpW7Aba2cdPiDZmXH3vEjHKha0i5fVM-8QPjscEYDkYrWFBcuWktZCS7WKHPT4MalQe44mBJhvIp5sjn8rTTpOXx8oL68KQQkIaKZHayzH-zgyu8zUEHoF8CcPycM0/s1350/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%209%20water%20mampoo%20flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1350" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-K5YAjsrtN0sAu-C1U6QMJJfDURBbgSUwWry0oLxzf5EiMlYA2E_Zw7tBfXpIEpW7Aba2cdPiDZmXH3vEjHKha0i5fVM-8QPjscEYDkYrWFBcuWktZCS7WKHPT4MalQe44mBJhvIp5sjn8rTTpOXx8oL68KQQkIaKZHayzH-zgyu8zUEHoF8CcPycM0/w400-h322/VIS%20July%202023%20Photo%209%20water%20mampoo%20flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I noticed that these two types of trees don’t seem to have a lot in common, so I wondered why they are both called ‘mampoo’.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There is an alternative spelling in some places - ‘mapou’- particularly in the islands colonized by the French. The Black Mampoo (Latin name <i>Guapira fragrans</i>) is called ‘mapou blanc’ in St. Lucia, and the Water Mampoo (<i>Pisonia subcordata) </i>is called ‘mapou gris’. Blanc means white in French and gris means gray. But ‘mapou’ is not a French word that can be translated. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">One source from St. Lucia identifies ‘mapou’ as an Amerindian word, another from Haiti suggests it comes from Africa. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Possibly ‘mapou’ or ‘mampoo’ became used around the Caribbean to refer to certain trees with historical and cultural significance that is not adequately captured in scientific Latin names or other more recent classifications. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-58096379706643768812023-06-29T07:06:00.000-07:002023-06-29T07:06:07.984-07:00Why Do Laughing Gulls Come to the Virgin Islands for the Summer?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriLa_VpaD7j-_YxmLL6rMQpAb7LcB-11isIaCsCyEvfQttSgK4xkKZhTIcEwQlcVpkmHwmrGuHxMOKv3oTBhYXjZ4sVoKJYGsEer3lEL0eNe-wdI2hkihmTItYPCPxrodhRzPpRwLDF5KFL4GhikrxvpLR67TCT-QNu_xFYFmYpSlgWXQGYPkeS-AN0c/s1636/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%201%20laughing%20gull%20standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1636" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjriLa_VpaD7j-_YxmLL6rMQpAb7LcB-11isIaCsCyEvfQttSgK4xkKZhTIcEwQlcVpkmHwmrGuHxMOKv3oTBhYXjZ4sVoKJYGsEer3lEL0eNe-wdI2hkihmTItYPCPxrodhRzPpRwLDF5KFL4GhikrxvpLR67TCT-QNu_xFYFmYpSlgWXQGYPkeS-AN0c/w400-h335/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%201%20laughing%20gull%20standing.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An adult laughing gull has a black hood during breeding seaso</span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">n.</span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There are no gulls in the Virgin Islands during the winter, but then the laughing gulls suddenly arrive right around the first of April. And like other spring visitors, they tend to come in groups and enjoy loud, amorous beach parties.</span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguGoeKvv4X7mHfagP2BWmHCs3gNaltVPxaFsjTAIv_b8cy3ck8jEcbfah6dvph19rsBSRIxCA1hvDrmWYL806rDJlqdvqSMFsioEGJadqCmLai1z5TXf6ON1Q7Jerrc5bAHTgQpDgs6ONDswbhDbFzA19bGhHuoQdaPDBdDbLJPJBwMfGAszADs4nZyI/s2400/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%202%20laughing%20gulls%20on%20buoy%202821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="2400" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguGoeKvv4X7mHfagP2BWmHCs3gNaltVPxaFsjTAIv_b8cy3ck8jEcbfah6dvph19rsBSRIxCA1hvDrmWYL806rDJlqdvqSMFsioEGJadqCmLai1z5TXf6ON1Q7Jerrc5bAHTgQpDgs6ONDswbhDbFzA19bGhHuoQdaPDBdDbLJPJBwMfGAszADs4nZyI/w400-h340/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%202%20laughing%20gulls%20on%20buoy%202821.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laughing gull couples use buoys for offshore trysts.</span></span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">However the laughing gulls are known to be monogamous. Before long the couples will work together to make nests and raise their chicks out on the smaller, uninhabited cays. They usually stay together in large groups through the nesting season, for safety in numbers. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">I recently began to wonder where these laughing gulls actually come from, and why they are only around in the summer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">Most migratory birds in the Virgin Islands arrive when it is winter in the northeast and food is scarce. Then they leave in the spring to go up north for their breeding season. In the fall, when it gets cold again in the northern parts of the U.S., those birds fly back down. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">These laughing gulls are on an opposite schedule – coming to the Virgin Islands to nest, and then leaving in the fall. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">One possible explanation could be that the Virgin Islands laughing gulls come to escape the winter in South America, where the seasons are reversed. However, the non-breeding range for these birds is mostly along the northern coasts of South America, and the Caribbean. The seasonal temperature difference between these areas and the Virgin Islands would be fairly low. Meanwhile, they are considered to be year-round residents within some of the coastal areas of the Greater Antilles. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">So I am now thinking that the laughing gulls arriving yearly in the Virgin Islands have not actually traveled very far. And that they probably come for the relative safety provided by the smaller, uninhabited islands here, rather than for the warm summer weather. They may even be returning to the places where they were born and raised. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">The laughing gull nests are usually simple grassy structures set into low vegetation on the ground, so being isolated offshore could provide important protection from possible predators. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">In the summer, there are often large bunches of baby fish available around the Virgin Islands to feed hungry gulls, and their chicks. And these days, there are rafts of sargassum to pick over too. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK85Ub4rAjXnUo8Sa8a_wjnyMRcEDHExPV-E_HscoP9XssIoUpbn33O6kQE7dDnXVwM4U9Ub314B_B1YH6iOMwcRrmlOF68JQjzL-VjZrPY0WPqQneNDRjbvaeStVYNz2nWVHZRGHSlUaf-DavrhfNZrXTMUJoy3ADajZVSvIo59Mx4Rdb1xV63sOh4eY/s1500/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%203%20laughing%20gulls%202349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1231" data-original-width="1500" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK85Ub4rAjXnUo8Sa8a_wjnyMRcEDHExPV-E_HscoP9XssIoUpbn33O6kQE7dDnXVwM4U9Ub314B_B1YH6iOMwcRrmlOF68JQjzL-VjZrPY0WPqQneNDRjbvaeStVYNz2nWVHZRGHSlUaf-DavrhfNZrXTMUJoy3ADajZVSvIo59Mx4Rdb1xV63sOh4eY/w400-h329/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%203%20laughing%20gulls%202349.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Groups of laughing gulls gather to dive for newly hatched fish.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">Besides diving for fish (or trying to steal them from the pelicans), the laughing gulls will also walk along beaches and shorelines looking for shellfish, crabs and large insects. On popular beaches, they may also be attracted to trash left by humans. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_X7RPNGJ_fBXksTXPvkQAoE3mlHlQaFEysxyt9lcoKT3EHAqh54xFun7gJijRxGrAeejrgmluZLetzLdrkD4nMjMI4yhE-cUtZvEij4_mzdI6MhcJ9qExFAAKiJlqP-7TKEbXolNzbTwUwmwVw_gRghQaHu8LTgdxpXlnqtP0t4UnNW1wwz27ZRnvyE/s1800/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%204%20laughing%20gull%20on%20beach%20DSC_2248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="1800" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_X7RPNGJ_fBXksTXPvkQAoE3mlHlQaFEysxyt9lcoKT3EHAqh54xFun7gJijRxGrAeejrgmluZLetzLdrkD4nMjMI4yhE-cUtZvEij4_mzdI6MhcJ9qExFAAKiJlqP-7TKEbXolNzbTwUwmwVw_gRghQaHu8LTgdxpXlnqtP0t4UnNW1wwz27ZRnvyE/w400-h348/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%204%20laughing%20gull%20on%20beach%20DSC_2248.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beach walks sometimes reveal tasty crustaceans.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">Interestingly, for the last couple of years there have been some laughing gulls staying in the Virgin Islands later in the fall than usual, including a few sightings recorded in the annual December bird counts on St. John. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">However, they look quite different when they are not in their breeding plumage. The black hoods become just blurry gray patches on their heads. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHDdRYWX0f4OuiBEIdnNgm-i2r3O4VGrzWDkyt0RGVGvrENfWB4PrKGDGHbtpMWVZgkVMMw4wY7-hfh6pKcJM7pDCsjHAqe-yUjI1BhgBYWSaL5ZZn96cVmhtJlUiIJJQgWBTn1iSibgcMQKzs8mfam1FzDaDkdwonCzCRAjkQGTwDGlKdJmbcHhQx9w/s1800/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%205%20laughing%20gulls%20nonbreeding%20DSC_3393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="1800" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHDdRYWX0f4OuiBEIdnNgm-i2r3O4VGrzWDkyt0RGVGvrENfWB4PrKGDGHbtpMWVZgkVMMw4wY7-hfh6pKcJM7pDCsjHAqe-yUjI1BhgBYWSaL5ZZn96cVmhtJlUiIJJQgWBTn1iSibgcMQKzs8mfam1FzDaDkdwonCzCRAjkQGTwDGlKdJmbcHhQx9w/w400-h334/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%205%20laughing%20gulls%20nonbreeding%20DSC_3393.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laughing Gulls lose their black hoods after breeding season is over.</span> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">It takes about three years for the young ones to get their adult feathers. At first their back feathers are brown with white edges. Over time the feathers on top start turning gray. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPCM1IlYDT-gQqjBOspPj9yhJm2xyZOh4yzMkfHeA-uUtyn1oV77pKraxU7ymyJaXTMD-oQTqKepZWcx-Iand_QtgLYqIKyHn2dPEt3zL3w0jRmhx7c8AYwl4eI5u_7UC_2DfS8bbbhGM-eB402NW86C9KDp1psfokljhQaoHQYV9pJ_HvZFpYOarVP8/s1800/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%206%20juvenile%20laughing%20gull%20DSC_3388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="1800" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPCM1IlYDT-gQqjBOspPj9yhJm2xyZOh4yzMkfHeA-uUtyn1oV77pKraxU7ymyJaXTMD-oQTqKepZWcx-Iand_QtgLYqIKyHn2dPEt3zL3w0jRmhx7c8AYwl4eI5u_7UC_2DfS8bbbhGM-eB402NW86C9KDp1psfokljhQaoHQYV9pJ_HvZFpYOarVP8/w400-h304/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%206%20juvenile%20laughing%20gull%20DSC_3388.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); color: #050505; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Immature laughing gulls have a mottled brown and gray look.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">Unfortunately, large numbers of laughing gulls and other birds on islands or coastal areas near airports can sometimes be dangerous to air traffic, so air traffic controllers are not happy to see them around. In fact, </span>just recently<span style="font-size: 14pt;">, </span><span style="color: #050505;">a bird strike caused injuries to passengers on a small plane coming into St. Thomas. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;">In the Virgin Islands, the </span>U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program is responsible for keeping birds from getting in the way of arriving or departing planes. Their researchers have found that patches of w<span style="color: #050505;">ater collecting on the runways can attract thirsty gulls, so good drainage is important. Controlling insects so they don’t hatch in large groups on grassy areas near runways will also keep the gulls from congregating near the airport, which helps both visiting birds and people in planes stay safe. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt;">However, most of the laughing gulls aren’t all that interested in hanging around the airport. Like other visitors, I think they come to the Virgin Islands to enjoy the beautiful beaches. </span><span style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN30tHFjRYIZp-W3iUwTA9pnMQgvrX_xk7amxgJshLTGSMD1ZBBU-Au4P8bzg-ZiWvxOG1Knjy6yZ4Jrl8GcDgPer_dmzR-iL7P187q4f4yMwgbkfD2in1TY-ydRg2Uwyc5zaBxh7abL_zeUrA-2G_XXrZsawCpL9wBgldYnZ3JcybrKqoyvFzykWQxY/s1761/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%207%20laughing%20gull%20on%20beach%208370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1761" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaN30tHFjRYIZp-W3iUwTA9pnMQgvrX_xk7amxgJshLTGSMD1ZBBU-Au4P8bzg-ZiWvxOG1Knjy6yZ4Jrl8GcDgPer_dmzR-iL7P187q4f4yMwgbkfD2in1TY-ydRg2Uwyc5zaBxh7abL_zeUrA-2G_XXrZsawCpL9wBgldYnZ3JcybrKqoyvFzykWQxY/w400-h296/VIS%20June%202023%20Photo%207%20laughing%20gull%20on%20beach%208370.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-20544346321135355322023-06-06T09:32:00.001-07:002023-06-29T06:48:13.852-07:00 Local Kestrels Are Adapting to the New Composite Utility Poles <div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLPGXyM3aj_14jfePjyij50srFd1RUPZD7WHzFJ-XD0nuUIoTSYuwKYHHb_IPbTANt3HgngPCXSOazI5olIFcXjjiBXZTFjxot1Arlmt_Oxx34JjPilSMmg4tfH5RIiXEgPf4xO9_TnrS527bOQm7DqipAEAZvib4zm3yxf89Ox-bkgpUi96i750-/s1800/VIS%20Photo%209%20May%202023%20Kestrel%20couple%20DSC_0075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="1800" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLPGXyM3aj_14jfePjyij50srFd1RUPZD7WHzFJ-XD0nuUIoTSYuwKYHHb_IPbTANt3HgngPCXSOazI5olIFcXjjiBXZTFjxot1Arlmt_Oxx34JjPilSMmg4tfH5RIiXEgPf4xO9_TnrS527bOQm7DqipAEAZvib4zm3yxf89Ox-bkgpUi96i750-/w400-h304/VIS%20Photo%209%20May%202023%20Kestrel%20couple%20DSC_0075.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">The replacement poles, made out of fiberglass and resin, are designed to be lighter, stronger, and more wind-resistant than the old wooden utility poles. Their installation was largely funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Housing and Urban Development program, as part of a larger effort to strengthen the Virgin Islands grid infrastructure following the extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIVEsrMBbDNZiMU81WpgFwgiE73aioARevpV9qQFBDxOmd_w8yoq1JipkdxgtvRTy0Vt9AaOCF1D5uXIcVuvSM3NDOD4skLnXPqhbRN_EGxU9a2ZNR9fglO4SM--pIHaEFwbHq64Ftl7dHyac1yMA6heWMKGa8ahUa2zMH5ULLopmLS-iRSu2xZHS/s1800/VIS%20Photo%201%20May%202023%20Kestrel%20on%20new%20pole%20DSC_0978.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1342" data-original-width="1800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIVEsrMBbDNZiMU81WpgFwgiE73aioARevpV9qQFBDxOmd_w8yoq1JipkdxgtvRTy0Vt9AaOCF1D5uXIcVuvSM3NDOD4skLnXPqhbRN_EGxU9a2ZNR9fglO4SM--pIHaEFwbHq64Ftl7dHyac1yMA6heWMKGa8ahUa2zMH5ULLopmLS-iRSu2xZHS/w400-h297/VIS%20Photo%201%20May%202023%20Kestrel%20on%20new%20pole%20DSC_0978.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">T</span>he wooden poles have now mostly been replaced, and already some concerns have been raised about the relative strength of the new poles. Especially when cars run into them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">However, I wonder if much thought was given to how these new poles affect the birds living in the Virgin Islands. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">American Kestrels are small falcons (about 9-10 inches in length), with sharp wings, longish rust-colored tails, and prominent dark streaks under their eyes. They live year-round across much of the United States and the Greater Antilles, and are common nesting residents in the Virgin Islands. They can often be seen sitting on high perches scanning for the lizards they like to eat, along with occasional mice or large insects. They swoop down quickly to nab their prey, and then often return to the perch to eat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The flat tops on the old wooden poles provided platforms for important kestrel activities, including hunting, eating, courting and mating. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOTgROY4RS4Px7gVvZUt54xUYFq8qMBuZXnOwdAtB6tap2rZMb_Sb4n3JrHcHdILpy8cDXZvIsDD3HdUZcA_cmX27sFZdOp-OGa37nITFGSnB_BIM-_ORfThaGB4qXI8z-xksTDYPCepR3kSYKtzTZ2frm722vdHVyOUeJV0ECaWvQT6Hs7Vtt9iH/s1800/VIS%20Photo%203%20May%202023%20kestrels%20on%20old%20pole%20DSC_2575.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1800" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOTgROY4RS4Px7gVvZUt54xUYFq8qMBuZXnOwdAtB6tap2rZMb_Sb4n3JrHcHdILpy8cDXZvIsDD3HdUZcA_cmX27sFZdOp-OGa37nITFGSnB_BIM-_ORfThaGB4qXI8z-xksTDYPCepR3kSYKtzTZ2frm722vdHVyOUeJV0ECaWvQT6Hs7Vtt9iH/w400-h303/VIS%20Photo%203%20May%202023%20kestrels%20on%20old%20pole%20DSC_2575.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But the new poles have pointed tops, specifically designed to prevent birds from perching on them. So the kestrels have had to adapt. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgWy96YZuRAhNngtyRbOjx19UHU_1xSmdxy7SYbfSq239QVBwB8wQw4vUnqwDlXmC7WY6iwagPpFxDAG2EUe8eBaT1T4HwfWQaEJAQotbVDG1zpVQHYJMQlrTK9WIJEm627R1oDsMy7ITBVDgI7o1kcGdLYbpUSQFSIj5WoqE24FyxYJrO_xjnl9G/s1800/VIS%20Photo%204%20May%202023%20pointy%20pole%20DSC_4275.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="1800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgWy96YZuRAhNngtyRbOjx19UHU_1xSmdxy7SYbfSq239QVBwB8wQw4vUnqwDlXmC7WY6iwagPpFxDAG2EUe8eBaT1T4HwfWQaEJAQotbVDG1zpVQHYJMQlrTK9WIJEm627R1oDsMy7ITBVDgI7o1kcGdLYbpUSQFSIj5WoqE24FyxYJrO_xjnl9G/w400-h297/VIS%20Photo%204%20May%202023%20pointy%20pole%20DSC_4275.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The points on the poles may actually be intended to keep other types of birds from building nests up there. That is not a concern for kestrels because they make their nests in cavities, like holes in trees. They are more interested in platforms for hunting and mating. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The arms supporting the wires on the new poles have now become important bird spaces, and the wires themselves are being more heavily used. The kestrels were quite noticeable this spring as they carried on their loud courtship activities. Near our house, their frequent loud meetups were hard to miss - and were conducted almost entirely on the wires. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I usually saw the female land on the wire first. I knew it was a female because her back and wings were both brown, while the males have blue wings and brown backs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">She might preen for a few minutes, or stretch out her tail. Then she’d start making loud, sharp “kee-kee-kee” cries, which is what usually caught my attention. But her calling out was not meant for me. Soon she would look around and lift her tail to beckon her mate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHncljv_4SydMUP3frIl1EJONpF4ASApsJ_uZJhVkR-oh--L0SR5R_oH-6H2oyw_MCSwSWptIhtlj2i7Ie8CFSR-5gKFygfZg99PzkoG0OnEkuBe-aaI8b76SKa8NjxiyvSGXWGUFpxzmTfzBkgzQ5gZ7R3QWb_cKfLygEWi-uIAW4wfPe6ODUrJ4Y/s1800/VIS%20Photo%205%20May%202023%20Female%20kestrel%20beckoning%20DSC_0163-2%20copy.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1800" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHncljv_4SydMUP3frIl1EJONpF4ASApsJ_uZJhVkR-oh--L0SR5R_oH-6H2oyw_MCSwSWptIhtlj2i7Ie8CFSR-5gKFygfZg99PzkoG0OnEkuBe-aaI8b76SKa8NjxiyvSGXWGUFpxzmTfzBkgzQ5gZ7R3QWb_cKfLygEWi-uIAW4wfPe6ODUrJ4Y/w400-h295/VIS%20Photo%205%20May%202023%20Female%20kestrel%20beckoning%20DSC_0163-2%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">He would fly over, possibly sit nearby for a few minutes, and then suddenly press tightly against her as one or both of them yelled noisily. Soon afterwards, they would fly off.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlQUJ_zk2399XrXzIae8PMfpgZjrhPg14Z8TZGqb5ILmZXuBXRD68z6Ih0lzRUtg3CDkmHRlyGAWT11LuYX51lploN_DY-7J7Tzpb-dTzMA8IkJOBARjNOA5b5wtozMHaaAVmKXH0EhZJuOQMPXaxx9xu_GrH_QeF3g1yuiVkqu5OFqAsSAXyEflQ/s1800/VIS%20photo%206%20May%202023%20kestrels%20on%20wire%20DSC_0166.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="1800" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlQUJ_zk2399XrXzIae8PMfpgZjrhPg14Z8TZGqb5ILmZXuBXRD68z6Ih0lzRUtg3CDkmHRlyGAWT11LuYX51lploN_DY-7J7Tzpb-dTzMA8IkJOBARjNOA5b5wtozMHaaAVmKXH0EhZJuOQMPXaxx9xu_GrH_QeF3g1yuiVkqu5OFqAsSAXyEflQ/w400-h295/VIS%20photo%206%20May%202023%20kestrels%20on%20wire%20DSC_0166.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">By contrast, they are quite secretive about their nests. Fortunately for me, one of my neighbors has a suitable tree hole for kestrel nesting right in front of his house, which is why there are usually some kestrels in our area. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">A couple of years ago I was able to hide under my neighbor’s deck and observe the babies peeking out, waiting impatiently for the parents to come feed them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREwnMHRkvmRbU-_c0D4gHxIcZOyoa6c_HPC7yUSarVQdtsK-16SdzpvNr8JMdaAfOrqw3GqOBa4VnNWFHTADVMYioNRQD69kmmhrjXjFvoTUHXMtonqFDo6NkNwLdm-cmAyPT6SUfwUO70hDICgKwRag_0COpAzprN1dFnWMfgY-zcqO69kx1LNkc/s1800/VIS%20Photo%207%20May%202023%20Kestrel%20baby.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1800" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREwnMHRkvmRbU-_c0D4gHxIcZOyoa6c_HPC7yUSarVQdtsK-16SdzpvNr8JMdaAfOrqw3GqOBa4VnNWFHTADVMYioNRQD69kmmhrjXjFvoTUHXMtonqFDo6NkNwLdm-cmAyPT6SUfwUO70hDICgKwRag_0COpAzprN1dFnWMfgY-zcqO69kx1LNkc/w400-h304/VIS%20Photo%207%20May%202023%20Kestrel%20baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then later I watched the nestlings emerge from hiding and first test their wings. It took them a while to learn how to catch their own lizards, so for quite a long time they would stand on the utility pole equipment and screech for the parents to bring them something to eat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKjsCDYgtHJOyqfzzvv2Tx-nevshf6N7s3QJpwU7v5o1DeYv679TTvVVm3mldGZHCIU3mLcZowwsTXUwJM4CYVjUU7ILVcO4UOrDBp9CNgwJwlR2es0HKOx7IoBW0MUiqU_BhJWTdd3x-dkynI1O6Mxqu44nPqdrhMbnnXQTeOE-iXWqG9qbY_NhL/s1800/VIS%20Photo%208%20May%202023%20kestrel%20juvenile%20calling%20.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="1800" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKjsCDYgtHJOyqfzzvv2Tx-nevshf6N7s3QJpwU7v5o1DeYv679TTvVVm3mldGZHCIU3mLcZowwsTXUwJM4CYVjUU7ILVcO4UOrDBp9CNgwJwlR2es0HKOx7IoBW0MUiqU_BhJWTdd3x-dkynI1O6Mxqu44nPqdrhMbnnXQTeOE-iXWqG9qbY_NhL/w400-h296/VIS%20Photo%208%20May%202023%20kestrel%20juvenile%20calling%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Overall, I don’t think the kestrels are as happy with the design of the composite poles. Still, they do seem to have figured out how to use the new equipment, and the wires themselves, to support their own purposes. So that’s good. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-40191198060772472522023-04-30T07:53:00.003-07:002023-04-30T07:53:40.218-07:00 A Passion Fruit Vine Sweetens the Dry Season <p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NYSfpqqxRXj6-2cWQbTy1oMGimP2exVJSYs93-ZVhagHN6hmDE8hWGzigcrCUHpviaYVLyxhpeNI8z3okUuPLV2bqXvB1t3Jy76OcLDyINvrVIJzKJJiGmmwSUHUDc2XiUNo60KDs9sBplHPozk5witB7K2QmoP68ODzY3yNgiCWisWrDWOsWbnb/s1200/VIS%20Photo%201%20April%202023%20passion%20fruit%20flower%20and%20wasp%20DSC_1150%20copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NYSfpqqxRXj6-2cWQbTy1oMGimP2exVJSYs93-ZVhagHN6hmDE8hWGzigcrCUHpviaYVLyxhpeNI8z3okUuPLV2bqXvB1t3Jy76OcLDyINvrVIJzKJJiGmmwSUHUDc2XiUNo60KDs9sBplHPozk5witB7K2QmoP68ODzY3yNgiCWisWrDWOsWbnb/w400-h320/VIS%20Photo%201%20April%202023%20passion%20fruit%20flower%20and%20wasp%20DSC_1150%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Passion fruit flowers attract many pollinators, including Jack Spaniard wasps</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">. </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Ah, the idea of passion is so exhilarating, and the flowers present themselves to admirers with such abandon. Yet for us, their promise of sweet fruits has often remained unfulfilled. But this year we were actually blessed with a bowlful of yellow egg-shaped fruit to celebrate spring. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I had cut the vine way back last summer because it seemed like it might be dead. Then In the late fall, when there was a lot of rain, I was happy to see that it perked up and started growing wildly - first up the fence and then all over a nearby tree.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I didn’t see any flowers, though. In February, one day we noticed a green passion fruit hanging in the tree. Very mysterious. The vine had twisted around the poor tree underneath it, and the leaves were all bunched up, so it was hard to see what was going on. Only the one fruit on the edge was easily visible, once you spotted it. But it turned out there were some others hiding inside the tangle, camouflaged because they were the same color as the leaves. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3hLBcCKSlpj5PNUiEpS4sdDRx2zGvYe3XoAad_JawuWKfD0kDX-zSHqnmbqwOzLjtqGsdgKKyuOnrKESeI_Z-xQfTCpjufWoTIaZnsPj2_jZUIPeWR-r_9RGYgzKoln0RfZk9-0OBmO5UP0pm4qdGbo-S6rQyWHyj0x7jiBkQ3_k6vYmDj6uMchQ/s1200/VIS%20Photo%202%20April%202023%20Passion%20fruit%20in%20leaves%20DSC_0800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1200" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3hLBcCKSlpj5PNUiEpS4sdDRx2zGvYe3XoAad_JawuWKfD0kDX-zSHqnmbqwOzLjtqGsdgKKyuOnrKESeI_Z-xQfTCpjufWoTIaZnsPj2_jZUIPeWR-r_9RGYgzKoln0RfZk9-0OBmO5UP0pm4qdGbo-S6rQyWHyj0x7jiBkQ3_k6vYmDj6uMchQ/w400-h355/VIS%20Photo%202%20April%202023%20Passion%20fruit%20in%20leaves%20DSC_0800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A green passion fruit is hard to see among the leaves on the vine.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I decided to leave the fruits on the tree until they dropped, rather than bringing them inside when they started to turn yellow. I wanted to see how long it would take for them to ripen naturally. (Often, if you put them in a paper bag they will ripen quickly on the counter.) These didn’t drop from the tree for a couple of months. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the meantime, after a bit of rain in March, I was excited to see some new flowers coming out. At first, they popped up on the vine like pods. Then the outer leaf-like sections opened, and white flower petals started breaking through. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYqhGGHBne9YxIwSkC1B7TzuWCHceyx84gKYHOkSi6EsHgsYfrMh313npwD90n_mr7yugAQzoTiVtlQkTzOqPM6lr1CboGyaBixcE8HqLyaz3CdeZ4FcD5mnVSM4aiOa_AO9sYeOJODN2z6oM12pS5ae_Rtmwmkv4o9-Pg1TtuNbfoSTKr9JFzaCV/s1469/VIS%20Photo%203%20April%202023%20passion%20flower%20opening%20DSC_0720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1469" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYqhGGHBne9YxIwSkC1B7TzuWCHceyx84gKYHOkSi6EsHgsYfrMh313npwD90n_mr7yugAQzoTiVtlQkTzOqPM6lr1CboGyaBixcE8HqLyaz3CdeZ4FcD5mnVSM4aiOa_AO9sYeOJODN2z6oM12pS5ae_Rtmwmkv4o9-Pg1TtuNbfoSTKr9JFzaCV/w400-h319/VIS%20Photo%203%20April%202023%20passion%20flower%20opening%20DSC_0720.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;">A passion fruit flower seems to burst out when it opens. </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Once the flowers were fully opened, they attracted bees, wasps and butterflies with their nectar. With passion fruit flowers, the nectar is produced below the flower at the base of the outer leaf. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISqziJfXSuCQwkRnPhu0rZDeAjV6qrscOmju8yGOuxeo9YxeEr_I6Hg2EUvZIxSPVb5Yw24uKT8BmNeIZcNZFk9VCZ4MxBdnK0-Hm2U10kfQ3KFDONIKlsmgUxrF-90nDvm4OB-m9R3VoW0EXdTTmKIb2kB0oLINp824kGhmlQK3mYO4JMCwWAFVc/s1800/VIS%20Photo%204%20April%202023%20Passion%20flower%20Carpenter%20bee%20DSC_0952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1626" data-original-width="1800" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISqziJfXSuCQwkRnPhu0rZDeAjV6qrscOmju8yGOuxeo9YxeEr_I6Hg2EUvZIxSPVb5Yw24uKT8BmNeIZcNZFk9VCZ4MxBdnK0-Hm2U10kfQ3KFDONIKlsmgUxrF-90nDvm4OB-m9R3VoW0EXdTTmKIb2kB0oLINp824kGhmlQK3mYO4JMCwWAFVc/w400-h361/VIS%20Photo%204%20April%202023%20Passion%20flower%20Carpenter%20bee%20DSC_0952.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large, solitary carpenter bees are major pollinators for passion fruit flowers.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When big black carpenter bees come by to drink the nectar, their backs and legs get covered with pollen located on the (male) yellow anthers above them. Then when they go to the next flower, they transfer that pollen to the three-pronged stigma (female) part of the flower located higher up on the stalk. From there, the pollen gets drawn down inside into the flower’s ovaries, where fertilization of the ovule takes place, and the fruit can start to form. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L6szBZJMevmhSdo7pKi4f-Aku3mqLW9DeKfq7QbS3QhYL5S2LgROn5gTFT25Ev8xsXYwHSFSM86NnRTuovtO3W4TEtRZN4EyJiQ49l8n-aRcPlV01skkOavfQy2ZYWIXLgSReU61zTIoSV6qxdOw7XMUcsnz1Nf_SOL3Xb2ztNbXtDdBZyk9EgoL/s1800/VIS%20Photo%205%20April%202023%20passion%20flower%20and%20carpenter%20bee%20%20DSC_1023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="1800" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7L6szBZJMevmhSdo7pKi4f-Aku3mqLW9DeKfq7QbS3QhYL5S2LgROn5gTFT25Ev8xsXYwHSFSM86NnRTuovtO3W4TEtRZN4EyJiQ49l8n-aRcPlV01skkOavfQy2ZYWIXLgSReU61zTIoSV6qxdOw7XMUcsnz1Nf_SOL3Xb2ztNbXtDdBZyk9EgoL/w400-h351/VIS%20Photo%205%20April%202023%20passion%20flower%20and%20carpenter%20bee%20%20DSC_1023.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A carpenter bee moves on to the next flower carrying a load of yellow pollen. </span></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Transferring the pollen from one flower to another allows for cross-pollination, which mixes up the genes and allowing for better evolutionary adaptation possibilities. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Different types of butterflies also came to eat nectar, and at the same time help with the flower’s pollination. A bright orange one was a Julia or Flambeau butterfly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQQejaid6TxMLpXmsPZiEnJETftGXdGxpHZr_v0TLOWB6WNvl3m14-G46WlF91ZLqHTPj0oa1nNKFrdcTnz9adFCrm_dlgUPmZTcbZDn5okKisr81BUw_lmIyN-gQMi6JASHpUdli9YXC2Mpl2DlkQhEzVrMvRoA6MUAAP7o_uWngk7mINQHoJsy-/s1800/VIS%20Photo%206%20April%202023%20Passion%20flower%20with%20Julia%20butterfly%20DSC_1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQQejaid6TxMLpXmsPZiEnJETftGXdGxpHZr_v0TLOWB6WNvl3m14-G46WlF91ZLqHTPj0oa1nNKFrdcTnz9adFCrm_dlgUPmZTcbZDn5okKisr81BUw_lmIyN-gQMi6JASHpUdli9YXC2Mpl2DlkQhEzVrMvRoA6MUAAP7o_uWngk7mINQHoJsy-/w400-h320/VIS%20Photo%206%20April%202023%20Passion%20flower%20with%20Julia%20butterfly%20DSC_1047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Julia (Flambeau) butterfly stops on a passion fruit flower for a taste of nectar.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Once fertilization takes place, the flower’s ovary swells and slowly develops into the egg-shaped fruit we eat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><sub><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></sub></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3au7F_S_ERoNupSWh94nUDKhNbNs8sOJsOfl8IRXQTK-fT_tIW68r91_DtLtsgqGCLJAJwQKNC-QAx5-UzNIEaMwqrQK7Mz8ZY9xo_KZfaMLXmRY4JIpi1fxubghKkJZzvY6EA73Xpf0cnqjExgcv43c8QG0VQzOmHIOKSvL2wTVSLZVSD10cGqS/s1800/VIS%20Photo%207%20April%202023%20Baby%20passion%20fruit%207585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1787" data-original-width="1800" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3au7F_S_ERoNupSWh94nUDKhNbNs8sOJsOfl8IRXQTK-fT_tIW68r91_DtLtsgqGCLJAJwQKNC-QAx5-UzNIEaMwqrQK7Mz8ZY9xo_KZfaMLXmRY4JIpi1fxubghKkJZzvY6EA73Xpf0cnqjExgcv43c8QG0VQzOmHIOKSvL2wTVSLZVSD10cGqS/w400-h396/VIS%20Photo%207%20April%202023%20Baby%20passion%20fruit%207585.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The fruit develops in the flower’s ovary, with the three-pronged stigma still attached. </span></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Some of the passion fruits dropped from the tree while they were still green, then ripened after we brought them inside. One morning after I thought we had collected them all, I heard a little thump while I was out watering in the yard. I saw a Pearly-eyed Thrasher inside the tangled vine, and then looked down to find a new passion fruit on the ground. I felt like the universe had surprised me with the gift of a golden egg, and was happy to grab it before the ‘thrushie’ had a chance to bite into it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkAoXUe9S1unsVMSe1Iq7jbuSapvv-HQqr5Mc62hV4JOYwQAUwsOao0Q5-GSA3pLt3EEYS9AfbhDqEiEnbocVwplGiwZeGGRy26YRyZOpOKvhzhUCVevHybaZVoD0FwXNTV1VUA3dBIpPPZksMjvhm8oL0esfNctG34jI2uv3WLbEB0A1Jr1p-oq-/s1206/VIS%20Photo%208%20April%202023%20Passion%20fruit%20in%20bowl%207591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkAoXUe9S1unsVMSe1Iq7jbuSapvv-HQqr5Mc62hV4JOYwQAUwsOao0Q5-GSA3pLt3EEYS9AfbhDqEiEnbocVwplGiwZeGGRy26YRyZOpOKvhzhUCVevHybaZVoD0FwXNTV1VUA3dBIpPPZksMjvhm8oL0esfNctG34jI2uv3WLbEB0A1Jr1p-oq-/w396-h400/VIS%20Photo%208%20April%202023%20Passion%20fruit%20in%20bowl%207591.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When the passion fruits get ripe, they look like yellow eggs.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When you cut the fruit in half, there are lots of seeds inside, surrounded by a small amount of deliciously fragrant pulp. Sometimes I just eat the whole thing with a spoon, seeds and all. I have read that these seeds are full of nutrition and not toxic like some fruit seeds. Other times I put the seeds and pulp into a glass of water to soak and enjoy the sweet smell and delicately flavored juice that way. You can also use the juice to flavor elegant tropical cocktails.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have also been spreading some of the seeds around the yard, in hopes that I will be able to grow more passion fruit vines for next year. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnVeGfEqcXgrrBywLXy8xFi76hFVWo-Y-TRKBBZyd_1sQLZrmhEmnIRO7ybvpj-hKIlZFxeTjE_SmoCMX6CDWx_lTKcNpNavURwEpL89XZc1zmKZ191CIMy6mFXcZWCciNKCwyWuxuj_i3uH1X8YgEC56Zou4uZYiTjKSDbHUqPHC96Qkc-njUESW/s1901/VIS%20Photo%209%20April%202023%20passion%20fruit%20cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1901" data-original-width="1890" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnVeGfEqcXgrrBywLXy8xFi76hFVWo-Y-TRKBBZyd_1sQLZrmhEmnIRO7ybvpj-hKIlZFxeTjE_SmoCMX6CDWx_lTKcNpNavURwEpL89XZc1zmKZ191CIMy6mFXcZWCciNKCwyWuxuj_i3uH1X8YgEC56Zou4uZYiTjKSDbHUqPHC96Qkc-njUESW/w396-h400/VIS%20Photo%209%20April%202023%20passion%20fruit%20cut.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A passion fruit is filled with seeds that are hard to separate from the pulp.</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-31346699979543928692023-04-01T10:09:00.001-07:002023-04-01T10:09:46.366-07:00 St. John Scarlet Ibis Said Goodbye Again to Snowy Egret Friend<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU-wbnUnkrZBpFj5GJ6fhLkT2XRcptHZcvcVuON_TT6aCDNKhiEdTXtMH7W_Vn4Hem1WT9emlo50oWFXsZd9XGNNDidtr0nN_owX9eT9wL0l5Ya2y7mwKkiXA6kCDYy6eZkcHVnS2zMDIM2GRkp9hXjkR8unYUJPGApQ4ZrsAmk3hOXvfgsAYiLHW/s1650/VIS%20Photo%201%20March%202023%20Scarlet%20ibis%20and%20snowy%20egret%200681.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1650" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU-wbnUnkrZBpFj5GJ6fhLkT2XRcptHZcvcVuON_TT6aCDNKhiEdTXtMH7W_Vn4Hem1WT9emlo50oWFXsZd9XGNNDidtr0nN_owX9eT9wL0l5Ya2y7mwKkiXA6kCDYy6eZkcHVnS2zMDIM2GRkp9hXjkR8unYUJPGApQ4ZrsAmk3hOXvfgsAYiLHW/w400-h300/VIS%20Photo%201%20March%202023%20Scarlet%20ibis%20and%20snowy%20egret%200681.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">It’s March and once again the snowy egret has left the wetland area near my house in Fish Bay on St. John. I believe this same bird was friendly with the scarlet ibis last year and returned for the winter so they could hang out together again. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">Particularly the ibis. </span><o:p style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: left;"></o:p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It is difficult not to project some kind of romantic story on these two, given how closely they stick together during their time together. And how unhappy they both look when the snowy egret is getting ready to leave.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJULhSiLou3AZD0ciG3nNRwnB1npeh8TnIxKgEuhkTGqc4cJcp_RiVxr64-I35Ns1yRLCcNoUQiEYOYGqIlrkPKwDEpvm4f2hgTZxi6ru5do1t4yA5fj4n88-zdW-fY2BXfFXNCTBNvQcqDX1ZDvP8EzKRf-2g9s3XQI_lGKe-5l65-zctu6Ed-Ne1/s1650/VIS%20Photo%202%20March%202023%20snowy%20egret%20and%20scarlet%20ibis%200704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1650" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJULhSiLou3AZD0ciG3nNRwnB1npeh8TnIxKgEuhkTGqc4cJcp_RiVxr64-I35Ns1yRLCcNoUQiEYOYGqIlrkPKwDEpvm4f2hgTZxi6ru5do1t4yA5fj4n88-zdW-fY2BXfFXNCTBNvQcqDX1ZDvP8EzKRf-2g9s3XQI_lGKe-5l65-zctu6Ed-Ne1/w400-h294/VIS%20Photo%202%20March%202023%20snowy%20egret%20and%20scarlet%20ibis%200704.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I assume the snowy egret is leaving because it is time to breed, and that means going somewhere else to find a mate, as there is no snowy partner available in this pond. Since this snowy egret seems to be migratory, it would probably fly over towards the east coast of the US. Or possibly just to another island not so far away. I have read that some snowy egrets breed in this area, but I am not sure where. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Of course the scarlet ibis could also fly over to Necker Island in the BVIs to look for a suitable partner from the flock there. But possibly that flock is too big now and there isn’t enough food to support a larger group. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Since the snowy egret left, the scarlet ibis seems to be seeking out other companions. Sadly, an early morning visit with the yellow-crowned night heron did not go very well. The ibis dropped down too close and angered the normally placid night heron, which was probably getting ready to go to sleep after a hard night catching land crabs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiaRFUhWRLwP2tUNZQzk2-nDMK_KdNxxq2tR57c_6D-Pwr_Gh15fEDhYnr08xHQLenAF3lUX0bkv0XhUiCPlREOUmdyf0v5tLOCZNwiDuCOdvanfrPdqIOO-OBzcuyG4Kft8DTsKYLEbS_unChmEuzPw9m275OJpfYkWmOidi7dZyeRJY26rtroTP/s1650/VIS%20Photo%204%20March%202023%20night%20heron%20and%20scarlet%20ibis%200443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1650" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiaRFUhWRLwP2tUNZQzk2-nDMK_KdNxxq2tR57c_6D-Pwr_Gh15fEDhYnr08xHQLenAF3lUX0bkv0XhUiCPlREOUmdyf0v5tLOCZNwiDuCOdvanfrPdqIOO-OBzcuyG4Kft8DTsKYLEbS_unChmEuzPw9m275OJpfYkWmOidi7dZyeRJY26rtroTP/s320/VIS%20Photo%204%20March%202023%20night%20heron%20and%20scarlet%20ibis%200443.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Ruffled up feathers quickly led to threatening behavior from the night heron. After that, the scarlet ibis avoided another confrontation by sneaking behind the night heron to get to the other side of the pond. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmj4LYBAhQNpcF6-DhyVtIjea3QSeJOrkAUJ15ZsHgOHbj7WUSwxuQV6sC0xMHBma7VHJnGhIZ2E-kwmZqk4_v46WzT6CLp0ejBfxqPkq7zwxzUQeN0EAc7oapiBMw1EUrJIsKK0ASyEF020gchV9mLZjvurYTkpeVjrgbz0qcRQa36Dspr9y54Da/s1334/VIS%20Photo%205%20March%202023%20night%20heron%20and%20scarlet%20ibis%200446%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1334" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmj4LYBAhQNpcF6-DhyVtIjea3QSeJOrkAUJ15ZsHgOHbj7WUSwxuQV6sC0xMHBma7VHJnGhIZ2E-kwmZqk4_v46WzT6CLp0ejBfxqPkq7zwxzUQeN0EAc7oapiBMw1EUrJIsKK0ASyEF020gchV9mLZjvurYTkpeVjrgbz0qcRQa36Dspr9y54Da/s320/VIS%20Photo%205%20March%202023%20night%20heron%20and%20scarlet%20ibis%200446%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">A little blue heron did let the scarlet ibis tag along at a short distance behind, I don’t think they will become pals. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishUuQfZiKKKzeudPecj8RWjltaHgY-yRdpphIc2rygN9fku2PQIBywaUogiJKfHn78bjig-_gyDZjMwi9SaNKK7-zmTNB1-6ervIWIBZyhSHR11nsrjSNUe2fvoGIzSSAnKZ0sDdkk86-6LGxsrevhM0gXmp3dHx6SwYnIqCLbkWD7UBRSBZHO6Uc/s1800/VIS%20Photo%206%20March%202023%20scarlet%20ibis%20and%20little%20blue%20heron%200435.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="1800" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishUuQfZiKKKzeudPecj8RWjltaHgY-yRdpphIc2rygN9fku2PQIBywaUogiJKfHn78bjig-_gyDZjMwi9SaNKK7-zmTNB1-6ervIWIBZyhSHR11nsrjSNUe2fvoGIzSSAnKZ0sDdkk86-6LGxsrevhM0gXmp3dHx6SwYnIqCLbkWD7UBRSBZHO6Uc/s320/VIS%20Photo%206%20March%202023%20scarlet%20ibis%20and%20little%20blue%20heron%200435.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span>While I am delighted to have the scarlet ibis hanging out nearby, I do feel this bird is a bit sad. But maybe I am just projecting.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-78123606758375316352023-02-28T11:12:00.006-08:002023-02-28T11:12:55.717-08:00Steer Clear of Jack Spaniard Wasp Nests<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9nFpp_96zJI1kHezXVqf7icHf5_VnLN1Y0BpAoaSp7f4ILll2ho-zmXK29e7MmOyuvQPLOc30K-4XwcYccG31cM0yO6nVgGF9D__GGfwL0LXsYps3UN9v9YkIXp-OxmxjZY0A4fk1BTvBgqpL0bpZZtQRe_i-LrjJ_9QeTP8MtNK02LSAOSGfQi9/s1575/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%201%20Jack%20Spaniard%20nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1575" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9nFpp_96zJI1kHezXVqf7icHf5_VnLN1Y0BpAoaSp7f4ILll2ho-zmXK29e7MmOyuvQPLOc30K-4XwcYccG31cM0yO6nVgGF9D__GGfwL0LXsYps3UN9v9YkIXp-OxmxjZY0A4fk1BTvBgqpL0bpZZtQRe_i-LrjJ_9QeTP8MtNK02LSAOSGfQi9/w400-h338/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%201%20Jack%20Spaniard%20nest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">They seem to be everywhere these days. In our yard, on the deck rafters, along the edges of trails, and even underneath the car mirror! Because their nests are made out of a papery substance, they like to build where there is some cover overhead. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8TybqytNUNbzD0U5SdxP-JD7XCaDw0CqOZEVJCPbgXy9TYcL6Vp1LBSTXKXrOKgLOynT36mI3UfeEtQTC81t9rJ3Ci1fmk49qUrgARoUlDFK98iNoHvZJJwbPDxEWv7nKuvWyNxAs9VT-weJJohurabfnToriIlhKQ4w_CxVyWsqp5-MFPsM0Ns1/s1339/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%202%20Jack%20Spaniard%20nest%20under%20leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1292" data-original-width="1339" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8TybqytNUNbzD0U5SdxP-JD7XCaDw0CqOZEVJCPbgXy9TYcL6Vp1LBSTXKXrOKgLOynT36mI3UfeEtQTC81t9rJ3Ci1fmk49qUrgARoUlDFK98iNoHvZJJwbPDxEWv7nKuvWyNxAs9VT-weJJohurabfnToriIlhKQ4w_CxVyWsqp5-MFPsM0Ns1/w400-h386/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%202%20Jack%20Spaniard%20nest%20under%20leaf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Their nests are usually suspended from a thin strand called a petiole, and constructed out of a mixture of chewed up wood and plant fibers held together with saliva. The nests have small cells like cubby holes where the eggs are placed, and where the developing larvae are later fed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I really respect these wasps for their industrious building activity, but I still don’t really welcome them around our house because they have a frightful sting. I have read that they are not aggressive unless their nest is disturbed. However, the nests are often in places where you can brush by them unintentionally. If that happens, you should run away if you can. Unlike bees, these wasps can sting repeatedly. Though the venom in their stingers is designed to paralyze small prey, like caterpillars and soft insects, it can be quite painful to experience, and could even trigger allergic reactions in some people. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The name Jack Spaniard (sometimes ‘spaniel’ or ‘spanna’) is used for several types of paper wasps found in the Caribbean. I thought the name might refer to the vicious sharp swords and steel-tipped lances carried by the Spanish conquistadors, though another theory is that their coloring looked similar to the uniforms of the Spanish soldiers. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I was surprised to learn that there are actually two similar types of ‘Jack Spaniards’ in my yard. One type has the Latin name <i>Polistes crinitus. </i>They have reddish-brown abdomens with yellow stripes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Ba7XUonqVaYtKSt1pxykWHmT5AY5eiTZT3FdtDxE7bcnyAq4Ujqc1qP5keh9ekuCFbx5-PI24wxhlnWd9SI5j82CQ225AnP45zZBEQ2UyVFunZkiS_4iUJTWqYXuPtL0QwMv2SnMMSRUK64X1g_hYZEr8PPuCostXBrC5cqbMp7RPB5oI3Sc1RS/s1557/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%203%20Jack%20Spanaird%20wasps%20making%20nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1557" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42Ba7XUonqVaYtKSt1pxykWHmT5AY5eiTZT3FdtDxE7bcnyAq4Ujqc1qP5keh9ekuCFbx5-PI24wxhlnWd9SI5j82CQ225AnP45zZBEQ2UyVFunZkiS_4iUJTWqYXuPtL0QwMv2SnMMSRUK64X1g_hYZEr8PPuCostXBrC5cqbMp7RPB5oI3Sc1RS/w400-h338/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%203%20Jack%20Spanaird%20wasps%20making%20nest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The other type is <i>Mischocyttarus phthisicus. </i>These slightly smaller wasps<i> </i>have black abdomens with yellow stripes, except that the last segment is reddish-brown. Also their antennas are different in color than the larger wasps. (I couldn’t find information on other differences, so maybe will have to observe them more closely.) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrloskvuVeLX6h4Kiz7zN1un2mFrjHqhLHIhqP9YSRFcgLzEfd0FnAE_4KWabCCrpcLa-iS1En38x2LwH1YBQpe-KkVcnoKxM-RmoLCQGexHjJZeRjwdEIcx-YBM0g6HahrVnfwRg1aoq5iQbZUw6_RfnWFSkurxx63jNP-n6o9grMPm5yq_rO6dtC/s1111/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%204%20Jack%20Spaniard%20nest%20on%20paddle%20cactus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1111" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrloskvuVeLX6h4Kiz7zN1un2mFrjHqhLHIhqP9YSRFcgLzEfd0FnAE_4KWabCCrpcLa-iS1En38x2LwH1YBQpe-KkVcnoKxM-RmoLCQGexHjJZeRjwdEIcx-YBM0g6HahrVnfwRg1aoq5iQbZUw6_RfnWFSkurxx63jNP-n6o9grMPm5yq_rO6dtC/w400-h339/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%204%20Jack%20Spaniard%20nest%20on%20paddle%20cactus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Besides eating caterpillars, both these wasps are attracted to sugary nectar. Their nectar-seeking visits allow them to carry pollen from one flower to another, and in the process to serve as valuable pollinators. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfWvrWqmVWpSeNdosyFFLlKrEW3xLoBct1FSFalaF-TxiTfAmUD52vUNnIhmBuSgPj330kQ1PA7YOXOCckAjxyeGSX0SAjYnIKyrFgenAmb6X3zN0w_loKmn-ehbbEOTU4UCFlvTvkjFAo2WkiKGwh-Br-RY_AUCaDAdgp_4HqWux015DG5q2ahas/s1500/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%205%20Jack%20Spaniard%20on%20passion%20flower%20DSC_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="1500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfWvrWqmVWpSeNdosyFFLlKrEW3xLoBct1FSFalaF-TxiTfAmUD52vUNnIhmBuSgPj330kQ1PA7YOXOCckAjxyeGSX0SAjYnIKyrFgenAmb6X3zN0w_loKmn-ehbbEOTU4UCFlvTvkjFAo2WkiKGwh-Br-RY_AUCaDAdgp_4HqWux015DG5q2ahas/w400-h328/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%205%20Jack%20Spaniard%20on%20passion%20flower%20DSC_0791.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have also sometimes seen the wasps investigating sweet fruits. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxirUMMWBTVurSaC__eCu4-Z2RThZoDc4dyKDJ_njp2S7cxncDNgBU3aBp4PL0PTvA-WewYsmHpQTcZmpnpr7s4JKEDjBB9Imr4R2KdxtxFOFxJ7nB1LZ3pWTvawQ1u-cDSiOv9xVk8ah7qDJply3RswFP_ncrkgEp9BCs1gagy3S8wVBvZNpwb9Hs/s1410/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%206%20Jack%20Spaniard%20on%20pipe%20cactus%20fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="1410" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxirUMMWBTVurSaC__eCu4-Z2RThZoDc4dyKDJ_njp2S7cxncDNgBU3aBp4PL0PTvA-WewYsmHpQTcZmpnpr7s4JKEDjBB9Imr4R2KdxtxFOFxJ7nB1LZ3pWTvawQ1u-cDSiOv9xVk8ah7qDJply3RswFP_ncrkgEp9BCs1gagy3S8wVBvZNpwb9Hs/w400-h351/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%206%20Jack%20Spaniard%20on%20pipe%20cactus%20fruit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When wasps appear at the sugar feeders in my yard, the Bananaquits will usually take off. It seems like they too are afraid of getting stung. Not all birds are afraid of them though. Some insect eaters like Gray Kingbirds and Caribbean Elaenias will catch the wasps as they fly around. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Like bees and other paper wasps, the Jack Spaniards have one queen who lays all the eggs. The other non-reproducing ones feed, support and defend the group in what is called a ‘eusocial’ arrangement. It appears to be working well for them. Although they were badly affected by the 2017 hurricanes, losing their homes as well as their food supplies, they have recovered well and seem to be thriving. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieaoqe2O_3NH9s2BULXdqJ2aTKAPBMxcJngdbyZ6f33O6Cu5sFLVtxW8f0_5lLACmtfeToqAOA126mb3fb-nanuhWq3HfKJgwRUCjX0D8O7nw_p3aHNGvOLm8dT38fG-C3flvmSrluV6jECb0JSFYleFi_NJT-clpNnxMPJpl6r2b_9SLI2PZabEK/s1500/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%207%20Jack%20Spaniard%20wasp%20close%20up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1500" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieaoqe2O_3NH9s2BULXdqJ2aTKAPBMxcJngdbyZ6f33O6Cu5sFLVtxW8f0_5lLACmtfeToqAOA126mb3fb-nanuhWq3HfKJgwRUCjX0D8O7nw_p3aHNGvOLm8dT38fG-C3flvmSrluV6jECb0JSFYleFi_NJT-clpNnxMPJpl6r2b_9SLI2PZabEK/s320/VIS%20February%202023%20Photo%207%20Jack%20Spaniard%20wasp%20close%20up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <o:p></o:p><p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-45811876218795786022023-02-01T09:25:00.000-08:002023-02-01T09:25:13.481-08:00 A Young Flamingo Dances on St. John’s South Shore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvU6ryxFj7dWXU9C0DMcXA89Sj_bcC_gtafSlROK5M8dzqLgnGjFTCVPIiWox7ivy2NkhD8mcnmQ7Yc2lM1OSovmIBunwHso53FlUSDkQNcTG7AymihGR9jJvt6YlIvKbphgCU_RwHR22hwIIDeeLwiPi9AAgvCiP6U0-lFgHbxTJMRd9QInXtRTE/s1800/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%201%20Flamingo%20dancing%20DSC_9980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1800" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvU6ryxFj7dWXU9C0DMcXA89Sj_bcC_gtafSlROK5M8dzqLgnGjFTCVPIiWox7ivy2NkhD8mcnmQ7Yc2lM1OSovmIBunwHso53FlUSDkQNcTG7AymihGR9jJvt6YlIvKbphgCU_RwHR22hwIIDeeLwiPi9AAgvCiP6U0-lFgHbxTJMRd9QInXtRTE/w507-h342/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%201%20Flamingo%20dancing%20DSC_9980.jpg" width="507" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Flamingos rarely come to St. John, so I was delighted that we had one here in December, just in time for the annual Christmas bird count. A group of adults and juveniles had been spotted at a different south shore pond back in October, but I had missed them. Maybe this was one that decided to stay on by itself, or to come back.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">When I first went by, the flamingo seemed to be doing a sort of dance as it preened its feathers. Or maybe it was just enjoying stretching out its wings and legs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Some of the poses were touching, especially when it tucked up its foot and wrapped its neck around as if giving itself a warm hug. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyMlH1NQWF1GiTVBlhoA1EXQFw99s49IlLGn3i7sjCrkcCNtRGgsTe13iNOV2BeBjwNq1d6rbqXrXFgr-I_12SNtpiefw_bXH-T_z6MeqN_s5hTn7K7GzIU7iUPWO_ezio8-R8qgTiTn1nWy48FGnoZVIGLW07Kkczof9eEB3Zz84Iki5uhldqHXG/s1650/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%202%20Flamingo%20hugging%20itself%20DSC_9973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1650" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyMlH1NQWF1GiTVBlhoA1EXQFw99s49IlLGn3i7sjCrkcCNtRGgsTe13iNOV2BeBjwNq1d6rbqXrXFgr-I_12SNtpiefw_bXH-T_z6MeqN_s5hTn7K7GzIU7iUPWO_ezio8-R8qgTiTn1nWy48FGnoZVIGLW07Kkczof9eEB3Zz84Iki5uhldqHXG/w545-h402/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%202%20Flamingo%20hugging%20itself%20DSC_9973.jpg" width="545" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">My son pointed out that ‘flamenco’ is Spanish for flamingo, so maybe it wasn’t so surprising that these birds appear to be graceful dancers. At one point the flamingo even seemed to be inviting a pair of White-cheeked Pintail Ducks to join in the dance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_N0bTTkvNgV3yuGAXlWUJnkvJ6RI1FWRFgvH2H7gwVKdPs7oEIdEr_uIFVehxzU5awU7s87mqIsqyliWH3A3kCdrZsoEzkrfYLmVbUp176qUpRCy0MlsEF6pSg8uruVB1ZA49MYCwwI7yYL8WhBpow64Y6pFrLlY-n_8kDfkLKeAm4Ppbff5GiKr/s1681/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%203%20Flamingo%20and%20ducks%20DSC_9976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1681" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_N0bTTkvNgV3yuGAXlWUJnkvJ6RI1FWRFgvH2H7gwVKdPs7oEIdEr_uIFVehxzU5awU7s87mqIsqyliWH3A3kCdrZsoEzkrfYLmVbUp176qUpRCy0MlsEF6pSg8uruVB1ZA49MYCwwI7yYL8WhBpow64Y6pFrLlY-n_8kDfkLKeAm4Ppbff5GiKr/w555-h408/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%203%20Flamingo%20and%20ducks%20DSC_9976.jpg" width="555" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">This bird wasn’t the bright pink you expect from a flamingo, though. It takes the young ones several years to get their full color and, in the meantime, they have black and white feathers, and pale pink legs and throats. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepjnfLJMhKaD76ikvocfW4qJNuBCOni_CSDbcSs6jasDjIFW4S7_StuWeHYazo902WyBaBV_OtJRKUibMDv4TH8KuRZnYzSSLor_J2PQBd4WvLKMe9_HfDp7y3PTrfcZHjWo_EJzvsmLaAYe5TUGYESkJPpT589uB6g_9X7kJUOswqKd0qKKMC23s/s1975/VIS%20Jan%202023%20Photo%204%20Flamingo%20feathers%20DSC_0197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1975" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepjnfLJMhKaD76ikvocfW4qJNuBCOni_CSDbcSs6jasDjIFW4S7_StuWeHYazo902WyBaBV_OtJRKUibMDv4TH8KuRZnYzSSLor_J2PQBd4WvLKMe9_HfDp7y3PTrfcZHjWo_EJzvsmLaAYe5TUGYESkJPpT589uB6g_9X7kJUOswqKd0qKKMC23s/w555-h385/VIS%20Jan%202023%20Photo%204%20Flamingo%20feathers%20DSC_0197.jpg" width="555" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">They also have to have a proper diet. Their pink coloration as adults comes from carotenoids in microscopic algae, which flamingos are able to metabolize to create pigments in their feathers. They can eat the algae directly, or get the carotenoids from eating brine shrimp or other tiny creatures that also feed on the algae growing in shallow, salty ponds. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The way flamingos eat is really interesting to watch. They put their heads down under the water and shuffle their feet around to kick up edible stuff off the bottom of the pond. Their bills are facing their feet, and they use their tongues to push the kicked-up water through their mouths, while filter plates along the edges trap the edible bits. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9ATe4EDShlu-3_2RjOsYFY1aBvscGCr56NsbLnk3hSI-cSEoq3xFi7uH-zadndYqpTn1o9clWdknR7b1nYztFabysGyNUcoPGiXT5yD486LUTuDikSEoCib3fJoWYoeuGMRX0ZO8milE-18JWKgN6MlUmEPR-ROPqbIEjDZYMlVYLaIttK_1xQmA/s1800/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%205%20Flamingo%20head%20under%20DSC_0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1800" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9ATe4EDShlu-3_2RjOsYFY1aBvscGCr56NsbLnk3hSI-cSEoq3xFi7uH-zadndYqpTn1o9clWdknR7b1nYztFabysGyNUcoPGiXT5yD486LUTuDikSEoCib3fJoWYoeuGMRX0ZO8milE-18JWKgN6MlUmEPR-ROPqbIEjDZYMlVYLaIttK_1xQmA/w561-h394/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%205%20Flamingo%20head%20under%20DSC_0203.jpg" width="561" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Eating behavior is not as graceful as the preening poses, mostly because the bird’s head is underwater. However, its shuffling feet move around in a circle, and you can imagine the joy of a whole chorus line of big pink birds dancing by. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Looking at the flamingo standing upright, you can see that the lower part of the jaw is much thicker that the top part. That part is fixed to its skull and doesn’t move. Underwater, the thick part is on top as the bird faces backwards, and the thinner part flaps up and down to push food in the water into its mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCY575LLaqn9EqNjrISE1cckP7WnPWTxFxdbZO3FTQKR3Sfu_uvvcgLPXzuAqk29iT2fDmG-vr3ni08Cf_w9s11i3UMOX7m-ux14DJPyXNbY7kO3OW5_h-8Y0_O6-pVFtnh9abdFTF4zTCWjAbQvd3T8ltgMNWm-VqT-w3kIBhmomKlVPQ06uEJTE/s1800/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%206%20Flamingo%20mouth%20open%20DSC_9983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1800" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCY575LLaqn9EqNjrISE1cckP7WnPWTxFxdbZO3FTQKR3Sfu_uvvcgLPXzuAqk29iT2fDmG-vr3ni08Cf_w9s11i3UMOX7m-ux14DJPyXNbY7kO3OW5_h-8Y0_O6-pVFtnh9abdFTF4zTCWjAbQvd3T8ltgMNWm-VqT-w3kIBhmomKlVPQ06uEJTE/w569-h394/VIS%20Jan%202023%20photo%206%20Flamingo%20mouth%20open%20DSC_9983.jpg" width="569" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">There used to be quite a few flamingos in the Virgin Islands, but they died out not too long ago, probably due to a mix of hunting, hurricanes, predation and loss of habitat. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">In the British Virgin Islands, a small flock of flamingos was reintroduced in Anegada in 1992, and more recently another group was brought to Necker Island by Richard Branson. Those flocks have been breeding and growing, and some birds have spread to other parts of the BVI, with occasional visitors to St. Thomas and St. John that are enthusiastically welcomed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">It certainly would be fun for St. John to have its own flock of flamingos – a group is actually called a ‘flamboyance’. However, on Anegada the flamingos ended up moving to parts of the island inaccessible by road in order to avoid being aggravated by eager observers, so maybe they are really better off staying in more remote places. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-37691847619941542172022-12-28T06:18:00.005-08:002022-12-28T06:18:46.771-08:00Flashes of Color in the Trees Brighten Up the Holiday Season<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gzOh8S1SomDj5XFtuxph-F9NFww5AzQzdAXHQMfzZazuCjWE0Wnf7QlN9eUrT0xIJpZFsUOvzXpjMBfWVycBUD8_-rzQPD8XcqwMbIsTdGa9hfTvueGqcwyhI0x-1XnS8Cs7BBLeO8DNWLy5DVQyGJSWYPD2yY9h9OioKYjAbVC8D62LasgM0x1K/s1500/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%201%20Pigeon%20Berries%20DSC_0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1500" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gzOh8S1SomDj5XFtuxph-F9NFww5AzQzdAXHQMfzZazuCjWE0Wnf7QlN9eUrT0xIJpZFsUOvzXpjMBfWVycBUD8_-rzQPD8XcqwMbIsTdGa9hfTvueGqcwyhI0x-1XnS8Cs7BBLeO8DNWLy5DVQyGJSWYPD2yY9h9OioKYjAbVC8D62LasgM0x1K/w400-h348/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%201%20Pigeon%20Berries%20DSC_0040.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pigeon Berries</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><b style="text-align: left;"> </b></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Red berries on evergreen holly trees are classic symbols of hope and joy in snowy climates. In the Virgin Islands, we have lots more options for seasonal delight among the local trees. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Most visible are the Pigeon Berry trees (<i>Bourreria succulenta</i>), which are thick with bunches of small fruits turning from green to orange to red – many more berries than pigeons to eat them. I tasted one of the reddest berries myself, but it did not spark joy, so I left the rest for the birds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Guavaberry trees (<i>Myrciaria floribunda</i>) are harder to find and are just now producing fruit. These berries are used to flavor the traditional West Indian holiday drink brewed with wine and rum, raisins, other fruits and spices. They also add a touch of vitamin C to the sugary concoction.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePwBBj-ZCqFujSr2UlKiYRSs2n7EIX7fwtkXz3ZXegwaIHQfccuRp5j4K_nezfZ6I3KiJAVZDeodn-s2iBLMxtRyInJGSZTS3Bl9XCK0wKFjqtFoNECFzJ8iW69CijriJvILy2z2NOyP-LjUOOMrhB2GquTpRf-QuM6sV5nPBhDT74i9zbMXXYvGs/s1500/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%202%20Guavaberries%20IMG_6528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1500" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePwBBj-ZCqFujSr2UlKiYRSs2n7EIX7fwtkXz3ZXegwaIHQfccuRp5j4K_nezfZ6I3KiJAVZDeodn-s2iBLMxtRyInJGSZTS3Bl9XCK0wKFjqtFoNECFzJ8iW69CijriJvILy2z2NOyP-LjUOOMrhB2GquTpRf-QuM6sV5nPBhDT74i9zbMXXYvGs/w400-h288/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%202%20Guavaberries%20IMG_6528.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Guavaberries</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There are some Canker Berry trees in my yard too (<i>Solanum bahamense</i>). These small trees are in the nightshade family and are common in coastal areas in the West Indies. They are related to tomatoes, and the little berries do look like tiny cherry tomatoes, but they are not good to eat. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5t7y9BYXuLuJlL8LbFxFa3tr6jSrhsSV9mVrTq_DwFzpXzDzyERS6j9TD2YPtS5WZW6N9EVfw7ivK6yrfoskwzsC7RGXxW7oM6pFS9tTGkG3Oia-fHQF3eYiazTPNa6ppHhLVJJqfrtVjtoYVpTg_wkcpWShiCSGhmvTDf4O7YjUTbKFK3peTAxe/s1500/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%203%20Canker%20Berry%20IMG_6555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="1500" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5t7y9BYXuLuJlL8LbFxFa3tr6jSrhsSV9mVrTq_DwFzpXzDzyERS6j9TD2YPtS5WZW6N9EVfw7ivK6yrfoskwzsC7RGXxW7oM6pFS9tTGkG3Oia-fHQF3eYiazTPNa6ppHhLVJJqfrtVjtoYVpTg_wkcpWShiCSGhmvTDf4O7YjUTbKFK3peTAxe/w400-h328/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%203%20Canker%20Berry%20IMG_6555.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Canker Berries</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Across the road there are a few red berries on a low Jumbie Pepper plant (<i>Rivina humilis</i>), also sometimes called Cat’s Blood. They look dark and inviting, but the word ‘jumbie’ in their name indicates they may be dangerous. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJBB6PxQn7_Aoi8I2JnFXKyIZUHStAGRXwEuBd4C6yEVg1agliREFbcg6ATYNqnUjKXOzkJfKCBjk_j5pCZgmRLjY5BjjDTj5nPWFkFmHU7ujPwOTsWFLA5H-bLf4R5yhxZgqJQq6QyLykZDZvkEpItOIKubXitYTNEnQbCZvMWpqikEU1G3l8Nq-/s1800/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%204%20Jumbie%20Pepper%20IMG_6514.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1800" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJBB6PxQn7_Aoi8I2JnFXKyIZUHStAGRXwEuBd4C6yEVg1agliREFbcg6ATYNqnUjKXOzkJfKCBjk_j5pCZgmRLjY5BjjDTj5nPWFkFmHU7ujPwOTsWFLA5H-bLf4R5yhxZgqJQq6QyLykZDZvkEpItOIKubXitYTNEnQbCZvMWpqikEU1G3l8Nq-/w400-h309/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%204%20Jumbie%20Pepper%20IMG_6514.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Jumbie Pepper </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Another tiny red fruit caught my eye on a small tree near the south shore (<i>Crossopetalum rhacoma</i>). It is called Maidenberry by the US Department of Agriculture, which sounds very demure. However, in Jamaica it has sometimes been called Poison Cherry. Nevertheless, it is apparently sweet and eaten by some birds and other wildlife. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi609IX_CyqzLFuqwv_3GBS5mE8p79S490Q2fBT1DIts-MvxCD7zqfqx8LEYzEukaFGHWLejym8sFWc1xCMxzAoas9z3up4ZsDgD3PeKS-dSJ_CoUdPk-TbQScxqcF3D1WSU9eFyGu54vzyvdta64ZMwlyJojiPrOJeY-D3KJb9Amo6lhQFlm9u3M6c/s1800/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%205%20Maidenberry%202%20IMG_6521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1800" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi609IX_CyqzLFuqwv_3GBS5mE8p79S490Q2fBT1DIts-MvxCD7zqfqx8LEYzEukaFGHWLejym8sFWc1xCMxzAoas9z3up4ZsDgD3PeKS-dSJ_CoUdPk-TbQScxqcF3D1WSU9eFyGu54vzyvdta64ZMwlyJojiPrOJeY-D3KJb9Amo6lhQFlm9u3M6c/w400-h318/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%205%20Maidenberry%202%20IMG_6521.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maidenberry</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Sweet Lime or Limeberry (USDA) <i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Triphasia trifolia,</span></i> is not native but has become naturalized in the Virgin Islands. In some areas it has become invasive because the birds enjoy these small red fruits and spread the seeds widely. When my sons were small, we used to eat a few of them too – only the very ripe, reddest ones. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqHR17hiQHw6Z5LhIhBl3aXCTVJTqAvwJ5U7GHEypCw1QMO3GTdppjpGMYOFrrwqoUytHctGQWU4ypEJFj85vWUZo_XlC7NMegMwAnxxqTsQG2jIWUbHFTaMOGuFzh7k2ZTrvb1u60W5ygqpMpAsqGwH3L1WTZB-hz4ZMwzqiNp5DtTTGw-7khZlA/s2100/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%206%20Sweet%20Lime%20IMG_6515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1901" data-original-width="2100" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqHR17hiQHw6Z5LhIhBl3aXCTVJTqAvwJ5U7GHEypCw1QMO3GTdppjpGMYOFrrwqoUytHctGQWU4ypEJFj85vWUZo_XlC7NMegMwAnxxqTsQG2jIWUbHFTaMOGuFzh7k2ZTrvb1u60W5ygqpMpAsqGwH3L1WTZB-hz4ZMwzqiNp5DtTTGw-7khZlA/w400-h363/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%206%20Sweet%20Lime%20IMG_6515.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sweet Lime</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Though all these berries are bright and cheerful, the most fun spot of red I see in the trees is when a Scarlet Ibis comes by my house and lands in the black mangroves. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What a gift!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxTyf90TxjuromN2i_T36P6gGMai6BOsSC1LUawqZTut0UjQDAWB9cY6AIMiSAYYVX24y92sHyt5236V8f2xKBK0hgjqhqDXUzdGULxsC2flHkXCywvWtqUlixLRxGFhsnT0CLUCLxp4o5yiIA7rovmYpPZgmqOIAO5hk3GkUtpsKPYu6_AuYTL18/s1800/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%207%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20in%20mangroves%20DSC_5651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1800" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxTyf90TxjuromN2i_T36P6gGMai6BOsSC1LUawqZTut0UjQDAWB9cY6AIMiSAYYVX24y92sHyt5236V8f2xKBK0hgjqhqDXUzdGULxsC2flHkXCywvWtqUlixLRxGFhsnT0CLUCLxp4o5yiIA7rovmYpPZgmqOIAO5hk3GkUtpsKPYu6_AuYTL18/w400-h310/VIS%20December%202022%20Photo%207%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20in%20mangroves%20DSC_5651.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Scarlet Ibis</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-56580906177190438822022-11-30T11:31:00.005-08:002022-11-30T12:13:56.349-08:00Heavy Rains Bring a Burst of White Butterflies<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCidQWcnZ3veFTrMWNmjxsUJjjJ2Qd0Y-KvT4H7S4XbrX78Dd4N5YzBYW19Yd29mnWbbKTcVxgDM1G0wZUzP2djqO3z8Za20aquln5j3jA0gsZ2cf6uB8QPPjoqh-4LN2Ni4rtb_fCb0Z67bbM4JimMPB5mK5TTCKkXtUaZJJh3Pav0T7F_4NNT_Z4/s1800/VIS%20Photo%201%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterflies%20DSC_9455.jpg" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1800" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCidQWcnZ3veFTrMWNmjxsUJjjJ2Qd0Y-KvT4H7S4XbrX78Dd4N5YzBYW19Yd29mnWbbKTcVxgDM1G0wZUzP2djqO3z8Za20aquln5j3jA0gsZ2cf6uB8QPPjoqh-4LN2Ni4rtb_fCb0Z67bbM4JimMPB5mK5TTCKkXtUaZJJh3Pav0T7F_4NNT_Z4/w400-h313/VIS%20Photo%201%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterflies%20DSC_9455.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Although some years there are hardly any butterflies, this November there have been hundreds of Great Southern Whites fluttering around our house in St. John. They aren’t all white though. You can see dark wing edges on the top side, and the underside wings tend to be different shades of yellow.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Some people say they feel like they are walking around in a Disney movie when the butterflies swoop around, and up close the butterflies’ faces do look a bit like cartoon characters. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGL2DDloOrsMjkJ5TBQLdVUY_zxwtVPaBSUVT99haTOLQvZoxLm3BYrcDYvursyhS0zwQ9ZRs0EDh0xmaSEgmxyBxS6WENyC329sqKGindop-vJpcKE_xgiOH0yQrpANTMLvD8Y6AX_C1vTn3aJkBPHIPYZAWW-LBEfApOcPpoWazCicH4_2wJR0pj/s2400/VIS%20Photo%202%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterflly%20face%209473.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="2400" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGL2DDloOrsMjkJ5TBQLdVUY_zxwtVPaBSUVT99haTOLQvZoxLm3BYrcDYvursyhS0zwQ9ZRs0EDh0xmaSEgmxyBxS6WENyC329sqKGindop-vJpcKE_xgiOH0yQrpANTMLvD8Y6AX_C1vTn3aJkBPHIPYZAWW-LBEfApOcPpoWazCicH4_2wJR0pj/w400-h305/VIS%20Photo%202%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterflly%20face%209473.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">A distinguishing characteristic of Great Southern White butterflies is their turquoise antenna tips</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Where do they all come from? It seems like a miracle when they show up and of course in some ways it is. This year I have been trying to learn more about what’s going on with them. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">At times you can see them over water, and there are some types of Great Southern White butterflies that do actually migrate, at least for short distances. However, the ones in the Virgin Islands – <i>Ascia monuste eubotea – </i> are home grown and not migratory. But they are definitely seasonal. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Many insects have seasonal cycles of activity and then seem to disappear when environmental conditions are unfavorable – like when the weather turns cold up north. In the islands, it is the dry season that makes life difficult for insects, and some have learned to wait out the droughts in various stages of development. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the case of these white butterflies, it seems that their eggs go into a kind of dormancy called diapause during the dry season, and then revive and hatch when there is lots of rain again. That’s when many of the plants enjoy rapid growth spurts as well, and some plants and trees will also put out flowers as part of their own reproductive cycles. Those flowers provide nectar that feeds the new butterflies, while the butterflies in turn provide pollination services for the plants. Synchronization makes the ecological system work. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">One of the main host plants for Great Southern White butterflies in the Virgin Islands is the native Limber Caper. Host plants often have chemicals in their leaves that make the caterpillars and butterflies unpalatable to predators. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When I went out searching in the yard, sure enough, I found little patches of tiny yellow eggs on the tops of some of the limber caper leaves. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk5G569orXjwu6FDfTcOoSVz1ZkBeysOK1xOiAXgyCte7qSgsajpkNxm4e3jko20p9PFKrCoq4GviUVy6khW4b3VPafpBWaaKQKcFhYBmlMEp9Oq85jdebgqCtsQ5yqwlarIaauvOvuGKwGEmzJHhUzMInqUU7nXv32Gtqyf36yq-j_ojPslOPqF2/s1580/VIS%20Photo%203%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterfly%20eggs%20on%20limber%20caper%20leaf%20DSC_9654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1580" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk5G569orXjwu6FDfTcOoSVz1ZkBeysOK1xOiAXgyCte7qSgsajpkNxm4e3jko20p9PFKrCoq4GviUVy6khW4b3VPafpBWaaKQKcFhYBmlMEp9Oq85jdebgqCtsQ5yqwlarIaauvOvuGKwGEmzJHhUzMInqUU7nXv32Gtqyf36yq-j_ojPslOPqF2/w400-h295/VIS%20Photo%203%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterfly%20eggs%20on%20limber%20caper%20leaf%20DSC_9654.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars eat the leaves. If there are enough leaves on the plant, the caterpillars thrive, and the limber caper is not significantly harmed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBnzkXh5ViA22bJ5E6Z3EvgVIKxcfg8HcEX8X18XemfX3VzVpIkIvMqr7AaewC16uL2Wh8fXJ6tAs3MSgqNeAIqFloI2iJZA4sO2jmafVpkHrDt1Ul2NCfePPTzLwyPyWSz95XWb4yfR-H6YBGeu4QK_-Q3kN4dFH1Sbkrc8zlXT6bOT_OBudxgUl/s1500/VIS%20Photo%204%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20caterpillars%20IMG_6132.jpg" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1500" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBnzkXh5ViA22bJ5E6Z3EvgVIKxcfg8HcEX8X18XemfX3VzVpIkIvMqr7AaewC16uL2Wh8fXJ6tAs3MSgqNeAIqFloI2iJZA4sO2jmafVpkHrDt1Ul2NCfePPTzLwyPyWSz95XWb4yfR-H6YBGeu4QK_-Q3kN4dFH1Sbkrc8zlXT6bOT_OBudxgUl/w400-h304/VIS%20Photo%204%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20caterpillars%20IMG_6132.jpg" width="400" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Some of the host plants did seem to be overloaded with caterpillars and chewed up leaves, while others were relatively untouched. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AJ7KUTqdDbkRMNl2xiUnK0yerHyUM6YJrp8LVwzQGR8Cej4ApTbOgg_5jICKXA6KjRUOBWcoT82BlLx-5581k5oLB9yB7c0IS4CDrk2FbGKPPTvw-k7nAIK1aEVGTh2gznGhKhEuzTONds8hxDeorkcf4Y4_I20KhqZMqCKKFGT1ermULwevtCAf/s1650/VIS%20Photo%205%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20caterpillar%20IMG_6118.jpg" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1650" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AJ7KUTqdDbkRMNl2xiUnK0yerHyUM6YJrp8LVwzQGR8Cej4ApTbOgg_5jICKXA6KjRUOBWcoT82BlLx-5581k5oLB9yB7c0IS4CDrk2FbGKPPTvw-k7nAIK1aEVGTh2gznGhKhEuzTONds8hxDeorkcf4Y4_I20KhqZMqCKKFGT1ermULwevtCAf/w400-h339/VIS%20Photo%205%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20caterpillar%20IMG_6118.jpg" width="400" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I brought one of the bigger caterpillars inside to see what it would look like in its pupa stage. I thought that with all those butterflies around there would be a whole bunch of pupa cases, but I only found one empty case hanging on the underside of a leaf. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The caterpillar I brought inside was done eating limber caper leaves and wasted no time starting to transform into a pupa. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvymhLp6bIyRxmeJa-qVwQ8YiGAtTYoo1C6jGvpfeh3T461oANm4RZUkW8uyTjmSBBSAAoMImQHwMkwGYFfQzpWRMWvtCc6XtfH4QbHiqrujck3BrwXNX_kGwE1cSbjU4WE4eIgWrWPNLPN-oo_zPcJPjw0COEv8vjhJRcNZTs9MgbIh9NBS21eWTQ/s1800/VIS%20Photo%206%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20pupa%20IMG_6152.jpg" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1800" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvymhLp6bIyRxmeJa-qVwQ8YiGAtTYoo1C6jGvpfeh3T461oANm4RZUkW8uyTjmSBBSAAoMImQHwMkwGYFfQzpWRMWvtCc6XtfH4QbHiqrujck3BrwXNX_kGwE1cSbjU4WE4eIgWrWPNLPN-oo_zPcJPjw0COEv8vjhJRcNZTs9MgbIh9NBS21eWTQ/w400-h313/VIS%20Photo%206%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20pupa%20IMG_6152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then about 10 days later a new butterfly emerged – with just a few days to fly around in the sunshine, drink nectar, find a mate, and produce new eggs. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The only times these butterflies sit still for more than a few seconds is when they gather to drink from puddles or wet areas. Then when they get close, sometimes one thing leads to another, and the cycle of life continues. Until the days get dry again. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-7QXyWmEBVvEPFrqXlrhq7CgeCuTCEnXBmzOx1_s4gbKhcHWgWDDFP-35VoJLeyNQLig1da0wGrj4spKhqhI6_ZGvDj7ZHSpgS4SAVrsqm6TG65fysGoAXVa45_nl_qd8fJdQAxVQpOrDMI7lOamVrcOOxzYMrRwLGZyKOIt8Nhu1rXaftlsmYPI/s1800/VIS%20Photo%207%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterflies%20together%20DSC_9358.jpg" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-7QXyWmEBVvEPFrqXlrhq7CgeCuTCEnXBmzOx1_s4gbKhcHWgWDDFP-35VoJLeyNQLig1da0wGrj4spKhqhI6_ZGvDj7ZHSpgS4SAVrsqm6TG65fysGoAXVa45_nl_qd8fJdQAxVQpOrDMI7lOamVrcOOxzYMrRwLGZyKOIt8Nhu1rXaftlsmYPI/w400-h320/VIS%20Photo%207%20Nov%202022%20Great%20Southern%20White%20butterflies%20together%20DSC_9358.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;">Butterflies attach back-to-back when they find a mate.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px; text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When the rainy season has passed, there is a point at which the butterflies producing eggs receive an environmental signal, and release neurohormones that somehow initiate the diapause in the eggs they lay. Those eggs will be resistant to desiccation, and will wait quietly until the next rainy season arrives before springing into action. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The process really does seem miraculous. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-5095715473321133222022-11-07T06:34:00.005-08:002022-11-07T06:52:23.561-08:00Searching for Sweetgrass in Maine<div class="separator"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkLfRkfVCgXeyOX1g0eyU8Ru5MjAOfCGDMxrMpBcvqOwKe97997HW4fmDwcTp8qy-PbF1QMWuONMBg0YK_EXxJqhsC9_CVAazALsdtEFQp-UvdMsRkgp_cyrmx4Hrvqt0zlvGYuES7SmgwPKdSO0MGP0mQOL4iWqaZEj-4aJ8BBtB_gQmZaI0x0Eb/s2016/Sweetgrass%20Tenants%20harbor%20IMG_5281.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkLfRkfVCgXeyOX1g0eyU8Ru5MjAOfCGDMxrMpBcvqOwKe97997HW4fmDwcTp8qy-PbF1QMWuONMBg0YK_EXxJqhsC9_CVAazALsdtEFQp-UvdMsRkgp_cyrmx4Hrvqt0zlvGYuES7SmgwPKdSO0MGP0mQOL4iWqaZEj-4aJ8BBtB_gQmZaI0x0Eb/w400-h300/Sweetgrass%20Tenants%20harbor%20IMG_5281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Since I had organized a discussion earlier in the summer about the book <i>Braiding Sweetgrass</i> by Robin Wall Kimmerer, I thought I would look for some Sweetgrass while I was up in Maine in August. Kimmerer is a botanist and Native American writer who offers stories “that allow us to imagine a different relationship in which people and land are good medicine for each other”. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In her tradition, Sweetgrass is viewed as the “sweet-smelling hair of Mother Earth”. Native Americans have traditionally burned dried braids of Sweetgrass for smudging or purifying ceremonies, to attract positive spirit energy. The grass can also be used to make medicinal teas, and for basket weaving. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The scientific name for Sweetgrass is <i>Hierochloe odorata – </i>meaning fragrant, holy grass. It is widespread in the northern US states, especially near wetlands and across the prairies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I figured I should be able to find some near my family’s house in mid-coast Maine, but I didn’t know where to look. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There are lots of kinds of grasses around, and I had never thought to learn anything about them before. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I examined some grass samples on our family property, and it was interesting to learn the names of some of the different types I had seen so often over the years, even though they weren’t what I was looking for. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I read that Sweetgrass likes moist soil and went to check out a patch I remembered down by the marsh through a trail in the woods. That turned out to be scratchy on my fingers and not sweet, so I left it alone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah-wM5GkP1g9G9T5fdvJ3Ww213s1yuMzCTrCyPTAiw-nNOET_wMwO-_Q1yYGDWxpdMlZJaQQT1zMoaHU8k3QZmusmMXwhvl9LezQGHezpHqThTTOOCcDtA_bZ64IGWMzPwkCnU5X8ORM9dYbH7Y1Lo44VpcbsjpT9VALUxyTrqbYRhOzfgr2g-9AT/s2016/scratchy%20grass%205020.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah-wM5GkP1g9G9T5fdvJ3Ww213s1yuMzCTrCyPTAiw-nNOET_wMwO-_Q1yYGDWxpdMlZJaQQT1zMoaHU8k3QZmusmMXwhvl9LezQGHezpHqThTTOOCcDtA_bZ64IGWMzPwkCnU5X8ORM9dYbH7Y1Lo44VpcbsjpT9VALUxyTrqbYRhOzfgr2g-9AT/w300-h400/scratchy%20grass%205020.JPG" width="300" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">My cousin who has a nursery business further down the coast knew of something called Sweet Flag and kindly delivered a bunch of that for me to consider.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E-GqYj-H292lO4DJWmypGib7re-sSphy70Q466hrV8EqRKTo81WReh9yNSVzKzYB7qtsUzrPe-Gxfa_HhnuMP0P2qAgZOWcXpuhEGCcxUhz5u265WrZ9JWUUkC_odQ8vII9xASzVyA4uKz18UmZmixZazp6zxyBbIeSSNOMlOaqKSfG1-yR073Ug/s2016/sweetflag%20in%20truck%205066.JPG" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E-GqYj-H292lO4DJWmypGib7re-sSphy70Q466hrV8EqRKTo81WReh9yNSVzKzYB7qtsUzrPe-Gxfa_HhnuMP0P2qAgZOWcXpuhEGCcxUhz5u265WrZ9JWUUkC_odQ8vII9xASzVyA4uKz18UmZmixZazp6zxyBbIeSSNOMlOaqKSfG1-yR073Ug/w300-h400/sweetflag%20in%20truck%205066.JPG" width="300" /></a></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">These stalks had fat ridges in the center that made them difficult to braid, and smelled more swampy than sweet. Still, I appreciated the gift and didn’t want to discard them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I ended up cutting thin ribbons from the sides of the stems and these were flexible enough to be easily bent and braided. I shaped the rough braids into a circle, sewing them in place like the beginning of a braided rug, similar to the ones my grandmother had made out of felt. I read that colonial women in this area may have begun to braid rugs after observing the traditional grass mats made by Native American women.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pT5lr3tetMUllZsNGhS_5_jr_40Oyall0W01TfJTKBDSXU-L5yQo_hbZKpKyfG9YSLKD2FAqzs71UOnl7CJYN0Hl2nT6DFFOXVkIwXCZTEsfkZnCwbA4zZXZRKVzjkK8zpezf0lmLkxhjOs5kRBIF8YyKDuCB1-Hul2yUsk_NAwxdKuKA0_9O8jl/s1280/Sweetflag%20braided%205094.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1280" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pT5lr3tetMUllZsNGhS_5_jr_40Oyall0W01TfJTKBDSXU-L5yQo_hbZKpKyfG9YSLKD2FAqzs71UOnl7CJYN0Hl2nT6DFFOXVkIwXCZTEsfkZnCwbA4zZXZRKVzjkK8zpezf0lmLkxhjOs5kRBIF8YyKDuCB1-Hul2yUsk_NAwxdKuKA0_9O8jl/s320/Sweetflag%20braided%205094.jpg" width="320" /></a></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">A few days later I visited a friend a bit further north who has amazing garden and a broad knowledge about plants. Finally, someone who knew about Sweetgrass. She even had some growing in a pot on her porch. It smelled wonderful, a bit like vanilla. She had ordered it from a catalogue, though, and did not know where it might grow locally. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnLW9ABVJ9h911MlQhpY2DfUJwPWRUHHqsp_jscPzj9Ensq72wTNPS-pztcA9xlI8tGRzePsONEhvAm-NWzGZa3JROCBZIpQVjjTbPJx16BIFujyS8IEe5XswCsVe-ckyJ6L6NoHdYet8gJd-7VveYWNqKWRUigJN9OpfdIPVzpZs365jXhZORxCo/s1097/Jenni%20Lyn's%20sweetgrass%20in%20pot%205093.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnLW9ABVJ9h911MlQhpY2DfUJwPWRUHHqsp_jscPzj9Ensq72wTNPS-pztcA9xlI8tGRzePsONEhvAm-NWzGZa3JROCBZIpQVjjTbPJx16BIFujyS8IEe5XswCsVe-ckyJ6L6NoHdYet8gJd-7VveYWNqKWRUigJN9OpfdIPVzpZs365jXhZORxCo/w329-h400/Jenni%20Lyn's%20sweetgrass%20in%20pot%205093.JPG" width="329" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">She was generous enough to allow me to pick enough Sweetgrass stalks to make a braid. I read that traditionally there are seven stalks in each of the sections of the braid. These represent the gifts of wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility and truth, which help people learn to live in harmony with the earth. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZxzligj9r6vyfsHkL4QnnJKCGMh-cZ2ZcSEqdZYcjyqL--CtUPOovpUIyAi8_ZC68d2ZiByQAVlqnLdbDR6dJeDNLqs6ixNyQjdm0ZYoyMMWF_oxApmnnzVHiO5fFUkG2i5-4xMt3t68KRk_5uWqbdth_DaI1HSSmQn86SEEjSXZdIJtgh7BC4dC/s2016/Jenni%20Lyn's%20sweetgrass%20braided%205113.JPG" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZxzligj9r6vyfsHkL4QnnJKCGMh-cZ2ZcSEqdZYcjyqL--CtUPOovpUIyAi8_ZC68d2ZiByQAVlqnLdbDR6dJeDNLqs6ixNyQjdm0ZYoyMMWF_oxApmnnzVHiO5fFUkG2i5-4xMt3t68KRk_5uWqbdth_DaI1HSSmQn86SEEjSXZdIJtgh7BC4dC/w480-h640/Jenni%20Lyn's%20sweetgrass%20braided%205113.JPG" width="480" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Kimmerer writes that “the sweetest way to braid the grass is to have someone else hold the end so that you pull gently against each other, all the while leaning in, chatting and laughing…”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I engaged my husband to hold the end of the bunch of Sweetgrass while I was braiding, and we did in fact laugh and chat while we were doing it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I hung the braid by the stairs in Maine and enjoyed the surprise of the scent in the house each time I passed by. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I was still wondering where it might grow wild in the area, but got busy with other activities.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">When we went hiking on a wild offshore conservation island, I examined a bright, swampy area. Beautiful grass but not sweet. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiR4APqTDC3czfh4m3zJHOO-yUcsXaZb-8f7rU3ocBLmd5cT556ExwpeCn5MhAK7B-s7qaBKMEqOPMT6o46zOkjA9REjvoqiS1hjTdYxqMxUo5QN9K5FotrXBBLxp51BonSb4BR89HhyMIVY_78kPqt9vhyt4pk_hqVAD49GPKunBVRL_THSRmDc9/s2016/grasses%20on%20Monroe%20island%205220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiR4APqTDC3czfh4m3zJHOO-yUcsXaZb-8f7rU3ocBLmd5cT556ExwpeCn5MhAK7B-s7qaBKMEqOPMT6o46zOkjA9REjvoqiS1hjTdYxqMxUo5QN9K5FotrXBBLxp51BonSb4BR89HhyMIVY_78kPqt9vhyt4pk_hqVAD49GPKunBVRL_THSRmDc9/w400-h300/grasses%20on%20Monroe%20island%205220.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then, a couple of days before returning to New York, I stopped to see another friend nearby. I mentioned my Sweetgrass quest, and he said he actually knew where to find some – there was a place along the bank of a tidal inlet where Native American people he knew sometimes came to harvest it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">My husband went with me to help locate the unmarked path, which led through scrub and brambles onto a sunny area filled with what people sometimes call ‘salt hay’. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigDPDQ9LP0U71Fy8Z0AfrmRWsh8KPcNvjDGb-acyu-LtdzoOT6QbMONPypCDxp7Mrs0zNDbplvnW1qRleusdiCqJssgwCkzI2J4r_4Lju3jxonFrO53jdJDVV24RKItImZtv3X_p9daOZarvUuc_w0ypxWIAV71nfpXHLPSAir97_sotLysrX0KUe/s2016/Ed%20with%20grasses%20IMG_5285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigDPDQ9LP0U71Fy8Z0AfrmRWsh8KPcNvjDGb-acyu-LtdzoOT6QbMONPypCDxp7Mrs0zNDbplvnW1qRleusdiCqJssgwCkzI2J4r_4Lju3jxonFrO53jdJDVV24RKItImZtv3X_p9daOZarvUuc_w0ypxWIAV71nfpXHLPSAir97_sotLysrX0KUe/w400-h300/Ed%20with%20grasses%20IMG_5285.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I started examining and sniffing the different plants growing there, following what looked like tracks from someone tamping down the grasses by walking around sometime earlier. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP33Eow_yPBORNyCfbhns816ovq1JFyswp7QvG9cUg7gbbkwZDlxno_gQElMFPo8I-yMMBCb3lZ4p7a-RaY6WXuo7lO_D7Dx4jumGBrDyDSC5vWYuQAHZIo5wiZ3cw_OWkCtVT-CYl1-aQVGqsMChsbALElF3NkGW935XGHMeEKDRPJog2FHP0o-Y0/s2016/TH%20grassy%20bank%20IMG_5286.JPG" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP33Eow_yPBORNyCfbhns816ovq1JFyswp7QvG9cUg7gbbkwZDlxno_gQElMFPo8I-yMMBCb3lZ4p7a-RaY6WXuo7lO_D7Dx4jumGBrDyDSC5vWYuQAHZIo5wiZ3cw_OWkCtVT-CYl1-aQVGqsMChsbALElF3NkGW935XGHMeEKDRPJog2FHP0o-Y0/w400-h300/TH%20grassy%20bank%20IMG_5286.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Eventually, back near the tree line, I spotted a patch of low grass in among a taller group, partially shaded, that looked similar to what I had gotten from my friend’s pot. And when I picked a strand, it had that now-familiar sweet smell. Success!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizswol1m8b7i8t7KwuIiSP4qtoLapPAU22VUt6txgPhAtD51twIbiS4MDzLN9M3grQCj-1bfSQ_Rp7pskpoDeOUddP3Y6fZD7qNq_2RhNI2jsiRzuSs3pn2YliLHwWWXRPkvc7nBlq1EST74ccxMHMWe00GeagLTbSkykuSOFg3gn-rO2Y5V5gGkHe/s2016/Sweetgrass%20growing%20in%20Tenants%20Harbor_5284.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizswol1m8b7i8t7KwuIiSP4qtoLapPAU22VUt6txgPhAtD51twIbiS4MDzLN9M3grQCj-1bfSQ_Rp7pskpoDeOUddP3Y6fZD7qNq_2RhNI2jsiRzuSs3pn2YliLHwWWXRPkvc7nBlq1EST74ccxMHMWe00GeagLTbSkykuSOFg3gn-rO2Y5V5gGkHe/w300-h400/Sweetgrass%20growing%20in%20Tenants%20Harbor_5284.JPG" width="300" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I was careful to give thanks to the plants for allowing me to harvest a few of their stalks. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I am also grateful to Robin Kimmerer for inspiring me to learn more about the land my ancestors settled on, the names of the plants growing there, and the history of the people who inhabited that land for centuries before my European ancestors arrived.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Indigenous stories and practices are rich in wisdom, but the history of native people since Europeans came has been one of violence and terrible losses. However, although the current condition of the earth may lead to feelings of despair, Kimmerer offers the possibility of working towards restoration as an antidote to despair – with the goal of restoring a life-sustaining form of economy and civilization. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In order to heal the earth, and our relationship with it, Kimmerer challenges us to set aside the ways of the colonists and become indigenous to the places we live. That would involve acting with respect in our relationships with each other, as well as towards plants and other species that provide us with gifts of food, medicines and materials.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It also means viewing the land not as a commodity but as our teacher, healer and benefactor, which is now in need of our help. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-84571281265679606092022-10-06T06:33:00.003-07:002022-10-06T06:33:42.100-07:00 Look Out for Land Crabs<div class="separator"></div><div class="separator"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHGm2icOC9vQohr6o36yxxM98pbbj_NgsOp_Iev3n5tibTekWH-hrp-_SHBHd7EFYO7hIVKDRCsMGzc4Q6qaOChtNTb2iMeUXIS1RWW0BWgKtDUEA_tuSMsmAfm0WFGKLNrsJKBbYPT2KE9_i31PO-9McBa-eBc_SBK2psun0B31ZEt_cYWxuyJ4a/s1500/VIS%20Photo%201%20Sept%202022%20blue%20land%20crab%2006204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1500" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHGm2icOC9vQohr6o36yxxM98pbbj_NgsOp_Iev3n5tibTekWH-hrp-_SHBHd7EFYO7hIVKDRCsMGzc4Q6qaOChtNTb2iMeUXIS1RWW0BWgKtDUEA_tuSMsmAfm0WFGKLNrsJKBbYPT2KE9_i31PO-9McBa-eBc_SBK2psun0B31ZEt_cYWxuyJ4a/w400-h358/VIS%20Photo%201%20Sept%202022%20blue%20land%20crab%2006204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Many people don’t ever see the land crabs in the Virgin Islands because these crustaceans live in the mangrove wetlands and mostly come out at night. The large blue kind (</span><i>Cardisoma guanhumi</i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">) look a bit ghostly, and can grow to about 5 or 6 inches across their backs. They have one large claw and one smaller, thinner one. And their eyes stand up on stalks. </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The females are not so blue - more of a light gray. And the juveniles can be brown, orange or purplish. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtnwvYM7QrBCtx2uOZJbEGSNR3VTfGB0vk-56gou9MX1_3tRhOprlFWdaAHjGVu379P-QKZVSr94OQepvQXitqkXg3R2bd7x-lWIDFcfBav4fZFrxtsB-8DvuFpcVoNp9BQwGnH1UR5Wn6M2Sc21IQjx5UToJ558ronPq03FekBohJRYUJhNuOpb6/s1350/VIS%20Photo%202%20Sept%202022%20young%20land%20crab%2006507.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1350" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtnwvYM7QrBCtx2uOZJbEGSNR3VTfGB0vk-56gou9MX1_3tRhOprlFWdaAHjGVu379P-QKZVSr94OQepvQXitqkXg3R2bd7x-lWIDFcfBav4fZFrxtsB-8DvuFpcVoNp9BQwGnH1UR5Wn6M2Sc21IQjx5UToJ558ronPq03FekBohJRYUJhNuOpb6/w400-h360/VIS%20Photo%202%20Sept%202022%20young%20land%20crab%2006507.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Although these crabs live on land as adults, they generally stay close to the water. They dig big holes in the mud to hide in, several feet deep, with enough water at the bottom to keep their gills damp. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgYphIKCiWl5wntq-U4-CTKAICEgjckyTslIKi4HhikQQ7pEuu8v8OENaf1nb_yW6wLYCAYBExQccxn3Dkoja1NN4IzkNsVNGASzT_Yfz_kflc3oB7HFeFSQ49hzM4ngUluV7ydrSOpkfKcQZjUqEnp6T6c4e6th8XEPGJsevsNg_ghT-WlG0F66Z/s969/VIS%20Photo%203%20Sept%202022%20crab%20hole%204728.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="969" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJgYphIKCiWl5wntq-U4-CTKAICEgjckyTslIKi4HhikQQ7pEuu8v8OENaf1nb_yW6wLYCAYBExQccxn3Dkoja1NN4IzkNsVNGASzT_Yfz_kflc3oB7HFeFSQ49hzM4ngUluV7ydrSOpkfKcQZjUqEnp6T6c4e6th8XEPGJsevsNg_ghT-WlG0F66Z/w400-h329/VIS%20Photo%203%20Sept%202022%20crab%20hole%204728.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">After breeding on a full moon during the rainy season, the females deposit their eggs a couple of weeks later into shallow salt water nearby. As they grow up, the young ones may be carried by currents to other shorelines.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Our house is close to the land crabs’ territory, and they sometimes climb up the hill to visit. I occasionally wake up to hear them rattling around on the front deck, which I don’t really understand. They mostly eat leaves and vegetation, plus maybe some insects and dead things. There might be some of those things near our house, but a lot less than down by the mangroves. I think they might just be curious. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kp45TdbWr4kkRfdha5BAHxHJwW5i1D7B5tGRRkAk0jxxZWFH4vx1eiIkG1eNXgEEoQw6MAPVM9cC945_8fzJXYnOIxXExXNgovh5PMf_0Gc8q7iOpSKMMyzJAuO01Vzz8RHfGyWI-cmLXlsFagYi03AUCt_VRvgFbI-tAo6UPQfszeeh3fuxmLeA/s1350/VIS%20Photo%204%20Sept%202022%20crab%20by%20house%20IMG_1261.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1350" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Kp45TdbWr4kkRfdha5BAHxHJwW5i1D7B5tGRRkAk0jxxZWFH4vx1eiIkG1eNXgEEoQw6MAPVM9cC945_8fzJXYnOIxXExXNgovh5PMf_0Gc8q7iOpSKMMyzJAuO01Vzz8RHfGyWI-cmLXlsFagYi03AUCt_VRvgFbI-tAo6UPQfszeeh3fuxmLeA/w400-h300/VIS%20Photo%204%20Sept%202022%20crab%20by%20house%20IMG_1261.jpg" width="400" /></a> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I was frightened of them at first. Especially when I saw them waving their big claws around. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT2t-Ih7W-MjwFh8dhxZUlLo7ix-sDOKPEfKMpfQmK6VmEw5I2t-qaJ0VeRjnQs4Uy68QTOJhE7Ok6Q8z_gsqmmMsHHp3W-3RZKvUOrTa63SrA5b5Yj68rlrl6BEd6KD7oomynoQkCYqtaOh_arLcewVD3SI1S4KOEy7zfINBD9vBNgJG1--NMk7J/s1200/VIS%20Photo%205%20Sept%202022%20crab%20in%20hole%2005075.JPG" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1200" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinT2t-Ih7W-MjwFh8dhxZUlLo7ix-sDOKPEfKMpfQmK6VmEw5I2t-qaJ0VeRjnQs4Uy68QTOJhE7Ok6Q8z_gsqmmMsHHp3W-3RZKvUOrTa63SrA5b5Yj68rlrl6BEd6KD7oomynoQkCYqtaOh_arLcewVD3SI1S4KOEy7zfINBD9vBNgJG1--NMk7J/w400-h353/VIS%20Photo%205%20Sept%202022%20crab%20in%20hole%2005075.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">They could possibly give you a sharp nip, though it seems that the small claw is the sharper one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I learned that they are able to cut through tough stuff when my older son decided to catch one and tie it up with fishing line. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We had sometimes seen people hunting for the crabs at night with flashlights and putting them in buckets. We were told they were good to eat, especially with rice, or in a local soup called callaloo (or kallaloo). But first you have to feed them corn for a couple of weeks to clean out their digestive systems – because of those dead things they might eat. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So my son was going to keep the crab in a bucket and feed it clean food, but didn’t have a cage so he tied a piece of the fishing line to the crab’s leg and then to the bucket handle. The next day he was disappointed to see that the line was cut through and the crab was gone. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Yellow-crowned Night Herons also like to eat crabs, and aren’t so particular about how clean their food is. The night herons have thick bills that they use to punch right through the crabs’ shells. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dpDlO0KoYeQa6_Tkyl0k6dRkWDnMPNqT7ojdmAEar_eDqkOpJOOEjl_N8zm9jvwYiXkc0A4CGVj7uif_5S-8mDL5FmIZHXbBMsHtT6-wQvf5jLmVJ2qDO9vSPW7RxfdquPycJq5gRj6NSKHv_a8W0ImbNVnB0XbyncF-RW31NsvZ-7LBC2YNBxYQ/s1340/VIS%20Photo%206%20Sept%202022%20Yellow-crowned%20night%20heron%206504.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7dpDlO0KoYeQa6_Tkyl0k6dRkWDnMPNqT7ojdmAEar_eDqkOpJOOEjl_N8zm9jvwYiXkc0A4CGVj7uif_5S-8mDL5FmIZHXbBMsHtT6-wQvf5jLmVJ2qDO9vSPW7RxfdquPycJq5gRj6NSKHv_a8W0ImbNVnB0XbyncF-RW31NsvZ-7LBC2YNBxYQ/w359-h400/VIS%20Photo%206%20Sept%202022%20Yellow-crowned%20night%20heron%206504.jpg" width="359" /></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I sometimes see crab pieces lying around below the house, and shells with sharp bill-sized holes cut in the back. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDG-xsX6kLgQ-z4eMqPwS3zQUoUn31GgaRKDSBiYkASh5YlYkUHXfg0SZGuKBoT7NvWtxvS0rWAr1TeyHfO3B0jOZP_SuV0TfyZQ58pRSP-9-p8evmIFrl2Od4eMheWSGL4004IUyFnSEipGaoH6r9XeB_PIrv54sWRaWoZibjhR_aKcJseCX0nTo/s1136/VIS%20Photo%207%20Sept%202022%20crab%20shell%20hole.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1136" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDG-xsX6kLgQ-z4eMqPwS3zQUoUn31GgaRKDSBiYkASh5YlYkUHXfg0SZGuKBoT7NvWtxvS0rWAr1TeyHfO3B0jOZP_SuV0TfyZQ58pRSP-9-p8evmIFrl2Od4eMheWSGL4004IUyFnSEipGaoH6r9XeB_PIrv54sWRaWoZibjhR_aKcJseCX0nTo/w400-h321/VIS%20Photo%207%20Sept%202022%20crab%20shell%20hole.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Once I even saw the visiting Scarlet Ibis walking around with a crab leg in its mouth. Its long bill is meant for digging in the mud, not poking holes in shells, but apparently it was strong enough to tear off a crab claw. I’m not sure about how the bird gets the meat out, though. Maybe it has to swallow the whole piece and then dissolve the shell with its digestive juices. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjek18HASw0EPjrHRgn5DWtSEblTqn_OXxejKFQOMfKVIYnvpFwptHEFG1Ep1Rm9jbKJLrvX3G8x_DfoEyzzsPT-0EXaQP91XJBcD6b6qri2EV9J37zNXFqsMuEtKSWfRhoqJC48tOj-kw1qcMPkkHIsxVmacKBLAPk-Qyqm6mcMSPjRvW1q9XpJS/s1360/VIS%20Photo%208%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20with%20crab%20claw%205219.jpg" style="font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1350" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjek18HASw0EPjrHRgn5DWtSEblTqn_OXxejKFQOMfKVIYnvpFwptHEFG1Ep1Rm9jbKJLrvX3G8x_DfoEyzzsPT-0EXaQP91XJBcD6b6qri2EV9J37zNXFqsMuEtKSWfRhoqJC48tOj-kw1qcMPkkHIsxVmacKBLAPk-Qyqm6mcMSPjRvW1q9XpJS/w398-h400/VIS%20Photo%208%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20with%20crab%20claw%205219.jpg" width="398" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It’s a complex struggle for survival in the mangroves, and I sometimes feel a bit sorry for the crabs. Their shells look pretty tough, but they are actually quite fragile. As are their wetland habitats, due to the effects of climate change and human encroachment. But meanwhile I am happy that the birds I love have a good supply of food, which makes them want to stay around the neighborhood. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtnwvYM7QrBCtx2uOZJbEGSNR3VTfGB0vk-56gou9MX1_3tRhOprlFWdaAHjGVu379P-QKZVSr94OQepvQXitqkXg3R2bd7x-lWIDFcfBav4fZFrxtsB-8DvuFpcVoNp9BQwGnH1UR5Wn6M2Sc21IQjx5UToJ558ronPq03FekBohJRYUJhNuOpb6/s1350/VIS%20Photo%202%20Sept%202022%20young%20land%20crab%2006507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></a></div><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-6956413226293914202022-09-06T03:55:00.000-07:002022-09-06T03:55:33.597-07:00 What Makes Hummingbirds Sparkle – And Why?<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRwNGKfW7RT4EVtqYtjHDW1cS0gsp43QRR1jrcW5YI5eASKbsFif0BaavOAMkLa0iy4JzXEzRYx6dxrD36JFYxoIFMkoDM2d3j5vN0A_c1mQZJceAllFjuEObsi0Q0ro5110QBUMYzoHserxiTFVtlpoj6jBSNNGr3JutngiZG2kzW2HcC2hOVDHA/s2400/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%201%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20hovering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="2400" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRwNGKfW7RT4EVtqYtjHDW1cS0gsp43QRR1jrcW5YI5eASKbsFif0BaavOAMkLa0iy4JzXEzRYx6dxrD36JFYxoIFMkoDM2d3j5vN0A_c1mQZJceAllFjuEObsi0Q0ro5110QBUMYzoHserxiTFVtlpoj6jBSNNGr3JutngiZG2kzW2HcC2hOVDHA/w400-h351/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%201%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20hovering.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In the bright morning sunlight, local Green-throated Carib hummingbirds can seem like precious winged jewels. They look lovely to me, but I wonder what’s in it for them. I don’t imagine they are posing in the sun just for my benefit, even though I do sometimes feed them sugar water. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I read that the feathers on their throats are called its ‘gorgets’, which was the word used in olden times for the neck protectors worn by knights in shining armor. Does a sparkling gorget actually protect the hummingbird in some way, or is there some other evolutionary advantage they get? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OhE7S13mqO6J_yJgt3893JhHG-tnAyy7cSt84Bf6oqH13RhRgRJGklgn55hcYQxHHcG0TLZzmK3BV0PzUSxABvFHPR0LIth3wzT5z9IsnzF5MBoplmg8RW4FCM3h_LRefdxEoMbDBsqLT5U1rRAgGQY7UlZRBrzlQmGbggURVXeZWCrpUT95A0W6/s2100/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%202%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20throat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1589" data-original-width="2100" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OhE7S13mqO6J_yJgt3893JhHG-tnAyy7cSt84Bf6oqH13RhRgRJGklgn55hcYQxHHcG0TLZzmK3BV0PzUSxABvFHPR0LIth3wzT5z9IsnzF5MBoplmg8RW4FCM3h_LRefdxEoMbDBsqLT5U1rRAgGQY7UlZRBrzlQmGbggURVXeZWCrpUT95A0W6/w400-h303/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%202%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20throat.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Up close you can see that the feathers on the front of the hummingbird’s neck are circular, and overlapping like scales. Structures within the feathers reflect and scatter the light so that when the bird moves its feathers look quite differently in a variety of light and postures. Is it trying to get attention from a prospective mate, or scare off intruders? Or just enjoying the sunshine?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In shadier situations, these hummingbirds still have their green throats with blue edging, but appear duller. And most of the time I just experience them as tiny dark shapes darting around among the flowers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRygzZEBJahN40HlaPC78nHljz8T7Ku1d8sA7GcjLmiq1j42-xuf4sDP0OnLbCYhVDEPQ69l9KjIYRPRGgbLAEOyZRCmSXuFGh8HnqRegZjL4g72Ot0OpCpiHG75NIljo1iN0Wtw-euJpITYb75rv0gMMZDKQ0oR_8D7oCu2S7-CeqIvza0hpyX8zF/s2100/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%203%20Green-throated%20Carib%20with%20Heliconia%202426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="2100" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRygzZEBJahN40HlaPC78nHljz8T7Ku1d8sA7GcjLmiq1j42-xuf4sDP0OnLbCYhVDEPQ69l9KjIYRPRGgbLAEOyZRCmSXuFGh8HnqRegZjL4g72Ot0OpCpiHG75NIljo1iN0Wtw-euJpITYb75rv0gMMZDKQ0oR_8D7oCu2S7-CeqIvza0hpyX8zF/w400-h304/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%203%20Green-throated%20Carib%20with%20Heliconia%202426.jpg" width="400" /></a></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I decided I needed to find out more about how feathers get their colors in the first place, and then how they sometimes appear so shiny. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Most of the colors we see are based on pigments – molecules within cells that absorb or reflect back various wavelengths of light. I learned that bird feathers, like our hair and skin, are made of keratin, and have cells that produce melanin pigments at the molecular level in ‘melanosomes’. Melanin generally shows up as color granules in the birds’ feathers, and enables the feathers to absorb all the wavelengths of visible light. That doesn’t allow for much reflection, and mostly creates dark colors. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">In some birds, though, the melanin crystals are combined with tiny air pockets within the feathers. The result is that light is scattered as it hits the bird and creates a form of ‘structural coloration’ that causes us to see those feathers as green and blue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-93hd3AD1vWVu4339k8DWL88ZDF3DP8btL1AjiKFbRa49p5QmAQVW8_24P2UcuiZXVhf_uYxBCuMK4DUorx0SKK1huYOlKf--HMRGgwAd1MQ2eojcldQ15EDfZvsUfGAk8I1GBF1qcd4voCBE6WCLzJuv_A1Q1esv_OmO28p1u2CIEeu-VK6BSimm/s1800/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%204%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20on%20thin%20branch%207770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="1800" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-93hd3AD1vWVu4339k8DWL88ZDF3DP8btL1AjiKFbRa49p5QmAQVW8_24P2UcuiZXVhf_uYxBCuMK4DUorx0SKK1huYOlKf--HMRGgwAd1MQ2eojcldQ15EDfZvsUfGAk8I1GBF1qcd4voCBE6WCLzJuv_A1Q1esv_OmO28p1u2CIEeu-VK6BSimm/w400-h344/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%204%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20on%20thin%20branch%207770.jpg" width="400" /></a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I also learned that red, orange and yellow colors don’t come from the birds’ melanosomes but from c</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">arotenoids, which are plant pigments that reflect light from the red/yellow section of the spectrum. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">However, b</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">irds can’t internally produce the carotenoid compounds that create these brighter colors. To get red and yellow feathers, some birds are able to consume carotenoids in their food and then store the pigments in their feathers. They could be eating plant material containing carotenoids, or eating animals that have already consumed plant carotenoids. For example, the flamingoes and scarlet ibises get some of their bright coloring from eating shrimp, which may in turn have been feeding on carotenoid-carrying algae. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j2M3QKv-0bmyJm6A1BWqQfs7H5ya50TjJpiJipmV_mLBse2GA7nVc8ZqKv-qyFFIoo2qRwCMIg2WRJ7DLxSzsY1Kg25XLbTw575HwR0PRg6Xu-wtiXWc321N6fa55J8_lvTUujLKxVtcHg1arZ6SyFP6b7uGpWJMQy9opaDkY4Eh15KTaOlkJTM3/s2100/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%205%20Scarlet%20Ibis%203129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="2100" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j2M3QKv-0bmyJm6A1BWqQfs7H5ya50TjJpiJipmV_mLBse2GA7nVc8ZqKv-qyFFIoo2qRwCMIg2WRJ7DLxSzsY1Kg25XLbTw575HwR0PRg6Xu-wtiXWc321N6fa55J8_lvTUujLKxVtcHg1arZ6SyFP6b7uGpWJMQy9opaDkY4Eh15KTaOlkJTM3/w400-h351/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%205%20Scarlet%20Ibis%203129.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #202124;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">A Scarlet Ibis is certainly bright due to its carotenoids, and its feathers do seem to have different shades depending on the light, but it is does not flash sparkling color like the hummingbird. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Hummingbird feathers have a special form of structural coloration. They are able to shine so brightly because their pigment-containing melanosomes have an unusual pancake shape, and also contain lots of tiny air bubbles. The bubbles are stacked in layers that create many different surfaces for light to bounce off. Taken all together, these adaptations produce shimmering iridescence, when the angle of the light is right.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ciA20qyBYkBIrggjPtSzi0rq5MhCnldcPF_mUWBi1PaAH3XE6sNVA9v65H--LMkXnhg1IiAVmhNW-LCpWt0BsW432gmuUIZhF85z2LxrenZPV6PoaQ_6W_a-tnoZHZxJ69dfneEmGDXJE6r8c3ojbgnbp80JTfq-eRpIEOOvxUfcSHbByRxA0I_t/s2100/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%206%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20back%20view%200706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1744" data-original-width="2100" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ciA20qyBYkBIrggjPtSzi0rq5MhCnldcPF_mUWBi1PaAH3XE6sNVA9v65H--LMkXnhg1IiAVmhNW-LCpWt0BsW432gmuUIZhF85z2LxrenZPV6PoaQ_6W_a-tnoZHZxJ69dfneEmGDXJE6r8c3ojbgnbp80JTfq-eRpIEOOvxUfcSHbByRxA0I_t/w400-h331/VIS%20August%202022%20Photo%206%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20back%20view%200706.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Why would hummingbirds go to so much trouble to develop iridescent feathers?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Theories about hummingbird iridescence often focus on its role in attracting potential mates. Interestingly, birds have four color cones in their eyes, while we only have three, so they can see a broader range of colors, including ultraviolet parts of the spectrum. That affects how they perceive flowers, which often have ultraviolet coloring we can’t see, and also probably affects how attractive they look to each other. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">It could also be a protective adaptation. A bright flash of the hummingbird’s gorget could momentarily distract a predator. Or its iridescence might also serve as a form of camouflage, as the bird seems to appear and disappear by moving in and out of the light, causing confusion about its actual position. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I don’t like to think that the shiny hummingbirds I see in the yard actually view me as an intruder and are giving me a signal to get lost, rather than just showing me how pretty they are.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Yet the truth is that they are quite complicated beings, and we really don’t know much about how they actually perceive us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-40828781214944883592022-08-02T11:51:00.005-07:002022-08-02T11:51:45.031-07:00Whirlwind Romance in the Wetlands <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWnWwisYHe7bskQ-vw7h7JWXvguYgZ6sgrIWi7M9XXDv1m0C5tB3ledHz0OTKcWPjP8AFwqrv3-gFVRDTrUNYfm-_C1qwONgIt66aV4uizrVO_wZzSyONyO8-2PphgKqPjLTVvYw0GgRbsGDpRW2E98moI3vhjwk-azZ8_ygeLVyR346cMZf0rVJJ/s1668/VIS%20July%2022%20Photo%201%20Seaside%20Dragonlets%207116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1668" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWnWwisYHe7bskQ-vw7h7JWXvguYgZ6sgrIWi7M9XXDv1m0C5tB3ledHz0OTKcWPjP8AFwqrv3-gFVRDTrUNYfm-_C1qwONgIt66aV4uizrVO_wZzSyONyO8-2PphgKqPjLTVvYw0GgRbsGDpRW2E98moI3vhjwk-azZ8_ygeLVyR346cMZf0rVJJ/w400-h344/VIS%20July%2022%20Photo%201%20Seaside%20Dragonlets%207116.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">A couple of Seaside Dragonlets whizzed over a wetlands pond.</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">When I saw the two dragonflies together, I assumed they must be lovers. But if so, it was a strange embrace, as they seemed to be attached tail to head. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And they were different colors – the one in front was blue and the back one was orange. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Were they two different types of dragonflies having a battle over territory? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> I was sitting by the black mangrove pond near my house with my telephoto lens, waiting to see what birds might appear, so I was in no hurry and was able to watch – and document – the interesting dance of the dragonflies. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Later when I looked up the different types of dragonflies found in the Virgin Islands, I learned that these were a couple of Seaside Dragonlets, about an inch and a half long. The male is the blue one, and the female is orange. But what were they up to? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Another time I had seen what I thought were dragonflies mating, and they were locked in a dramatic ‘wheel’ embrace. I was thrilled to get a photo of their amazing posture! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlIpGheSGT2FO2TtUmhk_3rxDjWcZCsGL-Nj8O97kXT9cENN7iHUTVU4jF4L92pKfvoxLNFTwyj9fUzB0D_MSnkJ8o9LJeB5Yaec_2rDHZkjZ7blg7LcC7BmF6uUTUby-5gspfyu0DnBW6faUEUyB-NNcu91j9XYjBDqEtqmjfUhJrhq6pzG22MMw/s1800/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%202%20Damselflies%20mating%206064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1574" data-original-width="1800" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlIpGheSGT2FO2TtUmhk_3rxDjWcZCsGL-Nj8O97kXT9cENN7iHUTVU4jF4L92pKfvoxLNFTwyj9fUzB0D_MSnkJ8o9LJeB5Yaec_2rDHZkjZ7blg7LcC7BmF6uUTUby-5gspfyu0DnBW6faUEUyB-NNcu91j9XYjBDqEtqmjfUhJrhq6pzG22MMw/w400-h350/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%202%20Damselflies%20mating%206064.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">A pair of <i>Argia concinna</i> damselflies (male above) hooking up on a grass stem</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">
Those actually turned out to be damselflies, but they are closely related to dragonflies, and I read that the wheel position is the norm for mating dragonflies as well.
The male’s sperm is released from the center of his abdomen, so the female (below in the photo) has to reach her tail end up and around above her to connect with the male’s abdomen and complete the ‘mating wheel’, while he keeps a tight grip on the back of her neck. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The damselflies were perched on a sturdy piece of grass. The Seaside Dragonlets, however, are apparently more acrobatic and can do the wheel position thing even while they are flying around. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When the male dragonfly spots an attractive female, he will fly up behind her and grab her with his legs. Then he scooches up and uses two special grippers at the end of his tail to clasp her tightly by the neck, in what is called ‘tandem linkage’. After that, they figure out how to maneuver themselves into the wheel position. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsINURen3kj24oy7PfUToAo1qFR8uG6ienRH9M2oSZUl5Rz8JIthAT0qSyODlRkFh0cE4-HyMVQ-h7G_u9r4x0PloclBA6zJFa_iJUZceyw3kPoKZNdWPDa4WmUH5QhF61NC6hw4pbGoYmWHEKH8kt4yqRN9vpfzRIvCDyqt-bX8C5n0ejxMWC-w7/s1800/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%203%20Seaside%20Dragonlet%20couple%20in%20tandem%207117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="1800" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsINURen3kj24oy7PfUToAo1qFR8uG6ienRH9M2oSZUl5Rz8JIthAT0qSyODlRkFh0cE4-HyMVQ-h7G_u9r4x0PloclBA6zJFa_iJUZceyw3kPoKZNdWPDa4WmUH5QhF61NC6hw4pbGoYmWHEKH8kt4yqRN9vpfzRIvCDyqt-bX8C5n0ejxMWC-w7/w400-h338/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%203%20Seaside%20Dragonlet%20couple%20in%20tandem%207117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These Seaside Dragonlets demonstrate ‘tandem linkage’, with the blue male in front gripping the female behind him with special clasps on his tail</span></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The dragonlet couple I saw must have already finished mating. But they were still attached as they flew by.
And it wasn’t just a loving embrace. I read that the male will keep his tight hold on her neck until she deposits her fertilized eggs in the pond. That way he can make sure that she doesn’t go around mating with other competitors in the meantime, as she might otherwise be tempted to do. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFieec8WlhMFry0sJeH2tiO5phcYKBFytCL9Zd6NzRpXtPLgQ2OSltYQm6SEcMNN4ioSPcaSwHFuAT_dVGb7iSFMVQ3icSSjdg9hjjLwRo_iy_6di_7vpdhy7lliUvmo6oC5TqfDwjaKh3OzFxxzqtYSenUh3Gj_nIF-WtrfPIfB42vFwtXiJVx_Q/s1800/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%204%20Seaside%20Dragonlets%20dropping%20eggs%207134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1800" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFieec8WlhMFry0sJeH2tiO5phcYKBFytCL9Zd6NzRpXtPLgQ2OSltYQm6SEcMNN4ioSPcaSwHFuAT_dVGb7iSFMVQ3icSSjdg9hjjLwRo_iy_6di_7vpdhy7lliUvmo6oC5TqfDwjaKh3OzFxxzqtYSenUh3Gj_nIF-WtrfPIfB42vFwtXiJVx_Q/w400-h321/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%204%20Seaside%20Dragonlets%20dropping%20eggs%207134.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">A female dragonlet dips her tail down to deposit eggs in a shallow pond. <br /><br /></span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: large;">While the dragonlets were hovering over a shallow edge of the pond, the female lowered her tail down into the water, and appeared to be releasing her eggs. They flew back and forth, and repeated this process several times in the same spot before finally taking off and disappearing. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY8RyQb3tddzbvDS9BxRY_gNwe9xT5KN_1u-6nrctIRNzg0jn3wvtEChFA0kSjakGjJ6X64glSo1eTjbKp3gHEESHFsjBavweHkYp8kGOn7TUrXp6sjnSwbRevmLRfGFPKoT_Fi1mAH2DueLTTJ38EZG-D9mItPTwuSDtrEVpH2ejWCvCYJ94NN_s/s1800/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%205%20Seaside%20Dragonlets%20DSC_7121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1800" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY8RyQb3tddzbvDS9BxRY_gNwe9xT5KN_1u-6nrctIRNzg0jn3wvtEChFA0kSjakGjJ6X64glSo1eTjbKp3gHEESHFsjBavweHkYp8kGOn7TUrXp6sjnSwbRevmLRfGFPKoT_Fi1mAH2DueLTTJ38EZG-D9mItPTwuSDtrEVpH2ejWCvCYJ94NN_s/w400-h329/VIS%20July%202022%20Photo%205%20Seaside%20Dragonlets%20DSC_7121.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: start;">The male dragonlet (blue) keeps a tight grip on the female’s neck as she deposits her eggs.</span><span style="text-align: start;"></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When the eggs hatch, the tiny larvae, called nymphs, will swim around hunting for even smaller pond creatures to eat. As they grow, the nymphs will molt many times before finally crawling out of the pond, developing wings, and becoming adult dragonflies. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Most dragonflies breed in fresh water, but the Seaside Dragonlets are uniquely able to tolerate the salty water in the Virgin Islands’ brackish mangrove wetlands, as well as more northern salt marshes. The nymphs are able to regulate their internal osmotic pressure to avoid damage from high salt concentrations. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I hadn’t paid too much attention to the dragonflies by the pond before, so I was glad to be able to get some photos of these dragonlets and learn a bit more about them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-85116897187032431402022-07-10T16:34:00.006-07:002022-07-10T16:34:55.353-07:00Are Sugar Feeders Healthy for Bananaquits? <p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-xStpZ4ffCDhZdz_Wxvc0siNgwL7yhnMjGWiXp3F_sP67OhceJuJ7KN3h6rMAKl0CFGuaD_LUJLRlCQD04TzovniwQS008uFfkMCfJ6Ryc_PDxbaCOYpgj30roUG2eZZyJDbM4BRQkGo4A9sL3dnZ8FXnhJmSnF0KOpKD931UVcJHNct80hh3cPt/s1650/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%201%20Bananaquit%20with%20sugar%206840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1650" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-xStpZ4ffCDhZdz_Wxvc0siNgwL7yhnMjGWiXp3F_sP67OhceJuJ7KN3h6rMAKl0CFGuaD_LUJLRlCQD04TzovniwQS008uFfkMCfJ6Ryc_PDxbaCOYpgj30roUG2eZZyJDbM4BRQkGo4A9sL3dnZ8FXnhJmSnF0KOpKD931UVcJHNct80hh3cPt/w400-h326/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%201%20Bananaquit%20with%20sugar%206840.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bananaquits are called 'Sugar Birds' in the Virgin Islands</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Many people like to attract the local bananaquits by putting out sugar or sugar water. But some people ask if that is actually good for the birds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have been one of those questioners. It is certainly fun to have an eager bunch of birds waiting for you to get up in the morning and fill the feeder. Still, for a long time I resisted getting a feeder because I thought the bananaquits were better off finding their own food in a normal bird way – like catching insects in the trees or poking their curved bills into ripe fruits and berries, or getting nectar from flowers (and in the meantime helping with pollination). <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Besides not wanting to interfere with the broader ecology, I also didn’t want the birds to become fat and lazy, or dependent on humans. Or sick.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I did sometimes put out a bowl of water for them during dry times, but wasn’t sure that was really good for them either. Some birds drank the water while others got into the bowl to take a bath. I was afraid those dirty feet in the drinking water might spread diseases. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b> </b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZK0ZqDQCEycYUODLhZa5E8f_g8lMQ0b70dz2jbkid3CnGpjkS7i3pCIuSluEYpgLfEjm9KINPXx5uiulpPrSc_9dyJBAPC0k3bDRAGtNqZMKAzUEYjQf5V1rAGg1gCq4_RMHQHKWA6eVOgzrI4XIX67F_aC_qrDeD1D4aTo7DCzK8Sh0OfORngAg/s1800/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%202%20Bananaquits%20with%20bowl%20DSC_6855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1315" data-original-width="1800" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZK0ZqDQCEycYUODLhZa5E8f_g8lMQ0b70dz2jbkid3CnGpjkS7i3pCIuSluEYpgLfEjm9KINPXx5uiulpPrSc_9dyJBAPC0k3bDRAGtNqZMKAzUEYjQf5V1rAGg1gCq4_RMHQHKWA6eVOgzrI4XIX67F_aC_qrDeD1D4aTo7DCzK8Sh0OfORngAg/w400-h293/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%202%20Bananaquits%20with%20bowl%20DSC_6855.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><b> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then the 2017 storms stripped the islands of vegetation, and the bananaquits and many other plant-dependent birds were desperate for food. A number of people made great efforts to put out sugar for the bananaquits, and that probably helped many of them survive that terrible time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">After the storms, I started to feed the bananaquits too. But I still worried about it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">At first, I put out sugar water in a bowl, and had the same issue with certain birds using it for baths, even though their feathers must have gotten a little sticky. Sometimes they even knocked over the bowl in their exuberance. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then I got one of the popular painted coconut husk feeders made by Ital Delroy Anthony on St. John. I decided putting sugar water directly inside the coconut would make things moldy, so for maximum cleanliness I used a plastic cup sitting inside the coconut. That way I could wash it every morning before refilling it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIt_ItKq2ltyhE1iZFtkG0Fx4PAJU4kh_qwXJjhNMetXQ0OMBoaH-XsBWa6d-LRU4p1eztNhOI5a6Y_onmBl6004GLYMLY25YG-cR4TM5iECFG94ZXwAPZsWncUyIW5_mQOjoutpjQ0srwACAnFV2sVk2T6ZkJw_jx1dQ2koXmIBplJqlP5tR1ENC/s1650/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%203%20Bananaquits%20at%20feeder%20DSC_5472.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1650" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIt_ItKq2ltyhE1iZFtkG0Fx4PAJU4kh_qwXJjhNMetXQ0OMBoaH-XsBWa6d-LRU4p1eztNhOI5a6Y_onmBl6004GLYMLY25YG-cR4TM5iECFG94ZXwAPZsWncUyIW5_mQOjoutpjQ0srwACAnFV2sVk2T6ZkJw_jx1dQ2koXmIBplJqlP5tR1ENC/w400-h348/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%203%20Bananaquits%20at%20feeder%20DSC_5472.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Then one of my birder friends suggested that I should just give them white sugar directly from the bag. That seemed less messy. Also a more satisfying user experience for the birds – the crystals are easy to grab and take away, and more birds can get served quickly. Of course there is still quarreling and jockeying for position, but overall there is less spillage, and no one takes a bath in the cup.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Before long, I started worrying about whether the bananaquits, like people, could get diabetes and other ailments from eating too much white sugar. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">After some research I learned that <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">wild birds are generally not susceptible to diabetes in the same way that we are, in part because they have much higher normal blood glucose levels. But I didn’t see any studies that said eating white sugar was actually good for them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Their natural diets include insects for protein, as well as fruits, berries and nectar – which contain vitamins and other nutrients. Of course, if there aren’t enough fruits and flowers around, white sugar seems better than not eating. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwqJvbmf4-_QtEwLzmytVEku0S26AaXTy53-j3Pd_ToXZxVVkzf-mQjF4fd4PcjjjFkMj59EJArrlBECKXDL19MVOc8jJVQDmelvd0FTWmJGtCvyg_zy2XtNYu_vMnzsFXw_ZfwzoPTPMP7Uwm990SZJ3HASy2tIlvai5gaVi45W8rTFC1MiNewb/s1650/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%204%20Bananaquit%20with%20bug%200470.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1650" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIwqJvbmf4-_QtEwLzmytVEku0S26AaXTy53-j3Pd_ToXZxVVkzf-mQjF4fd4PcjjjFkMj59EJArrlBECKXDL19MVOc8jJVQDmelvd0FTWmJGtCvyg_zy2XtNYu_vMnzsFXw_ZfwzoPTPMP7Uwm990SZJ3HASy2tIlvai5gaVi45W8rTFC1MiNewb/w400-h355/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%204%20Bananaquit%20with%20bug%200470.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">I also began thinking about why bananaquits would even eat the sugar crystals, since many birds won’t. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">One thing I learned is that, unlike many birds, bananaquits are able to digest sucrose, which is naturally found in sugar cane, sugar beets and many plant nectars. White sugar is pure refined sucrose. It can be difficult to digest because sucrose is composed of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose, chemically bonded together. Nectar-eating birds without the enzyme needed to break that chemical bond have to depend on plants and flowers that produce glucose or fructose. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">Locally, Antillean bullfinches are able to digest straight sucrose too. In fact, a male Antillean bullfinch is often the first one at the sugar feeder in the morning. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: red;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD5Rmh_1J-iqWbFmaF5HiYV1tVG23sZUQmckoEs62XLpJ2eapa6xb6ygQeu2uSk2qc4RdQucE_7-hUBL10zyvsQ2HD4cU89nzSXH6Ex7MYHYJCULSe_aTuSr9FE6CUfwS81tyx0RV3c2vT3d_m4qOivP9unyTkZdtHAs7-sQFv9fIGSWQxmfTJq2Y/s1676/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%205%20Antillean%20bullfinch%20and%20bananaquit%205456.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="1650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD5Rmh_1J-iqWbFmaF5HiYV1tVG23sZUQmckoEs62XLpJ2eapa6xb6ygQeu2uSk2qc4RdQucE_7-hUBL10zyvsQ2HD4cU89nzSXH6Ex7MYHYJCULSe_aTuSr9FE6CUfwS81tyx0RV3c2vT3d_m4qOivP9unyTkZdtHAs7-sQFv9fIGSWQxmfTJq2Y/w394-h400/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%205%20Antillean%20bullfinch%20and%20bananaquit%205456.jpg" width="394" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">Hummingbirds can also digest sucrose/white sugar, but for them it needs to be diluted in water – about 4 parts water to one part sugar – to resemble the nectar they drink. (Many sources warn not to use honey, raw sugar, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners in hummingbird feeders, as these may cause digestive problems, contain residues and impurities, or lack nutrients.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqe79-cg4JTPA49wiihv_z0-SK7-5z2x5NcfvK1ZRtGzSZsFlOd0GD4zvRC1rt8bE8X7Xvcdgwf6h0HRP1XvIGpo1tvdsHRB2j3OUx8xp2CSzlkRhQCHx4Xawb3q0dbr31qUKNCCp0eEBKtF1GP9ACnra2khsn03LwlBKNzJ80V6CGUfilzcR5Tu5/s1650/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%206%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20and%20bananaquit%20%20at%20feeder%20DSC_5861.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1650" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqe79-cg4JTPA49wiihv_z0-SK7-5z2x5NcfvK1ZRtGzSZsFlOd0GD4zvRC1rt8bE8X7Xvcdgwf6h0HRP1XvIGpo1tvdsHRB2j3OUx8xp2CSzlkRhQCHx4Xawb3q0dbr31qUKNCCp0eEBKtF1GP9ACnra2khsn03LwlBKNzJ80V6CGUfilzcR5Tu5/w400-h330/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%206%20Green-throated%20Carib%20hummingbird%20and%20bananaquit%20%20at%20feeder%20DSC_5861.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;">Interestingly, the bananaquits will also drink from the hummingbird feeder when their feeder is empty, sticking their tongues into the little holes to get the sugar water. Their tongues are not as long as hummingbird tongues, but apparently long enough to reach the sugar water. Much to the annoyance of the hummingbirds. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #202124;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxcUJXQW0yqdtcSNUOhZ1hwzFRrFGLytAa3A3SeM1LbJ1NyvsQETKfwVu5QD8DrH6nkrqVoHENnsoJvlQkOKh5I_cIYzxI6LBfsVVEmJ289EJTYMXFFu7fFO3uW0ggaj8eUSYYMHuYb-Wx-MvLzevPah-Qc6BsaKvE6NArqGx8LIOCY-yesibxrcM/s1650/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%207%20Bananaquit%20showing%20tongue%203409.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="1650" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxcUJXQW0yqdtcSNUOhZ1hwzFRrFGLytAa3A3SeM1LbJ1NyvsQETKfwVu5QD8DrH6nkrqVoHENnsoJvlQkOKh5I_cIYzxI6LBfsVVEmJ289EJTYMXFFu7fFO3uW0ggaj8eUSYYMHuYb-Wx-MvLzevPah-Qc6BsaKvE6NArqGx8LIOCY-yesibxrcM/w400-h331/VIS%20June%202022%20Photo%207%20Bananaquit%20showing%20tongue%203409.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I love to watch the birds enjoying their feeders at breakfast time. I am careful to keep the feeders clean, and limit the amount of sugar I put out so they can still spend most of the day foraging for themselves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I do hope that the feeders benefit the birds as well, especially during the times when flowers and fruits are scarce. Still, I would like to know more about how these interactions I enjoy so much actually affect the lives and long-term health of the birds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-397429840835663582022-05-29T07:53:00.007-07:002022-05-29T07:53:47.511-07:00A Lonely St. John Scarlet Ibis Seeks Companionship<div class="separator"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7IxbTJkuGDfwdMlCbLhpODaAghuGVF1sp-dj5PIdJsKHibxV51NzYJ46XleXyqkiE2YBJzzhMm_kns5SlxgOpwmGRUxDnfgVVNUFtOPqhxI2d-OtB7wAUXlqNcdIAButc7X__ROsYIwDzyvRoPw_ttWx6hft3RA_SNkVBZYgehbQOYEFiajzpG1R/s1800/VIS%20photo%201%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20standing%20DSC_6480%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="1800" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7IxbTJkuGDfwdMlCbLhpODaAghuGVF1sp-dj5PIdJsKHibxV51NzYJ46XleXyqkiE2YBJzzhMm_kns5SlxgOpwmGRUxDnfgVVNUFtOPqhxI2d-OtB7wAUXlqNcdIAButc7X__ROsYIwDzyvRoPw_ttWx6hft3RA_SNkVBZYgehbQOYEFiajzpG1R/w400-h303/VIS%20photo%201%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20standing%20DSC_6480%20copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">What a joy it has been for us to have a big red bird lighting up the mangrove wetlands around Fish Bay. Unfortunately, though, it seems like a pretty lonely life. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">We don’t know for sure if this Scarlet Ibis came from the flock introduced by Richard Branson to Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, or from some more distant natural colony. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Actually we aren’t even sure if it is the same scarlet ibis that first arrived in Fish Bay in 2020. It doesn’t look the same - the feathers now are much redder and brighter. However, that could be because it was an adolescent adventurer when it came, and now it is fully mature. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">I have been wondering if the ibis will stay around this summer, or head off somewhere to look for a mate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">In the spring the ibis seemed to be spending an awful lot of time with an elegant Snowy Egret. They were often spotted walking together through the wetlands, suspiciously close together.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">There was even gossip in the neighborhood about the possibility of pink babies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsspZr5BRkJiTNSBhawQ_2s10-kCSQOX98nUR6szF2j-xEoldZfaI6Nmo5eBmVV946qajyRSGSQEaMP0B0uIOSLfwSG1EKoLqr3q8pXPHnUvH5QttS6RZmM5Fl0mU8npPMry0PfJP4C-m4jUfYH5cbEwfHSwzp3jAJN1UtHlHEVrZr9BouHPK0zeu/s1547/VIS%20photo%202%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Snowy%20Egret%20walking%20DSC_5790.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsspZr5BRkJiTNSBhawQ_2s10-kCSQOX98nUR6szF2j-xEoldZfaI6Nmo5eBmVV946qajyRSGSQEaMP0B0uIOSLfwSG1EKoLqr3q8pXPHnUvH5QttS6RZmM5Fl0mU8npPMry0PfJP4C-m4jUfYH5cbEwfHSwzp3jAJN1UtHlHEVrZr9BouHPK0zeu/w388-h400/VIS%20photo%202%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Snowy%20Egret%20walking%20DSC_5790.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Snowy Egret walking with the Scarlet Ibis in Fish Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But the snowy egret really is a ‘snowbird’ and later in the spring was ready to move on, heading north to mate with one of its own kind. Still, it seemed like those two were having a hard time saying goodbye. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9MXa13N1EjJaIlgJ2Mc1f_QzQAuQi8NBUbHArkUuyUnJQE0vGhF3RFo-rCRCJbU2Fiq7DGyybqQjqAi4G5meHU5fsOevOC3wOrm5TEz9HGzABcKs8LLpZXhTLuJKfJ6DbHQ5q_wRMgtjKOHdM8VdO4xHF1963IO6LNQ-XktnNVwFsAFhz_8YB0_0/s1500/VIS%20photo%203%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Snowy%20Egret%206575%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="1500" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9MXa13N1EjJaIlgJ2Mc1f_QzQAuQi8NBUbHArkUuyUnJQE0vGhF3RFo-rCRCJbU2Fiq7DGyybqQjqAi4G5meHU5fsOevOC3wOrm5TEz9HGzABcKs8LLpZXhTLuJKfJ6DbHQ5q_wRMgtjKOHdM8VdO4xHF1963IO6LNQ-XktnNVwFsAFhz_8YB0_0/w400-h369/VIS%20photo%203%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Snowy%20Egret%206575%20crop.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: red;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Since the snowy egret left, the ibis seems to have been looking for new friends among the resident birds in the wetlands. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">But the other birds that live or forage in the wetlands don’t seem very interested in bonding with the ibis. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Green Herons that live in the pond get very agitated and sound an alarm whenever an intruder shows up. They seem especially annoyed when the scarlet ibis is there, maybe because it is not one of the regular island birds. Sometimes a green heron will scream at the ibis until it flies off.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNJhhaD4pBXyM37TxQHBM6kaBGO0nX6UUU8lfhpJ74JkmWHxwLbFY22BXW6wn7aQRg05FIrZVe6S8Skacu2xnNvmaxvepJbnrRWqbNplTPRNXRKvNssIAPtOzUjrF9ivuNVWtSOMEyeALNq1eO-1wu7pAcAEsVeeJg1JRkqf952r8IcR2hbdeMEn6/s1480/VIS%20photo%204%20Scarlet%20ibis%20with%20Green%20Heron%204686.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1480" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNJhhaD4pBXyM37TxQHBM6kaBGO0nX6UUU8lfhpJ74JkmWHxwLbFY22BXW6wn7aQRg05FIrZVe6S8Skacu2xnNvmaxvepJbnrRWqbNplTPRNXRKvNssIAPtOzUjrF9ivuNVWtSOMEyeALNq1eO-1wu7pAcAEsVeeJg1JRkqf952r8IcR2hbdeMEn6/w400-h359/VIS%20photo%204%20Scarlet%20ibis%20with%20Green%20Heron%204686.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Green Heron with the Scarlet Ibis </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> <span style="color: red;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Great Egrets that come to forage in the wetlands seem curious about the ibis. However they aren’t really all that friendly, even with each other. They will often threaten other egrets that seem to be getting too close. Egrets catch fish in the pond and the ibis mostly sticks its long bill down into the mud to locate crabs and other crustaceans, so they aren’t directly in competition. Still, the great egrets like to dominate the space when they are there. (They don’t pay any attention to the complaints of the green herons.) <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe_WqHoSdMNe81NQ9yPTkbDdyijGo0RlZQZ2F2PP2xkClTj4otW3vkzlztbwokmYfuChXWp33oNm8sf4_p3ajIE1tcME0wSTgHwyNfQKxAlKL-Kw4Rk2gqcdl0gHGZ6ZL_YuOtrWldqT8Us-cfb2uAH5-zeggPAmCJPAiXuyyjofBCDlYsK5IVQpB/s1275/VIS%20photo%205%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Great%20Egret%20DSC_6833.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1275" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipe_WqHoSdMNe81NQ9yPTkbDdyijGo0RlZQZ2F2PP2xkClTj4otW3vkzlztbwokmYfuChXWp33oNm8sf4_p3ajIE1tcME0wSTgHwyNfQKxAlKL-Kw4Rk2gqcdl0gHGZ6ZL_YuOtrWldqT8Us-cfb2uAH5-zeggPAmCJPAiXuyyjofBCDlYsK5IVQpB/w400-h293/VIS%20photo%205%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Great%20Egret%20DSC_6833.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Egret and Scarlet Ibis </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Little Blue Herons tend to stay out of the way of the egrets, and are generally pretty skittish about other birds they view as possible threats. Rather than menacing, they usually just fly off squawking. So I was surprised to see one of the little blue herons allowing the ibis to get very close. It was only for a few moments though. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXAAeT_WDckPevt_pPT-YS1Qzx9_8MZjGy_lLW8DpJM5IlDgCEO2FZA7QYofDjBnqSBNeCI8p8N4hmJ5rqXAxgoOQN2wOL3d9uBgYSb-CU9ejjaSwG0GB-AH7iQGB7Q0PNE9T62A8S1jaA5HbqNWxYph75n-keSmI2slrwrvQAQAvLapfrPPr1OMy/s1657/VIS%20photo%206%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Little%20Blue%20Heron%20DSC_6827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1657" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXAAeT_WDckPevt_pPT-YS1Qzx9_8MZjGy_lLW8DpJM5IlDgCEO2FZA7QYofDjBnqSBNeCI8p8N4hmJ5rqXAxgoOQN2wOL3d9uBgYSb-CU9ejjaSwG0GB-AH7iQGB7Q0PNE9T62A8S1jaA5HbqNWxYph75n-keSmI2slrwrvQAQAvLapfrPPr1OMy/w400-h306/VIS%20photo%206%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Little%20Blue%20Heron%20DSC_6827.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Ibis and Little Blue Heron</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">The Black-necked Stilts are more sociable than the egrets, but tend to stick together in their group and don’t really want a bigger bird hanging around when they are fishing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSi_q_Hzo6ZLgcsCp98MrY6vB-8zZYhs6PTKpnCkyyzHz93TZoKej6ZI0CU_-J7AibYy3GmUtqIusn-IL8Ik_HRo0VQ87E9JuBXorotFq9_Dr47miY-7aP8hdsUtSHu-xjJGbyTg1hQzXEBbwaZpmOAg1t9wAIJUwov6NDCO73r0pQ_RxL8Ld5XcP6/s1705/VIS%20photo%207%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Black-necked%20Stilt%20DSC_6788.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1705" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSi_q_Hzo6ZLgcsCp98MrY6vB-8zZYhs6PTKpnCkyyzHz93TZoKej6ZI0CU_-J7AibYy3GmUtqIusn-IL8Ik_HRo0VQ87E9JuBXorotFq9_Dr47miY-7aP8hdsUtSHu-xjJGbyTg1hQzXEBbwaZpmOAg1t9wAIJUwov6NDCO73r0pQ_RxL8Ld5XcP6/w400-h335/VIS%20photo%207%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Black-necked%20Stilt%20DSC_6788.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Ibis and Black-necked Stilt </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p>The small, migratory Lesser Yellowlegs also didn’t appreciate the ibis following them around. And now, like the snowy egrets, they have gone north to their breeding grounds</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mM_v_E011kA6LFiSdVpJtvTupLCzrHiAQZuwru_TTjnLdVyV7-7JfURtm4v9GHxtKTTl4WDWauIOlQS11OwqsM9OHCdW2rRD6LehEvSjlG7gq8rvqNTJBcsGiUOiMSuyZcsvYGVeu1S8t57bgB31gxBtsVBZfNVBMVCm0wSrzIgQu8zWhMc-5Suj/s1800/VIS%20photo%208%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Lesser%20Yellowlegs%20DSC_6821.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1800" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mM_v_E011kA6LFiSdVpJtvTupLCzrHiAQZuwru_TTjnLdVyV7-7JfURtm4v9GHxtKTTl4WDWauIOlQS11OwqsM9OHCdW2rRD6LehEvSjlG7gq8rvqNTJBcsGiUOiMSuyZcsvYGVeu1S8t57bgB31gxBtsVBZfNVBMVCm0wSrzIgQu8zWhMc-5Suj/w400-h313/VIS%20photo%208%20Scarlet%20Ibis%20and%20Lesser%20Yellowlegs%20DSC_6821.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Ibis and Lesser Yellowlegs</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">So what’s a lonely scarlet ibis to do? <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">Its long curvy bill now looks black, not pink (and not just because it’s muddy work poking around for crabs). The darkening of the bill happens when the adults are ready to breed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;">It would be great for the ibis to find a mate, but sad for us if that means it has to leave St. John. Unless by some chance the couple could come back and start a family here. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><br style="font-family: -webkit-standard;" /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-37936656880065217932022-04-25T09:37:00.004-07:002022-04-25T09:39:27.911-07:00Soursops, Sugar Apples and Rat Apples<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTp2M0hiyUxH8x9W02gWyTlrHr0qfCT9KP8NRTw-AYsrsWBUSvYRm4IWAp9-UTilJuU361JuNfsuXEYPUaJXCligrwXZsf5bbK1w9ziEuND1cxzbshYfLEomVyhauiVIQxYJwFGcbdpUkno1OR8up24Qhj6CVcI0ws_62dwWKK42SGjNhfVcYfQEg/s1500/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%201%20FONP%20giveaway%203674.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="1500" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTp2M0hiyUxH8x9W02gWyTlrHr0qfCT9KP8NRTw-AYsrsWBUSvYRm4IWAp9-UTilJuU361JuNfsuXEYPUaJXCligrwXZsf5bbK1w9ziEuND1cxzbshYfLEomVyhauiVIQxYJwFGcbdpUkno1OR8up24Qhj6CVcI0ws_62dwWKK42SGjNhfVcYfQEg/w640-h568/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%201%20FONP%20giveaway%203674.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"> Friends of the VI National Park staff gave away plants and tree seedlings to</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"> community members. . </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 2.25pt; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in 0in 2.25pt; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">On April 20, the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John attracted an enthusiastic crowd for their Earth Day related plant and tree giveaway. The first giveaway was held in 2020, and the event was initiated to help local families replace some of their trees that were blown away by the 2017 storms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">The fruit-bearing trees are by far the most popular. Many people love to grow their own food, even though island conditions can be quite challenging. For the last few years I have saved my Sugar Apple and Soursop seeds to sprout, and have raised seedlings to share with my neighbors, at this event and at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s annual plant celebration ceremony. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukKJrTHArQjcah8CULjWnrNMwbcpNcXgf7weFUTHqvnVYnOYxlozEzY8Ap_jyn1zPWjmU7lYto4RRvQRo8pw-DNj5dNvtqhCqiZMHhI0m1Td_FmNdeFMacPJ55HstwnkThczlc6p7m_onzOUNOLsKWc-TZy4AmrVLFtmNn_y-W5Ctk0366UvJIevE/s1500/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%202%20Soursops%20IMG_3666.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1500" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukKJrTHArQjcah8CULjWnrNMwbcpNcXgf7weFUTHqvnVYnOYxlozEzY8Ap_jyn1zPWjmU7lYto4RRvQRo8pw-DNj5dNvtqhCqiZMHhI0m1Td_FmNdeFMacPJ55HstwnkThczlc6p7m_onzOUNOLsKWc-TZy4AmrVLFtmNn_y-W5Ctk0366UvJIevE/w640-h578/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%202%20Soursops%20IMG_3666.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Soursop trees were popular at the Friends of the VI National Park event. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">I have recently been considering some ideas, including from Indigenous writer and botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, about feeling kinship with trees rather than viewing them as commodities – and how that perspective would benefit us, as well as the survival of all forms of life on the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Kimmerer points out that in some Indigenous languages the word for plants means ‘the ones who take care of us’. They are, after all, the ultimate source of almost all our food, and the only ones capable of photosynthesis. </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">It is an intriguing perspective, but I am not sure we are ready to treat trees as other beings with their own sorts of intelligence, rather than as objects for our use or disposal. It is difficult to give up the feeling that we are entitled to dominion over nature, and to recognize plants and trees as fellow creatures with their own wisdom, experience, and entitlements. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Still, kinship is not always based on genetic ties, though we do share many genes with plants. We may have parental feelings as we raise trees from seeds, proud when they grow up to be beautiful and successful. Or we may be neighbors, sharing our common joy in good weather and spring rains, or distress at being battered by autumn hurricanes. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;">Or we might have a complex transactional relationship, like I have with the Sugar Apple tree in my yard: “I take care of you, and you give me some of your fruit, and after I have eaten it, I plant your seeds, and pass seedlings along to my friends and neighbors, spreading your genes and offspring all over the island.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: red; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqCEdew_BlAysaZ83i9lNORa8soQknGPH6MSXrRTRBrtAg331ComhiYTrD36YUN-SzSSUPJ6ME225OOCpvb9up9QCwiajtoqX0NAh5VRk5foSZ_s-ZPUJkGgzqHZHK8Ql_sSDXZthZObrJMRi9DuigALqAnEbLtsXffSFTiqu-ZvcjmOsgvtUnTEW/s1402/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%203%20Sugar%20Apple%209359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1402" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqCEdew_BlAysaZ83i9lNORa8soQknGPH6MSXrRTRBrtAg331ComhiYTrD36YUN-SzSSUPJ6ME225OOCpvb9up9QCwiajtoqX0NAh5VRk5foSZ_s-ZPUJkGgzqHZHK8Ql_sSDXZthZObrJMRi9DuigALqAnEbLtsXffSFTiqu-ZvcjmOsgvtUnTEW/w640-h538/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%203%20Sugar%20Apple%209359.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> A Sugar Apple in our yard provides sweet treats, and I share the seeds.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">We mostly value trees for the products and services they provide. Because Sugar Apples and Soursop trees have tasty fruit, I want to grow more of them. Yet from one perspective it might seem like they are manipulating me based on my fondness for sweets. I have been serving them as a seed disperser and propagator, like the birds do. We definitely have a reciprocal relationship of sorts.</span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Meanwhile the Rat Apple trees by my house don’t offer fruit that appeals to me and don’t seem to want anything from me except to be left alone. They were on the property before I came and mostly have no trouble taking care of themselves and their seedlings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAwUWY9Aw3ftF2U0YzAlSmwpznoVE5MzutzIwaxKG5asDLrlysCxXNr_yrcdCJaeNKCb9zajbwSsNIViukX-DnQ1D6tAwar9tgJQ6dFtX5aXQ5AEaCB_lEf7YC2Wqidt_W3VQeWk11dlH78dnRn6ML_147WtAU8PgK6e3kNFkNk4Ze7EiPRL61ZZD/s1965/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%204%20Rat%20Apple%204593.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="1500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAwUWY9Aw3ftF2U0YzAlSmwpznoVE5MzutzIwaxKG5asDLrlysCxXNr_yrcdCJaeNKCb9zajbwSsNIViukX-DnQ1D6tAwar9tgJQ6dFtX5aXQ5AEaCB_lEf7YC2Wqidt_W3VQeWk11dlH78dnRn6ML_147WtAU8PgK6e3kNFkNk4Ze7EiPRL61ZZD/w485-h640/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%204%20Rat%20Apple%204593.jpg" width="485" /></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span>A Rat Apple with flowers, buds and woody fruit.</span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">What value do these trees have? Maybe negative value if fruits rats come too close to the house. But now that I have learned to recognize the Rat Apple trees, I have actually come to respect them, to some extent, as welcome companions on the land. Learning the names of the trees, even if the local name is not very flattering, definitely creates a form of recognition.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><sub><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></sub></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">The Friends of the VI National Park group has established a plant nursery across the road from Cinnamon Bay where they have been raising native trees, as well as some of the popular fruit trees that were just given away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaxqUv-fou32pcXpIcbvfxZTnuB-dQ59eQxsLDwdoROwNNTYGfjQKAh9AconWE6uWAFZS_2oPvE3JNOA80Sx_MyXbTwVrV2BpPwvWQlo2Y9ch4LnVEeBgOkh7JgI6Qn1mVAOg_fgUieDBAMWB7cUxOfBNYFyDc7SN4NxZ43o87P85CD8UGOXz8efb/s1500/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%205%20trees%20Sugar%20Apple%20seedlings%206534.jpg" style="font-family: -webkit-standard; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1500" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaxqUv-fou32pcXpIcbvfxZTnuB-dQ59eQxsLDwdoROwNNTYGfjQKAh9AconWE6uWAFZS_2oPvE3JNOA80Sx_MyXbTwVrV2BpPwvWQlo2Y9ch4LnVEeBgOkh7JgI6Qn1mVAOg_fgUieDBAMWB7cUxOfBNYFyDc7SN4NxZ43o87P85CD8UGOXz8efb/w640-h472/VIS%20April%202022%20trees%20photo%205%20trees%20Sugar%20Apple%20seedlings%206534.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span>Sugar Apple seedlings at the FONP nursery </span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Some of the native trees are being planted along the National Park shorelines to replace vegetation lost in the storms and help prevent further erosion. Other seedlings are being raised to preserve species that have been on the island for many generations and now need some help with propagation and survival – before their names and contributions are forgotten. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Perhaps in the future those trees will be able to provide needed assistance to us and our descendants. If we have good relationships with them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span class="s2"></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin: 0in; text-align: start;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552000641223908496.post-52617152305097174902022-04-06T11:22:00.007-07:002022-04-06T11:22:53.624-07:00Elegy for the St. John Baobab Tree<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7SorD8-Vy3_yKuSzmJztqsxqSnFMlJdqgC0_2jGkRGmF0qaYlA06Mzc1vpttja-ONjEISbF7yImS1mYX8kXW20HaccEBDTgVtUlZ8cYB15oWY_ThiaIRP-dujfnDbFd23pYA0zoAwxgmNFK91qgfMxuA_Q6S4-4USrXImwAOM_tIP2jtYJJZRZi4/s1068/VIS%20March%202022%201%20Baobab%20visitors%20July%202020%20IMG%207861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="900" height="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7SorD8-Vy3_yKuSzmJztqsxqSnFMlJdqgC0_2jGkRGmF0qaYlA06Mzc1vpttja-ONjEISbF7yImS1mYX8kXW20HaccEBDTgVtUlZ8cYB15oWY_ThiaIRP-dujfnDbFd23pYA0zoAwxgmNFK91qgfMxuA_Q6S4-4USrXImwAOM_tIP2jtYJJZRZi4/w475-h563/VIS%20March%202022%201%20Baobab%20visitors%20July%202020%20IMG%207861.jpg" width="475" /></a></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div>Oh our dear Baobab, how can you truly be gone? You stood tall on the ridge for so many years, and then survived the two terrible hurricanes in 2017, only to be hollowed out and brought down by a throng of larvae from invasive borer beetles. </div><div><br /></div><div>You were badly battered by the storms, and lost parts of your upper branches. But when the skies cleared, we rejoiced to see that you were still standing.</div></blockquote><div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBJMYw0BepQH8Qdw30Z6CLHIZm-ZWKuDh0xDPTINPE2W4hnGbmzGza3F6L377l2LhFSnlqaMWdUq4ivuj9g599zvlSMWhihk02VkAnAUu01HHBW5NN8NxUGHhrhCW18UPVLqb9RH_7LeGaAOM2TZwddPc8MdYlb_VwItCON5NuCA6gZd8kXklSolC/s1217/VIS%20March%202022%202%20Baobab%20in%202018%20IMG_4727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1050" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBJMYw0BepQH8Qdw30Z6CLHIZm-ZWKuDh0xDPTINPE2W4hnGbmzGza3F6L377l2LhFSnlqaMWdUq4ivuj9g599zvlSMWhihk02VkAnAUu01HHBW5NN8NxUGHhrhCW18UPVLqb9RH_7LeGaAOM2TZwddPc8MdYlb_VwItCON5NuCA6gZd8kXklSolC/w511-h594/VIS%20March%202022%202%20Baobab%20in%202018%20IMG_4727.jpg" width="511" /></a></div></div></blockquote><div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">Soon tiny new branches sprouted from your fleshy trunk, and we thought how great that you were able to compensate for your losses and start anew.
By the pandemic summer of 2020, you were bursting with blossoms and lifted the spirits of those who made the hopeful pilgrimage down the L’Esperance trail to witness your exuberant flowering. </div></div></blockquote><div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3J8KZ3agf9Bdtf_nGp-CPococ09O8a-jarFebod38xsdvqKpFOpII4M1POWnDPioAC0Bv1SjRi1soVUhLEuOATqOJc0mYJEG8wAhrrvLnoEjOtIcPAwlPWeU4saeqH3IKILxaCkci3Ah9QEUyq3rQ-fHnGCQr217P80zkVycGbz4P9SC_hnOZzowd/s1500/VIS%20March%202022%203%20Baobab%20branches%204825%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3J8KZ3agf9Bdtf_nGp-CPococ09O8a-jarFebod38xsdvqKpFOpII4M1POWnDPioAC0Bv1SjRi1soVUhLEuOATqOJc0mYJEG8wAhrrvLnoEjOtIcPAwlPWeU4saeqH3IKILxaCkci3Ah9QEUyq3rQ-fHnGCQr217P80zkVycGbz4P9SC_hnOZzowd/w508-h508/VIS%20March%202022%203%20Baobab%20branches%204825%20.jpg" width="508" /></a></div></div></blockquote><div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div>Although your fabulous flowers would only last for one day, we thought you had fully recovered your life force and would live on into the next century. </div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4Jko_KA_XCZaYl0KAX1u3KRs6gZiZjWtfIV24EDV93aB2Z0E0-FXh1OvYP7W30XmMmxu46fxyf1OhiQhqiIv36xWvLUMr6lsvG8vjJfXY6z1WFqbgfl0Qs7SEes3-ybTHWe2CVbqltLCn6z2mKjkRRAMDfFolj3xYQ455h1fRFclTKWIHCngFLjS/s1200/VIS%20March%202022%204%20Baobab%20flower%20with%20bee%20_4465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4Jko_KA_XCZaYl0KAX1u3KRs6gZiZjWtfIV24EDV93aB2Z0E0-FXh1OvYP7W30XmMmxu46fxyf1OhiQhqiIv36xWvLUMr6lsvG8vjJfXY6z1WFqbgfl0Qs7SEes3-ybTHWe2CVbqltLCn6z2mKjkRRAMDfFolj3xYQ455h1fRFclTKWIHCngFLjS/w434-h434/VIS%20March%202022%204%20Baobab%20flower%20with%20bee%20_4465.jpg" width="434" /></a></div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>The bees returned to their spot in the crease of your trunk, and rebuilt their hive, feeding on your pollen and nectar even though the flowers were more designed for attracting the night-flying bats as pollinators. </div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQE_VGlTvF0d8iFU0dQBIu2cFupcaHHUYjK6eKcoDH_TZq9EpGipQgBs6erP_TZdNPDDPw4wjgOYAk-ZxWi_DWYrZ6Y49_hxAgaRq_0p0sPSeakT1WVftIfuFccWMq2bBWpwqhNq4-xaeMxodkTHE_ocHUyHIwYZxkcsAqwmec-1iAyM3izPpJRAe/s1375/VIS%20March%202022%205%20Bees%20on%20Baobab%204813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1375" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQE_VGlTvF0d8iFU0dQBIu2cFupcaHHUYjK6eKcoDH_TZq9EpGipQgBs6erP_TZdNPDDPw4wjgOYAk-ZxWi_DWYrZ6Y49_hxAgaRq_0p0sPSeakT1WVftIfuFccWMq2bBWpwqhNq4-xaeMxodkTHE_ocHUyHIwYZxkcsAqwmec-1iAyM3izPpJRAe/w437-h366/VIS%20March%202022%205%20Bees%20on%20Baobab%204813.jpg" width="437" /></a></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>Sadly, that burst of energy was your last. By the following summer your limbs were crippled by the thousands of larvae laid by the big beetles that bored into your broken places. Your porous, pulpy trunk, which from the outside seemed as strong as an elephant, offered little resistance to its tiny attackers. And was quickly consumed. </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Did you already know the summer before that your time was up, after the first generation of beetles arrived? Is that why you threw off so many flowers, hoping to preserve at least some legacy for future generations? You must have also known though that, without a partner to fertilize them, your flowers had never produced viable seeds throughout all those long, lonely years.Still the flowers were lovely, and filled the glorious pandemic summer days with delight for bees and birds and human witnesses, and charmed the bats at night. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">There have been baobab seeds brought here from other islands in recent years, and young baobab seedlings might someday attract as many admirers as you once did. I even have a fragile baby baobab, still in a pot, that I tried to raise myself, thinking about providing you one day with a mate to fertilize your flowers.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLQI1qXggI2hSKtyLNySXkyJriEEZTtGV5tP8slS9U5dD4wBGqj6fY_tb_AUlOG6iJ-oHlUcrPWFerLBGmWTbBD5CdT77BPPGZYD_YzylTKWcnEECTizo4NzOLo8jkvhMeE5XceS5faoYLaCxIj5UxBBRsQZPOfHiNYMu-niMxsCg4WJ8nHjqLbSi/s1500/VIS%20March%202022%206%20Baobab%20seedling%20IMG_2774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1500" height="405" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLQI1qXggI2hSKtyLNySXkyJriEEZTtGV5tP8slS9U5dD4wBGqj6fY_tb_AUlOG6iJ-oHlUcrPWFerLBGmWTbBD5CdT77BPPGZYD_YzylTKWcnEECTizo4NzOLo8jkvhMeE5XceS5faoYLaCxIj5UxBBRsQZPOfHiNYMu-niMxsCg4WJ8nHjqLbSi/w455-h405/VIS%20March%202022%206%20Baobab%20seedling%20IMG_2774.jpg" width="455" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div> I never thought that I would outlive you. </div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>When I wrapped my arms around you years ago, I was drawn to your strength. And then when I pressed my cheek to your trunk, I felt that I too could be strong, as it turned out I would need to be, for those who would come to lean on me.
I didn’t know all the challenges ahead, and still don’t. </div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>There will be more losses to come, but I need to say now that you brought me days of unexpected joy that I will always cherish.
</div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Gail Karlssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02182372866863685484noreply@blogger.com