Snail Kite

The Snail Kite is a bird of prey with a unique diet: it mostly eats apple snails, a freshwater mollusk found in Central and South Florida wetlands, including the Everglades. Its curved beak is slightly off-center, making it easy to snag the snail from its spiral shell. Seeing these hunters hovering over the Everglades’ is a classic Florida sight. Use the contact form on the right to start your Snail Kite adventure.

Snail Kite Hunting by Meg Rousher ©

Florida Scrub-Jay

Meet the Florida Scrub-Jay, a unique bird that calls Florida home! It’s the only scrub jay species found in the U.S. state of Florida and one of only 15 species endemic to the entire continental United States. Birders love it, and it’s been around in Florida for at least 2 million years! Use the contact form on the right to start your Florida Scrub-Jay adventure.

Reddish Egrets come in three colors

Have you ever seen a Reddish Egret fish? If so, you know why it’s one of my all-time favorite birds. It’s the rarest egret in North America, and I think it’s the most entertaining to watch. They jump, hop, twist, and turn in all directions while hunting for food. And guess what? They come in three different colors: dark, white, and pied (see the pictures below).
They’re also known as Muffle-jawed Egrets, Peale’s Egrets, and Plume Birds
Use the contact form on the right to start your Reddish Egret adventure.

Reddish Egret Dark Form by Meg Rousher ©

Reddish Egret White Form by Meg Rousher ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reddish Egret Pied Form by Meg Rousher ©

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burrowing Owl count 2024

We had the exciting experience of participating in the Burrowing Owl count in Cape Coral, Florida. Volunteers scoured every burrow they could find in a designated area and recorded important details like the owls’ age, eye color, habitat type, and the number of owls in each burrow. When we reached our first burrow of the day, we were a bit worried when we saw some of the owls on the ground motionless (see first photo). But guess what? They were just taking a nap! (see second photo)

Burrowing Owl Photo by Meg Rousher ©

In total, we counted an impressive 82 owls in our section of Cape Coral. That’s almost double the number we had in the 2018 survey. It’s no wonder they moved north with all the new construction in the south Cape.
 They’re also known as “Billy Owls,” “Ground Owls,” “Howdy Owls,” and “Prairie Owls.” A group of owls is called a “bazaar” or “stopping” or “wisdom of owls.”

Burrowing Owl Photo by Meg Rousher ©

 Use the contact form on the  right to start your Burrowing  Owl adventure.

Flamingos hitch a ride on Hurricane Idalia

Photo by Meg Rousher ©

Hurricane Idalia, which was spinning between Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula, picked up over 100 migrating flamingos and scattered them across the United States. They’ve been spotted in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Kansas, Alabama, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. I took this photo of a young flamingo on a small island in Southwest Florida yesterday. The hope is they’ll find a place in Florida to breed like they did in the late 1800s.

Butterflies in Florida

Butterflies are all over Florida, and they’re a sight to behold! But they can be tricky to snap a picture of. They can’t hear you coming, but they can sense your presence and smell you. Keep an eye out for them sipping nectar from all sorts of flowers or laying eggs if you're lucky. It’s a fun challenge, so give it a shot! Use the contact form on the right to start your butterfly adventure.

 

Gulf Fritillary by Meg Rousher ©

Pipevine Swallowtail laying eggs by Meg Rousher ©

American Alligators are Everywhere

If you see water in Florida, there’s a good chance an alligator is lurking nearby. In winter, they’re easy to spot, basking in the sun. Check out this Video I took as I passed by a gator enjoying the warmth. But in other months, you might just catch a glimpse of their curious eyes watching you from the depths. Use the contact form on the right to start your American Alligator adventure.

American Alligator by Meg Rousher ©