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Critters articles are inspired by the photographs I’ve taken, or will take when prompted by the editor, as is with this story about the Mourning Dove. The editor sent me a Facebook post illustrated with a beautiful Mourning Dove… and the caption had “Keys” written all over it… “this bird thrives with basic amenities such as gravel driveways and shallow water.” That crunchy coral rock driveway is actually health food, as the doves need to swallow small stones to help them grind up the seeds in their gizzard.  The Eurasian collared dove are a pale, grayish tan. I looked in my library, and I didn’t have pictures, probably because these doves were so common, I overlooked them. No problem, they are always in my yard. In just a few minutes I had obtained photos for the article. I uploaded them to the website iNaturalist, a site where I load my nature photos for positive identification. The online community responded within a day, identifying my dove as “Eurasian-Collared Dove.” (Streptopelia decaocto) or ECD. A learning moment… I thought the ECD were Mourning Doves.  Here Eurasian collared doves feeding in groups on the ground. ECD have plump bodies, small heads, long tails and pale, chalky, grayish-tan feathers. The ECD gets it’s name from the half round black collar on the back of its neck. Mourning Doves have a long pointed tail with white outer feathers; they have a fleck of black markings on their wings and are a warmer, pinkish-brown. After more research I learned that aside from their coloration and markings, they had different, but similar calls. I was incorrect in thinking the koo-KOO-koo call was of the Mourning Dove. But no! The koo-KOO-koo is of the ECD, and is shorter and more frequent than the Mourning Dove’s call of coo-AHH, coo-coo-coo which comes from the male sitting on his “cooing perch” letting females know he is available.  The ECD species name “decaocto” comes from Greek mythology. Decaocto was a servant girl transformed by the Gods into a dove, to escape her dreadful treatment; the dove’s mournful cry references her former life. Obtaining photos of the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) was becoming a greater challenge. Each time I’d venture out, I’d return with more ECD photos. I was beginning to think the Mourning Dove did not exist. A birder told me that ECD definitely outnumber the Mourning Doves, but to look at the power lines or maybe construction sites to find them foraging on the ground.  Mourning doves have fleck of black markings on their wings and are a warmer, pinkish-brown. After several days of hunting I finally spotted a few Mourning Doves in my yard. The Mourning Doves were under the bird feeder, cleaning up the seeds dropped there. Doves are the perfect clean-up crew. While the Cardinals and Blue Jays are careless feeders, allowing seeds to drop, the doves are content to forage on the ground below. A few more Mourning Doves were spotted on the loose brown mulch, their coloration made them blend in very well. They were very skittish, kept their distance and took flight when I got too close, but luckily I got some photos. The ECD are invasive and becoming more common. The ECD have come a long way from their origin in India around 1600; from there they migrated to Turkey, and by 1945 had made it to Germany. By 1955 they had spread to England and most of Europe. The ECD population here stems from a 1970 Bahamian pet shop escape of about 50 doves, that made their way to Florida around 1980, and with up to six broods a year, they rapidly colonized North America. They have adapted very well to living among people, and are easy to spot if you take the time to look.  You will often see Mourning doves grazing on the ground for seed  This story is important to tell because it points to the level of awareness and appreciation we have as humans for the natural world. Think of what happens when you go outside with awareness: Step number one, you hear something or see movement in the brush. Step two, you try to identify it… it is something small, what color is it? … a lizard? or is it a bird? Step three… you ask what is it doing? Is it feeding? It is eating a worm? What kind of worm…. And so forth. We all lie on some part of the “curiosity spectrum.” Now when I hear a dove, I am trying to decide if it is koo-KOO-koo (ECD) or coo-AHH, coo-coo-coo (Mourning dove). And to make life interesting we also have White-winged doves, the Common Ground Dove, and White Crowned Pigeons in our area. In time, as we get to explore more in nature, we become more knowledgeable. It all starts with appreciation, active observing, or even a challenge. 
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To prey or to pray…. That is the question. English is a very confusing language. Both words sound the same, yet present very different meanings, all depending on the context in which they are used. There is preying and praying in a photograph of a Great egret fishing beside a makeshift cross. An egret preys on sea critters, where locals pray on Sunday morning.  A Great egret preys on sea critters, while locals come here to pray. Around the turn of the 21st Century... about 23 years ago... a restaurant and watering hole existed in Rock Harbor, called the Mandalay. A casual spot with cold beer, peel and eat shrimp and views of the ocean and boat moorings. A cross erected at the point was the focal point for Sunday morning open air church services. Around the turn of the 21st Century… about 23 years ago… a restaurant and watering hole existed in Rock Harbor, called the Mandalay. A casual spot with cold beer, peel and eat shrimp and views of the ocean and boat moorings. A cross erected at the point becomes the focus of worshippers who sit at those same tables and chairs during Sunday morning open air church services. The Great Egret (Ardea alba egretta) is a three foot tall, long-legged wading bird that is often confused with a similar looking white bird the 'Great White Heron' (the white form of Great Blue Heron.) Though both birds are herons, a simple way of differentiating between the two big white birds is the Great egret has black legs, and the Great white heron’s legs are yellow. The male Great egret also sports delicate ornamental feathers down it’s back when in mating plumage. Those beautiful feathers not only attract female mates, but nearly led to a human-driven extinction of the species. Around the turn of the 20th Century, a ton and a half of Great egret plumes, known as “aigrettes” were sold in London to decorate women’s hats. In terms of birds slaughtered, 200,000 adult birds, multiplied by 2-3 times, counting the eggs abandoned in the nest, became prey to the millinery industry.  The Great Egret by John James Audubon is shown in the marshes, preying on crayfish. In 1902 John James Audubon worried that “the long plumes of this bird being in request for ornamental purposes, they are shot in great numbers while sitting on their eggs, or soon after the appearance of the young.” It is hard to imagine a time when birds were so plentiful, they could be sacrificed for vanity and decoration, rather than be admired for their beauty and role in the natural world. The modern day National Audubon Society’s logo is of a Great egret in flight, representing the organization’s role in enacting conservation laws to protect the species and ensure it’s return.  The Great egret can be found in fresh or salt water habitat. Here a flock of egrets and other long-legged wading birds, hunt for fish, frogs and other small fare. Great egrets are equally at home in fresh or salt water environments. They have also been successful at adapting to life in an increasingly developed world. Egrets can often be seen foraging in roadside ditches, or along suburban roads. They typically stand motionless, and with keen eyesight that can look straight ahead as well as downward, patiently wait until unsuspecting prey comes their way. Then with lightning fast reflexes, the long necked egret strikes with a jab of their sharp bill. To quote Winnie the Pooh … “Which is more important, the voyage or the destination?” Piglet replied “The company.” For me the voyage and the company are of equal importance, especially in the Florida Keys when wildlife appears.  I had to do a double take, was this standing bird a new variety of plastic yard art in the genre of the pink flamingo? Then it moved, revealing a real live egret preying on lizards in the hedge. Sometimes the voyage is the destination, such as the day I photographed an egret hunting beside the road. I stopped and silently observed; luckily I was in a golf cart and not worried about traffic. I watched the scene unfold through the lens, because that is what photographers do. And bam! The once motionless egret produced a nice lizard snack from within the foot high greenery. If I hadn’t stopped, I wouldn’t have known. The voyage and the company of the egret became the experience. It also became the experience for the man in cart stopped behind me. I apologized… he waved that off, “You’re working” he responded. Nice man. So how about the people that don’t venture out in nature, or never pay attention to wildlife? That is part of why I write, to pique the interest of the unknowing or unaware. You cannot fault someone for doing the wrong thing if they do not have the facts or the understanding.  Suddenly the egret darts into the foliage and emerges with his lizard prize.  The Great egret walks with its neck extended and wings held close.  According to the prevailing view in 1900, a man could kill a bird for its feathers in order to put food on the table. The context of his preying was to feed his family, and there were plenty of birds.
How does that relate to the year 2026? There is an unrelenting population influx to Florida. It is the wild west in many respects, where every man has a right to do what he wants with his property. But will those decisions be morally right? The people of the State of Florida should enact a state-wide comprehensive plan encompassing development, roads, housing, and quality of life, before adding more people to the mix. A healthy environment means better quality of life, and happier people. Prior environmental commitments such as “Florida Forever” should be funded, and projects completed. Is that too much to ask? Maybe it is time to pray for something greater. One of the first close-up wildlife experiences for typical suburban kids may have come in the form of a “turtle oasis” purchased at the local pet store. I had turtles. They lived in our Florida room in a round plastic container filled with fresh water. The habitat had a raised center area, filled with sand and adorned with a plastic palm tree. The turtles, who were always named “Tommy,” would swim in circles around the ring, and climb out to dry off in the center. The turtles were of the slider variety, so designated because they slide into the water when approached. I fed them hamburger meat and turtle food. Though they can live 20-40 years with proper care, my turtles died.  A young Spur thighed tortoise retreats inside its protective hard shell. Red-earred sliders and Yellow-bellied sliders are the typical species of turtle you will find at the pet store. The yellow-bellied variety is native to North Florida. Yellow-bellied sliders are recognized by the yellow markings on their belly and neck. The non-native Red-earred slider gets its name from the red stripe around its ears, and is included in the list of the world’s 100 most invasive species. Well meaning folks who have out-grown their need for a pet turtle, have released their pets into the wild, only to have let loose a non-native turtle that can out-compete native species. Don’t do that.  A Yellow-bellied slider emerges from the pond for a gulp of air. They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes.  Though turtles live near the water, they lay their eggs on land. On the other hand, in a world of disappearing natural spaces there is a lot of competition for a place to live. That is why it is great to create home landscapes that have natural habitat where wildlife can live. My neighbor Penny Dinsmore’s home is dominated by a water feature that naturally incorporates plantings, rocks and ledges to be as close to resembling a natural occurring pond as possible. The building contractor excavated the length of the property between the house and the street, creating a tidal pond 8-10 ft. deep. There is a raised rocky area in the center, and sloping walls that meet a ledge just above the water level. A foot bridge leads up to the house; shades of Monet’s Giverny in Key Largo.  A Yellow bellied slider turtle showed up in a water feature at Ocean Reef. The homeowner named the turtle “Mystery.” A total of four adult turtles live in the pond, and babies have been spotted this year. The sound of moving water and lush foliage cascading down the sloping banks completes the tropical oasis, or shall we say “turtle oasis,” after the pond caretaker brought a turtle named “Tiggles” to live in the pond. A second turtle appeared, so Penny named it “Mystery.” Two more of the same species “Ginny” and “Raptor” were purchased. The turtles are Yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta). Penny is a true turtle mom… She provides a great turtle habitat, with lots of hidey holes where turtles can be out of sight, or protected from the weather, as well as regular feedings; even when she is away. Small turtles have been spotted recently, so the turtle family is becoming established in a very special place. In 1513 Ponce de Leon encountered the seven coral reef islands 70 miles off Key West, and named them “Las Tortugas” (The Turtles) for the bounty of turtles found there. Subsequent explorers found the islands lacking fresh drinking water, and they changed the name to “Dry Tortugas.” The earliest maps of Key West show that people kept turtles along the shores of Key West. The early settlers captured green sea turtles and stored them in “kraals” until needed for meat, eggs or soup. Krall comes from the Dutch word for “corral,” and were shallow water enclosures with wooden poles spaced close enough to keep the turtles in, yet allow water to flow through.  This Red-footed tortoise is native to South America. A turtle is a reptile which has a bony shell. Turtles live in the water, but lay their eggs on land. Tortoises live on land. All tortoises are in fact turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. Florida has a native tortoise called the Gopher tortoise, and it lives in northern Florida. They create burrows in the ground which provide homes to a range of other creatures in addition to the tortoise. Though the native Florida Box Turtle lives on land, and often wanders into residential neighborhoods, it is not considered a tortoise. They prefer damp environments such as wetlands and swamps, but they do not enter water deep enough to swim.  A box turtle is rescued from the middle of the road and placed in the brush near Crocodile Lake. They prefer damp environments such as wetlands and swamps, but they do not enter water deep enough to swim. Box turtles live on land, and often wander into residential neighborhoods.  An 86 year old Male Spur thighed tortoise and 16 year old female “playing” around. These tortoises are from Africa, and despite the female producing eggs, they do not hatch due to unsuitable conditions in South Florida.  Turtle shells are made of bone that develops from ribs that grow sideways, and form plates that join to protect the body. The shells are covered in scales made of keratin.  This Spur thighed tortoise weighs about 100 lbs. Its feet are covered with spur-like scales made of keratin. You can encounter non-native tortoises such as the Spur Thighed tortoises from Africa and Red-footed Tortoises from South America at wildlife centers and zoos. The Everglades Outpost located in Homestead, used to be a place to encounter reptiles, including tortoises, however the growing sprawl of new housing developments creeping closer to the Everglades has forced its closure.
Spur thighed tortoises can live to more than 100 years old. In fact, one was donated to the nature center at Ocean Reef after consideration by family members who decided it should not be included in a man’s last will. Maybe a turtle trust? |
CAROL ELLIS
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July 2025
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