|
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. 
0 Comments
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? One of the things I appreciate most about living in the Upper Keys is the amount of birds and wildlife seen here every day. Everywhere I look there is life; it’s almost like nature could be taken for granted. In stark contrast to the urban areas to the north, and even in the Keys, just 100 miles south and west in Key West, there are far fewer critters. So why is it when folks visit our tropical archipelago, the first thing they want to do is go to Key West because it is on their “bucket list.” There’s a lot Key West has to offer that we lack here, such as traffic and parking problems, tacky t-shirt shops, touristy bars, and people-watching… why do you think they call it Key Weird?  Side view of an alert Blue Jay at the seed table. Yes, there is the diving and snorkeling, and the Dry Tortugas are a must see, but let's face it, what Key West is truly lacking is the Blue Jay. Cornell Ornithology eBird database lists only two reported sightings of Blue Jays in the Key West/Stock Island area in the last 10 years. The Blue Jay is one of the most familiar and recognizable birds, and is a permanent resident of eastern North America, all the way through Florida, ending at Marathon in the Florida Keys.  Blue Jays scare away other birds and devour the sunflower seeds and wild bird food provided,  Their tendency to “cache” or stash their bounty near their breeding sites, ensures against going hungry, which is why they return to the feeder for multiple helpings. So why are Blue Jays rare in Key West? It has to do with the Blue Jays’ diet. They like acorns… so much so that Blue Jays have been credited with the proliferation of oak forests in their range. The natural range for oaks in Florida ends at the mainland near Homestead. There are scattered live oak trees in the Middle and Upper Keys, these oaks having been planted since oak trees are not native here. Key West has zero oak trees and therefore no acorns. (Though I’m sure there’s a few nuts down there.)  John James Audubon painting depicted bluejays raiding a mourning dove's nest. The majority of their diet consists of seeds and insects, but they do occasionally prey on bird eggs and hatchlings. Part of the reason they can survive here is that Blue Jays are omnivorous; they have a varied diet consisting of fruit, seeds, nuts, insects, spiders and small living creatures such as mice and the eggs and hatchlings from bird nests. John James Audubon depicted jays raiding a mourning dove's nest--but stomach analyses show eggs and chicks comprise an insignificant portion of their diet.  Blue Jay close-up Anyone who has ever watched a Blue Jay at a bird feeder understands that they are voracious eaters. Blue Jays disrupt the other birds, overpowering smaller and less aggressive birds, scaring away other birds near their food. In their pursuit of never going hungry, they can collect up to six acorns at a time using their throat as a pouch to transport their cache to their breeding grounds, where they bury the acorns. Because Blue Jays don’t remember where they hide every acorn, they have been credited with propagating oak forests. Blue Jays are beautiful birds. Did you know that it is nearly impossible to differentiate between a male and female Blue Jay since males and females share the same plumage? For the gender neutral crowd, Key West sounds like the perfect spot if you were a Blue Jay. One way you are able to tell males and females apart is by their size, since male Jays are slightly larger. The world is pretty confusing these days… Not everything is as it seems. Blue Jays are not really blue! The Blue Jays feathers are actually brown but we perceive them as blue because of a phenomenon called light scattering, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.  This is my seed table! Aggressive behavior toward another Blue Jay.  A quick loop to make sure the other bird got the message.  Now where were we? The Blue Jay resumes it’s meal. Jays have bright blue top feathers, with white underneath. Their wings and tail are streaked with black, their tail has white outer feathers. They have a black “chinstrap” from its ears down to its chest, and it’s head sports a blue crest which lays flat when the bird is at ease. The crest stands up when in an aggressive posture. Blue Jays lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully. The Blue Jays heavy neck muscles rival those of the woodpecker. It has a straight black bill which can pierce dense acorns or eat locusts and grasshoppers, fare usually to big for smaller birds to handle. The Blue Jay, also known as Jaybirds, are members of the crow family which explains why they are large, loud and domineering. It kind of reminds me of the characteristics we see too often in our fellow humans whom I try to avoid. What Blue Jays do is part of a natural balance and shouldn’t be judged as either good or bad.  JUST FOLKS BY EDGAR A. gUEST |
CAROL ELLIS
This photographic website provides me the opportunity for self-expression, for sharing Archives
July 2025
TAGS
All
|
RSS Feed
HOME | THE ARTIST | TECHNIQUE & MEDIA | ART IN HOMES & PUBLIC SPACES | JOURNAL | CONTACT
© Copyright 2022. Carol Ellis Photography.
All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2022. Carol Ellis Photography.
All Rights Reserved.
Web Development by: Mellowfish Media