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The Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a year-round resident in the Florida Keys. It is one of the most familiar birds, even to those who struggle to identify bird species. Even if you say, look at the “red bird” you are partially right, as the Northern cardinal is commonly known as red cardinal, common cardinal or simply cardinal. In the year 1883 there was a community in North Key Largo called “Red Bird City,” named after the colorful birds. Though it cannot be found on any maps, it was a few miles up CR-905 from the intersection of US-1 near the current Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park. The Pinder and Russell families had more than 300 acres there, and earned their living by farming and fishing, and by the vocation of catching and selling cardinals. They would capture the red birds, send them by boat to Key West, where there would be shipped to Cuba, where songbirds were in demand as caged pets.  A bright red cardinal provides striking contrast from its vibrant green perch. Historically, cardinals ranged from the Gulf to New York, southern Ontario and Iowa. Partly due to the proliferation of bird feeders, their range has shifted north to Maine, to Minnesota and southwest to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, southern California and south through Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Red cardinals are here year round, but it is their nature to be elusive at times. Unlike the mockingbird and the blue jays who will let you pass within yards of them, the cardinal always has a watchful eye out for intruders, and flits away when approached.  Cardinals prefer early morning and late evening. Place food on a seed table near the cover of shrubbery in your backyard.  The male cardinal is unmistakable for its bright red feathers and pointed crest on its head.  A female cardinal makes short work of a black sunflower seed with its strong, thick beak which is perfect for large seeds. European settlers arriving in our country were reminded of the Roman Catholic bishops by the bird’s crest, resembling the bishops headgear and red color resembling the red vestments of the church. The unmistakable bright red plumage of the male cardinal is from their food. They eat seeds and grains, but they also eat insects and a variety of fruits. The female is duller, but also has a crest, and a pink bill.  When cardinals appear to you, it usually means nothing but goodness for you and your beloved, with their lifelong partnership suggesting a strong, unwavering bond. Their coloration is not all that makes a cardinal a spiritual reference. These birds have often symbolized heavenly visitors, or even a sign from a deceased loved one. A friend of mine received a large sack of sunflower seeds from a friend in memory of her husband's passing. She thought it unusual since she doesn’t feed the birds. Perhaps her friend should have included a note with the gift containing the cardinal's favorite food explaining her symbolic intent: the appearance of a cardinal is meant to show us that we are not alone. There is the rhyme “Cardinals appear when Angels are near.” The Cardinal’s Call When the cardinal sings its song I fee a tug at my heart A reminder of the love we shared Even though we are apart Its red feathers like a beacon Guiding me through the night A sign that you are with me still In spirit and in light Anonymous  Cardinals are private birds that favor dense tangles. Cardinals are private birds that prefer thick foliage with lots of trees and shrubs. In Spring and Summer they are extra protective of their nests, especially against intruders and other males. The blue jay is a major predator of cardinal chicks and eggs, as are squirrels, hawks, crows, owls, snakes, iguana and domestic cats. A word of caution: If you have bird feeders or spread seeds, avoid scattering near low shrubs and anywhere else that predators may hide and attack from. If you have pets that go outdoors, keep them away from cardinal nesting and feeding grounds. Both male and female cardinals tend to the chicks in the nest, and pairs of cardinals form life-long bonds and remain together for consecutive breeding seasons. Cardinals are a symbol of devotion and loyalty.  Late summer, a male cardinal missing feathers during molting. On a recent photo assignment I was to capture the moment when a man proposed marriage to the love of his life. Awkward at best is how I describe my role as paparazzi. So as I await hiding in plain sight with my camera and long lens, I notice a red cardinal on a branch above the path leading to the beach where he would propose. Moments later the couple walked down that same path. What a positive sign, especially for a couple embarking on a lifelong partnership. She said yes! I love happy beginnings!
When it rains the birds remain hunkered under cover in dense brush, but as soon as it clears they out in search of food. At the first sign of good weather I put sunflower seeds on the seed table and soon the hungry cardinals reappear. The return of the cardinal is a sign for new beginnings… and I’ll embrace that thought every time.
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Alligator Alcatraz has been in the news since June 2025, when an immigration detention facility intended for the worst of the worst was slated to be built on an improved site inside Big Cypress National Preserve. Big Cypress has been occupied by the Micosukee Indian tribe since the 1840’s, because an impenetrable wilderness kept them from being captured in the Indian Wars in Florida. The site formerly known as Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport was constructed in the early 1970’s for commercial and military use, and as a place to land the space shuttle. Environmental concerns in the late 1970’s /early 1980’s halted further development.  Carol photographing at Fisheating Creek, documenting the moment in 1999 when the land was returned to the people of the State of Florida. Alligator Alcatraz is a catchy name designed to garner attention to the problem of the bad hombres already here, process them for deportation and to act as a deterrent for future illegals. As a native Floridian, I consider the entire media campaign ridiculous. The folks who created the narrative of man-eating pythons and alligators in Florida do not realize that there are cities and towns here, full of regular folks who treasure the Everglades. Generations of Floridians grew up taking airboat rides down the ditch, swamp buggy treks through the cypress forest and slogging on foot through the river of grass.  Florida Man. Generations of Floridians grew up swimming, fishing and even baptizing their young in these headwaters of the Everglades The original settlers lived off the land. On fertile farmland they planted orange trees and pineapples. On grassy ridges they raised cattle and they fished in the lakes, rivers and ocean. They ate swamp cabbage, a delicacy known as hearts of palm, made from the core of young saw palmetto, Florida’s state tree. Frogs legs are Everglades fare… tastes like chicken. They made gopher stew. For the Florida neophyte, that’s not stew made by a “go-fer,” a low wage undocumented worker.  The swamp guide had more alligator teeth around his neck than actual teeth in his mouth.  Alligator Alcatraz is a media concoction reported by those who live in canyons made of concrete, lined by tall buildings that scrape the sky. Their roads are like tunnels in the form of a rat maze. The only wildlife they know are street rats and park pigeons. Though these reporters may have visited Florida, they probably only made it to the Alligator Farm to watch gators in pens jump out of muddy water to snatch a dead chicken on a stick. They leave Florida with a live alligator souvenir, who after a small starring role in the third-grader’s report about what I did this summer, ends up being flushed down the toilet to appear later in a sewer near you.  My friend Bill Hutto and the local guide contemplating the first cold one of the day. The new detention facility is close-by the gallery of nature photographer Clyde Butcher, whose black and white photographs bring the wild lands of the Everglades to life. He spent his life photographing with a large format film camera, wading waist deep in the alligator’s swamp in order to give the viewer an intimate perspective of a pristine environment worthy of preservation. As far as I can tell despite photographing in alligator infested waters, Butcher still has all his limbs intact.  An ancient oak tree serves as waypoint along the creek. Florida is made up of lots of swamp. In predevelopment time Florida was 50% wetland - approx. 20.3 million acres. Now there are only about one-half of the original wetlands remaining. Wildlife need wild lands was the callout for land acquisition, and the State of Florida legislature enacted Preservation 2000 and Forever Florida to help do just that.  A baby gator hidden in the swampy waters. In 1999 I took multiple trips to the headwaters of the Everglades to document the State of Florida’s $43 million purchase of Fisheating Creek, the State’s most pristine wilderness site and unspoiled lands near Lake Okeechobee. Historically the early settlers relied on Florida’s web of creeks and waterways as their primary mode of passage through impenetrable swamp. The purchase of this 52 mile western tributary of Lake Okeechobee returned the land from private ownership back to the people of the State of Florida.  An alligator resting on a large limb is unfazed by our presence. I traveled Fisheating Creek aboard a jon boat with some well-armed locals and a guide who had more alligator teeth around his neck than actual teeth in his mouth. Sentinel oaks and limbs of ancient trees reaching out over the water were the guideposts along the way. As we traveled to remote areas, touched only by Mother Nature, the cameras’ wide angle lens took in the beautiful view, as with open arms, offered a wide embrace for a perfect ecosystem. Back on shore I sampled wild boar stew from the guides’ crusty crock-pot. He lived off the land and provided food for the local women, children and for those who could not provide for themselves.  Governor Jeb Bush recognized Carol for her efforts. The residents of Alligator Alcatraz probably possess more skills to deal with the wildlife in Florida than the media gives them credit for. Show me an Honduran man with a machete, and I will show you a survivor.
There is no place like the Everglades. I appreciate my Florida roots, and I never want to be planted in a concrete jungle. The beauty and the balance between the water and the air and the natural feel of what was… and is left of our environment in Florida is worth saving. Repatriate the inmates and when the job is done, restore this scarred land to nature. At a recent “Luck of the Irish” event at Ocean Reef, two very lucky rehabilitated Red Shouldered Hawks (Buteo lineatus) were featured as they were returned to the wild by the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center (FKWBC), who made the rescue and eventual release possible.  Red Shouldered Hawk in Transport Cage. Bayleigh MacHaffie, FKWBC Operations Director with the first of two hawks set to be released to the wild on this day. The release. took place in a relatively natural area, from a dock close to the mangroves. Before the release Erin Allison, Executive Director of the FKWBC, gave a brief history of both hawks. One had been at the center for nearly five months, being treated for damaged feathers, head trauma, a yeast infection and conditioning for flight. The second hawk came in about two months ago after a suspected car hit. It had severe head trauma, couldn’t stand and exhibited neurological symptoms. The initial head swelling was quick to resolve, but it took about a month to regain its ability to fly.  “Ready to Go!" Reluctant at first, the hawk had to figure out what was happening. Then within seconds it flew off toward the mangroves.  Ready - Set - Not so Fast! The first hawk was slow to figure out what was happening, but within seconds it flew out like a dart! The second hawk was to be “toss-released” - where the bird is taken out of the enclosure and tossed into the sky. But the hawk had other ideas, as it unexpectedly flew out between the legs of Bayleigh MacHaffie, Operations Director. Both releases were celebrated by oohs, aahs and applause from the crowd of approximately 40 persons.  Nearly 40 onlookers of all ages came out to witness the release, learn about the injuries and rehabilitation of the two hawks. The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured or orphaned birds. “Keep Them Flying” is the motto of the FKWBC and their mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release wild birds. Their bird sanctuary in Tavernier (93600 Overseas Highway) is open to the public Monday to Sunday, from sunrise to sunset. It is a beautiful spot in a mangrove forest, where visitors may walk on a boardwalk and view 40 non-releasable birds— those that due to their condition cannot safely return to nature.  The second hawk was “On a Mission!.” Though a “toss-release” - where the bird is taken out of the enclosure and tossed into the sky - was planned, the hawk unexpectedly flew out between Bayleigh’s legs. These hawks got a second chance… others are not so lucky. Habitat loss, scarcity of food and places to raise their young, and dangerous obstacles take a terrible toll on bird populations. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as of 2017 top causes of bird mortality: collision with building glass (600 million), collision with vehicles (215 million), poison (72 million), collision with electrical lines (25.5 million), collision with communication towers (6.6 million), electrocutions (5.6 million) and cats (2.4 billion). If you find an orphaned or injured bird, what should you do? The first thing is to call the FKWBC. Bird Emergency Hotline (305) 852 - 4486 ext. 1 They will guide you on the phone, and walk you through the situation. The best thing to do is to safely contain an injured bird with a towel or a blanket, place it inside a warm dark crate or box, and bring it to the FKWBC. If the bird is on the road in an unsafe place such as a bridge, the FKWBC works with local law enforcement to make sure everyone involved is safe. The FKWBC admits birds into their hospital 24/7 and have a staff member on call to respond to new intakes after hours. There is an after hours drop box (Sunset to Sunrise) at the hospital so anyone can bring in a bird at any time. Instructions are to text/call the FKWBC once you’ve dropped off the bird, and they will respond immediately to intake and start treatment.  Red Shouldered Hawk perched in the sun just outside a tree filled area in my yard. Below are photos showing a rescue that occurred in April 2016. If the finder is unable to contain the bird, they ask you to keep eyes on the bird until they can get there to rescue the bird. Every situation is unique, but they do what is best for the bird. If someone has a contained bird from Ocean Reef, the FKWBC will meet at the front gate or at the Circle K in Key Largo. They also work with Everglades Outpost in Homestead, who has a drop off spot for injured birds found on the mainland. In 2016 I witnessed the rescue of a baby Red Shouldered hawk who fell out of its nest high in a mature Gumbo Limbo tree in my neighbors yard. The FKWBC responded, and enlisted the help of the Florida Keys Electric Coop (FKEC). Once the bird was checked out, and found uninjured, the FKEC worker in the bucket truck returned the bird to its nest.  A cooperative effort. The Florida Keys Electric Coop (FKEC) and the Wild Bird Center team up on a rescue. Bernie Lietaert (no longer with FKEC), Isaiah Leake, two FKWBC employees/interns, Sara Hamilton, Lance Good (no longer with FKEC), and FKEC Right of Way Crew Leader Marcus Martin. Here we are in 2025. Red Shouldered hawks are frequently seen in my yard, however the hawk nest in the Gumbo Limbo tree next door … it’s gone. The homeowner took down the trees, preferring a grass lawn instead. It is curious that we hear a lot about the loss of tropical forests in countries far from our shores, but remember… the Florida Keys is also a unique habitat with tropical forests… located right here which also needs our protection. We must preserve native habitat, and rehabilitate our developed spaces with wild-life friendly plants wherever possible.  The rescue effort made possible utilizing the FKEC bucket truck. The man in the bucket is Isaiah Leake. There are simply not enough native plants left in the “wild”… that is, not enough undisturbed habitat remaining in the Florida Keys, to support the diversity of wildlife we would like to see survive. A healthy earth full of a diversity of species takes more than luck. It takes people, dedication and effort. We are lucky to have the FKWBC in our community.  A baby Red Shouldered Hawk sits beside its parent after being rescued from it’s fall to the ground. |
CAROL ELLIS
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