Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Hawk-like Birds

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The hawks and their allies range in size from the American Kestrel, scarcely larger then a bluejay, to hugh eagles and vultures. All have sharply hooked bills for tearing their prey, and many are often seen soaring high in the air. The wings may be rounded as in the red tailed and sharpshinned hawks or pointed as in the falcons and some of the kites.

Gull-like birds

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>These waterbirds spend much of their time in flight. All hve long, pointed wings. Gulls and terns are predominantly white, while frigatebirds are black. Most of thes birds occur along the seacoast or on the ocean, but some of the gulls and terns are found inland.

Gators

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The American alligator is found only in the southeastern part of the United States with the highest populations found in Florida and Louisiana -- a much smaller part of its former range, due in part to change in climate. Alligators can be found in a range of habitats, including marshland, swamps, rivers, lakes and ponds. Alligators are often referred to as "cold-blooded" animals, a literal term, as they cannot automatically control their body temperatures. Being cold-blooded actually is a survival tactic because they don't need to eat as much or as often as their warm-blooded counterparts. These reptiles are covered with scales or other hard, protective plates. The crocodilian skull has two holes behind the eye socket that serve as attachment sites for muscle, enabling crocodilians to extend the muscles while exerting literally tons of pressure on their prey. Yet surprisingly, the jaw muscles are weak and can actually be held together with a thick rubber band, a fact that has been skillfully exploited by the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians during their alligator-wrestling shows. Five long toes on their front feet provide alligators with firm footing on land. Their webbed back feet have only 4 toes, which help them steer in the water. Alligators are armed with 80 potentially lethal teeth, shaped like cones, making them perfect for both grabbing and holding onto prey. Below each tooth is a replacement tooth that will appear when the primary tooth gets damaged or worn. However, the teeth aren't suitable for chewing; alligators swallow their prey either in large chunks or whole, depending on the size of the prey. The alligator diet consists mostly of fish, turtles and snakes, although they have been known to strike an occasional small deer, wading bird, raccoon or even small pets.

Long-Legged Waders

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>These are medium to large-sized water birds with long legs adapted for wading in fresh water or salt. Most of these birds , such as Herons, egrets, cranes, ibises, spoonbills, are conspicuously patterned and many are entirely white. Some have concealilng colors which makes them difficult to detect.

Duck Like Birds

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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My Favorites

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Florida Rivers, Lakes & Springs

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Plants, Flowers, Mushrooms

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Turtles

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Fisheating Creek Landscapes

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area stretches for 40 miles along the course of the only free-flowing tributary to Lake Okeechobee. Framed by bald cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks, Fisheating Creek has long been valued for its scenic quality unmarred by houses and other human intrusions. Strategically located in relation to Big Cypress Swamp, Okaloacoochee Slough, Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, Lake Okeechobee, and the Lake Wales Ridge, Fisheating Creek is critical to the long-term welfare of Florida panthers, Florida black bears, swallow-tailed kites, whooping and sandhill cranes, crested caracara, and a number of other species native to the area.

Sandpiper Like Birds

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>This is a large group of small to medium-sized birds that have long legs and slender bills and are usually seen foraging on the beach or along the margin of lakes, ponds, marshes , or streams. Although these birds are collectively called shorebirds a few such as Killdear are often found on bare ground, far from water. Many of these birds are cryptically colored , but some like the American Oystercatcher and the stilts are boldly patterned in black and white.

Close Ups

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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Pelicans

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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While the Brown Pelican is draining the water from its bill after a dive, gulls often try to steal the fish right out of its pouch. They sometimes even perch on the pelican's head or back and reach in. The pelican itself, however, is not above stealing fish from other seabirds. It also follows fishing boats and hangs around piers for handouts.

Raccoons

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>Raccoons are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees, usually near water. Their varied diet includes small aquatic animals such as frogs, crayfish, and fish. The common raccoon, found in North America from southern Canada to the Panama Canal, was adopted as a pet by the early settlers.

Deer

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

]]>The White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, is found in forest edge habitats statewide. It is gray- to russet brown with a white underside. It is large (55-80") with large ears, a large tail, and long slender legs. Males have antlers. Antlers are largest on males 6-10 years old. They are shed in late winter or early spring and regrow 6-8 weeks later.

It is an herbivore, feeding primarily on twigs and leaves. Its diet also includes acorns, fruits, and mushrooms. Plants attractive to deer include cross vines, Hercules club, persimmons, Smilax spp., sourwood, Persea spp., redbud, buttonbush, ash, Crataegus spp., tupelo and gum trees, and beautyberry. Most browsing is done at night or on overcast days.

Breeding season is from September to March. About 200 days later, a litter of 1-3 fawns is born. The young begin accompanying the mother to feed at 3-4 weeks but are not weaned for another 2-3 months and will remain with her until they are 6-18 months old.

Wild Hogs

ktm6789@aol.com (Creeker Karen's Wildlife and Nature Photography) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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