For the winter months, we change from snow and chilly to sunshine and palm bushes. The locals name us Canadian Snowbirds, as we settle into our rental rental in Naples, Florida. We’re situated within the sub-tropical portion of Florida, which provides me numerous totally different birds to take pleasure in.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Within the morning, I get up to the cruel cooing of the Eurasian Collared-Dove, which turned established in Florida within the Nineteen Eighties. Sadly, they bully and harass the mild, native Mourning Doves. Additionally, I hear the unusual whistles and squeaks of the Boat-tailed Grackle. There’s a Northern Mockingbird (pictured above) exterior our bed room window, which has a extra tuneful and diversified repertoire. It perches on a light-weight stand, which exhibits the whitewash from generations of mockers.
Mourning Dove
Then, there may be the garden decoration crowd. Just about on daily basis, we now have a big flock of White Ibis feeding on the property. They use their lengthy payments to probe for worms and bugs. Additionally, we now have Muscovy Geese. These giant, ugly, ungainly birds waddle across the property. They and the Mallards get evicted from the pool by the upkeep man.
Muscovy Duck and White Ibis
One in every of our extra uncommon guests is a Nice Egret, which has deserted the close by pond. (In our space, you’re by no means removed from water.) This chook prowls all of the native gardens, peering within the bushes. It’s in search of anoles, that are a small lizard. This chook will need to have realized that the anoles are easy-to-catch prey. Additionally, there may be much less searching competitors from different waders. Often, a Inexperienced Heron will present up on the pond, trying to find small fish.
Inexperienced Heron
Patrolling the skies are Bald Eagles and Osprey. Often, I see each the sunshine and darkish morphs of the Brief-Tailed Hawk. Black and Turkey Vultures soar on the thermals overhead.
Purple-bellied Woodpeckers are interested in the palm tree exterior our rental window. Migrating Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Yellow-rumped Warblers disguise within the fronds of the palms. Northern Cardinals dart by the yard. They’re already singing their courtship songs.
All this motion makes me keen to go to my favorite native birding spots. I’ll share tales about these locations in a few of my upcoming winter posts from Florida.
Observe: All footage are by the Kinrys household.