Walking along the seawall at my parents' condo complex in St. Petersburg, Fla., is always entertaining. Large wading birds like the great egret perch along the wall, on the docks and even on boats. Below, an egret begins to fly away after my husband startles it.
Dolphins fish and frolic in the water.
This little blue heron let me get quite close.
The great egret looks intently for fish.
Below: The big picture. Despite all the development along Boca Ciega Bay, it is comforting to see waterbirds coexisting with us.
5 comments :
so lovely..I used to hang around St Pete when my grandparents lived there...it wasn't quite so built up in the 60s and the wildlife was pretty wild...still beautiful to see these creatures!!
When I was in college in Florida I remember thinking that despite the highways and buildings and cities, the state was always on the verge of reverting to wilderness. Something about that steamy, subtropical climate makes you feel like you (as a species) are not entirely in charge.
Donna, in the 80s, birds roosted on a peninsula just across the water from the condos. They woke us before dawn with their wild cries. I still miss that sometimes ... Now that strip of land is filled with multimillion-dollar homes 10 yards apart from each other. I saw a great blue heron standing on a roof the last time I walked there ...
Stacy, it's hard to tame that climate. They certainly have tried, though. I never had experienced such steaminess until this last trip. My parents keep suggesting I should move there, but I hesitate. Seas would have to rise by only a few feet and much of St. Pete (and the rest of the state would be underwater).
Aren't the birds of Florida lovely? Your photos are breathtaking!
Makes me ready for spring break already. Lots of great memories of Florida in March. Maybe I should book my flight now...
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