Vulture World

Things have been pretty crazy in the ol' Branch home.  Nate and I have been trading weeks out of town. If we were smarter or, perhaps, if we had any control over our lives, we would have separated each trip by a week. Instead, we overlapped by 8 hours and those 8 hours caused me a lot of mental stress. "What would happen if the kids needed ... something?"

I think about the memories my mom recounts of me. In these stories, I was freaking out over one of my younger siblings needing me. One time, my younger brother tried to get off the wrong bus stop after school. To keep him from having any further wrong-bus-stop impulses, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders to create a physical barrier between him and the door of the bus. I was so worried he would still try to get off the wrong bus stop. This protection, also included beating up the neighborhood bully when he harassed my little sister and freaking out when my younger siblings went to the first day of Sunday school. Of course they were always fine but, I thought they needed me. So here I am with Casi at 14 and Tanner at 8, and I still think the kids can't live 8 hrs without Nate or I. I may need professional help when they turn 18 and leave for College or someone will find me physically wrapped around their legs demanding that they still "need me".

Once in Orlando, I went to a cheap Inn out by the Florida Mall. I went a day early, before my work conference, in order to meet an Orlando local for birding the next day.

The experience at the Inn is one I don't want to repeat. The bathroom was VERY dirty, the tiki bar (the only place to eat) was filled with dirty, old, white men who watched my every move, and I had to wait 45 min at the airport for the "free shuttle" while the other shuttle drivers worried about me. And, of course, there is the official warning from a Taxi driver that said "Do not walk around at night. That is not a very good place." The things I do to save $40 bucks.

I woke the next day early, meet my wonderful guide Cheri (who without knowing me agreed to take me on a tour or Orlando). We headed out to Tuttisville for birding, great company, and incredible food.

Alligators from 1 ft to 6-8 ft littered the sides of the trail.

Our first stop was the Orlando wetlands or rather a water treatment plant that encompasses 1,650 acres of man made wetland system "for the reuse of highly treated effluent". The system has a hydraulic capacity of 35 million gallons a day, with seventeen cells, and three distinct wetland communities created to remove residual amounts of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from the reclaimed water. When the water is released it has less phosphorus and nitrogen than the water in the river. 

While at the wetlands, we observed the fecundity of a wetland through the voice of the Limpkins' monkey like scream, the numerous Gators along the waters edge, the huge number of Herons in all sizes and colors fishing, I even saw a Reddish egrets clumsy dance as it tried to entice a fish to come closer, and I listened as Cheri rattled out numbers, history, bird names, and felt her love for these wetlands. 

I saw many new birds at the wetlands but, the bird that stands out, was not a new one. It was the Black and Turkey Vultures at a place Cheri likes to refer as "Vulture World" (due to Orlando's other worlds;  Disney World and Seaworld). As I said here and here, I think there is something about large numbers of a specie. 

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas Fl; Vulture World

Black Vultures

The Black and Turkey Vulture's are commonly seen circling in the sky (I have seen them many times from the Target parking lot) or standing along the roadside eating the carcass of dead animals but, here at the Orlando wetlands they are known for their concentrated numbers within a small area of the wetlands since the fill the trees and the trial of their favorite roosting site. As we walked by the vultures gave a cute little grunt, spread their wings, and left within our wake.

Known as "scavengers of the skies" vultures were once hunted in large numbers because of the belief that they carry diseases. Over time, however, we have started to define them as beneficial assets. Today most view vultures as one of natures most efficient natural recyclers.

One great description of Turkey Vultures is written by Pete Dunne, in The Wind Masters. I just love how he uses the words "cherub" and "monk" to describe those that eat the flesh of the dead.

"Turkey Vultures are large birds, cloaked in loose-fitting brown/black feathers that make them look shaggy and unkempt when perched.  The legs and feet are sturdy and unfeathered; the color, where not coated in excrement, is cherub pink.
The face is ruddy and wrinkled and topped with an embarrassingly sparse cap of feathers.  Its expression is uncommonly serene and there is something about it that suggests infinite patience.  Huddled on their perches, wrapped in shabby vestments, the birds look like a group of balding monks gathered in prayer."

We then went to Tutisville's most famous restaurant, Dixie Crossroads. My mouth still waters when I think of the red shrimp I ate. The meat was so delicate that it literally melted in my mouth.

 We then headed out towards the ocean to Merritt Island. Here we found Roseate spoonbills,  observed the incredibly slow and graceful movements of the American Manatee (check out this crocheted manatee on etsy. LOL), went to the beach to observe  Northern Gannets dive from hundreds of feet in the air into the oceans waves, and I saw my first armadillo.

We also did the very naughty behavior of feeding the Florida scrub jay peanuts. Our faces are blurred to protect the guilty.

I had so much fun feeding that little guy that I may fall down the slippery slope of feeding wild animals. With what starts as training my scrub jays to eat out of the hand! So, uhm, yea,  I got to go buy me some of those peanuts!