We are now leading bird walks on Tuesday (8:30 and 1:00), Wednesday (8:30) and Sunday (8:30). We walk about 1 1/2 miles and are out 2 - 2 1/2 hours. The walks are slow, there isn’t much elevation change, and we see quite a few birds.
Before the walk starts Mark and I arrive at the visitor center early and put out bird food. We go through a lot of oranges every week. The oranges are donated by a local grower. We also put out black oil sunflower seed and a peanut butter-cornmeal mixture.
Mark starts the walk at the feeding station by the visitor center. We see a lot of the more colorful birds here (Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, Great Kiskadee, Red-winged Blackbird.
We have had as few as one person show up for the walk, and as many as 25. Any more than about 12 makes it hard for the folks near the back to hear Mark or see the birds.
Mark gives a lot of information about the flooding that took place this summer and explains that the refuge was under water for over two months. He also points out a lot of the trees and tells how they are used by the people in the area.
A few of the trails are still under water and are closed. Some of the trails have been re-worked and are very nice.
Our walk takes us under some beautiful, Spanish moss covered trees.
We end the walk at the butterfly gardens by visitor center.
The walk isn’t all about birds.
Rose-bellied Lizard
Indigo Snake
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