Rip's Rookery and What Is That Noise???

Just outside of the Rip Van Winkle Garden gates, is a small pond that contains "Rip's Rookery".  Unlike the man-made rookery that we visited on Avery Island, this one seems a little more natural, with the birds nesting in trees rather than on wooden platforms.

Roseate Spoonbills

The primary nesting birds at this rookery were beautiful, pink Roseate Spoonbills. We could see around 100 individual birds, but couldn't see into large areas behind the island in front of us. 

One thing that seems common around rookery islands in the southern US is American Alligators. It is thought that alligators prevent predators like raccoons, skunks and opossums from reaching the nests and eating eggs and nestlings. The trade-off is that weak and careless birds become food for the gators!

We arrived early in the morning and watched the rookery for 90 minutes. There was constant activity as birds flew in, out, and around the rookery. Plenty of "Bird-in-Flight" photography practice!

In addition to the spoonbills we saw a few Great Egrets and Cattle Egrets building and tending nests.

Great Egret with nesting material

Cattle Egret

While we were at the rookery we got to witness one of nature's great spectacles. A large American Alligator began to "bellow", which is a way of demonstrating size and dominance. They inhale a large amount of air, and then create an amazing low-frequency rumble as they exhale. The rumble can be heard from a long distance, and sometimes the water "dances" around the alligator from the vibration. 

We first noticed this big gator swimming quickly across the pond, doing a good bit more splashing around than usual. 

Then it started to bellow. We could see it inhale, and rise up in the water because of the inhaled air. It would then bellow, sending out the rumbling sound and sinking as it exhaled. 

It finally occurred to me to take a video of the alligator bellowing.  The frequency is very low, and it is easier to hear it with headphones. Play the video and see if you can pick up the rumble!

And with all of this Alligator Action going on, the Roseate Spoonbills continued to feed in the shallows and fly around the pond!

See ya' later...