Welcome to WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY. Over the past several months we have redefined the mission and goals of our rescue to best serve the needs of our community. Here are our three main goals: 1) Long term care of parrots, many of whom are special needs 2) Rescue and transport of injured wildlife to a licensed wildlife veterinarian and/or rehabilitator 3) Education and exposure to farm animals through our Barnyard......We get phone calls on a daily basis about injured wildlife. Most people do not know where to turn or what to do. It seems only fitting that we dedicate a day each week to talk about our wildlife neighbors. Many of the amazing pictures you will see in the upcoming weeks and months were taken by Cindy Tuley. This segment is dedicated to Cindy, who I hope is looking down on us smiling......Living in Florida we are fortunate to encounter this awesome wading bird, the Roseate Spoonbill. Many people mistake it for a Flamingo but while it has pink feathers, you will notice the bill is unique. The Spoonbills beak is rounded at the end which resembles a spoon hence the name :-) Since I dont live near the water I rarely encounter these birds but when I do, it is always as exciting for me as it was the first time I saw one. It is the carotene in the food they eat that produces their bright pink feathers. This is true of Flamingos as well. Spoonbills are quite a sight to watch as they wade in the water moving their heads back and forth with their bills open just waiting to snatch up some tasty morsel. My personal encounters with them have been while kayaking, seeing this bright pink bird fishing with a canopy of trees in the background is a breathtaking sight to say the least. But then again nature is truly amazing. During the late 1800s both the Roseate Spoonbill and the Flamingo were hunted to near extinction for their plumage. Their bright pink feathers were used to adorn ladies hats. Ironically, the feathers would fade and lose their color because again, it is the carotene in the birds diet that maintains the pink color in the feathers. There were only a few dozen breeding pairs left when laws were implemented to protect these beautiful birds. It is amazing to me to see how many species of animals have become extinct or were on the brink of extinction due to human disregard for another species right to life. Please take the time to learn about our wildlife neighbors and the impact our actions have on their ability to survive......When something in nature catches your eye do yourself a favor and take a few minutes to stop, look and enjoy it. It is an important aspect of finding balance in our lives. Enjoy your day!
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 11:00:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015