Gators and cavorting Stilts on a lazy Myakka River afternoon

If you want to see “Gators” in Florida, then visit Myakka River State Park in Sarasota. Albeit common everywhere in the Sunshine State, they are always intriguing and photogenic.Myakka River State Park website

Hunted almost to extinction, the American Alligator (Alligator mississippienensis), has made an incredible recovery. Perhaps this is a good lesson for Conservation Biologists….just leave Mother Nature alone and she will set things right.American Alligator wiki link

It’s always a bit scary when the gators on the bank are bigger than your kayak. They generally don’t bother paddlers…..generally!Fatal alligator attacks

Now we have Nile Crocodiles in the Everglades! The international exotic pet trade has got to be stopped!Nile Crock in Florida!

On this sunny afternoon, there were a several pairs of Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) feeding and cavorting in the shallows.Black-necked Stilt link

Here’s a link to Birding in Myakka River State ParkBirding in Myakka

Here’s a link to Florida’s Great Birding Trail.Florida’s Great Birding Trail

What a great way to spend the afternoon in Southwest Florida.

Steven Scott

Steven Scott is a photonaturalist blogger based in Florida and Maine. He has surveyed butterflies with Earthwatch Institute in the mountains of Vietnam, tagged juvenile snook with Mote Marine Laboratory in the mangroves of Florida and filmed a BioBlitz insect survey in Acadia National Park. A registered nurse and retired Army officer, Steven believes man is an integral part of nature and travels annually to Vietnam with humanitarian medical teams from Vets With a Mission.