Love is in the air out east

“Love is in the Air” is a 1977 disco song by John Paul Young, and that silly song was all I could think of on my last Photo-Boat outing on the Manatee River. On Fridays and Saturdays during the wild bird-breeding season, I run a charter service aboard the Photo-Boat for photographers in Manatee County.

My secret rookery, which everyone knows about, is my favorite photo spot this time of year. On a recent outing, the great white egrets were displaying their ‘Hey Baby, Check-Me-Out” plumage; the wood storks were bring in nesting material by the truck loads; and the roseate spoonbills were surveying for a ideal spot to raise their young. If you are lucky, like we were, you will capture a couple of great white egrets rising above the rookery engaged in a fight for nesting rights. One must keep in mind the fight lasts all of about four seconds. Capturing a sharp image of two egrets in battle is my next “bucket list” item.

Bird photography along the Manatee River, Braden River and Myakka River State Park is in full swing. The great white egrets nest in the months of January through June. The roseate spoonbills started in February and will go through the end of June. The wood storks’ nesting habits change every year, depenging on the water levels. But they are also in full swing right now.

Myakka River State Park is another great place for one to witness “love activity.” Arrive early, and stop and listen around the Clay Gulley area. You may well hear the call of the barred owl telling everyone this is his territory, and to stay away, as he and the Mrs. are getting ready to make some little owls. (Factoid: Barred owls need about one square mile for their home range, and mate for life.)

Also, in Myakka, I spotted 20 sandhill cranes near the bird walk last week. Florida has a permanent resident population of almost every type of bird, and interestingly, also migrating birds of the same species. The migrating birds stop by before they head back north in the summer, kind of like our northern relatives, who stop by every winter. I even spotted a few white pelicans.

While visiting Myakka, be careful when tramping through the growth to the lake’s edge. Alligator breeding season starts in April, and the bull gators get very testy about protecting their territory. The best viewing area for bull gators is the dam behind the old snack bar. If you have never seen a bull gator calling for a mate and defending his ranking on the macho scale, make it a point to visit Myakka in April and May. Also, near the dam, look for the resident limpkins. They are also starting to make nests this time of year.

This is a great time of year to capture the breeding activity of wild birds and reptiles. So, grab your camera or camera phone, and visit the beautiful parks and rookeries we have in right here in East County and capture some truly amazing images.

To book your photo tour on the Photo-Boat, visit www.bobsalyers.com or give him a call, 302-0707.
Bob Salyers enjoys sharing his work along with his knowledge of through workshops, classes and trips. For more, visit www.bobsalyers.com or email to [email protected].