Snow Goose

Snow geese in Florida? Well. yes! Apparently, these two snow geese are spending their winter at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.
Snow Geese, Anser caerulescens, have white bodies with black wingtips that can be seen when in flight. Their thick bills are pink with a black line across the bottom. The blue morph Snow Goose pictured below was also spotted at Lake Apopka. Snow Geese spend winter in wetlands, cornfields, near lakes, and in marshes. They are vegetarians so look for them devouring grasses, sedges, crops, grains, berries, and entire plants. These loud honking birds mate for life.
Snow Geese from the eastern, western, and central populations breed in the arctic with some as far away as Greenland and Siberia. The regional populations usually fly in groups of at least a few dozen and up to several hundred thousand birds to areas in the east, central, and western US where they will spend their winters. Eastern populations of Snow Geese are normally found as far south as the northeastern coast of South Carolina. In the central US, central populations typically winter as far east as western Alabama. While uncommon, there have been several sightings of Snow Geese throughout Florida.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon and Andy Waldo
Read more

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Mergansers, Lophodytes cucullatus, are easy to spot with their distinctive crests. Males sport a striking black and white crest while females look regal with their copper crests. Many of these common small ducks spend their winters in Florida. Hooded Mergansers generally arrive late in the fall and leave early in the spring for northern breeding territories.
Look for small groups of Hooded Mergansers in wetlands, marshes, swamps, flooded forests, and estuaries where they thrive in shallow freshwater or brackish bays. Watch them as they dive to catch small insects, fish, amphibians, and crustaceans. See them run across the water before taking flight and skidding across the water as they land.
Fun Fact: Hooded Mergansers have an extra eyelid that is see-thru. They use this nictitating membrane like a pair of goggles when swimming.
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo and Dan Kon
Read more

Carolina Sea Lavender

Carolina sea lavender is a showy perennial native to Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The blooming season of this species occurs during summer when its purple flowers with white bracts bloom. Carolina sea lavender is native to salt marshes, flats, coastal beaches and marshes, inter-tidal, and sub-tidal zones. In the United States, this plant is commonly found on the east coast of the country. Carolina Sea Lavender has
been used to make wreaths. but because it is a slow-growing plant, this practice
endangers its population.
Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain
Author: Steven Marquez – Student, Valencia College
Read more

Greater Yellow Legs

Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, are large sandpipers that are bigger than robins and smaller than crows. They are easy to identify because of their color pattern of white with black and brown spots. Greater Yellowlegs have long necks, long yellow legs, and thick-based but long black bills. Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs look similar, but the Greater Yellowlegs are larger and less delicate birds.
This species is commonly seen in Florida wetlands during winter. However, greater yellowlegs also spend time in the Mexico-US border and Central and South America during the non-breeding season. When it is time for breeding, Greater Yellowlegs stay along the Canada-US border. During migration season, the birds inhabit most of the United States, southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The diet of Greater Yellowlegs consists mostly of insects and small fish, but they also feed on small forms of marine life such as snails, tadpoles, and marine worms.
During the winter Floridians will have the opportunity to observe this incredible species.
Author: Steven Marquez – Student, Valencia College
Work Cited: “Greater Yellowlegs.” Audubon, Accessed on 12 November 2021
Read more

Ponce de Leon Park

Ponce de Leon Park
Located on the Charlotte Harbor in Punta Gorda, the 10-acre Ponce de Leon Park is a perfect spot to immerse yourself in nature. Look for mangroves and giant seagrape trees. Revel in the fresh air as you let the water carry your troubles away. Listen for the sounds of birds including wading birds, shorebirds, sea birds, doves, and songbirds. Discover a variety of insects including the gorgeous Southern Mangrove Buckeye butterfly.
Saunter through the wetlands along the 1/4 mile boardwalk. Launch your boat from the boat ramp or take a walk on the pier to enjoy the blue waters of the harbor. Be sure to visit Peace River Wildlife Center where wildlife is rehabbed before being released. Learn more about Florida’s native wildlife from the non-releasable ambassador animals who make their home at the Wildlife Center.
There are picnic areas and a sheltered area to enjoy your lunch. The park is available to rent for festivals and private events. Children and their parents will appreciate playtime at the playground. Service animals are welcome. Be sure to bring a chair and enjoy the spectacular sunset from the manmade beach.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
Read more

American Bumble Bee

American bumble bees (Bombus pensylvanicus) have been a common bee throughout the entire U.S., but the population has drastically declined within the past several decades. Its home range has also declined from widespread throughout North America to mostly limited to the southern United States. The primary suspect of this decline is a disease from imported European bumblebees. These imported bees were used to pollinate tomato plants.
American bumble bees nest on the surface of the ground. The queens overwinter and collect food for their first brood. These become workers and support the queen the next season. After she produces new queens, she dies, and those queens will spread to establish their colonies.
You can help American bumble bees by planting native plants such as goldenrod, St. John’s wort, mistflower, and ironweed.
Photo Credit: Ileana Rodriguez
Read more

Fort Christmas Historical Park

Get outside at Fort Christmas Historical Park. Saunter through the park and tour a full-size replica of the fort built during the Second Seminole Indian War. Visit the school and see how kids of all ages were taught in this single-room structure. Explore the Florida Cracker house and 8 other pioneer homes. Visit the pioneer garden and the sugar cane mill and see the farm equipment used during the turn of the century.
There is a tennis court, a basketball court, and a baseball field. A beautiful playground is available for the children. Enjoy a picnic lunch under one of the pavilions. ADA service animals are welcome.
Fort Christmas Historical Park is located in east Orange County off of SR 50 on Fort Christmas Road in Christmas, Florida. If you visit the park in Dec, be sure to stop by the Christmas post office and have your holiday gifts and cards sent from Christmas, Fl.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
Read more

All Rights Reserved Imagine Our Florida, Inc. Copyright 2019