Orlando Wetlands - II
The second leg of our outing to Orlando Wetlands involved a tour of the preserve by tram. A group of volunteers runs tram tours throughout the day on Fri-Sun. We had great looks at almost 40 species from the tram including herons, egrets, ducks, coots, gallinules, and more. Some of the best views were of the top predators of the wetlands…..American kestrel, Bald eagle, and the Alligator snapping turtle seen above. The alligator snapping turtle is a large freshwater turtle native to the southeastern United States. Recognized for its rugged, spiked shell and powerful jaws, it can reach weights of up to 250 pounds and lengths exceeding two feet. The turtle in this photo was about 18” in length. This species is notable for its unique hunting technique, using a worm-like lure on its tongue to attract fish, making it an efficient ambush predator. Alligator snapping turtles have a long lifespan, often living over 50 years in the wild, and play a vital role in their ecosystem by helping to maintain the balance of aquatic life. When we approached, the turtle opened its jaws in a threatening posture. This is definitely not a species to be toyed with!
Not far from the snapper, we found this beautiful female American kestrel perched high above the wetlands. Although this bird is declining in numbers in the northeast, it has maintained a healthy population here in the southland. Kestrels love open ground, so the wetlands wide expanse of marshy habitat provide the perfect setting for these birds. These little falcons feed primarily on insects, other small birds, and bats but will also take other prey such as small mammals, lizards, frogs, crayfish.
Our last predator of the day was the American Bald eagle. This adult was seen watching over its chick on a nest that has been used for a number of years by this pair of eagles. In a world where the general rule is “eat or be eaten”, life is a challenge for all the inhabitants of this environment. The eagles, however, are pretty much the apex predator when it comes to avian wildlife here at Orlando Wetlands. There are other predators which will emerge after the sun sets and the visiting crowds are gone…raccoons, bears, bobcats, and others. But for today, this is the star of the show.
For the day, we talliesd 45 species of birds in a wonderful varied habitat. Orlando Wetlands is one of the premier birding spots in Florida and is a location well worth visiting for great birds and exceptional photography opportunities .
Tech Tip - A portion of our day was spent dodging raindrops. Photographers must take care to protect their equipment in these elements. Many new cameras are well protected from rain, dust, wind, snow, and other challenging conditions through “weather-sealing” technology. Still, weather can pose some adverse conditions which can easily be addressed. Most lenses are sold with a lens hood. Use it! I often see folks out with the lens hood mounted in the storage position or not attached at all. The hood is primarily designed to shield the lens from indirect sunlight which can cause glare on the lens. In overcast conditions, the hood still protects the lens from inadvertent smudges from fingers, rainspots from drizzle, and dust accumultation from blowing winds. There are also rain covers that can be purchased to shield the camera from the rain, but a proper size zip-lock will often suffice. Many of the commercial covers are easily folded up and often come in a small pouch so as to take up minimal amounts of space in pockets or camera backpacks. For more ideas on protecting your gear when shooting in the rain, click on the link below for an excellent YouTube video on this subject. Just “get out and shoot”!
