Woodstorks and Brown Pelicans

Golfing is just a game to give me the opportunity to observe wildlife. Our area in Florida is home to several large colonies of wood storks. Our golf course was home to a couple of hundred of these birds today. It is mating time and this year there is enough rainfall to support the fishery which feeds these birds after hatching. An endangered species which is ugly while wading in the shallow waters but absolutely marvelous while soaring high in the sky. They can soar like eagles and during their aerial mating dance in the sky they perform acrobatic maneuvers unlike no others.

Brown pelicans were badly damaged during the oil spill crisis in the gulf and it was a treat to see a pair on the fourth hole today. They do not frequent our golf course often but are a treat when they do. Wild parrots were out in numbers as were all the Florida wading birds. Our golf course takes precautions to make sure the birds are not harmed by dangerous chemicals.

When we hear of the recent bird kills during the migration this year it makes you wonder. At least four massive kill were reported and the numbers of dead birds numbered in the thousands.The exact cause of death was not determined but you can bet is chemical in nature. Many of the golf courses are given special tax considerations if they qualify as conservation  areas.

My friends on the golf course accept me now as a environmental nut and some even comment about the natural beauty as we engage in competition. It is the main reason I golf in Florida.