Urban Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis

Pelicans have adapted their lives to most Urban seaside areas, taking advantage of readily available food.

To me, Pelicans are a majestic bird, prehistoric in appearance, fun, almost comical to watch.

Urban Nature at its seaside finest.

Scientific Name:  Pelecanus occidentalis

Common Name:  Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis, January 2011, Mayport, Florida

Shorty's Mate - Urban Red Tail Hawks - Buse à queue rousse - Today's Photos

Red Tail Hawk, Shorty's Mate, Jacksonville, FL

Red Tail Hawk, Shorty's Mate, Jacksonville, FL

Red Tail Hawk, Shorty's Mate, Jacksonville, FL

Red Tail Hawk, Shorty's Mate, Jacksonville, FL

Red Tail Hawk, Shorty's Mate, Jacksonville, FL

The Policeman and His Car

Shorty the Red Tailed hawk lives in a tree up high in our neighbor's backyard.

Shorty's mate has just given birth to a very loud and very hungry chick.

Chick stay's impatiently hungry all day and Shorty and his mate must chase down all the mice, snakes, squirrels and fish from the creek to feed the juvenile Buteo jamaicensis.

We drove up yesterday and Shorty was perched on my neighbor Steve's Police auto.

Adaptation is key to survival for wildlife in the Urban Core.

Buteo jamaicensis - Neighborhood Mice Police

Shorty, Red Tailed Hawk

Mating Pair, Red Tailed Hawks

Urban Birds, Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias

St. Augustine, Florida Coastal Marshes, February 8, 2011

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, by Kevin Shea

Urban Oceanscapes

Jacksonville is built on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

Sometimes I stand and look across the horizon and wonder about all the nature and green roofs in Europe.

Then the seagull calls and distracts me back to reality.

Mother Dolphin and Calf, Downtown Jacksonville, St. Johns River

Dolphins love to swim up from the Atlantic Ocean into the St. Johns River flowing through the middle of Downtown Jacksonville.

Dolphins and other wildlife are why we must keep stormwater runoff and the river clean.

They surfaced to take a breath then they were gone.

So quickly.

Like time.

Dolphins, St. Johns River, Jacksonville

St. Johns River, Jacksonville

Boneyard Beach, On the Outskirts of Town

Boneyard Beach is where all the dead Live Oak trees go. 

They then watch the sun rise across the Atlantic Ocean.

Boneyard Beach is on Big Talbot Island, just outside Jacksonville. 

Boneyard Beach has thick black outcroppings surrounded by white sands.

Not rock, but black clay.

The quiet waves splash on the shore.

The winds whistle through the white limbs.

Boneyard Beach is an urban mystery.

Dead Live Oaks, Boneyard Beach by Kevin Shea

Dead Live Oaks, Boneyard Beach by Kevin Shea

Dead Live Oaks, Boneyard Beach by Kevin Shea

Dead Live Oaks, Boneyard Beach by Kevin Shea

Tallahassee, Florida (State Capitol) Saves Wetlands & Attracts Migratory Birds

Michal Ford works in downtown Tallahassee for the Florida Supreme Court.  She is an avid photographer and keeps her camera ready because Tallahassee and Leon County have regulations preserving wetlands, waterbodies, lakes and streams.

Unlike many other Urban Core areas across the US, Tallahassee's many open waters are a welcome stopping point for birds during their annual migrations.  Here are a sampling of Michal's Urban bird photos, some taken within a short distance of Florida's tall State Capitol Building.

Hooded Mergansers

Photo One: Female (left) and male (right) Hooded Mergansers. Chapman Pond. January 4, 2011. Here's one for Chapman Pond: Hood Mergansers winter and breed at Chapman Pond near downtown Tallahassee, Florida. These two are part of a group of about 25. The group often dive at the same time and are quick and efficient feeders. Egrets are sometimes found near them as they can catch a quick meal of fish that the Mergansers chase their way. When startled or excited, the "hoods" transform their heads into a circular shape. The male's is quite impressive with its white stripe changing into a 3/4 circle. The female's is a reddish brown.

Lake Ella, Tallahassee, Florida

Photo Two:  Lake Ella. This one was taken with my old point and shoot camera, but I still like it. Lake Ella and Fred Drake Park are located in the heart of Tallahassee, Florida. The Lake is surrounded by a .6 mile, paved sidewalk that is very popular for walking and jogging. It also has picnic areas and a gazebo that overlooks the center of the lake. It is home to Muscovy Ducks, Mallards, Canada Geese, and several species of turtles. A very out-of-place American Bittern has even been seen here. The lake is as old as Tallahassee itself, and is used in the city's treatment of stormwater runoff.

Lake Killarney, Tallahassee, Florida

Photo Three: Lake Killarney: Lake Killarney is located between two popular neighborhoods just north of Tallahassee, Florida. It is home year-round to Canada Geese, egrets, herons, and kingfishers. It also hosts winter visitors such as White Ibis, Wood Storks, and Hooded Mergansers. Other birds that have been spotted in this popular neighborhood park include Bald Eagles, Red-Tailed Hawks, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Ospreys, and Killdeer. Early morning is the best time for birdwatching. Egrets, Great Blue Heron, and White Ibis. Lake Killarney. November 19, 2010.

Many thanks to Michal.  You may view more of her Urban Core bird photos on her Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/michal.ford  All rights reserved by Michal Ford.

Urban Armadillo, University of North Florida Nature Trail

The name Armadillo is derived from Spanish, meaning something like 'little armor'.

Armadillos, Dasypus novemcinctus, are placental mammals and are found mainly across South and North America.  Some species can grow up to 5' (1.5 M) and weigh up to 150 lbs (70 Kg).

Armadillos forage at primarily at night and population numbers are rising in the Urban Core.  The small animal can dig up lawns, gardens and flower beds in search of prey - usually grub worms (beetle larvae).

Armadillo, by Ruairi Songer

Interestingly, Armadillos can jump up to two meters straight up into the air when frightened.  Additionally, they roll up tightly into a ball when threatened by predators - with only their armor showing.

Armadillos can hold their breath for considerable time because of their slow metabolisms and will usually walk across the bottom of a stream or pond to get to the other side rather than attempt swimming.

The photo here was taken on a nature trail in the University of North Florida's (UNF) Campus.  UNF is located near downtown Jacksonville, Florida and has a large part of the campus set aside for nature.

The palmate leaves are Red Mpale, Acer rubrum leaves.  The green needles belong to the bald cypress tree, Taxodium distichum.

Photo taken by Ruairi Songer, Canon EOS Rebel.

Urban Forestry Success, Treaty Oak, Quercus virginiana

Live Oak, Quercus virginiana Downtown Jacksonville, Florida

The 'Treaty Oak' is a live oak, Quercus virginiana and is growing on the banks of the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida.

Though surrounded by tall urban buildings, the tree flourishes.

The tree's large limbs are supported with cables and lighting shields protects the oak from electrical storms.

Treaty Oak is one example of successful Urban Forestry.

Urban Wildlife Rehabitated at Audubon Center, Orlando

Bogey the Owl, Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus

Bogey the great horned owl, Bubo virginianus, was picked up on an Orlando, Florida golf course 18 years ago as a newborn who fell from the nest and severely broke his wing.

Great horned owls can live to be 30 - 35 years old and Bogey has enjoyed a peaceful Urban Life as a resident at Orlando's Audubon Bird of Prey Center.

Audubon Bird of Prey Center, Orlando

Great horned owls are only one of many owl species endemic to Florida.  Other's include:

• Barn Owl
• Burrowing Owl
• Screech Owl, and 
• Bard Owl

Audubon takes in birds injured in the city and through a volunteer network works to rehabilitate the birds until they are well enough to return to the Urban Wilds.

Many individuals though have sustained such significant harm they reside at the center for the rest of their lives.

Bogey, the great horned owl hunts with his eyes (because they are so large).  Other owls hunt by sound.

Great horned owls are considered the 'tigers' of the air in Florida as they have almost twice the claw crushing pressure power as eagles.

For more information on what Audubon does with the birds, check out their website: http://fl.audubon.org/who_centers_CBOP.html