How dramatically the seasons can change! The seasons do change in Florida, but more subtlety and are discerned better perhaps by local eyes than by tourists or part-time residents. What marks the arrival of Central Florida’s Fall?

The temperatures start to cool down a bit, high in the 70s, lows in the 50s this month, although October was above average this year.

The wet, tropical summer pattern is being replaced by our “dry season” which lasts until late Winter. (In honor of this change, residents can water lawns only once per week now, instead of twice per week.)

The ocean is getting colder and Northeast winds can make that morning or evening stroll on the beach seem a lot less inviting.
We still track hurricanes in October and November, but the peak of hurricane season is traditionally in the months of August and September. (As I write this, however, Hurricane Ida is “out there” and may produce some wet weather next week.)

Fall migration brings not only birds in their non-breeding plumage to Central Florida but also birders – ecotourists! The State’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has established a program called the Great Florida Birding Trail, with 489 sites in Florida, 135 of which are in the Eastern section where I live. I hope to visit several of these over the next several months!

But what about Florida’s Fall Foliage? I have been noticing some changes. My lawn is browner as it slips into dormancy. Have a nice sleep, grass plants and summer weeds! See you next Spring!

Some grass finds itself harvested and rolled up in hay bales.

Fall blooming flowers add color to the landscape. For example, I see yellow flowers and red or yellow leaves on shrubs and trees where I did not see them before. A quick perusal of the Internet shows that many plants, both native and horticultural, add splashes of color to the Fall landscape here.

But the true measure of Fall anywhere may be the decreasing hours of sunlight each day. After all, changes in the amount and intensity of sunlight are what drive seasons in both hemispheres. This is compounded by the fact that daylight savings time ended here on November 1, and night falls much “earlier.”

No worries! Fall festivals abound, the night will soon be lit up by cheery December decorations, and I need to practice my night photography anyway.

Hope to get some fun shots at the Volusia County Fair this week– the animals, the fall produce, and, of course, the gaudy midway lights after dark.

Stay tuned. Lyn

Like many others, I enjoy birding and often point my camera in their direction.

In the summer, snow birds have flown north from Florida and have not yet returned. Birds are in their less colorful, non-breeding plumage, and humans wear as little as possible when ever they can get away with it. Nature and au naturel in all of its glorious diversity!

Since I am often on the beach, I have several photos of gulls, terns, willets, and snowy egrets.

Three of many, New Smyrna Beach

Part of a flock of terns, New Smyrna Beach

Willets taking it easy, New Smyrna Beach

The gulls, terns, and willets like to hang out in groups whereas the egrets are more solitary.

One curious snowy egret ventured so close to me that the resulting photo, taken in bright morning light, looks unreal, almost like it was cut and pasted onto the background. (It reminds me of those famous moon walk shots.) But I assure you this is a real photo, of a real bird, on real sand.

Egret at my feet! New Smyrna Beach

A visit to Ponce Inlet Jetty provided a shot of a larger white egret, aptly called the Great Egret. As it stalked the rocky pools for food, my daughter, visiting from Denver, remarked that its neck looked like a skinny rope, and just as flexible too.

Fishing, near Ponce Inlet Jetty, Ponce Inlet Park

Earlier that week, while waiting for my daughter’s flight in the Orlando International Airport cell phone parking lot, I was amused to see two Sandhill Cranes land in the adjacent disturbed field just feet away from cars and humans. Luckily, I had my little point and shoot camera with me to record them as they strutted around with studied indifference.

One of two cranes, near cell phone lot, Orlando Airport

Let’s finish up with a shot of a bird we all know… the rock dove, more commonly called the pigeon. This bird is loved and fed by many and has adjusted well to humans and their structures. But, sometimes when I see them perched on high, I envision their cliff dwelling ancestors.

I observed this pigeon and others roosting above the Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach boardwalk. It was taking a rest, no doubt, from scavenging crumbs left by messy, human beach-goers. It seemed fat, sassy, and content.

Roost above the boardwalk, Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach

I was fortunate that it did not grace my head with pigeon poop as I took its picture, but was soon less pleased to see that the hood of my car had been liberally used for pigeon target practice!

Squab anyone? Lyn

Curiosity and visions of close-up bird photos carried the day.

First, what kind of feeder should I buy? After looking at several, I purchased one made of recycled material that would not rust or corrode, an important consideration when living on a barrier island. Salt air is relentless! The hanging variety seemed like a good choice since I have many trees in my backyard.

Next question: where should I hang it? I wanted it close to trees and shelter so that my little visitors could hide or flee from predatory raptors. But would I also attract seed-loving squirrels? I did not know how many squirrels also lived in my backyard habitat.

First try, feeder on tree.

Second try, feeder on house

Undaunted, I followed Internet recommendations to hang the feeder between two widely spaced trees. Squirrels would be discouraged from making a scary jump from the trees to the swinging feeder, I hoped.

Present set-up, suspended between 2 trees

This morning, coffee cup in hand, I peered out from the kitchen to see “my birds” at the feeder. Instead, and to my horror, I saw Mr. Squirrel firmly settled on the feeder, happily feasting on bird seeds. It appears that tightrope skills are part of this squirrel’s bag of tricks.

Strike 3 and out? No, I am not ready to give up yet!

And, you ask, what about those beautiful close-up bird photos? Sadly, my little point and shoot cannot zoom in quite close enough from my kitchen window to the feeder. But, since this is a matter of equipment, I could easily solve that problem.

I will be sure to let you know when I win the lottery so I can buy all that expensive “stuff” that I so clearly need. No doubt I will then have some gorgeous bird photos to share.

Until such day, here is my painted bunting photo. Can you see him? Isn’t he pretty? Lyn

There really is a painted bunting in this picture!

I just moved into a new home that has a backyard sheltered by trees and shrubs with the potential to be very “birdy.” I can hear them twittering and see them darting into the foliage even as I type this.

As you can see from looking at part of my backyard “jungle,” it would be SO much easier to view and photograph them at a feeder rather than in the bushes and trees.

I find myself wandering around and wondering (sometimes out loud) if I should put up a bird feeder and get some of those great shots, too.

Go for it, you say? But, unlike birders that live in cold climates, I am in east-central Florida, near the coast, where winter comes and goes in a few days. We have a few days or maybe a week of cold weather, and
then it warms up. And so it goes all “winter.”

Migrants winter in Florida for good reasons. Here they find warmth, food, and shelter to avoid freezing or starving in colder climates.

Do winter or year-round birds in Florida really need a bird feeder? Or, am I messing with nature somehow to serve my own (selfish?) desires to view and photograph them?

When I lived in the Boulder, Colorado in the Rocky Mountains, I definitely put up a bird feeder. I felt pretty good about it too. But at times, I worried that I might be creating an unnatural situation, and even gave this a name.

I called my feeder an ecological catalyst, because it was an attractant that promoted interactions among many species. My daughter, Karyn Lewis, as a young and developing artist, captured the concept in a drawing, which still hangs in my home office, nearly twenty years later.

Seeds nourished birds and Abert’s squirrels. Sometimes, sunflower seeds sprouted beneath the feeder, an odd sight in my neighborhood, for sure. However, my feeder also attracted bird predators, such as prowling cats or hungry, sharp-eyed raptors. But, at least my feeder visitors could find food in the cold, snowy Colorado Mountains, in both the winter and spring seasons.

Should I give in to temptation and take up backyard bird watching in Florida?




After all, I can walk on the beach or visit parks year-round to observe birds and wildlife in their natural settings. For example, a black vulture posed patiently for me near the banks of Mosquito Lagoon, in Canaveral National Seashore last December. Or, while walking on Bethune Beach, I snapped several shots of sanderlings trying to stay warm on a chilly November morning.

Do I need or deserve more than this? If I do set up a feeder, what are my responsibilities? Once started, can I stop? Am I required to ask folks to bird feeder sit when I leave town?

To feed or not to feed, that is my question. I need help! Lyn

This year, I attended three seminars / workshops on Saturday, January 24 that focused on my current interests in nature blogs, photography, and education.

Sharon Stiteler, host of the popular BirdChick Blog, delivered a high energy, interactive, and informative seminar with lots of tips – how to set up and improve a blog, how to promote it, and links to other popular nature blogs. Although I did not attend any of the field trips this year, Sharon did. Visit the BirdChick blog to read about her experiences at the Festival and view some great photos taken on the field trips.

Bill Thompson III (Bird Watcher’s Digest) presented a workshop to a lively audience attended by as many children as adults. The workshop explored the premise that birding can encourage children to spend more time outdoors, learning to experience and value nature. He charmed the audience by relating how a collaboration with his daughter’s elementary school classes led to the to design and publication of The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, for 8 – 12 year old birders. See link to the Guide in the Shopping: Explore Nature page. Appropriately, the talk was followed by a short walk outdoors.

Joanne Williams inspired her audience to take “in the raw” nature photos, with a back-to-basics talk about “painting with light.” Her valuable suggestions applied to all types of nature photography, including digital, digiscoping, or film SLR. While listening to an informative talk, the audience viewed dual slide show presentations of many spectacular images, taken in natural settings all over the globe. Obviously these methods work! I came away understanding that beautiful results do not have to depend on editing, if done well the first time. My goal is to accompany Joanne on one of her guided photo safaris; some take place right here in Florida!

Although I did not go on a field trip this year, I enjoyed seeing animals brought to the Festival by The Raptor Project (owls, a bald Eagle, and several other birds of prey), as well as the Hands On Wildlife Safari (snakes, tarantulas, a Florida panther, and an opossum.)

Next year, I plan to attend again and hope to include one or two of the many guided field trips that showcase natural Florida ecosystems, our birds and wildlife.

Come join me! Lyn