Ghost crab digging a burrow near a washed up coconut

However, crabs can deliver a nasty pinch as I have experienced often when I have tried to pick one up without using tongs, or have stepped on one half-buried in the sand.

Having a crab dangling from one’s digits is a painful and panicky situation. The first instinct is to shake your hand or foot like crazy, which is not a good plan since they just hang on for dear life.

Land Crab - posing nicely for me.

At least this works for aquatic crabs, I am not sure what I would do if a land crab were to latch on to me with no water in sight. And so, I try to keep a safe distance. Thank goodness for zoom lenses! No macros!

Usually, they will just scurry away before attacking as did these land and ghost crabs after they got tired of posing for pictures. Their sideways runs at lightning speed left me clicking the next shots of the places where crabs used to be.

But why do they run sideways and not go full steam ahead? A little internet research revealed that crab anatomy permits them to shuffle slowly forward, but to go full out sideways. (See: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/crab.aspx)

And, their flexible eyestalks allow them to look all around them so going sideways does not mean they cannot look in other directions. (Notice that Mr. Land Crab has one eye on me while the other looks elsewhere.)

Land crab after running away from me

The crabs pictured here are just two of the great diversity of crabs found in Florida. I have trapped and eaten blue crabs and stone crabs (yummy) and seen numerous other kinds, including hermit crabs, spider crabs, mangrove crabs, swimming crabs, and so many others, including my personal favorite, the fiddler crab.

The fiddlers live in large groups in burrows on mudflats. The male has one large claw which he waves around to warn off other males and to attract the female of his species. Hey baby… over here!

Ghost crab hiding in the washed up seaweeds

Henceforth, I vow not to call some grumpy human, “an old crab,” ever again. Lyn

Ampitheater Stage

Stairs to Suspension Bridge

Azaleas are the theme flower of the park. By 1934 over 95,000 had been planted by Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) workers. In 1999, the park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Although Azaleas can bloom from January through April, I arrived to find that (sadly) most of the Azaleas were past bloom, but I still photographed some lovely examples. (See the pink and white and bright pink azaleas included on the previous blog entry.)

A 1.8 mile loop trail encircles the ravine; visitors can either drive or walk, stopping at several parking / observation areas along the way. I hopped aboard an open-air wagon hitched to a truck, with a dozen other guests. A park ranger narrated as we slowly wound around the loop, providing an overview of the Park’s natural and human history.

I learned, for example, that the ravine was created over thousands of years by water flowing from the sandy ridges on the shore of the nearby St. Johns River. The park is actively managed to prevent erosion, to maintain the historic architecture, and to control invasive, exotic plants, such as air-potato and Chinese tallow. (For more information, see the Park’s Management Plan.)

Fountain and Garden

Bridge over pond

What a treat! I will surely visit next year, hopefully when the abundant azaleas are full-bloom. That must be a glorious sight! Next trip… Mt. Dora. 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

Recently, a winter resident remarked to me that her home state is “much more photogenic” than Florida. She is accustomed to lots of topographic relief and stated (vehemently) that Florida’s relative flatness is “boring “when compared to “mountains or craggy seacoasts.”

The vast ocean and sandy beaches pounded by foamy surf are boring? Untamed, lush Florida swamps and woodlands are boring? Coffee-colored, sensuous rivers and tortuous estuaries teeming with life are boring? I protest!

But, remembering how homesick I feel when not in Florida, I took a deep breath and sought some common ground. Perhaps, I suggested, when the big picture provides little inspiration, we can look for beauty in objects that are macro-photogenic?

On my walks, I look for opportunities to take close-up pictures of flowers, lichen on a tree branch, insects, or patterns in coquina rock. Walking is the best speed for such a search.

Happily, we reached agreement that Nature reveals beauty at many scales and in many settings. We pledged to meet for a leisurely stroll this winter, to appreciate beauty in the little things, and to enjoy our time right here, right now, in Florida. Lyn