Alligator Adventure: Birds & Tortoises

Welcome Back!

This time I'm highlighting some non-alligator critters found at Alligator Adventure! The first four photos are of the Sarus Crane. He's very pretty with his red plumage and red eye!

The next two photos are of the Spur Thigh Tortoise. He isn't too big, compared to the ones near the exit, which I'll highlight another day!

The last two photos are of the Macaws. These guys were not cooperating for photos even though I stood there for ages waiting for them to turn around! :-)

Well, this week has been crazy and I'm so out of my routine! I must get to the gym today, as I haven't been all week due to weather and whatnot! Keturah was off yesterday and so we headed to Kingston to shop for her semi-formal dress. We had a great day until we headed home and ended up in the ditch in a big snowbank! (Keturah was driving on a snow-covered road!) Anyway, we were okay, just a bit shook up! I was surprised by how many people stopped to see if we were okay--my faith in humanity is restored! We had a very nice policeman who waited with us until the tow truck came. Thanks also to my brother-in-law, Les who hooked us up with the towing service! No damage to my car either! Whew!

Anyway, more snow this weekend!! SIGH. We were hoping to go to Waterloo to take Brooke out for dinner for her birthday, but I guess we probably won't unless we go on Sunday, but we'll have to see what the weather will be like...Don't want to end up in the ditch again! :-)

Have a great weekend!

The Sarus Crane

This week I'm highlighting some shots of a bird called the "Sarus Crane". These were taken at the Alligator Adventure yet again. You'd think I'd be running out of photos from there, but nope! I'll have a couple more posts with birds and pelicans to come---all taken at the Alligator Adventure.

Anyway, for those inquiring minds out there, here's what Wiki has to say about the Sarus Crane:

The Sarus Crane (Grus antigone) is a large non-migratory crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. The tallest of the flying birds, standing at a height of up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft), they are conspicuous and iconic species of open wetlands.

The Sarus Crane is easily distinguished from other cranes in the region by the overall grey colour and the contrasting red head and upper neck. They forage on marshes and shallow wetlands for roots, tubers, insects, crustaceans and small vertebrate prey. Like other cranes, they form long-lasting pair-bonds and maintain territories within which they perform territorial and courtship displays that include loud trumpeting, leaps and dance-like movements.

In India they are considered symbols of marital fidelity, believed to mate for life and pine the loss of their mates even to the point of starving to death. The main breeding season is during the rainy season, when the pair builds an enormous nest "island", a circular platform of reeds and grasses nearly two metres in diameter and high enough to stay above the shallow water surrounding it. Sarus Crane numbers have declined greatly in the last century and it has been estimated that the current population is a tenth or less (perhaps 2.5%) of the numbers that existed in the 1850s. The stronghold of the species is India, where it is traditionally revered and lives in agricultural lands in close proximity to humans. Elsewhere, the species has been extirpated in many parts of its former range.

Enjoy!