The birds and bees alligators

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place. Back in the 1960s, the Feds acquired miles of land to create the Cape Canaveral space complex, but didn't need it all. Some hero whose name I've forgotten realized that they could carve a wildlife refuge out of it. 

It's huge; the 7-mile driving tour took us most of the afternoon. Birds love it. In the spring, the place must be crowded with warblers and other migrants. In winter, it's still a wonderful place to spend a day. I was too busy looking to take many photos, but I did get a reddish egret at work:

When the kids (daughter Beth, son-in-law Rob, and son Steve) arrived, the Alligator Farm was on their list of must-dos. It looks like a tourist trap, but is actually a reputable alligator research and conservation facility. And tourist trap.

There are more kinds of alligators and crocodiles than you can shake a stick at. Some are pretty cute.








Birds have discovered that the pickings are good here, and the trees are full of spoonbills, stocks, herons, and egrets. We're lucky to be here in early spring, when the fun is on.

Great egrets grow wonderful tail feathers to attract a mate.

The ladies seem to like them.









They also have a flashy neon green patch by their eyes, in case the feathers aren't dazzling enough.

The roseate spoonbills were busy gathering twigs, building nests, chasing off intruders, and just hanging out.

Oblivious to all the ruckus, the storks and a little blue heron seemed to be happy just sitting around.