When news coverage features motorists sliding into one another and temps forecast to finally break the 20 degree mark for places in the midwest, we know we have it made here in Florida. On top of enjoying relatively mild winters, many of the wild residences of those frozen states visit our backyards.
This year has brought a larger group of Sandhill Cranes than in years past. Researchers estimate that nearly 5,000 Sandhills are currently visiting the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (located south of Gainesville). This park is a wonderful 21,000 acre protected wetlands area with abundant wildlife.
I’ve visited twice this month, first with my youngest son and recently with my father, a not so wild escapee from the northern cold. The hiking trails are many and varied. This particular trail is a simple flat grass path that takes you approximately a mile and a half into the marsh. Deeper water areas along the way are filled with gators huge to small.
The groups of Sandhills move around based on food and shelter. We’ve found (or heard them first) about midway down the trail. Groups of several hundred feeding and fussing is common. You can view them moving from shelter to feeding grounds and back after sunrise and before sunset. And no matter how cold it may get here, we always know it’s way colder up north, until our visitors leave.
Photo Info: Nikon D300 with Zoom-NIKKOR 200-400mm VR f/4 Nikon lens, both images handheld.
