If it looks like a duck...
Can you believe it is November already? When I opened the back door to let the pups out this morning I was greeted by a blast of cold fresh air that nearly froze my fingers off (well ok, for Florida it was cold). This edition of Beyond the Broward takes us to a "gender neutral" made lake and the home of some friends Mike and Rhoda. They shared with me that there is a pair of Bald Eagles they have been watching for years on the lake raising young eagles. I had hopes to capture some photos and perhaps locate the nest.
In the early morning hours often before dawn, Rhoda can be found feeding a growing flock of ducks that visit their lakeside home. Talk about a “bird lovers” paradise. “Boutin Lake” is home to eagles, ducks, herons, storks, otters, turtles, and migratory fowl of all shapes and sizes. Poor Mike keeps very busy supplying Rhoda with fresh bird seed for the ducks. Over the years Rhoda has grown quite fond of her ducks and they have a special attachment to her too. Wild birds have had a fear of mankind ever since the Great Flood but these ducks just think of Rhoda as a rather tall but generous “Grandmother” kindred Duck whom they can’t wait to see each day. She knows all 40+ of them by sight and by name, with Miss “Beaky” being one of her favorites.
On the far end of the lake is an enormous cell phone tower. We humans are not the only ones who use this technology it seems. I saw the male Bald Eagle land on the tower and then connect to and use this cell phone tower to call its’ mate in for breakfast. Sure enough she answered the call and swooped in to join him. I saw a cormorant come up with a fish nearly as big as the bird and it took about 10 minutes just to swallow the prize. This herculean effort captured the attention of several other birds including an Osprey anxious to share the meal. The cormorant had a bit of trouble lifting off and flying with that huge fresh fish meal nearly doubling its take off weight.
I will return to “Boutin Lake” later on to witness the duck population grow when the new ducklings hatch in the spring. They say if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it is probably certain that it is indeed a duck. Maybe she can’t fly (yet) but at least to her feathered friends Rhoda has been accepted as one of their own. Hope you enjoy this trip as much as I did. To Mike and Rhoda, thanks again for the hospitality, coffee, and wonderful time on Boutin Lake. Just like Arnold, “I’ll be back”. Be blessed. Harry
Mallard ducks by the dozens fly into Boutin Lake each morning to visit Rhoda.
This young male Mallard and it's siblings call Boutin Lake "home sweet home", they were hatched here and found a safe shelter with Mike and Rhoda.
Boutin Lake is home to this "handsome" Wood Stork and many marsh species of birds, that all like to visit Rhoda and get a free breakfast.
A Great Blue Heron glides in for a landing.
I just love the sound of that bird seed shaking in the cup..!
This Great Egret does a graceful fly by.
The ducks become at ease with me and begin to pose for the doohickey!
Hmm..Got fish? This tall Great Blue Heron surveys from the shore.
This cormorant captures a fish nearly too big to swallow, it took about 10 minutes to accomplish.
This Osprey was more than wiling to "help" the cormorant with the fish.
We humans are not the only ones using cell phones..This Bald Eagle landed, and called its mate from this Cell phone tower (toll free).