The Wood Stork, a large wading bird of southern swamps who eats fish, is not a typical visitor to a garden, especially one with a stone “lawn,” no fish, and very little else to attract these birds.
I’ve spent the last several weeks in Florida taking care of my mom who is quite ill.
It has become my practice to try to find the beauty of the natural world around me, which gives me comfort and peace during this difficult time.
There is a particular house in my mom’s development that attracts quite an unusual assemblage of birds. This house has nothing visibly different than any of the other homes in this development, no wildlife pond, no native plants, nothing at all that would lead one to see why large flocks of Wood Storks, Herons, and Egrets have taken to roosting on the roof of this home, and spending their days looking like garden statues in the stone lawn.
I first noticed this unusual behavior several years ago when I was on a quest to see the endangered Florida Scrub Jay. Every morning on my way out of this development, I would stop and wonder why the Wood Storks and Herons had chosen to roost at this particular house, and no other house just like it in the neighborhood.
Please enjoy my morning healing nature session with the Wood Storks. I’m totally open to any suggestions you may have about what makes this house such a magnet for these unusual birds.
So why this house, and not any of the others just like it in this development? I really don’t know. But I am so grateful to these birds for providing me a few quiet minutes when I could just enjoy their presence and not have to think about anything else for that short period of time.
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About Carole Sevilla Brown
It might be interesting to see if you can find out what was there before the subdivision was built. It may have been a wetland that was a traditional resting place on their way south for the winter.
Karan: Interesting idea. This development was built in the 1950s, all of the homes use the same construction and roofing methods, but the Storks and Herons only roost on this one house. Very odd indeed
Carole Brown recently posted..Fall Garden Chores, or NOT
Hey Carole!
I’m glad you are getting in some wildlife viewing while in FL. I also have family down there, and I’m always amazed at the diversity and how close the animals will let you get to them.
I bet Karen’s right about the previous state of this area. As long as it’s safe and convenient, they just keep on coming.
This theory also explains why I can occasionally be found in a shopping mall. I get no comfort or peace there, but convenience and need are briefly met, and I fly quickly away.
All the best to y’all.
-David
Thanks, David. Funny, I get no comfort or peace in a shopping mall either
Totally not my preferred habitat!
Carole Brown recently posted..Dance of Joy
Can’t solve your mystery, but what a treat. The killdeer in my Florida neighborhood like to nest on gravel roofs because their eggs blend in and they are safe from many preditors.
I’m away from home also, tending to my father after a fall which resulted in a broken shoulder. I’m enjoying my time with him and taking long walks to enjoy nature. There are a variety of oaks to identify. I’ve found a native buckeye and chestnut. I was thrilled to find a grapevine which must have escaped cultivation and landed along a busy road. I’ve picked at least three pounds of white grapes and pop one in my mouth each time I pass the bowl.
Carole, wow a native chestnut? What a gift
Hope your father heals quickly. Long walks in nature sound like just the ticket.
Carole Brown recently posted..Fall Garden Chores, or NOT
Carole what a treat to see these birds. So large and just hanging out. I can’t imagine seeing herons just hanging out in groups at a neighboring house. I will bet it is that the area was a previous place they would hang out. The neighbor must like their visits too!
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Memories of Fall Natives
Yes, it could have been a previous spot. But, perhaps this homeowner has a chemical-free yard and her neighbors do not. Birds would like that & there would be more insects to eat, as well.
Happy you have those wonderful herons to watch down there, Carole.
Take care~
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Yearning to Burn
Donna, I know when I was there several years ago most of the neighborhood, including the homeowner was trying to find ways to evict these birds from their nighttime roost. It seems that by now most of the neighbors have accepted their presence and for the most part ignore them. For me though, seeing them was the highlight of my day
Carole Brown recently posted..Dance of Joy
Glad nature is providing for you in my fair state. We get an occasional woodstork and of course the herons stop as well (good eating fish in my pond).
Birds are apparently creatures of habit. While visiting down south in Boyton Beach a tree was pointed out to me by my hostess. She advised that every night a flock of ibis came and roosted in that tree. And boy, she wasn’t kidding…..there were a hundred or so each and every night. An abundance of other similar trees yet these birds would not use any of them. Only this one particular tree. And it was that way for years and years as evidenced by an older painting hanging in the community room who’s artist captured the event. I guess some birds just get comfortable and make their minds up….a bit bull-headed perhaps?
Thoughts are with you and your mom!
Loret recently posted..Pond Prank
Birds flocking to the same tree.. reminds me of the monarchs overwintering en masse in one tree.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Yearning to Burn
Loret reminded me of the Montagu bird tree
http://elephantseyegarden.blogspot.com/2010/12/journey-from-montagu-to-george.html
Elephant’s Eye recently posted..Fill the Frame for Gardening Gone Wild
Hi Carole, Fascinating to hear about the unusual visitors to your garden. I’m in Toronto, Canada and I occasionally get some interesting visitors too, including a Great Blue Heron and a mysterious hawk that I can’t identify.
Thanks for sharing.
Geoff
Geoff Clarke recently posted..Canadian Birds in my Garden