Sunday, November 16, 2008

Camera Critters-Rescue



Awhile back, I found this great meme called Camera Critters. I love the pictures and decided that with my wealth of critter pictures down here in SW Florida, I would join in and I have for several weeks now. I would like to have you hop on over to Camera Critters. There you can either sign up for your own post for Camera Critters or see lots and lots of other great critter pics. So, now that you've done that--here is my critter for the day.


This is an Anhinga or some people call it a Snake Bird. It is a water bird and swims underwater catching fish. It's feathers are not waterproof like a duck or some other waterbirds so therefore has to dry it's wings off when it is done fishing. It will sit for a very long time with it's wings spread--like the one in the picture. I remember the first time I saw an Anhinga with it's wings spread like this--I thought it was injured. I had never seen anything like this before. Now it has become a common occurrence living where we do.

I took this picture in 2003 when we were down in the Everglades. But when I was going through my pictures trying to decide what to pick for Camera Critters, this picture jumped out at me. Yesterday morning our neighbors found an Anhinga right outside our house with a footie stuck on it's beak. We were able to catch it and take it to the wildlife hospital where I volunteer. The sides of an Anhinga's beak are almost like velcro and this was stuck on there pretty good. While I held him, one of the vets removed the footie from it's beak, checked the bird out and gave him clearance to be released. So I brought him back home and released him in our creek out back. He was so thrilled to be able to fish again. He just kept swimming around catching minnows like crazy. If we hadn't caught him, he probably would have starved to death and died a slow, painful death. It always is such a great feeling to be able to help wildlife who can't help themselves. This was a first for me though--the rescue, helping to treat and releasing the same animal. Something I'll remember for quite awhile.

9 comments:

i beati said...

I agree because it's usually a long time before they expire sandy

good for you

kesslerdee said...

What a wonderful thing you found him- thanks for sharing that. The picture is beeautiful- I can just see them all in my head with their wings spread drying out!

The Farmer Files said...

Hmmm...may be ignorance on my part, but I guess I never thought of birds swimming under water other than penguins.

Cathy said...

Beautiful!

Linda said...

How lovely that you rescued the Anhinga. Lovely photo from your archives.

I've got a pair of cheeky squirrels for Camera Critters this week.

Linda, aka Crafty Gardener

Tootie said...

I like your critter snowbird and the story. :-)

Rambling Woods said...

It looks like a commorant..(sp) that we have here. They come to the pond once in a while and then I read they don't have waterproofing as you say. I wonder how that helps from an evolutionary standpoint as they are diving birds..
New Rambling Woods Site

Anonymous said...

It's nice to have a creek next to your property for wildlife viewing. It must bring in a lot of variety of wildlife to enjoy.

Mare said...

What a cool experience!

And thank you for what you do...I'm sure that all the wildlife appreciates it. ;)