Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Great Day for Ducks!




The weather has warmed considerably from this weekend, but the warmer weather has been accompanied by rain. Rainy weather reduces the number of visitors that venture out to the swamp, but it has drawn some animals closer to the nature center.

The images show a Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) and a Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) that appeared outside the windows of the nature center this morning. The Timber Rattlesnake was coiled atop a three-foot stump having apparently listened, like us, to the same fictitious forecast for sunny weather. The hawk appeared to have spotted some prey that eluded it under the boardwalk or building.

Since the time the images were taken, it has only rained harder. The snake has retreated into the stump as if to say, "It's a great day for ducks, but nothing else!"

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