The Sands of Sanibel

Yes. This blog is supposed to be about Vermont. But let's face it. There are other spots in the world with exceptional birding outside of Vermont. And we just came back from one of them-Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel is located across a narrow channel from Fort Myers (the winter home of the Red Sox!). I love Sanibel. Unlike most of Florida, Sanibel Island is relatively non-commercial. No GAP; no Wal-Mart. By rule no man made structure can be built that is higher than 45 feet above the ground. There are no stop lights on the island. Over half the island is conserved land-most of which is included in the Norwood "Ding" Darling NWR. As an aside, Ding Darling conceived the idea of requiring the purchase of federal duck stamps if you must hunt ducks and geese, the proceeds to be used for the purchase and preservation of wetlands. Ding Darling, in addition to being a forward-looking conservationist, was a cartoonist, who designed the very first federal duck stamp in 1938. Since then the federal duck stamp competition among wildlife artists has been intense. If an artist's painting is chosen to appear on the federal duck stamp, it can be worth millions of dollars in print sales; not to mention bragging rights. In 1938 these stamps could be purchased for $1. Today a federal duck stamp costs $15. C'est la vie. I am proud to say that I have a complete collection of federal duck stamps. The money raised by this simple, but effective innovation has been used to purchase millions of acres of wetlands. Thanks, Ding.

But I digress. Back to Sanibel. Prior to our arrival the weather had been exceptionally cold in Florida with temperatures dipping into the 40's. Fish kills were widespread. Unfortunately, the refuge's lone crocodile died, presumably of hypothermia. But birds are made of sturdier stuff. Wading birds, shorebirds, and occasional raptors (Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Red-shouldered Hawks) were found everywhere. Let me list a few of the wading birds I saw-Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Wood Stork-and that was at the first stop on Wildlife Drive.

Pam and I took a kayak tour through the Tarpon Bay mangrove swamp, as well, my first kayaking experience. The good news is that we didn't capsize. In fact, we cruised effortlessly through the mangrove swamp and emerged relatively unscathed, all the while ogling the local Anhingas and Yellow-crowned Night Herons up close. I may have to pursue this kayaking stuff this summer on Lake Champlain.

Interestingly enough, songbirds get scant attention at the Ding Darling NWR. I participated in a Sanibel Audubon walk (ie, drive) through the refuge and at one point spotted a Northern Cardinal flying into the mangroves. Curious, I spent a few moments searching for the cardinal and-bingo-two Northern Cardinals, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and a Yellow-throated Warbler popped out of the underbrush. The others were examining hundreds of wading birds and shorebirds at the "pond" nearby. At the mention of a songbird or two they came scurrying over for a look. Proudly, I earned my birding bonafides. However, at the next stop I confused a group of Greater Yellowlegs with Willets and was gently, but firmly corrected by the field trip leader, Jim Griffiths. Back to amateur status for me.

I could go on-describing all the shorebirds (Piping Plover, Wilson's Plover) that I saw in Florida. The alligators (20 at one stop at Big Cypress Nature Preserve). The Painted Buntings (Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Sanctuary). But you get the idea. Southwestern Florida is a cornucopia of birds. We spent 7 happy days on Sanibel Island this year. Next year-30! And by the way, I caught a fish.

Little Blue Heron photo by Pam MacPherson.