April 2002
Tamiami West colony along highway 41 at the north end of Everglades National Park
Here I am carrying poles to scare Wood Stork nestlings out of their
nests in the Pond Apple trees (Annona glabra). These trees
produce an
edible fruit that looks like a cross between an apple and a lemon.
Watch your step! Alligators were in here but we only heard them.
During the mating season males call out to attract females and
intimidate
other males. One time when Becky, JD, and I were banding Wood
Stork nestlings and afixing satellite transmitters to them we heard three
alligators calling out and converging on our position! The swamp was
too thick with vegetation to see them approaching. They seemed to
be
attracted to each other's calls. I made some noises to give our
position away and then we heard from them no more.