Thanks for watching! It's actually an adult Australian black swan with a silver color genetic mutation. Juvenile swans don't mate, but many people thought this was possible and suggested what you did. The adult swan pictured has a mate and cygnets.
I wonder if this is one of the babies you filmed earlier this year? It's nice to see he's able to take care of himself. He looks strong and healthy. Can you tell if it's a male or female? Those grasshoppers are HUGE. I remember my grandma telling the story about the dirty 30s. In the Great Depression she and grandpa lived in southern Saskatchewan and there were so many grasshoppers they ate all the crops, the grass, the trees, everything. They even ate the wooden handles off the shovels, the forks, the rakes. They moved up to northern Saskatchewan and she said it was so lush and green, the grass was as high as the horses bellies. It was a paradise compared to the dustbowl they left behind. Seeing the grasshoppers made me think of that story. Thank you for another beautiful video! Are the days a little bit cooler now? I appreciate all the wonderful videos you got this summer in the heat. Have a great weekend! 😊🦉😊🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗😊
Thanks for watching! I did a little research to find out about the tree-type, but couldn't find anything that looked like it. I wonder if there's an app that would help?
@@VsevolodIgorevitch I think you're right. I found an article that identified the restoration of this trail (Eagle Roost) with 'plantings of longleaf pines and wire grass.' baysoundings.com/circle-b-bar-preserve-never-fails-to-delight-olli-usf-hikers/ Thank you for the education! 😁
Wow, they can move pretty fast when they want to! Even though they look prehistoric, I think they look cute. They live on grass and it looks like there is plenty of it so they don't have to fight for food. It's nice to see they are thriving, this reserve looks like a paradise for the animals. You got some good close ups of them. Thank you for another wonderful video, I learned about gopher tortoises today. I wonder why they are called gopher tortoises? 😊🐢🐢🐢😊
They are cute! Thanks for posting. By the way, every year one of the white pelicans shows up a couple of weeks or so before the rest of the huge flock shows up. A couple of days ago I was driving by and there he or she was preening on the seawall that missed being completely submerged by only an inch or two. Another like for the video!
Thanks Roger! You know what's so funny about that pelican, Roger? I don't think he/she ever left! I've been seeing him/her for quite awhile now. I'm not sure if there's a problem or if he/she just loves being independent (and maybe prefers other waterfowl to his/her own kind!).😂
Such sweet little babies, I could watch them all day! I think tumble #9 was the biggest tumble. It's nice both mom and dad raise the youngsters. I noticed mom had beautiful bright blue wing tips. Dad was beautiful too. Thank you for the happy video, this family seems like a happy family! I don't know about you, but this week just flew by. Have a great weekend 😊🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆😊
You are so welcome - glad that you enjoyed watching these adorable little ducklings! It was nice that mom was comfortable enough with me hanging around. 😁 I had to re-watch to see what tumble #9 was and couldn't help chuckling, but only because I knew the little one wasn't hurt.🥰 I agree - the week did fly by! It's always fun when we can 'catch up' on Sat and Sun. Have a great weekend and week ahead!
@@MichelleSiefkenPhotography thank you, you too! How does that saying go about taking to something " like a duck to water"? Ducks really love water. I can tell you love videoing the wildlife like the ducks love water, you get such wonderful videos. Thanks! 😊
@@adriana27100 Thanks for watching! Yes, one clutch can have 2-3 dozen hatchlings. On average only about 10 make it through the first year and only 5 into adulthood.
I liked watching the tortoises eat grass. I didn't know tortoises ate grass and turtles ate fish. I don't know that much about either of them. This place looks like a paradise for wildlife (and photographers!) You've got some wonderful shots! Thank you and I'm looking forward to next week's videos😊🐾🐾🐢🐢🦆🐟
I learn more everyday about wildlife when I'm out and about! It can take awhile, but focusing on one family or one individual can really expose their habits, interactions, and behaviors. Like you, I didn't realize turtles were so aggressive and would go after such large fish. I'm so glad you were able to glean new information from this video. As always, I so much appreciate your thoughtful responses and insight. Have a great week!😁
Mom and babies have such sweet faces! They were really watching you. You have a good eye spotting the 4th baby in the 5th tree! I'm glad he found his way back to his family. Thank you for another sweet video. With all the intense crazy things happening in the world, your nature videos are even more enjoyable! Have a wonderful weekend ❤️🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾😊
Thank you so much - I'm glad the videos make a positive difference! Yes, these little kits and their mama have the sweetest faces. In some photos mama even looks like she's wearing eyeliner - looking pretty for the camera! 😂I actually saw the 4th kit on the side of the trail on my way back to my car. When it saw me coming it headed for the tree. I felt so badly that it was separated from its family that I actually waited a little further up the trail to see if it would climb down and head in the right direction to get back to mom and siblings. I waited until it was almost sunset and saw it climb down the tree and head the correct way on the trail. Havn't seen the family since taking this video - hopefully, on my next visit I'll see all 5 together again. ❤
@@MichelleSiefkenPhotographyoh you're welcome! Where I grew up and where I live now,there are no racoons. I know a lot of people think racoons are a nuisance but I have always thought they are so sweet and smart. Thanks again for your beautiful videos😊
I'm so happy the baby was rescued. I'm not all, "oh look there's gators, I wanna hangout", but they're important to the ecosystem and deserve to live in peace. PEOPLE: Take your trash home, make sure your lures and fishing lines make it back to you, and LEAVE NO TRACE!!!
Thank you so much for your thoughts and for watching - I hope people listen to your message! It seems like such an easy thing to take away what you bring. Most of the time there are trash cans nearby and if not just bring it home and throw it away properly. Even the smallest piece of trash can harm wildlife. I saw a limpkin with the seal you take off from a gallon milk container wrapped around its neck and lower mandible. - it couldn't open its mouth to eat or communicate with its mate. It was so sad. I tried to get help, but when they arrived the limpkin was gone. I'm just hoping it was able to get free.
I love their little wings! They are cute little babies. It's nice the older sibling is there to help with the babies. Are they finding bugs to eat? Do these eat apple snails? A person could bring a lawn chair and sit and watch them all day. Thank you for the sweet video.🌿 🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🌿
Me too! Those wings when they get going are the cutest...and so different looking from other bird wings. They eat a variety of things including leaves, stems, and seeds of water plants, insects, spiders, earthworms, tadpoles...and yes, snails, too. 😀 I could watch them all day, too! Happy Sunday!
Early 2019, we bought a small place on the west side of Lake Eustis, and a few weeks later we saw a solitary Limpkin visiting our residential canal. The wife and I enjoyed watching it search for food. It's movements and vocals were quite comical as it probed the mud searching for Apple snails (primary food source). We silently giggled so we wouldn't disturb this fascinating bird. It was only here for 4 days - we determined that it had depleted the food source and moved on. It even found 2 baseball sized apple snails in our turf/grass near the canal. We're retired and every day we sit in our screened porch to observe a variety of wildlife that frequents our yard and canal. The Limpkin hasn't returned! *Thank You for sharing your video footage of one of my favorite lakeside birds!* ❤
I'm so glad you and your wife are enjoying the wildlife in your area. Limpkins are amazing - like you said, they don't even damage the shells when pulling out the snails. My husband and I visited Lake Eustis a couple years ago and enjoyed the Lake Walk. I watched a family of purple gallinules close up. It was a wonderful day!
*I like their funny little wing tip feathers! What I don't like - is seeing manmade rubbish in their environment! The videographer should pick it up while filming!*
Purple gallinule chicks have always been one of my favorites - so different looking from the adults they one day will become! I have the same dislike as you - I'm bothered every time I see litter. I pick up trash and get rid of it properly when I can, but at this location I don't want to disturb the wildlife that lives on the shoreline. There are also nesting alligators this time of year in this watershed, so safety is definitely a factor - I'm sure the city wouldn't want me taking the risk. I'm hopeful that the city which manages this lake and watershed park does litter cleanup on a regular basis.
Thank you so much for watching! It meant a lot to me that there was a very happy outcome. I just visited the alligator family today and all seemed well! 🥰
Wow, that was great filming! I'm so glad the baby was saved and got back to its mom. That was a huge fish hook. I wonder why people are allowed to fish in that lake, I guess I have always had the impression it's an animal sanctuary. You have piqued my curiosity now. I didn't know alligator babies stay with their moms and for two years. I always thought they were like turtles, the eggs hatch and the babies go out on their own. Do you know what the babies eat? Alligators have always creeped me out because I find them so scary, but I can't believe you've got me interested in them! Good job! Have a great weekend 😊🐊😊🐊😊🐊😊
Thanks so much! It was very sad and frustrating to see firsthand what happened. I wish there were a way to catch the perpetrators. This is actually a city lake (Lake Hollingsworth), so it's not the wildlife reserve I also visit (Circle B). The city maintains the grounds and clears out the lake's invasive vegetation. Otherwise, they don't get involved with the wildlife. I'm guessing if people complained they would request a visit by the FWC (Florida Wildlife Commission). I agree that there shouldn't be fishing in this watershed area - in addition to this alligator and her hatchlings there are many roosting and nesting birds that could also be harmed by fishing lines, lures, and all other litter left behind. I've filmed many nests and their chicks there, so it's a location very dear to me. I can only hope that the majority of people will respect the wildlife and be as grateful as I am for locations like this where we can watch wildlife up close.❤Alligator hatchlings eat bugs, crustaceans, and small fish. They will wait for bugs (like dragonflies) to land on the water or vegetation and pounce on them - it's very cute to watch when they're little. 🥰 Have a wonderful day and thank you as always for the thoughtful comments and thought-provoking questions!
@@MichelleSiefkenPhotography you're welcome! The lake is such a beautiful place and it's sad and frustrating to see people not respect it and all the wildlife that live there. There always seems to be a few bad apples that ruin it for everyone else. I love your videos and get a chance to see all the different wildlife in your corner of the world. Thank you for all your really wonderful videos! 😊
@@wildthunderbird Thanks for caring! I believe that most people do the right thing. When I'm out and about I enjoy meeting people (visitors and locals) and hearing their excitement when they see an alligator for the first time or see one of the many beautiful birds unique to our area. I try to remind myself of those positive experiences. 😀I'm so glad I can share what I see in these parts with you! Take care!
It's sad to watch, but it does go along with "survival of the fittest" in the wild. They will encounter predators and harsh conditions on their own, so this is preparation for that struggle. Thanks for watching!
