Fly Away

    The chicks don't look like chicks anymore. And with as big as they are, I can't help but think that they've learned how to fly, and they just come back to the nest to take a break. But they were both sitting happily in the nest the day I was there and never even looked like they were thinking of spreading their wings.


What's going on down there?

   When I first got there, Mom and one of the chicks were sitting up on the nest, enjoying the view. Then, after awhile, Mom stretched her neck and took a look down into the nest. The other chick was about to get up.

   The nest looks so small now, and as big as the kids have gotten, there's just not enough room for all three of them to sit on top of the nest. So Mom gave up her spot.
   I would have liked to have seen them fly away, but no such luck. And I was there for awhile. But it was satisfying watching them grow up, and knowing that they had made it to this point.
    I'll be back down at the Plantation sometime and I'm sure I'll find an empty nest. Hopefully a hurricane doesn't blow the nest down, and it'll get used again.

  Now I'm waiting for these guys to show up! 
 
 
 
 

 

Heron Update

    I checked on the herons a week or so ago, and low and behold, there were chicks. Big chicks! And as fast as they're growing, they'll be out and flying in no time. I figured they must have hatched not too long after I put up the post with the mothers sitting on the nest, a little over a month ago. So, if I don't go check on them, in the next day or two, I may not see them again.


" Hellooooo"

   When I went down to The Plantation to check on the nests, the first nest was empty. There was no mother, no chicks, no activity at all. This made me think that it may have been robbed. Possibly by a vulture, maybe a raccoon, or some other kind of animal that would have been able to climb the tree, and get to the eggs. Figuring up the time line, the mother should have at the least, been sitting on the eggs. When I went to leave, I saw her sitting in a tree across the road from the nest.   


Dad?

    Then I went to the second nest, at the very end of the island. I  could see that things had progressed and these eggs had hatched.  
   When I first arrived, I could see movement in the nest, but it was hard to tell how big they were, or how many there were. But, I waited, and waited some more. It started getting dark, and I was just about to leave, and things started happening.

   One of the chicks stuck their heads up and let out a big "whoop,"  and it was clear, the wait had paid off. 
  From that point on, it became a real social event. I figured it was Dad that flew in first to check on things. Then a snowy white egret showed up to see what was going on. 

   After the chick exercised his vocal chords, it decided to get a better view of things and clumsily got out of the nest and sat on the edge. That's when I could see how big they were, and I could see another head sticking up over the top of the nest. But, the active chick didn't stay out of the nest long. All of about 30 seconds and it was ready to get back in the nest where it felt safe.

"Ok, that's long enough. I'm comin' back in!"

   Odds are, they've learned to fly by now. But, the only way of knowing, for sure, is to go back and check on them again. But, if I do get back down there, I'm going to go earlier in the day, when I have more light.
   When things started getting busy, I got excited, and concentrated on getting the shots. Because of that, I forgot to adjust the settings on my camera to make up for the increasing darkness. If I would have changed the settings, the pictures would have turned out clearer.
    I'll try to fit another visit into my busy schedule, But, 'Auntie Reg' is long over due for a day at the beach. Or maybe two! And I'd hate to disappoint her.
  

  
     











Clueless on St. George Island

On a Bicycle?

   As much as I love living on St. George Island, there's no place like Kentucky on the first Saturday in May. Having worked with horses all my life, the Kentucky Derby is something I look forward to all year. But, on the island, it's just another day. How can anyone not celebrate the most exciting two minutes in sports? Believe it or not, there are people that live on the island that don't know what "The Derby" is! If you ask me, they need to get across the bridge more.
    It really hit me when I went into Apalachicola to see where I could buy a racing form and the clerk asked, "racing what, cars, dogs?" I knew I was sunk.


The glasses made the outfit!

   Well, things are going to change around here. I've decided to enlighten these sheltered people as to what they're missing. The people of St. George Island love to have a good time, and there's no better time for a party than when they "Run for the Roses". This could be the start of something big!
   I began this mission last year when the local television station decided their priorities were on what kind of bait to use when fishing for trout. This is useful information, but untimely to say the least. When they finally switched over to Derby coverage, the horses had just gotten to the paddock. If they'd missed the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home", somebody was going to pay! So, after the race, I put on my Derby best, got on my bicycle, and rode around the island wishing everyone a Happy Derby Day. It was great fun, and a sight, I'm sure, that was not soon forgotten. But, to refresh their memories, I've got an outfit all picked out and ready to go for this year.


   As long as I live on the island, Derby Day will no longer go unnoticed. And who knows, in time,
people may even make a point to watch the race. But, you can't rush these things. When you're on "island time", nothing happens over night.
    So, Happy Derby Day to everyone. and may the best horse win!

Happy Derby Day!



"The Herons are Nesting"

Fly so Free

   All of the unpopulated islands in the area are appealing to a lot of birds. The Great Blue Heron is one of them. And we're fortunate to have quite a few of them on here on St. George Island.  In the gated community called The Plantation, on the west end of the island, there are two herons that have built their nests, laid eggs, and have been sitting with them for a month. The eggs are due to hatch any day now.



Home Sweet Home

   Some herons will build their nests on the ground, but having people in the area encouraged these herons to construct their nests up in the trees. The nests are shallow, like saucers, and made with pretty good sized sticks.  The male brings the sticks to the female, and she builds the nest. It can take anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to build it. Herons are a very social bird, so when there's a large number of them, they'll nest in colonies.
   After the nest is built, the male and  female take turns guarding the eggs for the next month. On the average, they'll lay anywhere from 2 to 6 eggs.

   The Blue Heron is the largest of all North American herons, with some standing up to 5 ft. tall. But, their size is very deceiving. Because of their hollow bones, they only weigh about 5 to 6 lbs.


"Catch of the Day"

   They're a wading bird so you'll see them hanging out in the shallow water along the shore or in the marshy areas around the island, catching fish. They enjoy eating pretty much any kind of fish they can catch in the shallows of salt water or fresh. They also like eating frogs and small mammals. And because of their unique eyesight, they can hunt during the day or at night.


    When I see these birds strolling around in the water with their long skinny legs, and their necks curved around in an S shape, they remind me of a little old man. They even have some gray hair on the tops of their heads!
    The island estuary is always a quiet place to go. It's the one place on the island that offers more trees than beach. And there's always a wide variety of birds that enjoy it there, and share the space in harmony.
   One of the most elusive birds around is the Kingfisher. So even though this one is high in a tree, had it not been for the heron, hanging out in a tree above him, seeing me would have sent him flying away. And to wait for me to get out my camera and take a picture, would have been out of the question. 
   Fortunately, the heron is not threatened. In some areas, it's population is even increasing.
Like most tropical birds, human intrusion is it's worst enemy. And we've always got to be aware of contaminant levels and any chemical runoff that effects the quality of the water and obviously, the bird's wellbeing.  
   Hopefully I can get back to The Plantation in a day or two, and see if the chicks are big enough to stick their heads up out of the nests. When the eggs hatch, the chicks have their eyes open and they're ready to make some noise. So, I may hear them before I see them. I'll be sure to keep you posted on their progress.
  



Just hanging out on the dock

  * I'm sorry I've been so slow in posting anything lately. I experienced some computer problems that unfortunately, I shared with other people. (Sorry about that!) But, the computer problem has been fixed and I'm ready to start sharing my "Island Life" with you again. And, admittedly, my days have been filled with more work than play lately. With John's help, I've bought a house here on the island. It's one that offers more peace and quiet, (living across the canal from a charter boat business can get a little busy) and it's only a couple streets away. So moving all the treasures that I've collected from the beaches hasn't been too difficult. There's just a lot of them. Three trailer loads to be exact!  I'm sure there's going to be times when I'll miss being on the water, but it won't be during hurricane season! I can see the bay at the end of the street, and the nearest canal is only a stone's throw away. So the water's not far away.
   When I first came here, sixteen years ago, my dream was to someday live here. And without a great deal of effort, here I am. How many people can say they're living their dream?  



   











The Chili Cookoff

   On the first Saturday in March, St. George Island hosts the biggest regional chili cook off in the country. This was the 32nd year the island has kicked off the summer with this big party. And it's the largest event for the entire year.
   All the proceeds go to the Volunteer Fire Dept. and the First Response Team on the island.


The 60's are alive and well!

   Hundreds of cars will jam the bridge early in the day to get a good place to park as close to the center of the island as possible, where an area is roped off for the day's happenings. This year the weather was cold and windy. But the sun was out and it was a perfect day to be eating chili!
   There's two groups of chili that are judged. The amateurs, or "crock pot chili"  groups, are made up mainly of the businesses on the island, such as The MarketPlace Grocery, and Journey's Boat Rentals, that cook up their own unique recipes. Then there's the professionals, with names like the "Toilet Bowl Team", "The Grateful Red", and "Burnin' at Both Ends", that are competing for a place at the nationals. This is serious stuff!


His mom is so proud!

   If you just want to try the chili, you can buy a spoonful for $1.00. Then, if you decide you like it, you can get a bowlful for $5.00.
   Some of the other events that take place are a golf tournament on Thursday, a 5k run on Friday, and an auction that takes place in a large tent through out  the day of the cook off. Some of the things auctioned off include fishing trips donated by the island's charter business, meals for 4 from some of the restaurants and handcrafted  art pieces created by local artists.

 

You know these where needed!

  


A Miss "Chili" Pepper Contestant

  
   Then there's the "Miss Chili Pepper" and "Mr. Hot Sauce" competitions. It probably comes as no surprise that there was alcohol consumed throughout the day, and you would see some of the contestants staying warm without a jacket after the contests were over.   
 Did I mention it was about 45 degrees with a wind coming out of the north that would keep a Popsicle from melting?!

Since this is a dog friendly island, the event wouldn't be complete without our four legged friend. Along with the chili, the Fire Department cooks up bar-b-que, funnel cakes, hot dogs, and shrimp on a stick so no one goes home hungry. And our furry friends are anxious for any crumbs to fall on the ground.

When the sun goes down, the party really gets going. The live music starts about 6;00 p.m. and goes on well into the night. With all the chili that's been consumed, it's usually just the younger folk that are still standing when the music stops.

   When it's all over, a good time is had by all and it benefits a wonderful group. If you've only been once, chances are, you'll be back again next year.

 

At the end of the day, a good time was had by all

 



When it's all over, someones got to do the dirty work. So it's the SGI Trash Patrol to the rescue for the day after clean up.

    A footnote: The next day we have what's called the "Post Chili CookOff Cleanup" where volunteers meet at the lighthouse early Sunday morning and are assigned different sections of the island to pick up the trash. That morning it was freezing and some of the volunteers decided to stay warm and toasty at home. But my faithful companions would have no part of that, and where a big inspiration to get me up and moving. It was nice to see the island nice and clean again after such a huge event.





    
  
  
  











An Angry Sky

   Usually when you think of bad weather in Florida, you think of hurricanes. Well, Monday was a day of tornadoes. Two of them came a little too close to the island to suit me.

    At 4:00 p.m. there was one spotted thirteen miles west of Apalachicola and headed our way. The wind picked up, and the sky started changing by the second. The lightning flashed continually and put on a spectacular show and you could hear the waves on the gulf side of the island crashing onto the shore.
   Standing on the top deck of the house gave us a great view of the changing sky with small funnels trying to form. The main funnel cloud had formed behind the houses and as much as the weather fascinates me, I've never boasted being a storm chaser. This was close enough.

   The second tornado formed at 3:30 a.m.. John woke me up and said St. George Island was in the direct path of another tornado. But, honestly, I was too tired to care. With the heavy rain that wasn't letting up during the day, I found myself up late into the night, doing whatever it took to keep the water out of my house. Before it was all over, we received nine inches of rain in less than 24 hours. (Good thing I'd just built a boat!)
   Fortunately, both tornadoes broke up over the bay and the island was spared. And any damage that occurred was due to flooding along the Apalachicola River. And anyone living along side of it was advised to evacuate. 
   The time I spent in the middle of the night, protecting the house, proved to be time well spent. The water stayed outside where it belongs. Now the skies are blue again and the shelling ought to be great!

    *  I wrote this early in the day, and through the day I was informed that the tornadoes didn't break up over the bay like I thought. They actually came across the island. One of them cut across 6th street on the east end. (I'm located around 6th street on the west end). And the other cut across the State Park, on the east end. As far as I know, their paths were such that luckily there wasn't any damage.

A Day at the Beach

Treasures from the Sea

An Ark

   January and February are the slowest months of the year on the island, and this year has been no exception.  Most people think it may be the economy, but I can't help but think the unpredictable weather we have also plays a part. Just because this is Florida, the island is far enough north that the winters can offer up some pretty cold weather.. It's gotten cold enough to freeze the pipes!
   But, this winter, so far, the weather has been wonderful. The temperatures have been above average and the sun has been shining more days than not. (Sorry about the cold y'all have had up north!)


The Estuary

   So, this time of year, the beaches are virtually empty and there's nothing like being on a beach you've got all to yourself. Time has no meaning and your imagination can run wild. 
It's impossible for me to walk on a beach and not pick up a few shells. Who am I kidding? Most of the time I carry a bucket!  But it's not just for shells. You never know what you're going to find.


   The gulf beaches are full of the common shells, like cockles, clams, scallops and arks of every size and color. Sponges, driftwood and a small piece of sea glass will occasionally wash up too. The beaches on the bay side are entirely different. 

The State Park

   The estuary, which is on the bay side of the island, isn't so much a beach, as it is an interesting coastline. You're not going to find any shells, but it's full of  treasures.  Pieces of pottery that the Indians made hundreds of years ago and  pieces of hurdy pots are a common find at the estuary. Hurdy pots were made back in the 1800's and used to collect turpentine from the pines trees. One of the most interesting things to find are the business ends of fifty caliber rounds.  This area was used as a practise firing range during the second world war.
   Probably, the most beautiful beach on the island, is the beach at the state park. There's a small fee to get into the park, and no dogs are allowed on the beach, so you'll see even fewer people there than the other island beaches. This beach was used for the 2012 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and named one of the top five most beautiful beaches in the world. 
    Not many shells wash up on this beach but it's the most likely place on the island to find sand dollars.    Occasionally you'll see the dolphins fishing along the coastline or just playing in the quiet wake. This is the one beach that I enjoy just sitting and letting my mind wander.


Cape (Little) St. George

    If you want to do some serious shelling, Cape (Little) St. George, is the place to go. This island was once part of the main island until dredging was done to make a shortcut (Bob Sikes Cut) for the shrimp boats going out to the gulf. There's no bridge, so the only way to get there is by boat.  Charter boat businesses will always take you to Little St. George if you sign up for a shelling trip.
    After Hurricane Debbie came through, the beach was littered with big beautiful shells like you see in the top picture. Huge conchs, tiger's eyes, angel wings, sand dollars, and a queen helmet were just a few of the finds. Getting the bags of shells, and large pieces of driftwood, back to the boat required a little muscle from the captain! 
   Most people look for that perfect conch, or any big shell that has made it to shore without breaking. But unless you go to the beach right after a big storm surge, those shells aren't easy to find. But, some of the most beautiful treasures are so small, if you don't stop and really look, you're going to walk right over them. I've picked up sand dollars that are less than 1/4 inch in diameter. And shells so small, you could fit a dozen in a thimble.  

   Shelling and beach combing are two different things. Beach combing is something you can do when you've got nothing but time. Beachcombers aren't looking for just shells, they're looking for anything interesting, big or small, that the sea has to offer.


Sea Glass

   Sea glass is something else that sometimes washes up. But this too is something you'll find only if you stop and take a closer look. It's found mainly in the shale, or ground up shell that mounds up on the beach. Sea glass is glass that has been tossed around with the shale and sand for so many years that the edges are no longer sharp and the glass has become cloudy. On occasion, you might find a really old bottle, that by some miracle, has survived all the tossing around and remained in one piece. I've been lucky enough to find a few at the estuary in the winter months when the tides are at their lowest .

  So, if you were wondering why you hadn't seen any new posts on the blog lately, the beach has been very demanding. And when there's nobody around to run you off, time has no meaning. It's a lonely job, but somebody's got to do it!