Our Louisiana weather is beautiful! It’s warm, but bearable. When that sun is out and not cooking us, we love to spend extra time outdoors. That means, of course, we’ve pulled a few weeds, though not enough. We’re watching the garden with bated breath–the tomatoes are teasing us with their large green orbs. And, we’re enjoying the animals around us, especially the birds. I’ve seen several broods fledge. Plus, the hummingbirds are keeping Richard busy refilling the feeders.
Google photo
Today, a pair of brown thrashers in the backyard found their wings while we ate lunch on the swing. It took many hops to get off the ground, but they did it.
The female alligator is sunning herself, but that open mouth means business.
Checking on his parents’ old place yesterday, Richard visited a momma alligator guarding about 20 babies. (Read more about alligators from the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries here.) She has a few babies from last year’s pod and several from this spring. Of course, the photo is not good, but he’s willing to get only so close to that pond. She’s a squatter and will not give it up without a fight. The older babies are now about 18 inches long and may spend another year in the nest, but we won’t see them after this summer. The younger ones are only six to eight inches and have at least another year with momma before finding their own hunting grounds. This pond is too small to support more than one family.
Richard’s most recent photo of the lake
The pond they will likely choose is a huge lake within walking distance. The place is beautiful and eerie at the same time. When we were young and Richard wanted a hunting partner, we’d hunt for squirrels and ducks around this lake. At the time, I had no idea how many alligators lived here. Of course, I didn’t find that out until our boys were over their hunting phases, as well. I’m sure I’d have been a much more nervous mom had I known.
Google photo (but this is exactly what my nest looks like)
Finally, a pair of barn swallows chose a corner of our mud porch to raise their young. We made the mistake (again) of allowing it. They are messy birds. I’m quite tired of cleaning up after them, but the hatchlings are now fledglings, so the nest must go. I’m all for giving God’s creatures a safe haven, but this business of cleaning up after birds that do not mind swooping down into my face every time I open the back door is getting old. At first, it was funny. Now, it’s annoying at best. Their mess is not promoting any goodwill from me.
There you are. Not long ago, I was complaining about “the sweltering heat.” March and April in Louisiana provided perfect weather plus a menagerie of birds, squirrels, rabbits, a fox, and alligators. Here’s hoping that your days are as beautiful.
