Limpkin

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/7/11

The Limpkin looks like a heron but is more closely related to the rails and cranes. They spend their lives exclusively in Florida and feed almost only on snails that they extract from shells. The Viera Wetlands may well be the best place to see this uncommon bird. When you hear them without seeing them, you think somebody is being attacked by a vicious animal

Sandhill Crane

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/7/11

The Sandhill Crane and the Whooping Crane are the only North American cranes. The Florida and Mississippi subspecies are nonmigratory. Most of the other Sandhill Cranes breed in the Canadian plains and Alaska.

Great Blue Heron

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/7/12

Limpkin

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/9/11

Sandhill Crane

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/7/12

Limpkin

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/7/12

Eastern Phoebe

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/8/12

Hooded Merganser

Viera Wewtlands, FL
2/9/12

Anhinga

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/5/13

Touching bills is part of Anhinga courting and the blue around the eyes is part of their mating plumage.

Anhinga

Viera Wetlands, FL
2/5/13

American Bittern

Viera, FL
2/3/15