It was on College Road I got the idea that perhaps the golf course had more than one story in it. I parked the wife's Vespa on the shoulder and noticed a mallard duck enjoying the water overflowing from the abundantly irrigated golf course next door.
The duck was camera shy and ducked under the fence and waddled off before I could turn my squeeze box on.
Of ducks there were quite a few luxuriating in the thick grass around the course:
The inevitable rooster, one of Key West's free range birds that tourists love to photograph. http://conchscooter.blogspot.com/2008/10/key-west-chickens.html , this time lording it at the edge of the golf course:
And iguanas, the vegetarians that eat vegetation with a rapacity that equals that of the most brutal lawn mower.
It is annoying to think that this infestation occurred when some bored pet owner released these lizards into the wild where they flourished and went forth and multiplied. Some people find them fascinating and charming, and while I don't wish them harm directly (though I have thought of getting an air gun to protect my crops), they are bizarre.
Iguanas are skittish creatures, always on the look out and ready to scamper off if they even think they sense the possibility of danger.
They do get run over from time to time but there are far too many of them to let natural roadway selection cull the herd. Then there is this Florida native and I can't remember if it's an isis, osiris or a member of the heron family, or even an ibis. I am not a naturalist by inclination.
They carry out the same insect eating functions as chickens but they do it with a silent delicacy and grace that chickens can only dream about. And here are more mallard ducks, ducks that don't quack bless them, strutting through the grass by Highway One.
Checking me out across the bike path.
while overhead I heard the cooing of a delightful mourning dove. It was apparently not as impressed by me as I was by it. It left abruptly:
Here is another shot of the bike path paralleling more or less, the Overseas Highway through Stock Island.
Which is home to other forms of wildlife:
Who needs changes of season and yellowing leaves when you have all this greenery and sunshine.
The duck was camera shy and ducked under the fence and waddled off before I could turn my squeeze box on.Of ducks there were quite a few luxuriating in the thick grass around the course:The inevitable rooster, one of Key West's free range birds that tourists love to photograph. http://conchscooter.blogspot.com/2008/10/key-west-chickens.html , this time lording it at the edge of the golf course:And iguanas, the vegetarians that eat vegetation with a rapacity that equals that of the most brutal lawn mower.
It is annoying to think that this infestation occurred when some bored pet owner released these lizards into the wild where they flourished and went forth and multiplied. Some people find them fascinating and charming, and while I don't wish them harm directly (though I have thought of getting an air gun to protect my crops), they are bizarre.Iguanas are skittish creatures, always on the look out and ready to scamper off if they even think they sense the possibility of danger.They do get run over from time to time but there are far too many of them to let natural roadway selection cull the herd. Then there is this Florida native and I can't remember if it's an isis, osiris or a member of the heron family, or even an ibis. I am not a naturalist by inclination.They carry out the same insect eating functions as chickens but they do it with a silent delicacy and grace that chickens can only dream about. And here are more mallard ducks, ducks that don't quack bless them, strutting through the grass by Highway One.
Checking me out across the bike path.
while overhead I heard the cooing of a delightful mourning dove. It was apparently not as impressed by me as I was by it. It left abruptly:Here is another shot of the bike path paralleling more or less, the Overseas Highway through Stock Island.Which is home to other forms of wildlife:Who needs changes of season and yellowing leaves when you have all this greenery and sunshine.
8 comments:
Dear Sir:
The cadre of lizards reminded me of a family reunion among my first former inlaws. They are Kamodo Dragons, however, and would strip a bull's carcass in about 30 seconds.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
Conch,
Are iguanas considered "pests" in the legal/environmental sense? Is there any concerted effort to relocate or eradicate them?
D
PS - Conch and others, you may enjoy this historical video piece on the "Florida Canal". It even briefly mentions KW.
http://tinyurl.com/ykmve2e
"We're not gonna let em, see? Me an' the boys are gettin' ready to fight em right now!"
Pure (historical) gold.
D
Conch, great post and equally great pictures. I think to most Northwesterners, seeing those Iguanas would confirm that global warming is complete and we have returned to the dino age! Beautiful creatures you have, and I wouldn't mind your version of Fall.
Look up Mallard Duck and you will see those things you have are just a bunch of cross breeds.
Iguana's are pests, but are not native, nor are they agricultural, so none of the government agencies want to really remove them. Their removal is a constant story on Pine Island and Boca Grande island.
The bird is Ibis I believe. Every once in a while you will see a pink one (usually lost from the tropics). They are a good indicator of lawns with grubs - which is a good thing, you can spray for them before the "cut roots" on your lawn.
Remember the Iguana's taste like chicken! So you can keep the Key West free range chickens for the eggs and put the lizards in your soup.
I agree. Fall is overrated. I'll keep the green, sunshine, and abundant sparkling water any day.
I'm never in KW long enough to get to know it like a native, so I enjoy reading your blog.
Our last trip down sure was an adventure, though.
Iguanas are, I am told vegetarians and they eat whatever they want/ They ruined my summer bean crop damn their eyes.
I wouldn't know a mallard from a decoy. In Italy they call them "anatre mute" which means ducks that don't quack which is good enough for me. I guess the babe on the bike doesn't meet Toad's standards. Too bad ( sniff).
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