I didn’t have much time to spend in the marsh this week but I found time this afternoon to watch and talk to some of our photographers. The Great Egrets, as their name suggests, are doing great. The first two nests that had eggs this season now have our first chicks! The Wood Storks are still doing well. Spoonbills make their usual appearances. The Snowy Egrets are slowly increasing in number. Other species were around but it was close to sunset so hundreds of birds were flying in to roost. I’ve noticed that some of the Cormorants on the South Island are fledging. If you haven’t purchased a Photo Pass, now would be a great time to do so with all the eggs starting to hatch!

Adam Hall

That’s Right!  Gatorland’s popular birding and photography program is back for 2012.  From February through July, photographers and birding enthusiasts can enter the park at 7:30 am and stay until dusk on every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The famous Gatorland Bird Rookery was created in 1991 as an alligator breeding marsh.  This unique habitat has grown into one of the largest and most accessible wading bird rookeries in Florida.  Today, this area provides a protected nesting, foraging, and roosting area to over 20 different species of birds, many of which are listed as Endangered or Species of Special Concern.  Gatorland’s boardwalks provide birders and photographers with close access to these incredible birds, allowing people to safely observe them and capture stunning photographs.

(**Please meet at the South Gate for Early and Late entry.**)

To accommodate your individual opportunities to visit the park, Gatorland is offering a variety of passes, each package follows the guidelines above:

2012 Annual Photo Pass ($99.99):  This pass provides daily admission to Gatorland for a full year from the date of purchase.  Annual Photo Pass holders also get:  Unlimited early and late entry on Friday through Sunday from February through July 2012.
Click here to purchase the Annual Photo pass!

2012 Annual Senior Photo Pass ($79.99):  For our visitors that are 55+ years of age.  All the same privileges of the Annual Photo Pass, but at a 20% savings.
Only available for purchase at admissions with ID.

 2012 Single Day Photo Pass ($29.99): This pass provides a one-day admission with early at 7:30 am and late access until dusk on the day of your visit.
Click here to purchase the Single Day Photo Pass!

2012 Early Access ($10.00):  For just $10.00, visitors can upgrade their single day ticket and enter the park at 7:30 am.  This upgrade can also be used by those guests with a Gatorland Annual Pass.
Not available for online purchase.

2012 Late Access ($10.00):  For just $10.00, visitors can upgrade their single day ticket and enter the park at 5 pm and stay late until dusk.  This upgrade can also be used by those guests with a Gatorland Annual Pass.
Not available for online purchase. 

It’s been just over a week since my last survey and we’ve doubled the number of Great Egrets lying on nests. There’s 28 lying on nests and when some of them stood up I noticed that many have three eggs. Some of the adults that have eggs are losing their bright green cere. They are now more of an olive with yellow eyes. Still others are displaying and building nests. There’s still two Wood Storks lying on nests but we now have 15 of them including at least six pairs, all on the east edge. I saw six Snowy Egrets hanging out mostly near the tower. I didn’t see any Spoonbills in the morning but one came in the afternoon and we’ve been seeing two or three at times. There doesn’t seem to be any change in our other species. Many of the alligators are starting to bellow which opens up more photographic opportunities.

Adam Hall

This week I saw 14 Great Egrets lying on nests and much more activity all over the north half of the marsh. There was much more displaying and birds chasing each other off of perches. For the half hour I was in the marsh, I didn’t see any other species of heron or egret but there were still 3 Wood Storks, two of which were lying down in their tree. There’s still only one Spoonbill. No change in the Cormorants and Anhinga’s in the marsh. On the south end of the marsh we had plenty of passerines including Robins, Catbirds, Grackles, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a male Cardinal and about 100 Cedar Waxwings! A special note this week: last night I was here until 8pm and saw a pair of Barred Owls near the Gator Wrestling Arena. They were calling to each other and I managed to take some free-hand long exposure photos with VR of one of them.

Adam Hall

Progress is evident out here. I saw eight Great Egrets lying on their nests this morning and more nest building, displaying, etc. I didn’t see any eggs because the birds didn’t stand but I imagine we have more eggs. The Wood Storks are still hanging out on the east edge. Cattle Egrets were flying over but I didn’t see any land. All the Snowy Egrets and Tri-colored Herons I saw were on the west edge of the North Lake. The Cormorant Colony on the South Island is still doing well. I saw six chicks and one looked close to fledging. There are about 10 adults lying on nests. Other birds for the day included Red-shouldered Hawk, 2 Limpkin’s, 1 Roseate Spoonbill, Anhinga’s, White Ibis, and some common passerines including 20 Cedar Waxwings that flew over. They’re one of my favorites!

Happy birding to everyone.
Adam Hall

Our birds have kicked-off the breeding season. The Great Egrets are in all stages of breeding behaviors. I observed courtship displays, allopreening and mating. Many are standing on what looks to be potential nest sites; many are building nests and two are already sitting on an egg. Three Wood Storks are hanging out in their usual nesting trees on the eastern edge. Our other common wading species are around but don’t seem to be switching into gear yet. Double-crested Cormorants are nesting on the south island in the main lake. Three of their apparently healthy chicks were visible and I estimate them to be just a couple weeks old. One Roseate Spoonbill was sitting on the east edge of the breeding marsh just north of the Wood Storks. Other birds for the day included Osprey, Limpkin, Belted Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night-heron, and plenty of Anhinga’s, among others. It’s looking to be another great year at this stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail! Stay tuned and I’ll see you bright and early in February!

Gatorland’s man of many birds,

Adam Hall

There is not an empty branch in the breeding marsh these days.  Everywhere you look you’ll see fascinating birds in various stages of their breeding season.  There are juvenile Ibis that hatched from nests on the north end of our main lake that are now stretching their wings and perfecting their flying skills in the breeding marsh.  The Great Egrets that hatched early in March are fledging, and you’ll find some younger Great Egrets still in the nests.  The Tri-color Herons have nests everywhere!  Some of the Tri-color Heron parents are already rearing hatchlings, and some are sitting on eggs yet to be hatched.  If you look closely, you’re sure to find Little Blue Herons building nests.  The Snowy Egrets are also hard at work rearing their young; as are the Wood Storks.  The Wood Storks prefer nesting at higher levels so it is hard to get a good view of their young from the boardwalk without a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens.   The Cattle Egrets have basically taken up the remaining real estate in the breeding marsh and are building nests and sitting on eggs.  If you want to see some of natures most beautiful miracles, stop by Gatorland and take a stroll through the breeding marsh, and don’t forget your camera!

This time of year there is almost as much activity in Gatorland’s Breeding Marsh as there is in Gator Gully’s splash park!  Just this morning, there were over 120 Great Egrets in the breeding marsh with about 55 active nests.  We are expecting the babies to start hatching out any day now. 

There are amazing photo opportunities of these birds on their nests and displaying their spectacular breeding plumage, just a few feet from the board walk.  The Snowy Egrets have also been hard at work building nests.  So far there have been 9 nests constructed, and there are plenty more Snowy Egrets staking out prime sites for nesting.  Also, the Wood Storks are jousting for nest sites.  There are about 50 Wood Storks in the Breeding Marsh courting and getting ready for another successful nesting season. 

The Cormorants have packed their “high rise condominium” trees in the main lake toward the front of the park with more than two dozen nests.  The most exciting part is that there are babies in the nests, providing great photos!  The parents are hard at work feeding and caring for their young.  There have also been a pair of Rosette Spoonbills and a pair of Limpkins hanging around Gatorland; hopefully they will find a nice area for nesting.

This time of year the wild bird population at Gatorland is multiplying exponentially, and people often ask us why.  Of course we like to think it is because of our entertaining shows and renowned customer service, but from the birds’ point of view it is probably due to the prime real estate up for grabs. 

The Alligator Breeding Marsh/Bird Rookery at Gatorland offers some of the best nesting habitat for wading birds.  Along with the spacious nesting spots the “neighborhood” also offers top notch security.  That’s right; every nest gets its own personal guard armed with 80 sharp teeth.  The alligators and birds in the breeding marsh have a mutual symbiotic relationship.  The alligators offer the birds and their nests protection from predators, and in return the alligators will consume the weaker birds that are booted out of the nest. 

Gatorland’s breeding marsh is home to 130 alligators, and throughout the year thousands of birds stop in for a visit.  Some stay for the nesting season, and some just hang out for the free food.  There are over 17 different species of wading birds that can be found around the lakes of Gatorland throughout the year.  There are new residents showing up everyday so check back often because we will be updating you about the exciting stuff going on with the birds here at Gatorland.