Frigatebirds Preceed the Oil?

The magnificent frigatebirds are here! They are always exciting to see, soaring above the ground above the shores when a storm is at sea. They spend most of their lives aloft and are seen here ahead of rough weather over the water which they move inland to escape.

Seeing them today is different, though. The smell of the oil spill offshore is in the air. Do they smell it? Did they fly over it? Do they have any sense of the danger it holds? I don't know.

I do know that the first group I spotted were a group of three. As a Believer, I know that three is the perfect number. In that, I hold out the hope that God will spare the people and the animals somehow from the devestation that mess coming ashore can create. May He have mercy on us all.

Oil Spill On Our Minds

Today, we can smell the oil. This is the first time, though the oil has not come ashore. There are strong winds from the southeast, which is where the nasty and growing mass 'lives'.

In my returning calls to people who called the Pascagoula River Audubon Center to volunteer to respond over the past two days, I have learned that the people have a real range of emotions - fear, anger, frustration, sense of foreboding and anxiousness. There is no question that Hurricane Katrina has had a real impact on the people here and, subsequently, their feelings and emotions about the oil spill. Many, including myself, liken it to August 28, 2005, the day before Katrina made landfall. There is a sense of foreboding that won't go away - no matter how much you try to be distracted by other things. It's out there, it's coming, and there's nothing you can do about it. Well, that's not really true. You pray and pray and pray. That's what you do because you know darn well that this one is out of control and way above the ability of man to handle.

The Festival Begins

Spring is in the air! With it comes pollen, gnats...and bird migration! I'll take the bird migration any day! It also means that it's time for the Pascagoula River Nature Festival (http://pascagoularivernaturefestival.com ). So much fun is planned, you don't want to miss it - from the Library Lecture Series at the Jackson-George Regional Libraries to city events in Ocean Springs, Gautier, Lucedale, Moss Point and Pascagoula to Buffet on the Bayou to beautiful tours of places like the Pascagoula River and Lake Rhynes...you need to check it out!

You Need To Do This

Cruising has taken an extended break from posts. That was unintended. However, it does not mean that there hasn't been plenty going on to do and to see, including taking part in the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, an Oiled Bird Workshop and much more.

Today, we want to encourage you to go to the Pascagoula River Nature Festival's website and have a look around. This year's festival will take place April 18th - April 25th at various locations in Gautier, Pascagoula, Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Lucedale and, of course, at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center. So many events are planned that one of them is sure to please each member of the family. Some of them are free and some are for-fee. Events include marsh boat tours, a library lecture series about some of the creatures found in the area here, a Swallow-tail Kite Safari, a River City Bridge Run & Singing River Biathlon and more. Go to http://pascagoularivernaturefestival.com for details. You'll be glad you did.

Our Little Visitor

The photo above is of our tiny little visitor. This little tree frog was near our glass front door. Our guess is that he hoped to snag a bug attracted to the lights inside.

Orchard Spider

A better photo is above of the Venusta Orchard Spider who hangs upside down waiting for a stray bug.

Butterflies And A "Fancy" Spider

Venusta Orchard Spider

Gulf Fritillary rests on the grass at Audubon Center

The Butterfly Enclosure at Audubon Center

Expect the unexpected at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center! This week five Monarch butterflies each emerged from their chrysalis. Host plants with larvae were placed in an enclosed area, and when each emerged as a gorgeous Monarch butterfly, a very tiny sticker was placed on the underwing of each one. The four females and one male were then released to begin their trek to Mexico. If any of these butterflies is ever found, each sticker has an identifying number that can be traced by contacting MonarchWatch.org, a program sponsored by the University of Kansas dedicated to education, conservation and research of these beautiful creatures. MonarchWatch will be able to trace the track (beginning of the journey and end of the journey) by looking at that number.

Monarches and Gulf Fritillaries abound in this area right now as they migrate to their winter destinations.

Another interesting critter was found at Cruising's home today. Research shows it to be a Venusta Orchard Spider. This spider is non-poisonous and eats various insects. Hanging upside down in its orb shaped web, it is beautifully marked with almost fluorescent orange markings on the underside of the abdomen. Cruising will do daily checks at the Sago Palm where the spider is currently hanging out. A photo of the Orchard Spider near our home is above, and we located more photos that show detail of this spider at: http://www.spiderzrule.com/venusta.htm .

(Photos above can be viewed on a larger scale by double-clicking on the photo.)