The Pascagoula River Audubon Center has its regulars. Some are human, many are not. Take the pigeons, for example. No, they aren't in the parking lot. They are in what Cruising would have expected to be an unlikely place to find a pigeon - in a tree overlooking the bayou. This is where they were seen the very first time we set foot on the property to volunteer. It was a windy, rainy, foggy March day. A number of birds were roosting in the tree - the very same one they roosted in today. We were surprised to grab our binoculars and discover they were rare...pigeons. Well, maybe not rare, but surely unexpected.
Other regulars at the Center are the snakes. Actually, they have to be regulars. They live in an exhibit, so leaving, for them, is not an option. There are four of them. Two are pictured above - the Gulf Salt Marsh Snake (second from the top photo) and the Broad-Banded Water Snake (top photo). None of the snakes in the exhibit are poisonous. Today, Cruising assisted in the weekly tank cleaning. While not too popular with the tank residents, they surely do seem to like the end result of clean water. The Broad-Banded Water Snake seems to particularly like the bubble bar in the tank. Perhaps its like a relaxing massage. He's often seen resting in the bubbles for long periods of time. Both of these snakes eat fish. Whichever snake goes for the fish first, you can expect a fight. As a matter of fact, the other snake will express no interest in the fish until the other grabs it. Fear of loss, perhaps?
One not-so-ordinary sight today: the lubbers in the road. The very large black grasshoppers which are seen from time to time were out today - in various spots in the local roads. Cruising travelled the obstacle course around them so as to cause them no harm as they ventured to parts unknown.
Other regulars at the Center are the snakes. Actually, they have to be regulars. They live in an exhibit, so leaving, for them, is not an option. There are four of them. Two are pictured above - the Gulf Salt Marsh Snake (second from the top photo) and the Broad-Banded Water Snake (top photo). None of the snakes in the exhibit are poisonous. Today, Cruising assisted in the weekly tank cleaning. While not too popular with the tank residents, they surely do seem to like the end result of clean water. The Broad-Banded Water Snake seems to particularly like the bubble bar in the tank. Perhaps its like a relaxing massage. He's often seen resting in the bubbles for long periods of time. Both of these snakes eat fish. Whichever snake goes for the fish first, you can expect a fight. As a matter of fact, the other snake will express no interest in the fish until the other grabs it. Fear of loss, perhaps?
One not-so-ordinary sight today: the lubbers in the road. The very large black grasshoppers which are seen from time to time were out today - in various spots in the local roads. Cruising travelled the obstacle course around them so as to cause them no harm as they ventured to parts unknown.
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