Florida’s Sandhill Cranes

For most of their species, Sandhill Cranes are migratory, heading north in the summer and returning in the winter. Central Florida has a population of non-migratory cranes. These large birds mate for life and can live for over thirty years. They can also become used to humans, although their confidence should not be confused with being harmless or domesticated: they are a wild animal and will protect themselves if felt threatened. Click on the image for a larger view.

Discovering New Places

With unpacking and setting up our new home, Naomi and I have had little time to explore. The other day we took a break from this routine and drove along the Atlantic coast of Florida between Melbourne and Cocoa. While the day did not live up to Florida’s motto of the “Sunshine State,” none the less it was a beautiful day. I suspect the weather kept the beaches empty. Click on the image for a larger view.

Eclipse 2017

Florida experienced a partial eclipse of the sun on August 21, 2017. It is possible to view an eclipse by looking up with special glasses to protect your eyes. You can also look down to see the image of the sun projected through the leaves of a tree. The overlapping leaves and branches create tiny gaps that project an image of the sun on a sidewalk, much in the same way a pinhole camera creates an image. Normally, these images are round—the unobscured disk of the sun. But during an eclipse, a crescent caused by the moon covering the sun is projected.  Continue reading