Back Country by Robert Adams Spring 2022
Back Country by Robert Adams - Spring 2022 A belted kingfisher watches over the water for small fish while sitting on a fence post for a better view, patiently waiting…
Back Country by Robert Adams - Spring 2022 A belted kingfisher watches over the water for small fish while sitting on a fence post for a better view, patiently waiting…
At this time of year, cypress swamps begin to dry out leaving the underbrush to be eaten by deer and wild hogs to feast on acorn grubs and roots. All kinds of botanicals — plants, ferns, moss, orchids, lichen and vines — flourish. There are maple trees that are colorful in the fall and oak trees that feed the animals. Cypress trees support the muddy ground with their massive roots. But in June, the rains return and cover the land with a few feet of water, turning the swamp into a natural watershed again.
A small White Peacock Butterfly [Anartia jatrophae] perches on a Matchstick weed as it eats nectar from the little flowers. This species stays low to the ground because its favorite plants are found near the ground. It is identified by the three black spots on each wing and is found in southern states. The Matchstick weed has tiny purple flowers around the top of a seed stalk that resemble a matchstick, hence its name.
A tricolored heron [Egretta tricolor], formerly known as the Louisiana heron, comes in for a landing on an irrigation pipe. From this vantage point, it can watch the canal for something to eat. Fish, crustaceans, reptiles and insects make up its main diet. This wading bird is mostly blue gray, white breast with yellow around its eyes and feet and is often seen with other wading birds.
A gopher tortoise walks on sandy pine land and palmetto palms. This is their favorite habitat. It is considered a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for at least 360 other animal species, including diamondback rattlesnakes. Today, the greatest threat to the survival of the gopher tortoise is habitat destruction. Tortoises cannot live if they do not have undeveloped land with plenty of food and room to dig their burrows. Another less obvious threat that is related to development is land fragmentation. Gopher tortoises are herbivore scavengers. Their diet contains more than 300 species of plants.
The days are getting shorter and the nights are longer. A barred owl makes a loud hooting call that is answered by other owls. Some Native Americans believe the hoots come from spirits. With their big eyes, hunting at night is possible making them king of the night. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals, but they will eat birds and reptiles also. They get their name by the barred stripes on their underside, which is good camouflage in their woodland habitat.
A large Florida white-tailed deer walks out of a wetland browsing on legumes and oak leaves. He rubs his antlers on oak tree branches to sharpen them. It is breeding season. He will fight off other bucks to create his territory for his does.
For 10 years Bud Adams has been providing Florida back country photography for the back page of Indian River Magazine. His images capture natural scenes and wildlife on his St. Lucie County ranch.
Sunrises on Adams Ranch west of Fort Pierce take on spectacular hues because of a lack of city lights. Soon, the sun will light treetops, birds will start their calls, wild hogs will head to the swamps, cows will pair up with their calves, horses in the pasture for the night will head to the barn for a day’s work. A great day is starting.