10-12-1991 MIAMI, FLORIDA USA - AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

The American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a large aquatic soaring bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Costa Rica, in winter.

The American white pelican rivals the trumpeter swan, with a similar overall length, as one of the longest birds native to North America. Both very large and plump, it has an overall length of about 50–70 in (130–180 cm), courtesy of the huge beak which measures 11.3–15.2 in (290–390 mm) in males and 10.3–14.2 in (260–360 mm) in females. It has a wingspan of about 95–120 in (240–300 cm).

 The species also has the second-largest average wingspan of any North American bird, after the California condor. This large wingspan allows the bird to easily use soaring flight for migration. Body weight can range between 7.7 and 30 lb (3.5 and 13.6 kg), although typically these birds average between 11 and 20 lb (5.0 and 9.1 kg).

10-12-1991 EVERGLADES NAT PARK, FLORIDA - WHITE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (Anartia jatrophae)

Anartia jatrophae, the white peacock, is a species of butterfly found in the southeastern United States, Central America, and throughout much of South America. The white peacock's larval hosts are water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri), lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniensis), tropical waterhyssop (Bacopa innominata), frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora), lanceleaf frogfruit (Phyla lanceolata), and Carolina wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniana). 

The males of the species display a unique territorial behavior, in which they stake out a territory typically 15 meters in diameter that contains larval host plants. They perch in this area and aggressively protect it from other insects and other male white peacocks.

10-12-1991 EVERGLADES NAT PARK, FLORIDA - AMERICAN ALLIGATOR (Alligator mississippiensis)

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), sometimes referred to as a common alligator or simply gator, is a large crocodilian reptile native to the Southeastern United States. It is one of the two extant species in the genus Alligator, and is larger than the only other living alligator species, the Chinese alligator.

Adult male American alligators measure 3.4 to 4.5 m (11.2 to 14.8 ft) in length, and can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), with unverified sizes of up to 5.84 m (19.2 ft) and weights of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) making it the second longest and the heaviest of the family Alligatoridae, after the black caiman. Females are smaller, measuring 2.6 to 3 m (8.5 to 9.8 ft) in length. The American alligator inhabits subtropical and tropical freshwater wetlands, such as marshes and cypress swamps, from southern Texas to North Carolina. It is distinguished from the sympatric American crocodile by its broader snout, with overlapping jaws and darker coloration, and is less tolerant of saltwater but more tolerant of cooler climates than the American crocodile, which is found only in tropical and warm subtropical climates.

American alligators are apex predators and consume fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Hatchlings feed mostly on invertebrates. They play an important role as ecosystem engineers in wetland ecosystems through the creation of alligator holes, which provide both wet and dry habitats for other organisms. Throughout the year (in particular during the breeding season), American alligators bellow to declare territory, and locate suitable mates. Male American alligators use infrasound to attract females. Eggs are laid in a nest of vegetation, sticks, leaves, and mud in a sheltered spot in or near the water. Young are born with yellow bands around their bodies and are protected by their mother for up to one year. This species displays parental care, which is rare for most reptiles. Mothers protect their eggs during the incubation period, and move the hatchlings to the water using their mouths.

The conservation status of the American alligator is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Historically, hunting had decimated their population, and the American alligator was listed as an endangered species by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Subsequent conservation efforts have allowed their numbers to increase and the species was removed from endangered status in 1987. The species is the official state reptile of three states: Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

10-12-1991 EVERGLADES NAT PARK, FLORIDA - AMERICAN GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba ssp. egretta)

Second only to the Great Blue Heron in size, the Great Egret (Casmerodius albus), sometimes called the Great White Egret, is one of the largest of the wading birds that inhabit the Everglades. Standing over 4 feet in height with a wingspan of more than 50 inches, it is similar in appearance to the Snowy Egret but can be distinguished by its long black legs, black feet, stout yellow bill, and tremendous size. The Snowy Egret is smaller than the Great Egret and has a black bill and yellow feet.

The Great Egret also is often mistakenly identified as the Great White Heron, which is the white form of the Great Blue Heron. The heavier bill and pale legs of the Great White Heron are useful distinguishing characteristics. Like other herons, the Great Egret flies slowly and with its neck retracted, which is an easy way to distinguish it in flight from storks, cranes, ibises, and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight.

 

The fishing habits of Great Egrets are among the most efficient of all birds. Great Egrets stalk their prey by slowly walking or standing motionless in the shallows and forage with their webbed feet, raking and probing the bottom, and snapping up fish in a matter of milliseconds with their quick bill reflex. In addition to fish, their diet includes invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, other birds, and small mammals. They feed in a variety of wetlands, including marshes, swamps, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, tide flats, canals, and flooded fields.

20-12-1989 CANAIMA NAT PARK, VENEZUELA - HOATZIN (Opisthocomus hoazin)

The hoatzin, a bird of tropical South America, is a creature of striking peculiarity. With a total length of 65 cm, it is roughly the size of a pheasant, sporting a long neck and a small head. Its appearance is distinguished by an unfeathered blue face with maroon eyes, crowned by a spiky rufous crest. The plumage is predominantly dark, with sooty-brown tail feathers that gleam with a bronze-green hue, ending in a broad, pale band.

When identifying the hoatzin, look for its distinctive blue face and rufous crest. The bird's upper parts are edged with buff, particularly on the wing coverts, while the underparts are a lighter buff color. The crissum, primaries, underwing coverts, and flanks exhibit a rich rufous-chestnut, which becomes apparent as the bird spreads its wings.

The hoatzin is found in the swamps, riparian forests, and mangroves that line the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.

This species is endemic to South America, with its range encompassing the Amazon and Orinoco basins.

The hoatzin is known for its noisy demeanor, emitting a variety of hoarse sounds including groans, croaks, hisses, and grunts. These vocalizations are often accompanied by expressive body movements, such as wing spreading.

The hoatzin's calls are a cacophony of hoarse noises, ranging from groans and croaks to hisses and grunts, which resonate through its marshy habitat.

Hoatzins breed seasonally, with their reproductive timing aligned with the rainy season. They are sociable birds, nesting in small colonies. Their nests are constructed from sticks and are typically positioned over water in seasonally flooded forests. The chicks are reared on a diet of regurgitated, fermented vegetation.

The hoatzin is a folivore, primarily consuming leaves, as well as fruits and flowers on occasion. Its diet includes the foliage of over 50 plant species. The bird's unique digestive system, akin to that of ruminant mammals, allows it to ferment plant material, aiding in digestion.

The hoatzin is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, its population may be declining due to habitat loss caused by deforestation in the Amazon.

The hoatzin, a bird as enigmatic as it is distinctive, continues to thrive in the lush waterways of South America, a living testament to the evolutionary tapestry of avian life.