Anhinga

January 17, 2009

This travellog covers a day sight seeing in Everglades National Park while camping at Monument Lake National Park Campground.

We were camping in Monument Lake National Park Campground $8 with my NP "geezer-pass". The campground features a gravel road and grass sites with NO utilities, not even water or a central dump. It is nothing more than a camping spot in paradise.

Anhinga along loop road deep in Everglades National Park Florida

Notice the super sharp bill this Anhinga sports. Pay close attention because the next picture will show you what that sharp bill is used for.

Anhinga with speared fish along loop road deep in Everglades National Park Florida

This anhinga has stabbed a small fish with its super sharp beak. Once the fish stops flopping around the anhinga will work the fish off and have breakfast.

That is a cool picture Joyce.

Sunning anhinga along loop road deep in Everglades National Park Florida

When not fishing anhinga strike this familiar "sunning" pose.

Anhinga do not have oil on their feathers so they get water logged. This is how they dry out.

Sunning Anhinga along loop road deep in Everglades National Park Florida

This anhinga is drying its feathers after taking a swim.

Juvenile anhinga along loop road deep in Everglades National Park Florida

This juvenile anhinga has speared a small sunfish with its super sharp bill. Now it has to get that flopping fish off in order to eat.

It was a hoot watching this young anhinga trying to get that fish off without dropping it back into the water.

Juvenile anhinga with speared sunfish deep in Everglades National Park Florida

That juvenile anhinga was having a hard time getting the speared sunfish off his bill in order to swallow it. We watched the show for around 10-minutes.