Limpkin Chicks - Alligator ate one

[Ira Runyan]

These photos of the Limpkin Chicks were taken at the Viera Wetlands on the morning of 5/10/10 when they were 5 days old. Originally, there were 7 chicks, but an Alligator ate one on Sunday. Look closely and you can see that the egg tooth is still on the chick's beaks. The two adults were working feverishly to supply the chicks with apple snails to eat.

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[armando_m]

Nice Series !!

I know some people get long rubber boots and wade into the water to get closer to the photo subjects, that sounds awfully dangerous knowing there are alligators , or I'm wrong and the Florida alligators are nice to people carrying big lenses? I'll be scare to even get to close to the water while playing with the camera focus, composition etc ... at least my self while I'm doing that I'll be disconnected from what is happening outside the viewfinder.

[Ira Runyan]

Nice Series !!

I know some people get long rubber boots and wade into the water to get closer to the photo subjects, that sounds awfully dangerous knowing there are alligators , or I'm wrong and the Florida alligators are nice to people carrying big lenses? I'll be scare to even get to close to the water while playing with the camera focus, composition etc ... at least my self while I'm doing that I'll be disconnected from what is happening outside the viewfinder.

Wading in the water is not allowed at the Viera Wetlands. No need to anyways, you just sit along the dike road and take the photos of the birds. In this case, the chicks were about 8 - 15 foot away, and the adults were busy walking around us gathering up numerous apple snails to feed the young.

You do however need to keep a sharp eye out for alligators, because this is breeding season and they can become very aggressive this time of the year.