The Limpkin is one of the Bird’s on the Florida Birdwatching List that can be difficult to find. They seem to blend right into the background and can be hard to spot until they move. They get their name from the slight limp they appear to have when walking. There is no other wading bird that looks quite like this one.

I have seen many of them along Alexander Spring’s canoe run. They are always wading along the shore looking for their favorite meal. The Apple Snail.

If you happen to be in or near a swamp or marsh at night, the Limpkin’s cry will give you quite a scare. It has an unmistakable night-time wailing scream that sounds like something out of a Hollywood movie. It can be heard in the early Tarzan Movies. They were filmed in Silver Springs and the producers of the movie thought the sounds were so creepy that they left them in.

I happened to snap a few pictures of this Limpkin at one of my favorite bird sites. The Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.

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Sand-hill cranes are quite plentifully in central Florida. They can be found in large flocks in large fields foraging for food.

During breeding the become very protective of the young chicks. The young Sand-Hill cranes are brown and they start out so tiny. It is amazing to watch the family together. Most of the times there are three per family. Mom, Dad and one chick. I have seen two chicks in a family but only once.

This is yet another bird who’s population is threatened by habitat loss. Local building of houses and shopping centers has taken most of this bird’s habitat. In the southeast United States their numbers are dwindling. The Mississippi Sand-Hill Crane National Wild life Refuge was established in 1975 to safeguard the endangered Mississippi Sand Hill crane and it’s unique environment.

I happened to be lucky enough to be visited by a family of 3 one day.

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