#NotesFromTheRiver - The Gators and I Are Back. Somewhat.
Hello, Friends! I'm happy to report that I'm officially allowed to do a wee bit of work each day, as I progress (slower than a turtle in a mud puddle) toward full recovery. Believe me when I say I wouldn't wish this bug on anyone. Okay, maybe there IS that one guy . . . he knows who he is . . . but other than HIM, nobody else. It's been weeks since I've been able to do more than cough, blow my nose, and moan and groan. (Might as well go for broke when you're that miserable, I always say.) But the good news is, I can spend a few short periods of time at my computer again, so I wanted to touch base with you folks, before you forget all about #NotesFromTheRiver.
On my last real post, I focused on the differences between the American alligator and the American crocodile. Starting next week, I'll be giving you a lot more information on alligators, since they are the reptile most associated with Florida, and very, very common in the St. Johns River Basin area. Along with some excellent photography (much of which will be pictures Doug Little has taken from on board the Naiad), I will be talking about the following:
Baby Alligators
(What they eat, what eats them, how fast they grow, and the perils they face)
Slightly Larger Alligators
(Where they pop up, life expectancy by this age, dangers they still face)
Large Alligators
(Record sizes, how long they live, mating habits, and more.
Albino Alligators
(How many are known to exist, health problems, why they can't survive in the wild)
Leucistic Alligators
(How they differ from albinos, their health and longevity, and their extreme rarity)
I have a host of other interesting, fun, and occasionally scary tidbits to share with you, so I hope you'll be back next week for more. I promise, it will be worth it. And the next time you find yourself on just about any body of water in Florida, you'll be able to wow your friends and family with your vast stock of alligator trivia. (Aw, come on. You KNOW that will be fun. Right? Kinda?)
Until then, stay safe, healthy, and happy! And here's one last picture to make you smile!
World's Safest Form of Transportation!
(NOBODY Messes with THIS Taxi!)
See you next week!
Comments
That photo of a Leucistic Alligator (which I've never heard of before) is amazing. I can't remember...was Big Blue an albino or a Leucistic Alligator? He fascinated me in Swamp Ghosts.
It sounds like you have had a really rough time of it lately. I hope the worst is behind you now and you feel more like your regular self with each passing day!
Yes, Big Blue was a leucistic alligator, MUCH rarer than an albino. I will be explaining the differences in the posts ahead, and will confess, I find leucistic reptiles utterly fascinating. Tune in for the next 2 posts, and I'll share the photo that inspired Big Blue.
I have been sicker in my life, but it's hard to remember when. Man, this bug is MEAN. Doug warned me, and he was right. Just when you think you've beaten it into submission, it comes roaring back! But I'm slowly improving, and I have great faith the worst is over. (Knock wood, cross my fingers, and turn in a circle, widdershins, on one foot. (I made that last one up! )
Oooh, I look forward to the photo! And I admit an immediate fascination with leucistic reptiles too, just from this post and from your book.
That bug definitely sounds NASTY! I have only been wretchedly sick a handful of times in my life and hope never have to experience that type of illness again. You've certainly earned a reprieve!
Oh, Big Blue is a thing of beauty and power, believe me. Leucistic alligators are amazing. I did explain a lot of this in the Author's Notes part of Swamp Ghosts, but it's a lot to take in. This time, with photos, you'll see what I meant. Next week will be about gators you'd see along the St. Johns. And every other river, creek, lake, pond, and ditch in central Florida. But the week after, I'll probably feature albino and leucistic gators, and I think you'll be amazed. I know I was.
I got that mutated swine flu 2-1/2 years ago that killed so many people across the country, and I wasn't sure I was ever going to get over that. I was down and out for FIVE weeks! GACK. And I'm not a good patient. Too much I want to be doing. This one was bad, but not as bad as that, and I do think I'm coming out of it. But I'm being very careful, and not taxing myself.