Shell Game

Sea Stars, commonly called Starfish, are found on various sea coasts.  There are many varieties.  This one is the most common.  Since they are so destructive to oysters, enormous quantities of them are destroyed by fishermen.

It was not too long ago that shells were literally the treasure of the sea.  Prehistoric men placed a high value on them and used them in bartering for goods.

Sea Shells ...Treasures of the Sea

Too Cute

 

Sisters

 

Birds Of A Feather

Common Egret - These graceful white wading birds (note black legs and yellow bill) owe their existence to the protection won for them by the National Audubon Society at the turn of the century.

Cardinal      Richmondena cardinalis

With its brilliant color, the cardinal is probably the most popular bird in the U.S.  It is the state bird of 7 states.  It does not migrate and lives in most states east of the edge of the plains.  With its powerful bill it easily cracks corn and other seeds and feeds on insects.  3 or 4 eggs are laid and the male, shown here, helps care for the family.  Cardinals have a pleasing clear whistle.

Help Conserve Our Birds

Pileated Woodpecker     Dryocopul pileatus

Named for its hairy crest, or pileous crest, this woodpecker is well know to people interested in birds, who know that they can find it in cypress swamps or in heavy timber.  As the trees are cleared, the birds go too.  Huge for woodpeckers, they have a wing span of up to 30 inches.  Its call can be heard some distance through the swamp.  They clean infested trees of great quantities of insects, sometimes removing considerable dead wood to reach them.

Wild Critters

Raccoon    Procyon lotor

The raccoon still exists as one of the very common mammals, even close to towns.  It is a night-going creature, howere, and not often seen.  They love to puddle around in creeks where they find crayfish, a favorite food.  The coons locate them by feeling under rocks.

White-Tailed Deer FAWN (Odacoileus virginianus)

After the first birth, the doe, or mother dear, may have twins.  However, the first birth is usually a single fawn.  Triplets are not unusual.  Fawns are spotted and because of this they are hard to see if they lie quietly on the ground.

Bobcat    Lynx rufus

The bobcat spots its prey by eyesight, rushes it, shoots out a clawed paw and knocks it down before the prey knows what's happened.  Its speed at this is remarkable.  It generally works nights.  Seeing its foot prints is as close as most people ever get to the wildcat.  It may have seen and avoided the person, however.  They are still common in some areas where people would least expect them.  Bobcats weigh from 15 to 30 pounds.

Help Conserve Our Wild Life

Pets

By The Fire

I'm Ready, Let's Go

Pyramids At Giza

Giza:  Cheopus Great Pyramid & Sphinx

Deland, Florida

Quality Inn - Deland

I-4 (S.R.44)

Deland, Florida 32720

Conveniently located on SR44 & I-4

Between Daytona Beach & Orlando

 

Purr

Skydome

Skydome

Where the world comes to play!  Toronto's exciting new stadium is the first to have a retractable roof.  This roof will cover 8 acres at a height that would permit a 31-storey apartment building to fit inside.  Opening in June 1989, the Skydome will be home to Toronto's major league baseball team.