Who else is out and about at Blue Spring

Wednesday March 6, 2013
Site 20, Blue Spring State Park
Orange City, Florida

 

Seems nobody had a much of an idea why we do the time change
but thanks for your comments and opinions on my semi-annual rant. 
It appears I didn’t make clear that I don’t care which one we use. 
Let’s just not change it.  If folks like more light at night
and getting up in the dark then let’s have DST all year round.
I know I’m beating my head against a brick wall. 
I’m just tired for a week trying to readjust.
Sounds like some others are too.

 

 

In spite of the later sunrise, my routine at Blue Spring has become to go out just after dawn, and check on the manatee. 

There isn’t a sunrise viewing spot here so I’ve switched from the sun at sunrise to the manatee at dawn.  I don’t think they care whether it’s light or dark. They are just going in and out from the spring run to their grasses in the river and lagoon. 

In the morning, many are resting but if I walk the entire boardwalk, by the end they are up and doing their playing and hugging and deep breathing.  While I’m walking along I also see other members of the Blue Spring community.  They all seem to get along just fine, including the gators.

Manatee are too big for gators to consider as food.  Manatee aren’t bird eaters, they are sea cows so the birds have no worries.  Manatee eat grass and a few other things, but a totally vegetarian diet.  Just shows how much you can weigh on a purely vegan diet. adults 1600 to 3000 lbs  :-)   Although, you’d have to eat 10% of your body weight a day as they do.

 

This gator is resting on the bank and the manatee are resting in the water near him.  Everybody's happy.

 

 

 

 

Do you know what a peduncle is?

As I near the mouth of the spring run I see the alligator swimming out into the St. John’s River right next to a manatee.  This is the manatee with the tracking device on its peduncle (how’s that for a fancy word  – thanks Paula).  A peduncle is the base of the tail right where it connects to the body.  Tracker is in front and above the gater.  There are two more manatee beyond him also swimming along.

 

peduncle – it’s fun to say.  Try it.

 

 

At the boat dock, I see quite a variety of residents and visitors.

 

These tilapia  are not native to this area but have found it a great place to increase their numbers substantially.  Apparently they have dug these holes for spawning. They look like they have on lipstick.  And in the waters closer to the spring, they look blue.

 

 

 

 

The cormorants are lined up at their post at the ‘no boats may enter’ barrier just beyond the fish holes.  Why are they lined up?  Who knows. 
Looks like the folks in the canoe have spotted the manatee.

 

 

 

 

Out on the river, every morning there are several sculling boats.   I wonder - is there a crew team at nearby Stetson University in Deland?

 

 

 

On the opposite side of the boat dock from the tilapia holes is this interesting stump which turns out to be a sunning baby alligator.

 

 

Across the river from the tilapia holes at the corner of the river and the end of the spring run, high up in the tree I see one of what I’m later told is a pair of bald eagles nesting there.

 

 

 

 

 

As I walk back up the spring run the turtles are out sunning and the great blue heron is on duty fishing. 

Possibly because fishing in the run is prohibited, there are a LOT of fish – gar, tilapia, mullet and others.  Judging from the numbers it seems the fish know about this no fishing.  And so do the birds.  In fact, there are a number of osprey who fish the river and from whom the eagles often steal their catch.   So in self defense the osprey have been seen more and more often fishing the spring run instead.   I see one today in fact.

  

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Once I pass the concession area there are fewer and fewer manatee up toward what here is called the spring boil.

 

 

I guess the water is warm enough down lower in the run and it is closer for the manatee to get out into the river and lagoon to feed.  There is no grass in the run.

The board walk winds through a beautiful hardwood canopy with views of the spring run at points all along it.

 

 

 

 

From the very top of the boardwalk, the vegetation has somewhat obstructed the view of the Spring Boil.  It’s the lovely green area to the left here.

 

 

The spring itself is a 110 foot deep cave.  As soon as they open it to swimming, the divers will be here too.

 

Eventually I walk back down the boardwalk at a slow saunter manatee like pace.

What a peaceful walk I’ve had this morning.  I look up into the blue sky puffy cloud day.  It’s a beauty for sure.

 

 

By the time I get back, the turkeys are leaving the picnic area and the park has opened for business.  

 

 

 

THE END