Are you familiar with the infamous plume trade that supplied the millinery industry just over 100 years ago? This sign at the entrance to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, near Naples, Florida, provides a glimpse into the history behind this practice . . . and, this incredible place. I cringe to think about it, but literally millions of […]
Tag Archives: Snowy Egret
In a few days we will celebrate Rosh HaShana, the Jewish New Year. The holiday liturgy includes the story of Chana, as told in the Tanakh (Jewish Bible). Chana is disconsolate because she is childless, and, in a powerfully emotional scene, she pours out her heart in prayer to God.Chana’s Song is her prayer of thanksgiving to God after she […]
My daughter and her boyfriend sent us this very special postcard [above] from their recent visit to the Muir Woods in California. I love the wonderful quote from John Muir, which reminded me why he was such a hero of mine years ago: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” Reading about John Muir‘s travels and his […]
Can we call a bird “genteel”?? This delicate little Snowy Egret at the Big Cypress National Preserve in the Everglades looked so graceful and elegant, in such an unaffected and unpretentious way, that somehow the word genteel came to mind 😉
While watching some of my fine-looking bird friends just before a rain shower the other evening, I got to wondering about the origin of the expression “fine feathered friends”. As a child, I learned from my father that we “look it up” if we want to find out about something. I recall running often to the bookshelf […]
This past week, our Shabbat Torah reading, which was the second portion of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), opened with one of the most poignant and moving statements ever made by the great leader Moshe Rabbenu (Moses). G-d has previously told Moshe that, despite Moshe’s great love for Eretz Israel, he will never enter the […]
I just love living so close to our wetland preserves and sanctuaries. So many miracles of creation – every outing is a joy~!
This quiet, serene little Sanctuary has just the most appropriate name! Every time I go there, I see very few people, but lots of birds. And everyone I talk to who goes there says they have the same experience. It is a very peaceful place indeed ~ Last week I stopped by in the late […]
I blogged last week about the Cattle Egret’s colorful transformation – here’s another look, above. This post includes a few more examples of how striking some of the other wetland birds look in March. This young Roseate Spoonbill is one of the all-time favorites. Although I’m not sure they are nesting in our area now, […]
Just as this lovely Snowy Egret lights up the evening with his brilliant white feathers, let us all share the light of Chanukah and this season to brighten up the world around us. “Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a celebration of a historical miracle. But no less significantly, Chanukah is the celebration of a […]
