Gatorland, Kissimmee, Florida

When good friends come to our neck of the woods, we try to take them where they want to go.  This time, with both of them being birders, Gatorland in Kissimmee was the location.  They had heard about the rookery that was teeming with Egrets, Herons, Anhingas and various other Florida birds, nesting within, at times, literally feet of the boardwalk.  They were eager to get there!

Upon arrival we immediately stopped at the first "pit", (a large water and alligator filled enclosure), to take pictures of the Great White Heron waiting there, amongst the alligators for a hotdog hand-out.  Note:  Hotdogs are sold to the customers to feed the alligators, but the birds find stealing them a real treat and sometimes a challenge.  We proceeded to see pretty much all of Gatorland, save the wetland boardwalk, which is new and not yet a picture taking adventure, (especially during the hottest part of the day).

The rookery was, as expected, full of photo opportunities.  There were nesting water birds of all kinds, (most in their breeding plummage), some with eggs in their nests and some with almost full grown chicks.  It was a fun watching the birds build their nests, fight over placement of the sticks and grouse to one another about all sorts of 'birdy issues'.



We love when our friends visit.  We wish that they'd come up more often!