High Island, TX, Smith Oaks Rookery, April, 2017

“The birds are relatively safe on the island from their usual predators such as coyotes and raccoons, because alligators patrol the moat around the island in search of these mammals. The alligator “guards” occasionally take birds also that get too close to the water, and eat chicks that fall from nests.” (Taken from the Houston Audubon Organization pamphlet.)

~

He rises up,

out of river,

plops himself down,

on the ground,

stalks his prey.

~

~

I don’t know why I was surprised when I looked down and saw this Alligator heading up the bank. He made his way under the roosting birds, finally going down the other side of the island. This is the first one I have seen at the rookery. Howard and I saw a total of three and I am sure there were more.

Hopefully, they don’t eat too many birds.

Happy Birding!