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Prairie fox squirrels are often seen in the
middle of the day. These unusual color phases of the eastern fox squirrel love
the pecan grove at the Donavan Inn. |
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Hay cutting days provide great birding as the raptors,
vultures, and many other birds feed on numerous rats, snakes, and insects that
are rousted from their lairs in the thick grass.
The sky is usually
full of big birds fighting for the pieces of rats and snakes that the cutters
churn up. It was wonderful to see an adult Swallow-tailed kite gliding above
the cut hay. This large black and white bird with the long forked tail is rare
and it is only the second one that I have seen (Thomas Wilson, 29 July, 2004)
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 Photo by Todd Schneider, U. S. Fish and Wildlife (Georgia
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King Rails are often heard but seldom seen at Donavan
Lake. This photo shows a mating pair of King Rails and thier 9 black chicks. I
know the birds are small in this photo, but, show me another photo of a pair of
King Rails with chicks.
P.S.- Members watched the
rails grow to adults as they feed and played in the reeds beside the fishing
piers. |
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About 30 pair of Canada geese raise their young each
year at the Donavan Club. It is a joy to watch the complete episode of geese
"family" activities. We watch the fights for the females, nest building, egg
laying, incubation, hatching of the goslings, and then the wonderment of the
mated pair teaching the little ones about life on the water. |
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| "Gander" is the Sturdivant Pier pet goose. Gander
is a friendly goose that follows members around like he is part of the group.
Judy and Joe Elliott from Brent are Gander's adopted fishing partners.
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Gander's mate is a Chinese goose and it is fun to watch
them raise their goslings on Donavan Lake. |
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| This Black Swan appeared on Donavan Lake in April of
2005. This swan is an Asian species that must have escaped from a zoo or
garden. It is a friendly bird and seems to enjoy being with Gander and the
ducks. |
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