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Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach-Another One of My Friends!

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Home Stager

Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach- Meet Another One of My Friends!


Black Bellied Whistling Duck

Meet the Black Bellied Whistling Duck!  ... I first met this beautiful duck when we moved back to Florida.  But now I don't have to see them to know they're around...... there's no mistaking their distinctive whistling sound as they fly over Green Cay.   

While found year-round in parts of southeast Texas, we've been fortunate enough to see increasing numbers of them here in South Florida, and in particular Green Cay in Boynton Beach.  You have only to luck up and see the white undermarkings of the wings, black belly and of course... that whistle!

I love how stately they stand, especially when guarding their wee ones.  And, being monogamous, you'll see both mom and dad sharing in "nestly" chores.  When babies are around, they will stand nearby, on the lookout for dangerous predators... alligators, raccoons, and larger birds!

While we often locate the nests of red winged black birds and moorhens, Whistling ducks are cavity nesters, so their nests are often in chimneys or hollowed trees.  

They are one of my favorite birds I get to see on my morning walks at Green Cay. 

Black bellied whistling duck

On the left you can see the unusual markings of the babies. 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments (26)

Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

Kathy - what an incredible picture!  I love the frame and colors.  You inspire us to work harder on our pictures.  Thanks.

Jul 27, 2011 12:23 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

BARFF I love meeting your other friends...........you are quite the "artist" with your photos and framing. 

Jul 27, 2011 12:52 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Kathy, looks like Florida is great place to get in touch with nature. Very nice photos!

Jul 27, 2011 01:11 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

You have such beautiful friends there in Florida, Kathy!  Congrats on the Feature!!!!

Jul 27, 2011 01:12 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Nature's creatures are beautiful and we have some of the most diverse creatures right here in Florida!

Jul 27, 2011 02:09 AM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Great photos. Must be nice to be able to take those morning walks and see these creatures of beauty!

Jul 27, 2011 02:11 AM
Sherri Berry
Reliant Realty, Murfreesboro - Murfreesboro, TN
Murfreesboro TN Homes & Real Estate

Good morning Kathy!  What a beautiful duck and a beautiful picture as well!  Thanks so much for sharing your amazing photographs & videos.

Jul 27, 2011 02:20 AM
Eileen Hsu
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

That is one distinctive looking duck.  The picture looks wonderful, it would be nice to have the ability to see wildlife like that on an everyday basis.

Jul 27, 2011 02:56 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Barbara- well the day is young!

Michael- it's so funny how the wee ones look so different from the mom.

Andrea- I count myself lucky every day!  The wee ones grow quickly so any chance we get to see them is a treat.

Valerie- their whistle is very distinctive and when you do hear them.. you stop and look up!

Lenn- I have to force myself sometimes to keep walking so I can get my aerobic pace in but there's just so much to be seen and miss if you don't stop.

Marco- yep.. I'd bet you do.  I'm still trying to get a shot of the large green parrots!

Barbara- Thank you... it's a ripple effect.. I've seen others framed here so followed them to Picnik.

BARFF- bring your camera down when you're here again!

Michael- it's one of the reasons we chose Florida.. year'round good weather and plenty of plant and animal life.

Sharon- thank you!!! I'd bet there are plenty of these interesting birds and wildlife when you come here to see your mom. 

Barbara-Jo- absolutely!  You learn to carry your camera with you. 

Gary- I have to take the walks to jump-start my day! (and it lets me do another favorite of mine.. eating!)

Sherri- Glad you could enjoy them.  We're hoping they stay around down here.

Eileen- When they stand tall by their babies, they look so majestic and stately.  

Jul 27, 2011 03:33 AM
Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Kathy - What a  wonderful array of wildlife you have in Florida. Very nice pictures and information. I had never heard of them before.

Jul 27, 2011 03:52 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Kathy, absolutely crystal clear and gorgeous photos...aren't we lucky to be surrounded by wildlife like this? I can't wait to get a decent camera again so that I can get some better close-ups of the waterfowl. And it's so terrific to get some background on these beauties and see how different they are when young. This one is a baby mallard taken July 4, 2011.

Fishhawk Lake Baby Mallard

Jul 27, 2011 05:00 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Lisa and Robert- although they're found a lot in south Texas, I never knew of them but they are so interesting. 

Gayle- love your framing!  When my other camera broke, I couldn't wait to get a replacement!  My Droid camera is good but can't replace a "real" camera.

Jul 27, 2011 06:42 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Beautiful pictures.  The babies are very unusual looking.  Amazing how different they look as grown ups!

Jul 27, 2011 08:19 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Kathy, you are so lucky to have this wonderful area to walk. The baby ducks look adorable.

Jul 27, 2011 12:16 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Now that's what I would call a good friend. Great photo.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jul 27, 2011 12:21 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Debra- that's so true... They look nothing like mom and dad.  I've never really seen them transitioning from that stage to adolescence.

Janice- I went by a moorhen nest today but where there was 4 eggs a few weeks ago, now there's only 1.

Lou- Right you are... hope to see you at the RAPB lunch!

Jul 27, 2011 02:03 PM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Kathy-Your photos are very good. I'd rank them up there with being as good as professional wildlife photographers. Do you or did you do that professionally?

Jul 27, 2011 02:13 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Wayne- you are too kind.  I am in no way a pro!  My dad dabbled in it and I do remember him teaching me about framing when you take the photo.  What I have found helpful is that Green Cay has an annual photo contest.  I attend the judging just to learn from the judges!  You really can learn a lot from them. 

Jul 27, 2011 04:18 PM
Judy Klem
Transition Stage LLC - Shelton, CT
Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties

Hi Kathy - How fun that these birds are so colorful and different from any others I've seen. They look like they have interesting personalities, just from the alert look of them. Cool photos!

Jul 28, 2011 01:44 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Judy- Oh I wish you could see them.  Even when they're just standing there they look so stately... they do stand out from the other ducks. 

Jul 28, 2011 02:43 PM