tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77289676911095593842024-03-12T21:36:24.897-04:00Jungle Pete's Earthbound"World famous" wildlife biologist Pete Corradino explores the swamps and marshes of the Everglades and gives a visual tour of the world's greatest wetland.Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-26551041419552979892020-04-01T11:21:00.000-04:002020-04-01T11:21:00.211-04:00An Earthstar is Born
It hasn’t rained in Southwest Florida in a month but I let the kids play in the hose a few nights ago. The result was the emergence of Hygroscopic Earthstars. They are not technically true Earthstars but who cares. They’re just as cool. The hose water gave the fungus just enough moisture to grow fruiting bodies which you see here.
They have a symbiotic relationship with the Live Oak Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-45967486609444125372016-09-01T08:15:00.001-04:002016-09-01T08:15:51.318-04:00You want to own your own company? Start digging.
As of 9/1/2016 I will no longer work for the Everglades Day Safari. This may come as a shock, a pleasant surprise or be met with raging indifference. I will officially be the owner of Everglades Day Safari and here's how it happened.
The first job I ever had lasted one day. I was 13 and was a babysitter for three kids. I don't remember their names but I remember kicking a ball around inside theJungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-12953309824996523912014-02-23T22:15:00.001-05:002014-02-23T22:16:44.007-05:00Death by Glochids (by CJ Moi)<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-12088680976113693632013-09-27T09:53:00.000-04:002013-09-27T09:53:00.826-04:00Help me help a friend fighting ovarian cancer
I have a favor. My friend Michele has been battling ovarian cancer for nearly 2 years. After a second round of chemotherapy, a CT scan today offered positive news and we hope that she continues to improve. The ordeal has taken a physical, emotional and financial toll which is why her friends have set up a fundraiser event this Saturday to help where the insurance companies could not.Whether youJungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-79727860683099012182013-06-22T13:46:00.001-04:002013-06-22T13:46:54.866-04:00Lost & Found at Wendy'sMy good friend Rebecca recalled a story from her childhood of finding "monkey" in a bag at Wendy's. This story dovetailed well (or at least like a Peregrine Falcon soaring talons first into a dove) with a story from my childhood of my family walking out of a Wendy's and leaving an ape in a bag for a moment. Follow the link and enjoy.
http://meanlouise.com/?p=7926
Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-79668473069163588222012-11-23T14:45:00.000-05:002012-11-23T14:45:00.182-05:00Mission: Impossible – the Ground Beetles
Originally published on Audubon Guides on September 4th, 2012
My mother, a park ranger, once held out a cone from an unknown tree and asked a state forester if he knew which tree it came from. “Some kinda conifer”, he answered, as if that was sufficient. He wasn’t wrong. The cone did come from a coniferous tree, but the answer was as helpful as saying “food” when someone asks “what’s for Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-7011268233447500042012-11-21T15:29:00.000-05:002012-11-21T15:29:00.575-05:00What Not To Lick – The Southern Toad
Originally published on Audubon Guides on October 8th, 2012
I had a
dream about the game show Family Feud the other night. The one hosted by
Richard Dawson, the guy that kissed all of the ladies.
He said “One
hundred people surveyed, top five answers on the board. Here’s the question:
name me something you lick.”
I couldn’t
think. I panicked. Frozen flag poles. Lobsters. Newborns (no Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-79860554085070353952012-11-18T15:18:00.000-05:002012-11-18T15:18:00.164-05:00Wishful Thinking - the Florida Panther
Originally published on Audubon Guides on September 24th, 2012
Twenty
seven squirrel monkeys lived on an island at the Florida Monkey Sanctuary in
Venice, Florida. They had no interest in swimming to freedom. There was no land
close enough on the other side of the encircling moat that offered a chance to
leap to. They were content on their island oasis.
My
parents ran the sanctuary and we Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com12170-2498 Ewing Dr, Venice, FL 34292, USA27.119646317338841 -82.38647460937527.063104817338839 -82.465438609375 27.176187817338842 -82.307510609375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-82129611762533456012012-11-16T15:25:00.000-05:002012-11-16T15:25:00.198-05:00Catch Me If You Can – The American Oystercatcher
Originally published on Audubon Guides on October 1st, 2012
Catching
an oyster only seems difficult to me if you’re tossing one around with your kid
in your backyard. For a predator the difficulty is not chasing one down but
prying one apart once they’ve located it. The two sides of the bivalve’s shell
are bound together by an adductor that protects them from prying intruders.
Hopefully.
Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com150 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, USA26.464483886305654 -81.96805000305175826.462706886305654 -81.970517503051752 26.466260886305655 -81.965582503051763tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-32360681755185376262012-11-14T15:13:00.000-05:002012-11-14T15:13:00.190-05:00Flip Flop - the Coconut PalmOriginally published on Audubon Guides on September 17th, 2012
One of
the quickest ways to make an enemy of a native Floridian is to suggest that the Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) is not native to Florida. The fastest way is
to drive slowly in the fast lane. The iconic palm is found throughout the
tropics and grows along Florida’s coast from the middle of the state south
through the Keys. As a Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-38355760208217860892012-11-11T15:09:00.000-05:002012-11-11T15:09:00.035-05:00When in Drought – The Roseate Spoonbill
Originally published on Audubon Guides on September 10th, 2012
I could be a meteorologist in Florida. In May the
weather forecast is a chance of rain through November. The rainy season
coincides with the tropical storm season. A nice afternoon rain shower is par
for the course on any given day.
Lake Trafford is a 1600 acre inland lake in
northeast Collier County. It’s been called the Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-33941911696245642062012-11-08T15:04:00.000-05:002012-11-08T15:04:00.554-05:00Hurriconundrum - The White Ibis
Originally published on Audubon Guides on August 25th, 2012
On Sunday, August 26th,
Tropical Storm Isaac loomed 150 miles southwest of me in the Gulf of Mexico.
For five days, hurricane trackers had forecast the storm’s position and
strength and offered suggestions of where it might hit. Flooding, storm surges
and high winds are a big concern. When the call goes out to evacuate, it’s time
to Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0Everglades, FL, USA25.8582443 -81.385069525.8296668 -81.4245515 25.8868218 -81.3455875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-79386916277404232902012-11-05T14:57:00.000-05:002012-11-05T14:57:00.219-05:00Walking on Sunshine – The Sunray Venus
Originally published on Audubon Guides on August 20th, 2012
The gulf coast beaches of Florida are famed for the
amazing seashells that wash ashore. Scallops, conchs, whelks, pen shells,
turkey wings and a myriad of others become treasures to tourists and locals who
are no doubt entranced by the variety of colors and shapes these sea creatures
come in. What is easy to overlook, is what is Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-13703382205914943112012-11-02T14:51:00.000-04:002012-11-02T14:51:00.601-04:00Fence Me In
Originally published on Audubon Guides on August 13th, 2012
Traveling across the Everglades, a motorist will see
signs that caution “panther crossing”, and “wildlife on roadway”. Speed limits
are reduced at night to protect nocturnal species. Hundreds of miles of fences
stretch from one side of the state to the other. Wildlife is often observed
behind the fence and one might wonder if you’reJungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-1598511486691166612012-10-31T15:32:00.000-04:002012-10-31T15:32:00.478-04:00Undertaker – The Crested Caracara
Originally published on Audubon Guides on October 14th, 2012
Throughout
Florida’s rural landscape, thousands of miles of asphalt scars bisect
pasturelands and create obstacles for every species of wildlife including
rodents, frogs, owls, pigs, bears, panthers and so many more. A desolate
wilderness is not a promise of safe harbor and the roadsides are often littered
with carcasses of the quickJungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-88730477238512494602012-10-28T14:24:00.000-04:002012-10-28T14:24:00.804-04:00iPed Shuffle – The Southern StingrayOriginally published on Audubon Guides on July 30th, 2012
From May through October, anyone heading into Florida’s coastal waters is encouraged to do the “stingray shuffle”. This Frankenstein’s monster-like gait stirs the underwater sediments and frightens the bottom dwelling rays into taking off. No doubt this aquatic march is a Sand Dollar’s (Echinarachnius parma) worst Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com150 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, USA26.464022866039095 -81.96783542633056626.462245866039094 -81.970302926330561 26.465799866039095 -81.965367926330572tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-4778469073912479502012-10-25T14:17:00.000-04:002012-10-25T14:17:00.041-04:00Suckers – The Common Octopus
Originally published on Audubon Guides on July 23rd, 2012
A friend
called me the other day and asked me why we don’t have octopuses in Florida.
“Why?” I questioned. Apparently someone she knew was going snorkeling on the
reefs in Biscayne National Park off the coast of Miami. The woman was deathly
afraid of octopuses and wanted to make sure the world beneath the waves was
devoid of the Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com01598 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA27.3329089 -82.577496427.3311459 -82.5799639 27.3346719 -82.5750289tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-81508131877132218562012-10-23T14:34:00.000-04:002012-10-23T14:34:00.381-04:00Olympic Wake Zone – The West Indian Manatee
Originally published on Audubon Guides on August 6th, 2012
Who wouldn't tune in to watch a showdown between the “slow moving”, baked potato-shaped West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) and an Olympic gold medalist swimmer? Few people would put money on the bulbous beast to win a race against any human let alone an Olympian, the fastest of which can swim Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-48135635654471857772012-10-22T14:11:00.000-04:002012-10-22T14:11:00.550-04:00Ghost Hunters, Part IV
Originally posted on Audubon Guides on July 16th, 2012
My companions take the first step into the duckweed (Lemna valdiviana) covered muck. It stirs slightly and closes
back in over the black water as they wade out into the slough. “Something moved
in the water” one of them says. “Probably a snake”. I’ve seen Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) out here in the past, most notably one
that Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com024303 Turner River Rd, Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, FL 34141, USA25.967922229034048 -81.249389648437524.133274729034049 -83.7762451484375 27.802569729034047 -78.7225341484375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-9722499231217811362012-10-20T14:06:00.003-04:002012-10-20T14:39:13.534-04:00Ghost Hunters, Part III
Originally posted on Audubon Guides - July 9th, 2012
Fear is an acceptable emotion that can lead to a
heightened sense of awareness and ultimately protect one from a potential
threat. I’m not afraid of ghosts. Nor am I afraid of seeking them but there are
situations involved in the hunt that make you pause and consider that what you
are doing is extremely dangerous and each step must be made Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-63776943286894345102012-07-31T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-31T07:00:01.937-04:00Bite the Hand That Feeds You
Recently, an Everglades airboat captain lost his
hand to an American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) during
a tour. Feeding, harassing or molesting alligators is punishable with a maximum
fine of up to $500 and 60 days and jail. Losing your limbs or your life is an
additional punishment for bad behavior.
In all of my years in the Everglades I have seen
people do some dumb things Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com4Everglades, FL, USA25.8582443 -81.385069525.843955299999998 -81.4048105 25.8725333 -81.3653285tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-39210866586119850872012-07-29T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-29T07:00:07.029-04:00Great Lengths - The Green Heron
As I ride my bike back to my house, I have one hand
on the handle bars and one delicately cradling a Green Heron (Butorides virescens) that is thankfully
behaving.
The bird is beautiful with deep green plumage on its
head and back, rusty-colored feathers around the neck, a long pointed beak and
a deceivingly long neck. From a riverside perch, Green Herons can extend their
neck great lengths Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com13420 32nd St W, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971, USA26.643162637048341 -81.69485092163085926.62897063704834 -81.714591921630856 26.657354637048343 -81.675109921630863tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-4815876179774201562012-07-27T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-27T07:00:14.525-04:00Flowers for Father's Day
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a nine-mile long,
third of a mile wide, linear strand of forest in Fort Myers, Florida. I assume
the name “Nine Mile Cypress Slough Preserve” had already been taken. The
2500-acre preserve is home to a remarkable diversity of plants and wildlife,
many of which can be seen on a two and half mile boardwalk.
Florida Butterfly Orchid © Pete Corradino
My Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com2Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7791 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966, USA26.5704281 -81.826264226.556226600000002 -81.8460052 26.5846296 -81.8065232tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-82565520244359574942012-07-25T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-25T07:00:07.733-04:00Aves Non Grata - The Blue-footed Booby
I pushed
my sister off the roof our house once. I meant no harm. We were simply filming
what we expected would be the big winner on America’s Funniest Videos. When her
cue came and she didn’t jump, I pushed her. That’s what big brothers do. She
was fine. Anyway I have two more sisters where that one came from.
Booby with chick © Pete Corradino
Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii) are Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com0Isla Plata, Manabi, Ecuador-1.2782401 -81.0699462-1.7862251000000002 -81.7016602 -0.77025510000000008 -80.4382322tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728967691109559384.post-64049299717090913972012-07-23T07:00:00.000-04:002012-07-23T07:00:08.560-04:00Pacific Piracy - The Magnificent Frigatebird
© Pete Corradino
To take from others that which is not yours would seem an
easy way to acquire any number of things. Treasure comes to mind. Regurgitated
squid as well. As long as men have sailed the oceans there have been pirates
plundering the belongings of others and as long as birds have taken to the
skies, there have been certain species that would steal rather than hunt on
their own. Jungle Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09917181815272611859noreply@blogger.com1Isla Salango, Ecuador-1.5996784 -80.8626864-1.6631684 -80.9416504 -1.5361884 -80.7837224