NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: JohnBrew on March 02, 2016, 14:43:33

Title: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: JohnBrew on March 02, 2016, 14:43:33

I know it is not officially Spring yet, but the alligators and turtles don't seem to care. "The Swamp" is the name we use for the Audubon Swamp at Magnolia Gardens, just outside of Charleston. D810, 300 f4.

Title: Re: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: Jakov Minić on March 02, 2016, 14:56:11

A prime example of how turtles and alligators get along :)
Now all we have to do is apply the same principles on humans and humans  ;D

Title: Re: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: Frank Fremerey on March 02, 2016, 15:02:56

Another lesson learned:

1) Crocodiles do not eat Turtles

OR

2) Turtles queue for being eaten.

OR:

3) Crocodiles play referee at turtle jumping contests.

Great shot. Food for thought

Title: Re: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: PeterN on March 02, 2016, 16:03:17

Quote from: Frank Fremerey on March 02, 2016, 15:02:56

Food for thought

or thought of food?

And I agree, wonderful photo

Title: Re: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: Jan Anne on March 02, 2016, 18:00:02

Quote from: Frank Fremerey on March 02, 2016, 15:02:56

Another lesson learned:

1) Crocodiles do not eat Turtles

Crocodiles do, but their alligator cousins apparently are more choosy  ;D ;D

Title: Re: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: Peter Connan on March 02, 2016, 18:40:19

I think Crocodiles are perhaps a bit like Red Indians.

The westerners used to say "it's not the Indian you see that you need to worry about".

Title: Re: Spring at "The Swamp"
Post by: JohnBrew on March 02, 2016, 19:29:06

Thanks for the replies and comments. The alligators crawl up on these platforms or the bank to bask in the sun after they have eaten. They need the heat to digest their food. So, having eaten, they pose no threat to the turtles. Gators will eat turtles but the turtles must be size appropriate. The larger gators will eat anything. This is a juvenile gator pictured and these turtles are too large for it to eat. Give it a few more years...
I almost stepped on these two - the gravel is the path. They are three feet long.
On another visit to the swamp I counted 17 in an adjacent pond. But the real lure of the swamp is the bird life - great white egrets, ibis and the great blue heron abound. There are so many nests and birds the noise is incredible. Also cormorants, anhinga, eagles and all sorts of hawks and varieties of heron and ducks live in some sort of harmony although I have witnessed a few territorial fights.