I don't claim to be an expert on 'all things Florida'. I just wander around this beautiful state (mostly in North Central Florida), taking photos and then pouring over identification books and searching online to educate myself on what I've seen.
But it is very nice when you see something and find out, you did indeed see what you thought you saw!
I'll give you a nice link HERE to read facts and information on the Manatees.
Most of the websites I found that give more details are newspaper articles that let you view it one time and then asked for you to subscribe. So I won't give those links.
So what did we think we were seeing?
It looked like a Manatee had beached itself.
It swam to the shallow waters and was on the sand, with a lot of the body exposed.
What was it doing? From what I read and can understand....it was mating season.
The female can be pursued by a mating herd and she may try to beach herself to get away from them all.
They splish and splash and push to release her from the sand and then they do what manatees do and then they all swim away as fast as the eye can follow! So that's what we saw.
We thought at first the one manatee that was beached was in trouble. And the others were trying to help. OK! That's one way to put it. I think it all ended up just fine but it was an interesting sight to witness. I read in some of the newspapers that people will call to report a manatee in distress when this happens. We watched until everyone was back in the water though so we weren't worried.
This all took place on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail looking out into the Gulf of Mexico.
When you could look away....
an Anhinga and 2 Ibis were flying overhead!
Amazing!
White Ibis
Do you have a good weekend planned?
38 comments:
I have never seen a Manatee, much to my chagrin. They are enchanting creatures.
...and some of the experts don't seem to experts either!
It's good to know some people still worry and care about the creatures around them. Luckily, this was normal behavior for the Manatee. :)
I have photos of mating butterflie IN THE AIR WHILE FLYING and mating frogs and lizards but no mating Manatees. they are so beautiful and this is amazing to see and hear about.... now you have a smiling dolphin and a smiling manatee. whats next. how about mating crocodiles???? have you hear them ROAR?
Interesting info on the Manatees.
Beautiful birds!
Have a blessed day!
We read so much about Manatees and it all seems so grim for them and they are portrayed as almost mythical creatures, but you show us that they are very real and yet still a bit mysterious.
Hello,
Wonderful series on the Manatees, they are so cute. I love their faces.
I saw them a few times at Merritt Island NWR. Great captures of the Ibis and Anhinga. Great post and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
Now that must have been an experience!
from the little i know and have read, the manatee seem to be very docile creatures. i have seen them in captivity but never in the wild, what a wonderful experience!! i am going to come back and read about them by clicking on the link you shared. your flight images are awesome, you are good with the camera!!
i live at the jersey shore. we can't go anywhere over a holiday weekend. everything is so crowded and there is so much traffic, we will be staying home. perhaps we will wonder over to my nieces for a hot dog on monday, but otherwise, it's just too crazy here on any weekend!!
Wow! How exciting to see the manatee and great info ~ wonderful photos and such a treasure you shared ~ thanks ~ Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I love to see the Manatees. They seem to be such gentle creatures.
What a great event to see. Nature is full of such interesting things when we take the time to stay and watch. Lovely birds overhead, too.
That is so cool. What wonders you get to see there in Florida!
Observing animal behavior is really fascinating and you captured a lot of the fun of it in your write-up. I think everyone loves manatees, but there's a lot of human behavior that doesn't do them any good -- on the contrary!
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Beautiful Manatees images, love them.
What peculiar animals. Thanks for sharing.
Love the white Ibis too.
Happy weekend! 🌈
Oh dear, uncomfortable for the female, and folks not knowing the goings on. Sorry, I laughed. lol Neat to see manatees though.
Like you, I don't claim to be an expert in my beautiful home. But I do love to learn and share just as you've done so beautifully today. Best wishes for a great weekend!
Such wonderful creatures! They seem so gentle.
A good catch, I would say!! Thanks for sharing!!
This is fascinating. Thank you for sharing it. I've never seen a manatee apart from nature documentaries. What magnificent creatures. I love the way you tell it, too!
That was sort of what I was thinking. Fascinating for sure and I am glad that it all worked out in the end.
Wow, mad manatee mating! The drive to reproduce is powerful.
Although I am first and foremost a "birder", if I could visit Florida, I would seek out manatees. They are such a fascinating animal, slightly prehistoric and so big. It seems they are in the middle of the breeding season too. Even manatees have to have babies!
You are luck to see the manatee and thank you for sharing.
I think this was a great experience to see them the manatees.
Here in the Netherlands you only see these animals in the zoo.
Greetings Irma
If I WERE the female manatee, I'd be in distress too! (Kidding)...great series and narration Diane.
And ... great birds in flight
Have a terrific week ahead, and thanks for sharing your link. Happy birding!
Enchanting and thanks for the background info.
I googled ... and found 'Rundschwanzseekühe'. Wow, what a wonderful surprise. It must be magic to see them live.
Thank you for sharing. Have a good week.
Hugs, Heidrun
I'm here
https://happy-hour-with-picts.blogspot.com/2022/05/in-voller-blutenpracht.html?m=1
Deares Diane,
did I get it right - you saw a manatee mating? Fantastic! We've only seen manatees in zoos so far, I think one of the zoos was even in Florida. You could watch the animals through a glass wall in the water. When we were in Jamaica we wanted to go to a place to see manatees in the wild, but the road there was so bad that we couldn't go any further. I was very sad about that, because they are magical creatures. Your bird photos are great too!
Have a pleasant new week and a good start into June!
Love (and I read in your comment at Yvonne's blog that you need a hug - you'll get it from me! A very warm one!),
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/05/italien-reisebericht-cortona-mit.html
How exciting to see a manatee in the wild, Diane! I've only seen them in aquariums. They are such gentle creatures.
Awesome photo's. How cool you got to watch that. I had no idea, and probably would have thought they were in danger.
Sandy's Space
Wonderful getting to see the manatees in shallow water and thankfully it was nothing serious. Beautiful birds too.
I really enjoyed this interesting post and am always amazed at the great photos you capture. I live in South Florida and recently we saw a manatee from the beach. It had come in close enough for us to get a really good view which is not usually the case. Thanks for the information - maybe she was trying to escape the males too.
Isn't Nature amazing?
You go out for a stroll to maybe see a few birds and you find Manatees!
Great post showing how diverse the Sunshine State can be.
How amazing to see the manatee, good information too.
All the best Jan
They *were* helping --- to preserve the species ))). This was such an interesting post -- we see quite a few manatees every year, but I have never seen their mating behavior and in fact had no idea about their "rituals"....thanks so much for doing the research and as well as your excellent pictures!
Me ha parecido muy interesante. Besos.
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