Some Pictures From Gulf Island State Park: Must See!

[true_notes]

Hey Du'ers

I'm currently working on an photo journal of the recovery of the ecological systems down here on the gulf coast. I'm hoping environmental groups will take what I am seeing and run with it, because the only other outfit that is doing research down here is Miss. State.

Anyway, this trip was great. I Hiked the swamp and forest in the search of life coming back to the marshes and wetlands around here. You see, life was scant months after the storm, because of the ecological washout that occured. However, wildlife is returning here like it is a "city" of sorts.

Shale crabs burrow deep into the ground and only come out during the daylight heat to try and find ground roving insects and small fish in the water to feed on.



This little guy gave me a good shot, and then scurried underground from beneath the hot sun.

Cranes and Starks are coming back in great numbers due to a good nesting season. I observed these feeding in the swamp.



Gators were affected greatly by both man and the storm. While walking along the bank I observed a gator swimming towards the shore. I then waited and grasped the opportunity to snap it's picture. Very graceful animals, well deserving of the attention they get.



A crane lighting into a new hunting area. Great fishing for these guys since the bay was reopened by Katrina to the Gulf of Mexico.

I hope you enjoyed what little I could give you. My better pictures are on film, because I must send them in for approval.

Today's hike is dedicated to Steve Irwin, a true champion to animals and the ecosystem. We'll miss you, a voice on the right side. Peace be with you and your family Mr. Irwin.

[knowbody0]

1. Thanks for these really hopeful pictures

What a fun project.

I lived under the ash of Mt.St.Helens. Complete and utter destruction. It looked like the results of a Nuclear war. The world was black and white, shades of grey. Very surreal and haunting. But when life sprouted through these ashes, it was the most brilliant green you could imagine. Our planet is amazing.

[OwnedByFerrets]

2. I was down there this weekend

and have been seeing signs that things are slowly coming back to some semblance of normalcy.

[Lisa]

3. wow! this is very interesting!

I hope there are going to be some long-term ecological studies, like at Mt. St. Helens and Yellowstone. I was reading the 10-year report for the British "hurricane" of the late 1980s, and they had the surprising conclusion that the woodlands which had been artificially cleared of windthrown trees actually took longer to recover than the ones which had just been left.

[true_notes]

9. Miss. State out of Hattiesburg

has in fact set up an experiment down here. The professor at the outpost told me it will be a 5 year evolution and a total of 20 posts will be manned until the cycle is over.

Interesting.

[nealmhughes]

4. I wonder how Bon Secour made out? My son spent a good month there

tagging birds a couple of years ago, I know Bayou La Batre was torn up, I hope Bon Secour is OK.

[Olney Blue]

5. Thank you for these beautiful reminders of your region.

[true_notes]

6. Thanks Guys

The more I go there, the more I fall in love with this habitat. It's so full of animals and plants.

Alabama's ecosystems are actually restoring more quickly than the rest of the Gulf Coast, due to a limited human factor. Gulf Islands State Park is literally surrounded by urban sprawl. These creatures are at people's doorsteps every day.

[Judi Lynn]

7. They are beautiful critters. How can people NOT feel protective

of such truly helpless animals in a very wild, dangerous world? It's beyond me.

How still and dead the world would be without them. Thank you.

[true_notes]

8. The Gator was Especially Great

Because he not only minded me observing him, he even fed on some frogs for me right in front of my eyes. I was literally a "fly on the wall" as he was feeding. I didn't intrude, or make any threatening motions, I just watched. It was simply amazing, and I will never forget that experience. It was certainly a thrill being only 3 to 4 feet away from a beast like that.

I also came across some beautiful Monarch butterflies that I wish I had snapped, but I ran out of space, and before I looked up again, they were gone. Nature certainly has her ways, and that's what keeps me outside.

[OwnedByFerrets]

17. Unfortunately, they are now a "hunted" species in

Alabama. :mad:

[Jcrowley]

10. Those are beautiful

Life finds a way.

[EstimatedProphet]

11. Who's doing the research for Mississippi State? I likely know some of them

Beautiful pix BTW. I miss the gulf coast marshes.

[true_notes]

12. Not Sure.

I just spoke with some students, nothing to in depth. Just chatted about the effects and the wildlife.

[EstimatedProphet]

13. Ah. Cool.

[Javaman]

14. If left to it's own devise, the earth will heal itself...

It just us pain in the ass humans keep getting in the way.

[bleever]

15. Proud to send this to the Greatest page.

Thank you for this post.

[intheflow]

16. Which part of Gulf Islands did you go to?

I'm in Biloxi and have been enjoying the photographic opportunities, as well.

gecko


Gator at Gulf Islands in Ocean Springs, MS


tree frog


osprey and nest


pelican, blue heron, and snowy egret (I think?)


Another great blue heron


PM me if you ever plan to come to the Ocean Springs Gulf Islands Seashore, I'd love to have a photo friend to shoot with. :hi: