Chauvin. February 12

Swamp Tour with Annie Miller's Son's Swamp and Marsh Tours.  There were only four passengers. A little history first. Annie Miller aka Alligator Annie opened the very first Swamp Tours when she was 68. She had hunt and trapped to provide for her family before that. It was her grandson Mark who gave us the tour. 

He shared/taught copious amounts about the environment, the plants and animals, loss of land and history of the swamp and marches.

It had been extremely cold ( for Louisiana) for the last couple days. Mark was not sure we would see any alligators because of it. A bit disappointing I must say. He shared where his gators lived and their sizes. He names them and they will come when called. He feeds them raw chicken to befriend them.

He pointed out an eagles next with one of the adults present. Their original nest was destroyed by hurricane Ida in 2021.

Spanish Moss is a misnomer as it is neither Spanish nor moss. The First Nations called it Tree Hair which is more appropriate. It is an air plant.

There were Great White Egrets and there smaller version the Snowy Egrets. Which are native to the area.There are many invasive plants and animals introduced by humans.

Apple Snails and there poisonous eggs were dumped from aquariums. There are no native animals that eat the snails and of course not the eggs. However, a bird from Florida migrated on it's own and eats the snails and only the snails, no fish.

Then there are the Nutias- like muskrats. They are herbivores and eat the roots of marsh grasses. This contribute to loss of land.

I want to mention one more the Water Lily which is not a lily but a hyacinth which came from gold fish ponds. They are free floating plants that grow like crazy and are plugging up canals and bayou.

All this time we are looking for alligators Hope dwindling and then.

And closer

And even closer.

We saw two altogether

 One was about 1 1/2 years old and a 3 year old. Neither of them took the chicken offered to them. Mark is always trying to make new friends. 

I learned so many things but I'll stop.now.

                   🐊🐊🐊