Reinforcing nests…
“There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.” – Robert Wilson Lynd
Adult Purple Gallinule and Juvenile
With long yellow legs and exceptionally-long toes, the Purple Gallinule paints the wetlands’ landscape with its handsome presence. Quite skittish in most settings, this species has adjusted to the presence of humans in the nearby Parque la Vegas in Portoviejo Ecuador. It joins a small cast of feathered occupants that claim this petite little man-made marsh not far from my apartment. (I suspect that it was built on earthquake rubble.) For the past two weeks I have visited the ‘segua’ often to record the rapid growth of the newest generation of Purple Gallinules.
Baby Gallinule, what big feet you have!
The better to scratch my itchy face with!
The new chicks provided a grand surprise when they made their appearance around the first of June, and I try to return often to record their growth. I’ve learned why sometimes the water lily leaves appear disturbed; the adults and juveniles search for and retrieve the sunken flower heads, fish them to the surface with their bills, break off the center then race while calling for the young ones to ‘Come eat!”
(Slideshow of Gallinules in perpetual motion!)
The babies also nibbled on Water Hyacinth flowers throughout the day – between feedings of the ripening fruits.
A week later the adults began foraging for a second prized morsel: Crayfish – aka ‘crawfish’ to a Southern girl! It took several photo sessions before I could identify what small item the birds guarded in their bills. The babies race to the parent bird, which breaks the crawfish into bite-sized morsels and doles them out much like a priest at communion!
Perpetually busy, the adults and juveniles work throughout the day, ferrying an increasing supply to the growing chicks. I feel quite blessed to have permission to loiter and photograph the birds while the parque remains off limits to the general population.
The subject of my recent pencil drawing needs no other preface! I present to you, “Purple Gallinule Chicklets.” For more images, go to the Instagram SIBLEYBIRDWATCHINGARTCONTEST.
The Chicklets – pencil
The babies are growing so fast that it’s time for a new portrait! These photos were taken yesterday. The chicklets are ‘growing’ into their big feet!
Will be back tomorrow for long-neglected correspondence w WordPress supporters. Thanks again to all of you lovely friends!
I can’t believe the legs on those little guys. Thanks for showing me something new to me, Lisa. Great artwork and photos.
Thanks, Don! Thanks for all of your comments and support.. The computer battery is all but dead so I’m sending this before it shuts down!
Don, all of your posts have been wonderful, your coffee with ‘Ali’ and the sensitive story for the Dennehy post – but this last one about your own history —– very tender and revealing – and so very appropriate for today’s times.
Thank you, Lisa. Stay safe and keep up making me happy when I read your posts.
If more people had such simple joys as yours, our world would be a happier place.. Keep spreading sunshine, dear friend!
Lisa, this whoLe post is marvelous and full of beauty and humor, beauty in the colors of the adult birds and of the flowers, humor in those enormous feet and the idea of grabbing some with your mouth that’s as big as your head and then eating it (or sharing it to eat.). Your drawing is as always delightful and it’s great to hear from you again so soon.
Stay well.
janet
Thanks, and I’m not surprised that you enjoyed the birds and flowers and humor! Your heron post is still on the screen/browser, as is the “I can’t Walk and one other! Although the images usually do not load, the text does, and until the next trip back I sometimes wonder what the images will be! I loved that ‘trip to the olive —‘ – the setting was so pretty!
You are finding beauty in your new location, and of course finding ways to stay positive. Your parents must be so comforted by your presence!
Oh, Lisa, thank you so much! My parents are loving having us here and mid-week our older daughter and husband from southern California are coming out for a short visit. That will be lovely. I’ll take them, or at least our daughter, to the Preserve so they/she can see it. I’ll take them to the olive mill as well. But all as early in the morning as possible, as it’s going to be hot all week (and probably the rest of the summer.) Our “summer” will come in fall. It’s a new way of living. 🙂 Be safe and healthy, my friend. Perhaps one day you’ll make it here and we can have coffee and meet a kindred spirit.
What a lovely week, and again your parents must be thrilled! The preserve and olive mill – quite the treat and comforting as well. Getting out early is always smart.
Here the temps range from about 70 for a low and maybe just maybe 90 every so often.. usually high 80’s is tops. Only when the humidity reaches above 80 is the temp stifling, and mold grows everywhere – even on the paintings!
Enjoy your time with your family and suffice to know that I am reading/watching and being a silent cheerleader!
The feet on those babies are astounding! I’m so glad you have the opportunity to be there photographing. Can’t wait to see more drawings.
Emilie! Yes, those baby feet are monster sized! When working on the photos of the ‘brand new’ babies, I thought, ‘If I drew or painted this, most people would think that my drawing was out of scale and just plain wrong.’ Sometimes a photo works much better.
Your last few posts are amazing, and I loved the story about speaking up – and then your hero’s approval later. It was great that the policeman asked if it was ok to stop by — that’s all that’s needed sometimes, to let others know that down deep we are all human – all connected, all wish for a better world.
Thank you for playing your own positive role!
We all have to quit being silent. Stand up to the bullies and racists.
yes, and it takes courage to step forward — yet it also teaches others that it’s not that hard.. thank you for doing what you do – in so many different ways! even the turtles thank you!
Astounding photography- thanks for sharing! and what camera/lens are you using?
Drawings you shared spot on and can’t wait to visit the contest site!
Thanks Lee! I use a Panasonic Lummix DMC Z200, which needs an ophthalmologist to clean the cataracts from the back side of the lens. Life in the humid tropical weather is hard on the camera!
It will be a joy to give you a personal tour of all of these beloved places! Shall I send a Great Egret to retrieve you?!!
I always feel I’m transported to another world when I enter your blog. You have a marvelous way of embracing the world of nature and preserving it within your photos and artwork. Brilliant, as always, my dear friend.
And you, dear friend, manage to transport us to places of calm, of healing, of comfort – and we leave with a little more knowledge as well as peace. Thank you so much for sharing your loves with us.
Hugs and more hugs!
They are so amazing. Their feet! Wonderful photos and drawing. Your drawings are so exquisite.
Alison
You always manage to put a smile on my face. Thank you!
Your posts of course are always a joy; a while back you posted some photos of ducks that were amazing. They stayed on the screen for weeks, and it’s my loss to be short on time to share that joy with you. Other posts of yours bring great surprises – one never knows what you’ll share, but it’s always THE BEST!
Awww thanks Lisa. Don’t remember the ducks but they were probably somewhere in Vancouver. Wood ducks maybe with bright colours.
A. xo
It was a mallard duck and amazing.. or maybe it was the wood duck… the colors so sharp and details so clear!
As you say, stunning!
Thank you, Hugh! With all that’s happening in the USA, you’re all probably happy to take a cyber trip to the middle of the world!
Happy Father’s Day! I’m still recalling that lovely narrative that your son shared with you. It needs a much-larger audience.
….ditto to everyone here. Your skill brings an empty white page into something living and breathing. What a gift, what a touch.
Thanks, and your past three posts of ‘the park’ are still on my screen; one has a comment to send — will be there hopefully later this session!
Wow! Just wow! You are soooo lucky! (and so are they! I’m hungry for crawdads, now…lol.) Thank you for the intimate peek into their beautiful lives. The photos are as stunning as the gorgeous birds!
Thank you, Anna, and your own drawings are exceptional. Those horses and the dust still burn in my memory – and then there are those amazing ‘nazca line’ zebras! Hope that your day is going well!
Reblogged this on Jude's Threshold and commented:
Such amazing photos!
As always, I am humbled. Thank you!
you’re so kind!
What a great study of these beautiful birds! I love the slide show.
Spent more time with them today, on the solstice.. The sun was bashful, but the birds were not!!!
Well, sometimes the sun just gets in your eyes, right?
It’s been so long since I’ve seen a gallinule…and even back when I could see them , it was very rare because they’re not exactly metropolitan NYC avian material. 🙂 How lucky you have been to watch the little ones – wow, they are hysterical! Your drawing is wonderful and as always, your close observations are so nice for me to see here. I hope all is well with you, apologies for being late again!
Yes, those little ones are so funny, and they are growing soooo fast! Today there was little hint of black ‘fuzz’ and they are already going from tan to having those subtle highlights of green and blue. wings still small but getting stronger, and they flap and stretch those wings a lot! i feel very lucky to be able to observe these birds, which are very skittish at poza honda. hope you had a nice day with the solstice!