Manatee Watchers

Our campsite is on the canal that drains Lake Okechobee and there is a damn and lock there to controll the water level and allow boats to pass.  This is a Corps of Engrs site located at Ortona.  Bert and Pat are Manatee Watchers, volunteers that count and watch the Manatees as they pass through the lock, prime missions is to alert authorities of any sick, wounded, or tangled Manatees and get them assistance.  The Manatees go both directions thru the lock, are smart and wait patiently to pass when a boat goes thru.  Bert and his wife do this from Nov. thru April and get a free site for this period, 2 couples do this and work about 20 hrs a week, a good deal if you like to stay in one place all winter.

Pics, cormaronts preening their feathers, unidentified small bird, seems each cow has a bird friend, cow must be a good source of bugs for the egret, and the lock at Ortona. Got a new high ratio zoom lens camera, it can really bring distant items in close, like the little bird.  Campsite is large and beautiful, canal is right behind site.