We had an interesting guest on our tram tour at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden this morning. He didn't have much to say, but he was obviously ready to listen to Benard's and my spiel. We figured that out when even after we told him politely that the seats in the tram were for paying guests, he persisted in running along beside us as we headed out through the Garden.
In case you don't recognize our guest, he's a Cattle Egret, one of many different feathered friends that we see regularly as we travel through the Garden. My personal favorites are the families of Ibis that hang around the edges of the lakes. I love explaining to the guests that while the Ibis was once the sacred bird of Egypt, more importantly to Miamians, he is the mascot of the University of Miami's football team, the Hurricanes. Chosen because of his bravery as the last bird to leave when a hurricane is on the horizon, and the first to return when the hurricane is over. Bet you didn't know that!
One last word about our feathered friend this morning. . he apparently took my remark seriously about only paying guests allowed on the tram. A few minutes after we started the tour,Benard stopped the tram to explain about some tree or plant we were passing. Up trotted our egret, this time with a tiny live lizzard in his beak. I swear he was offering it to me as payment for his seat.
Who knows, maybe lizzards are coin of the realm in the Bird World. I was grateful he didn't ask for change. What can I tell you. Is it any wonder we love this incredible Garden so much????
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