As I mentioned yesterday, there’s more to Sunken Gardens than just plants. Flamingoes have been an important part of this oasis since they were put on display in 1955.

According to signage, the Turner family drove to Miami in a station wagon to pick up the first flock. The Turner kids rode in the back with the large birds, which honked, grunted, and growled their displeasure all the way to St Petersburg. It’s a 4 hour drive today but back then it was at least a 6 hour trip (due to slower speeds and smaller roads) – can you imagine?!

It was worth the effort because the birds were a huge hit with tourists. Over the years the menagerie grew as more exotic birds, pygmy goats, and even monkeys were added. Things are quieter in the Gardens these days as only flamingoes and a dozen other rescue birds remain.

In 2016 the current flamboyance of Chilean Flamingoes moved in. They seem well-acclimated to our hot weather as they went about the important business of bathing, preening, feeding, and pursuing mates. After all these years, the flamingoes are definitely still a hit with tourists! 🦩

My friend Hector was just recently in town for a couple days so, of course, I drug him out to my favorite place, Treasure Island, a couple times. While Hector and I were walking the beach Monday morning I noted this American Oystercatcher.

They are striking avians on their own but I was particularly fascinated by this one since it was banded. After a bit of online digging, I learned that a research study started back in 2013 to assess and monitor the welfare of this species. The overall number of these large and showy shorebirds has declined and, if this continues unabated, they could soon be listed as a Threatened Species.

Thankfully, the bird was tolerant and allowed me to capture a few photos with my phone. They were good enough that I was able to determine the “triangular” code of the color bands on the bird’s upper legs (the metal band on the lower leg is only meant to be read when the bird is recaptured or found deceased).

I used this information to file a band sighting report online with the American Oystercatcher Working Group. I had hoped to learn more about “my bird” from the data set collected when it was originally banded (age, sex, etc.) but I couldn’t find that anywhere on the website. I was at least able to determine that it was banded up in Massachusetts within the last ten years.

Here’s hoping this bird (and the rest of the species) live long and prosper!

Last time I went adventuring I left you in the middle of nowhere. As hard as it might be to imagine in Florida these days (with the fastest growing population in the country), there are still some undeveloped areas (thankfully).

Though in this case, it wasn’t from lack of trying. Settlement in the Withlacoochee forest began shortly after the Orange Belt Railway was built in the late 1800s.

This whistle-stop, which the railroad optimistically named Richloam, was marketed to settlers as fertile farmland (hence the name). But just because the land had been clearcut by lumbermen didn’t mean it was suitable for crops.

Nevertheless, the community slowly grew. In 1922 Sid Brinson built a post office and general store. Though I wouldn’t call it civilized at that point, it was still remote and a bit lawless. Once, while residents were fighting over a dog, they shot the local sheriff (at least they didn’t shoot the dog).

In 1928 the Richloam General Store and Post Office burned down during a robbery. Sid rebuilt his store but it didn’t last much longer. Making a living in the area was a struggle since the timber was gone and it was difficult to get crops to the faraway markets.

The Great Depression exacerbated the situation. To the point that in 1936 the US Land Resettlement Administration bought out many of the families and helped them relocate to more prosperous areas of the state.

Over the next few decades the forest slowly erased much of the settlement. In 1973 John Brinson (a relative of Sid’s) acquired the old storefront. The family reopened the general store in 2016. A year later the Richloam General Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the town’s only remaining building.

The day I visited, my car was the only one in the parking lot. It looked closed but the sign said open so I ventured in. It was like stepping back in time, the store sells a little bit of everything (as a good general store should). I purchased a couple household items, a gift, and an ice cream cone (hey, it was summertime and it was hot outside).

The cashier said the family is expanding the store and will have a little cafe soon. Might be worth a return trip next time I need to get away from civilization!