PHOTOGRAPH

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)

Known as the “Snake Bird” for its long neck and the way it glides underwater as it hunts, the Anhinga is a mainstay of the coastlines throughout the southern United States, Central and South America. If you don’t see them darting through the water and stabbing fish with their piercing bill, you will likely see them nearby, at the waters edge, drying themselves out in the sunlight. They will perch in the top of a tree or wherever they can get some good rays, fanning out their wings and staying statuesque until they are warm and dry again. They must do this as they do not have waterproof feathers, unlike most water birds. Although this sounds like a cruel joke of Mother Nature, it is actually a benefit to them. Their dense bones and waterlogged feathers enable them to better maneuver themselves underwater to stalk their prey. They can sink in the water much easier and catch their next meal by total surprise.

They are often seen in the same areas and sometimes hunting alongside Double-crested Cormorants. To pick them apart simply look at their bills. The Anhinga has a dagger like bill, very straight, whereas the Cormorant has a downward facing hook at the tip of its bill.

LOCATION

Sanibel Island, FL

Sanibel Island is in southwestern Florida, off the coast of Fort Myers. The island seems to have been created, along with Captiva just north and connected by a short bridge, around 6,000 years ago. The first humans, the Calusa Indian Nation, arrived 3,500 years later.

Sanibel, the city, was formed in 1974. Home to Bailey Tract Wildlife Preserve, The J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge, Bowman’s Beach Park, and Tarpon Bay, all protected areas with abundant wildlife, preserving the natural areas has been a main focus of the city since its founding. Currently, around two-thirds of the island is fully protected from development.

It is also a sanctuary for shellers. Due to its geographic location and the currents that flow around the island, immense numbers of shells wash upon the shores.

Sanibel will always be a special place for me personally. I first visited Sanibel at a mere ten weeks old. From this place, I grew up learning about nature, animals, ecosystems, climate, and our home, planet Earth. When I was a child, we routinely saw Bobcats, 12-16 foot Alligators, and Spoonbill after Spoonbill after Spoonbill. Unfortunately, once abundant wildlife is harder to see unless you know where to look. Some of this change is due to development and the destruction of the habitat, mostly though, its due to our warming climate.

We tend to not think of this in the present moment, but some of these magnificent creatures that I photograph may not be around in another twenty years, much less 100. We must appreciate them while they are still with us.

Bailey Tract National Wildlife Refuge

Bailey Tract, about 100 acres of land on the interior of Sanibel Island, includes freshwater, and marshes Is replete with cattails, and brackish impoundments with mangrove islands, thus the ecosystem differs from other island locations. Dikes were constructed to create open water areas, attracting more species.

Bailey Tract is one of those places in the world where I have the fondest memories: Bobcats sleuthing across the trails, huge Alligators waiting in the water or sunbathing on the muddy banks, and bird after bird: Least Bitterns, Green Herons, Little Blues, on and on. Nowadays, it’s not quite the same.

Destruction befell the refuge from multiple hurricanes. Moreover, construction on the backside of the 100 acre plot has disturbed the once very tranquil atmosphere. I’m always excited to see a Bald Eagle and many different Ducks, but the days of enormous Gators and Bobcats may be gone. Regardless, a stop in if you are visiting the island is a must. You never know what is going to show up on a particular day.

FRAME

Blue Mahoe (Hibiscus elatus)

The National Tree of Jamaica, Blue Mahoe is a very unique wood. It is common throughout the Caribbean islands, growing as far north as the Keys of the United States, where I have sourced mine from. It is one of the very few woods that has a gray overall tone to its heartwood and can display streaks of blue, green, or purple hues throughout. It is a very hard wood with tight grain which makes it a very high quality wood for furniture making, bowl turning, or similar uses. It is one of my favorite woods that I have worked with and I would love to be able to get my hands on some more of it.

THE ELEMENTS

Fire, Water, Earth, and Air

In the display case in the bottom of the frame, four items are in preserved glass vials. The items represent the elements: fire (wood charcoal), water (mineral oil), earth (soil), and air (a milkweed seed). I include these items in my work as a symbol of the interconnectedness of all life on Earth, and as a reminder that humans must do better.

THE PLAQUE

Magnetic Information Plaque

I engrave a wooden information plaque for each work. The plaque includes what the photograph is of, the location of the photograph, what type of wood the frame is made of, and where I sourced the wood. The plaques also explain why the vials are included in each work. The back of each plaque states the meaning of my logo: “The circle represents our home, Planet Earth. The hourglass represents time. The five horizontal lines in the bottom of the hourglass represent the five mass extinction periods that have occurred in the past. The single line falling through the hourglass represents our current mass extinction period, caused by us.” The plaques are attached magnetically and can be removed to read or to store on the back of each frame if you prefer not to have it displayed on the front.