30 Jun Post Tropical Storm Debby Update 6/30
How quickly things can change! One of the blog’s more recent posts detailed the extreme drought conditions affecting Northeast Florida. Thank you everyone for your prayers and rain dances, but please focus your attention on other drought-stricken regions for awhile. Tropical Storm Debby brought St. Augustine an additional 11.2 inches of rain bringing June’s monthly total to just under 18 inches. At least for the moment, this area is offically not undergoing drought conditions on any level.
Amazingly, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm’s rookery once again weathered the storm! Most of the wading birds left are the smaller species. Cattle egrets are the most abundant, with some adults still on eggs and chicks of all sizes everywhere. There are Snowy egrets and Tri-colored herons on eggs after reclutching post Tropical Storm Beryl. A couple pairs of Little Blue herons have also layed another clutch. The larger, gangly Wood stork fledglings are practicing their flight manuevers by attempting short flights around the rookery. Roseate spoonbills are done nesting for the season, but both adults and juveniles can be observed roosting in the trees.