December 11

After a late breakfast, Rick drove us through Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge here on Sanibel Island.  It was high tide so there were not as many birds as there are at low tide when all the sand bars are exposed and the eating is good.  There were still flocks of White Pelicans, Sandpipers, and other small Pipers, as well as a Great Blue Heron, a couple of Brown Pelicans, and the ever present Gulls. 

We got to see three White Pelicans fishing by herding the fish together and then feeding.  It was pretty amazing to see.

Most of the Refuge is formed around Mangrove trees.  The trees send out extensive root systems that bring in salt water and uses an intricate reverse osmosis system to keep the water and shed the salt through there leaves.  People have been trying to create systems like this to desalinate sea water but are not nearly as successful as the Mangrove.  Their root systems are so strong that hurricanes cannot uproot them.

The Mangrove leaf is as big as my hand....  Mary

 Red Mangrove, Ding Darling Refuge