Lake Okeechobee is a good indicator of our lack of rainfall. Lake levels have been falling for the past two years and have reached record lows. Our little lake is down nearly four feet. We are restricted to watering lawns only once a week.
A few days before Christmas, this beautiful sunrise over our backyard lake seemed to promise some relief, outlining the anvil heads along the ocean front. The showers never ventured onto land. The lake was still. The lack of aeration from rain and wind drove the fish to the surface, gulping for air.
A Great Blue Heron was attracted to the shoreline near the gasping fish, but settled for a few fingerlings.
We walked the boardwalk at Chapel Trail Nature Center. We saw few birds. This Tricolored Heron stands watch in the still morning air.