Port O'Connor TX. I'm going with a small Texas port city behind Matagorda Island, on Matagorda Bay. Not that far from Corpus Christi by boat. I worked out of there for several years, and loved the people and the place. Just like being at home, actually. They had a shell shop, a convenience store, a library which gave me a library card, a post office, and Hurricane Junction bar. Plus assorted docks and fuel stops for boats, and the friendliest Coast Guard outpost ever, with a rollover boat. I hold the distinction, according to the Coasties, of being the only oil field vessel to fly an Earth Day flag ...Green Peace vessels not included of course. Port O'Connor Texas, was reincarnation of Indianola, "Mother of West Texas", until that town was destroyed by hurricanes back in the 1800s. Camels were imported through Indianola and taken to the southwest deserts where Americans promptly shot them. I thought it was a great idea myself....the camels, not the killing thereof.

maryanne: Thanks. Its amazing but I took both photos from my deck. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to aim the camera effectively yet. Both birds flew directly over me and were sailing. The back of my house and deck face a valley with a creek at the bottom about 100 feet or so below the house. The land on other side of the creek rises more slowly to about the same height of my house. The large raptors catch the breeze coming up the hills and they really seem to enjoy it. The vultures are very simple to identify (if I can identify them, anyone can). As you can see, the turkey vulture appears to have a white bottom from tip to tip around the back of its wing. It is large--about 6' across. The black vulture has white only on the tips of its wings and is only about 5' across. Up close the turkey has a red head and the black has a grey head. I've found that the turkey vultures will come down to check me out when I am outside working. They just fly above me about 30' up or so. They will also fly through the woods (when leaves are off the trees) cutting a trail in and out of the trees. I have no idea why they do this since it appears a bit dangerous for a 6' bird. Its almost as if the turkey vultures want to show off. The black vulutres do not do this. They seem more aloof. The read tailed hawk was also enjoying a sail without flapping. That is why I think its tail was completely opened. It was just above me and I couldn't focus on it so I just clicked the camera and looked and there it was--just dumb luck. Last week, I heard what sounded like a death scream in the front yard. I looked up and it was 3 of these hawks making passes at each other. The bald eagles are less common than the hawks here. However, they do land in the trees in back of my house. From the top of the trees, they can survey their kingdom. With some luck, I should get a chance at an image within 100 feet or so.

Here's the article Bald eagle killed with shotgun in Clearfield County Friday, May 27, 2005 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced today it is investigating the killing of an immature bald eagle found in Clearfield County. A "concerned citizen" reported finding the eagle on May 15 near the Penn/Pike township line north of the Curwensville Dam. A necropsy determined that the eagle was killed with a shotgun between May 10 and 14 and died where it was shot. Based on initial investigation, the eagle was probably perched in a tree at the time of the incident. An immature eagle, which lacks the characteristic white head feathers, is defined as being less than 4 years old. The game commission asks anyone with information to call 570-398-4744. Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited has offered a reward of $500. Nationally, bald eagles were first protected by the Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940. In 1967, the bald eagle was declared an endangered species by the U.S. government because its population had been decimated by the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. In 1995, after a decade of re-introduction projects, eagle populations rebounded and the species was moved to the federal threatened species list. Today, more than 6,000 nesting pairs live in the continental United States, the game commission said. While the state's bald eagle population has increased by more than 150 percent over the past five years, bald eagles remain on Pennsylvania's endangered species list. Back -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright ©1997-2004 PG Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.

One of the most memorable things I have ever done in my life was tromping through the everglades a couple summers ago. Took my husband and three kids. Paid a great company called 'Garl's coastal Kayaking' to take us on a day tour of the everglades. Instead of looking from a road, we really did trudge through the everglades in our mosquito suits , into a mangrove, next to an alligator hole. There were no alligators in the hole though. The water was supposedly too high. I Passed by tall trees, brown snakes, 15 kinds of Orchids, airplants, moss. My shoes wouldn't stay on so I had to walk through the muck barefooted, which my guide said was what "Garl" always did. Our guide was a young Doctor, we called him Dr. Don. He was funny and very excited about everything. While traveling down the long lonely Evergaldes highway to the ocean, he saw a giant Eastern Diamond back rattle snake crossing the road. He quickly pulled the white van over, jumped out with his camera and gave us some arousing information about this snake. We went on to the south Florida boarder where our Kayaks were. Dr. Don and his friend took us on a six mile paddle (no current!) where I saw a three gators, about a thousand jumping fish (no good for eatting) , one wild flamingo, lots of sea birds, Storks, ducks and a group of wild manatees. Paddling along shore on the way back we stupidly braved out the mosquitos who flew out to greet us in the dark. I recommend putting the suits back on, looking back at our complaining and flailing arms. Dr. Don had wine, crackers and cheese for us out on the water but we declined because we were determined to get back before dark, which still didn't happen. Although I've been to some pretty interesting places, I'd love to return to, the Everglades was one of the most hands on and the most enjoyable. (in the USA). I have some out of state places in mind that were equally wonderful. Have to add, the electrified tennis rackets Dr. Don gave us, worked great on the mosquitoes. We were gratefully sizzling the tiny beasts all day. One more thing. Go to FRANKS fruit market near the park, Mangos the size of footballs. Frank even cut one up for us to take on the trip. Sooooo GOOD!