Lakes Park Garden January 26, 2018

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Harns Marsh January 25, 2018

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Estero Bay Preserve January 24, 2018

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where from

Overheard this afternoon “Lookit thaaht”

Coming across the water a woman’s voice calling out

Paddling her kayak as I ride my bike nearby on the mangrove trail

Enjoying our recreation on Lovers Key.

I’m sure she has traveled from Massachusetts

Having grown up near Boston hearing such speech

But I’m not sure where to place the “Howdy” greeting

Spoken to me as I pass a man walking the trail.

Some people wear their home team colors

Like an insignia to advertise their visitor status

But I send a subtler signal wearing binoculars

Happy to band together with other bird watchers.

Looking at the license plates is informative

Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana

Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts

New Hampshire, Ontario and Quebec all here.

It looks like there are more of us than them

Those Florida plates with the oranges on them

And very few of them were born here anyway

All of us happy for the warm weather in January.

Here we are the seasonal invaders needing housing

Joining the local residents in their year round invasion

And yet the subtropical wildlife adapts to the development

Turning drainage ditch and borrow pit into habitat.

The way things are going it won’t be many years

Before the sea takes back these coastal structures

But just for today we walk the gulf beach together

Ready to retreat back north come spring.