Padgett Ranch
October 24, 2008

Pelican Island Audubon visited the newly acquired conservation land at Padgett Ranch on a rainy October morning. At right, trip leaders Jens Tripson and Billi Wagner, along with Ralph Monticello from the Indian River Land Trust, organize the car pool from Vero Beach just before dawn.

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The rain persisted throughout the morning but this did not stop the birders who were well prepared with umbrellas and raincoats.
A lot of birds were seen but photographic opportunities were very limited due to the rain. Some of the birds seen include, above left, Pine Warbler, and above right, a Great Egret.

Above left: A Carolina Wren sings in the rain.

Above right: A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.

Left: A Pileated Woodpecker.
A family of Sandhill Cranes. Billi Wagner explained the middle bird is a juvenile that will soon be kicked out by the parents.
The Ranch is home to a small herd of Burros rescued from Western states by the Bureau of Land Management.
A wet horse. Besides the Burros, a small herd of Mustang horses, also rescued from the West, live at the Ranch.
Two of a larger population of cats that live in the barn look down upon the field trippers seeking shelter from the rain.
The group heads back to the cars to leave the Ranch.
Images & text by Bob Montanaro.  
 
 
All images and text copyright Pelican Island Audubon Society.
E-mail: piaudubon@bellsouth.net