Danger Lurks in the Shadows

Iguana basks in a primitive domain:  the dappled shadows of a bird’s nesting island.

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I have read that the Green Iguana (Iguana iguana Linnaeus 1758) is primarily an herbivore with a diet consisting  of various fruits, flowers, leaves, and sprouting plants. I have come to feel that this species, introduced into the very favourable environment of South Florida by the release of unwanted pets into the wild, is just something we will have to live with. They appear to be firmly established. Other than munching on delicate landscaping and such things as my favorite bougainvilleas,  I’ve read they are relatively harmless if you leave them alone. They do have sharp claws, can bite, and their droppings can carry a salmonella risk.  I can’t say that I haven’t  enjoyed seeing these prehistoric looking lizards for the sheer fascination of their colors, textures, and vicarious view into a primitive long lost world. But, I have some concerns just the same.

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The big lizards are arboreal and frequent areas around water. Described sometimes as agile climbers who can fall 50 feet without being hurt and can use their hind legs to grab branches and break their fall, I like this description by field biologist, James D. Lazell, Jr better: “Iguanas display a quiet, determined aboreality. They are most awkward in trees, except when resting motionless and frequently fall down; they seem to persist in climbing, provided there are trees around, even so. An iguana climbing around in a tree looks quite as much at home there as would the average dog. Further… “Iguanas are graceful at only two times: when running, and when  swimming.”  I can say that they do seem tentative moving from branch to branch, seem most comfortable lounging in the sun, and that they are glorious at moving quickly through water with that powerful undulating tail.

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I bring this matter of the big lizards up again (see previous post) because I feel somewhat alarmed by the iguanas now lounging around the branches at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands Rookery. ‘Primarily an herbivore’ does have that qualifier after all…primarily!! In Lazell’s 1973 paper, “The lizard genus Iguana in the Lesser Antilles“, Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology (New York) 145, he describes the genus as omnivorous not herbivorous. He notes that he has observed wild specimens feeding on birds eggs and carrion. Others may say that the iguanas eat snails and grasshoppers only in the course of munching on plants. I do not see feeding on birds eggs as a byproduct of munching on leaves.

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Last shoot when I was trying out my new lens, I saw more iguanas than ever right in the branches of pond apple trees where there are at least six Great blue heron nests, several Anhinga nests, and others…with eggs or very tender helpless nestlings.  I also saw a young bright green iguana chewing on some aquatic plants floating on the water. I see the degradation of the leafy habitat by hungry iguanas disturbing as well as the risk to eggs and nestlings and the health of the colony as a whole. On that visit and some prior visits I found on first glance that the iguanas were difficult to see. Nearly immobile as they rested on the tree limbs, the iguanas blended well into the dappled shadows and their own green and gray hues matched so perfectly their surroundings. The lizards like the branches themselves were camouflaged with the spatters of bird’s poop further disguising their presence.

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While the images below convey the primitive glory of these creatures, I just would rather not see them in a bird rookery. 

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Iguana rests camouflaged in spatters of bird’s poop and the natural hues of its surroundings. Pretty hard to see at first.

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This colorful, and newly washed, specimen launched himself into the water, swam gracefully, and climbed up the wooden boardwalk where I leaned out for a quick capture.

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Nature will always find a way to survive, but , hoping that the interesting and primitive lizards will do no harm in the rookery!!

Judy

~ by Judy on February 20, 2014.