There has been some discussion of the factor(s) that might have caused the
Northern Jacana juvenile (Estero Llano Grande State Park) to be absent of
late from Grebe Marsh where it originally had been found. I have heard from
several birders who have visited Grebe Marsh in recent day(s) in search of
the jacana, that they have seen a young alligator about 2.5 feet in length
in Grebe Marsh. I have not personally been to Grebe Marsh for about a week,
but no alligator was seen there by me on that early visit. Thus, I have not
personally seen this alligator, but I have no reason to doubt the reports,
which, anyhow, are of more recent date(s) than my own visit and have come
from more than one birder who had seen the creature and given similar
descriptions. I wonder if the presence of this predatory creature might be
a reason for the recent absence from Grebe Marsh of the jacana. I do not
know whether that hypothesis is correct, but I thought that there might be
some interest in this report. Grebe Marsh is very close to Alligator Pond,
and perhaps youngster alligators go roaming from home like some young
birds. Whether the alligator still is in Grebe Marsh I do not know. -- Rex
Stanford (Weslaco, TX).
Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
//www.freelists.org/list/texbirds
Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission
from the List Owner
