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Limpkin is an unusual wading bird of the extreme southern U.S., most closely related to cranes and rails, but
the only member of its family. Prior to my June, 2005 business trip to southweestern Florida, I had only seen the species once
before, at the traditional site at Loxahatchee NWR in the south-central part of the state. So I was stunned when I came across this bird
on the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, near Naples; the bird was sitting on the railing of the boardwalk! I approached the bird slowly, surprised that
it seemed uninterested in escaping, although it clearly was keeping a close eye on me. I alternated betweeen capturing video and creeping closer to the Limpkin,
until I wound up less than ten feet from the beautiful creature. I was close enough that I could see my own reflection in the eye of the bird; but my heart was broken when
I reviewed the tape, only to find that it was defective (or perhaps damaged by rampant humidity). I lost all but a few minutes of the remarkable Limpkin footage. Thankfully, a bit of the tape
survived, enough to share the striking images presented below. I can only assure you that the lost footage would have made this pale in comparison! i console myself in that, only a couple of years ago, I would
have onyl had memories, and those are still not lost to me....
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