FLORIDA KEYS BEST

A Guide to John Audubon's visit to the Florida Keys

CLICK image Above for LODGING Hotels and motels Florida Keys and Key West       AUDUBON IN THE FLORIDA KEYS     INDEX    AUDUBON INDIAN KEY 1832 CORMORANT ROSEATE TERN GRAY KINGBIRD REDDISH EGRET LOUISIANA HERON SANDY KEY WHITE IBIS WILLET   ZENAIDA DOVE WHITE CROWNED PIGEON THE AUDUBON HOUSE IN KEY WEST AUDUBON'S KEY WEST KEY WEST AFTER AUDUBON ROSEATE SPOONBILL GREAT WHITE HERON GREAT BLUE HERON KEY WEST DOVE FLAMINGOS BLUE- HEADED QUAIL DOVE FRIGATE BIRD BROWN PELICAN MANGROVE CUCKOO TORTUGAS SOOTY TERN BLACK HEADED GULL BROWN NODDY CAYENNE TERN BROWN BOOBY SANDWICH TERN NIGHT HERON GREENSHANK GREAT MARBLED GODWIT MANGO HUMMING- BIRD TROPIC BIRD BIRDING LODGING ONLINE STORE   BOOK ORDERS AUDUBON PRINTS NATURALIST PHOTOS     FLORIDA KEYS BEST INDEX KIDS IN THE KEYS LINKS FAMILIES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS COMPANION SITE - DUCK KEY ONLINE     BIRD LINKS

John Audubon arrives at Indian Key and observes the White-crowned Pigeon   During April 1832 - Audubon visits mangrove islands, Sandy Key, and Cape Sable. Audubon first saw the White-Headed Pigeon, on Bahia-honda Duck Key. The White-crowned Pigeon was painted by Audubon on Indian Key in April 1832. His assistant, Lehman did the foliage.  White-crowned Pigeon - ( White-Headed Pigeon) Above image from Historical Museum of Southern Florida - Audubon images at the Historical Museum website were produced from prints of an original Elephant Folio belonging to the museum. http://www.historical-museum.org/collect/audubon/audubon.htm) See Audubon House     TO BUY Click Here for information on a 24" x 19.5" White Crowned Pigeon print   The White Crowned Pigeons in the image above sit upon a bough of a Geiger tree. Audubon's assistant, George Lehman painted the Geiger tree also known as a Cordia tree, a tropical plant named for Key West resident, John H. Geiger.  Part of what Audubon writes in his Ornithological Biography, Volume. II, pages 443-447, and 448 appear below: "The White-headed Pigeon arrives on the Southern keys of the Floridas, from the island of Cuba about the 20th of April, sometimes not until the 1st of May, for the purpose of residing there for a season, and rearing its young. On the 30th of April, I shot several immediately after their arrival from across the Gulf Stream. " . . . "By the first of May, the young squabs are nearly able to fly, and it is this period that the greatest havoc is made among them. The fishermen and the wreckers visit the keys principally resorted to by this species, rifle all the nests they can find, and sometimes also shoot the older birds." ( Considering the adult birds arrival date the squabs more likely to near the flying stage in June or July. ) "The key on which I first saw this bird, lies about twenty-five miles ( more like fifty ) south of Indian Key, and is named Bahia-honda Duck Key" Audubon wrote "The Rough-leaved Cordia This plant, on account of its large tubular scarlet flowers, is one of the most beautiful of the West Indian trees. I saw only two individuals at Key west, where we supposed, they had been introduced from Cuba. They were about fifteen feet high, the stem having a diameter of only five or six inches. They were in full bloom in the early part of may, and their broad deep green leaves, and splendid red blossoms, mingled with the variety of plants around me, rendered their appearance delightful. Both trees were on private property, and grew in a yard opposite to that of Dr. Strobel, through whose influence I procured a large bough, from which the drawing was made, with assistance of Mr. Lehman. I was informed that they continue to flower nearly the whole summer."      Additional information about the white-crowned pigeon may be found by following the link below to the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas. The Atlas, a collaborative effort of Audubon of Florida, the Florida Ornithological Society, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission provides information of general status, habitat, and status of  breeding species in Florida. http://wildflorida.org/bba/WCPI.htm   Additional information about the white crowned pigeon may be found by following this link to eNature.com         LODGING - ACCOMMODATIONS - ATTRACTIONS - ACTIVITIES   Discounted Lodging accommodations in the greater Florida Keys Area Key West lodging - Discounted accommodations in Key West   Attractions and Activities in the Florida Keys and Key West            THIS PAGE CREATED BY FLORIDA KEYS BEST COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL http://www.floridakeysbest.com site map email@floridakeysbest.com Florida Keys Best 386 East Seaview Drive Marathon, Florida 33050 305-289-1872