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Sarasota News Leader January 11, 2013 One morning, an adorable white and ecru, fluffy, stubby — but partially bald — feathered tiny creature fought her way out of a shell and I was simply mesmerized. Within days of her hatching, I was convinced she was a she. I have noted, as most of you readers have, that be they chicks, pups or kits, at the outset, the females are more aggressively curious and outgoing than their male siblings. Page 83 the brooding, feeding, cleaning and rearing of their offspring and the nest. They mated and raised chicks in the exact same nest last year and are now more experienced parents. A lot is purely instinctual, but much is also a matter of learning through experience. Experience teaches you things such as why it is wise to build the nest above the high-water mark and how to work one's way around the nest and not step on an egg or chick, squashing it flat. I thought of naming this one "Blanche" be- You try it! It is not an easy maneuver. cause of the breed's unusual overall impecNow, the nest is down to two eggs. It is not cably white feathers. But I had recently seen unusual to hear the anguished cries and wildly A Streetcar Named Desire and so I decided flapping wings of panicked birds in the dark of on "Ardea." night. Then a deathly silence prevails for a few minutes until the frogs resume their singsong CHILDHOOD chirps. In this case, a raccoon has made off Mama and Papa Great Egret are monogamous with an egg; Ardea's parents were not able to for the season and both will tirelessly share in defend their nest in the dark. Ardea enjoys an outing with her parents at Turtle Beach. File photo