Sarasota News Leader
March 15, 2013
Page 82
hopefully make themselves attractive to a potential mate. Squint is healthy and impeccably
groomed, but she no longer is able to fend for
herself in the wild or attract a mate.
throughout the wild in Florida, mostly in
south Florida. If you are unlucky and do not
see him, you might get eaten! His open mouth
shows him "gaping." Because crocs are ectothermic, they need to regulate body heat by
Being an owl, Squint has taken a philosophical absorbing the sun's warmth in any manner
stance on her situation. She loves her role as they can. Well, that is the scientific explanaan educational bird and frequently appears in tion for "gaping."
SJG's Birds of Prey presentations. Her calm,
gentle demeanor and exquisite petite features Squint secretly confided in me that Dominic
make her awfully popular with the children, is hoping some plump, juicy morsel, such as a
whereas the Red-Tailed Hawk in the program lost poodle, might one day land in his mouth.
Dream on, great American Crocodile!
inspires awe rather than cuddly feelings.
Dominic is our very own native American Buster is a White Peacock, not an albino. He
Crocodile. If you are lucky, you will see him just showed up at the Gardens one day, liked
A Flamboyance of Flamingos. File photo
