A Winter Walk Through Pinckney Island NWR
The refuge carries a quiet, almost solemn beauty this time of year. The sky is gray, the clouds thick, and the damp air clings to the landscape. A steady breeze moves through the bare trees, rustling the dried grasses that line the trails. The hush of winter is unmistakable, yet within it, birdlife flourishes.
High above, a flock of two dozen White Pelicans soars in synchronized movement, their broad wings catching the wind as they dip and circle in search of a place to land—likely in Skull Creek. Below, the distinct, buzzy call of Red-winged Blackbirds pierces the quiet, coming from the tall grasses and treetops.
Near the marsh, a pair of Little Blue Herons wade carefully through the mud, their slate-blue feathers blending into the subdued winter tones. Snowy Egrets, delicate yet resilient, step lightly through the shallows, their black legs and bright yellow feet standing out against the muted colors of the wetland.
At Ibis Pond, a resident Northern Mockingbird fiercely defends its territory. From a favored perch, it watches intently before swooping down to chase away an Eastern Bluebird and a Yellow-rumped Warbler that dare encroach upon its claimed space.
In the center of the pond, resting along the banks of the rookery island, lies a massive American Alligator—very large, very old, its body weathered by time. It remains still, eyes closed, half in and half out of the water, an ancient sentinel of this place.
American Coots and Common Gallinules paddle between clumps of grasses, their dark bodies contrasting against the water’s surface. Among them, a solitary Pied-billed Grebe dives for food, disappearing momentarily beneath the surface before popping back up like a cork. Nearby, a small group of Hooded Mergansers drifts along—two striking males with their fan-shaped crests and a flock of females, their dusky plumage blending with the water’s reflections.
Though winter has stripped the refuge of its lushness, life remains abundant in the stillness. Pinckney Island NWR, even in its quietest season, hums with the subtle, persistent rhythm of nature. This quiet time is the precursor to the rookery nesting season that will start in March, when the rookery will come to life with the herons and egrets that come to nest.