On A Scale of One to Ten....

  Camouflage in nature can mean the difference between life and death.  It also can mean the difference between starvation and being well nourished.  It is camouflage that keeps predators well hidden while they await their prey.  I come across all sorts of critters that meet the standards of camouflage.  There are those who are so well hidden that it is highly difficult to see them unless there is a slight movement.  These have mastered the hide and seek game.  Their coloration blends so well with their surroundings that there is no need for any other cover.  Mark and I came across a lovely snake today and it was plumb hard to see.  Had I not specifically been searching for a snake, I would have most likely walked right past the critter even though my footfall was only a few feet from the serpent.  The extremely high tide combined with heavy winds had driven the snake out of its usual habitat. Since the marshes are flooded, the poor snake was seeking a bit of drier ground.  I am sure that others were doing the same and I probably did walk past several before I found this one.  On a scale of one to ten, I give this snake a "ten".  It blends well with the mud, marsh and typical bayou mishmash of branches.  

  Our camouflage search led to another critter found in abundance here on the Bayou.  The American Green Tree Frog usually is well hidden among the green leaves of any tree or plant.  During the daytime, the frog sits quite still among the leaves and is so hard to see that many folks do not realize that they are just inches from one.  Most of the time...the frog is well hidden. Today's froggy must have failed during "Camouflage Class".  He obviously did not study well or this frog is completely colorblind!   The bright green coloring that usually helps the frog blend with green leaves did not help our friend today.  The frog chose to spend the day on my Camphor Tree sapling that is in a pot near the front door. It is an ideal place for a frog but his choice of leaves did not suit him well.  The bright green frog was perched upon an equally bright...but RED...leaf!  That poor frog stuck out like a sore thumb!  Froggy....I am sorry but on that same scale of one to ten....you only get a one!  

  Speaking of camouflage that helps critters so well, some just do not get it at all.  There are those critters that, for one reason or another, do not give a flip about hiding.  The gorgeous Great Egret had no qualms about sitting on the tiptop branches of a tree.  The bird did not try to blend with the surroundings nor did it attempt to seek any coverage.  It just perched itself high above the Bayou and sat there proudly preening itself.  The egret had no worries.  It did not flinch when a large hawk flew over nor did it seem to care that Mark and I were watching it.  No camouflage here so rating this one would be impossible!

  Natural camouflage is a fantastic thing.  I often wonder just how many unseen critters are within an arm's reach during my hikes.