Manatee

Orange City, Florida, United States

This calf is big enough to venture a little way from it's mother, and is inquisitive and learning how to fend for itself, but it still spends most of the time in her shadow.Florida ManateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

While mom is taking a brief respite on the bottom, her calf is coming up for another breath on it's own.Florida ManateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

I imagine that algae doesn't provide nearly as much nutrition as Mama's milk, but the calf is getting the hang of nibbling, little by little.Florida manateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear6 May 2016

Everglades National Park, Florida

Jan 24, 2005, Three Sisters Spring FL.Taken from a kayak. These creatures are very impressive close-up. Some of them even enjoy physical contact with people, and will come up and let you rub their heads.

Maybe not, since they don't have any arms, and I guess it doesn't count if you're underwater.While lounging about in the spring run, mom and calf nibble on algae at every opportunity.Florida ManateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing,PPO-EP01 Lens Port& 14-42mm Zoom Gear

It's slim pickings along the bottom of the spring run, but this Manatee mom knows best. Maybe the little one isn't quite ready for the big water out in the St. John's River.Blue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom GearPhil's 1stPix on 500px

"Look Mom, Mom, are you watching? Look, I'm a fish!"During manatee season, which lasts from sometime in November until March or April, the sanctuary of Blue Springs Run is strictly off limits. This year, according to Save the Manatee, the last sightings in the spring run were around 28 March. Blue Springs has been open since, but doesn't allow any swimming when manatees are present.Luckily, the run is open for canoes and kayaks in the mornings, and we had set out to explore the run, from above and below.We spotted this mom and calf towards the middle of the run first thing in the morning.Considering I got these shots from the boat, and the clarity wasn't that great, I'm certainly not complaining.Blue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

During manatee season, which runs from sometime in November until March or April, the sanctuary of Blue Springs is strictly off limits. Blue Springs reopened in late March this year, but doesn't allow any swimming when manatees are present.Luckily, the run is open for canoes and kayaks in the mornings, and we spotted this cow and calf towards the middle of the run first thing in the morning.I think these turned out pretty good, considering how I got them, dipping the camera over the side.Blue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

The clarity in the middle stretch of the river isn't quite as sparkling clear, but since their vision isn't that great, I don't think they mind as much.While most of the manatee have headed back towards the gulf by this time, a mom and calf are sticking to the river for now. I guess it could be due to the recent water temperature fluctuations out there, or maybe she just likes the peace and quiet of the Ich.I was very careful when approaching, and kept my distance, especially every time they came up for air. I don't think they even realized I was there. Ichetucknee Springs State ParkIchetucknee RiverSuwannee and Columbia Counties, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

Everglades NP

It's slim pickings in the spring run, and there's not much to go around, so this mom has to make every morsel count.Florida ManateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

Who expects to see any manatee at all, after the winter refuge period is over, and the run is open again.Considering I got these shots from the boat, and the clarity wasn't that great, I'm certainly not complaining.Blue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

The wild beasts of the world /.London :T. C. & E. C. Jack,[1909?].biodiversitylibrary.org/page/19080478

The clarity in the middle stretch of the river isn't the best since there aren't as many springs feeding it.Manatee vision isn't that great, so I don't think they mind as much.I was very careful when approaching, keeping my distance, especially every time they came up for air. I don't think they ever noticed we were there. Ichetucknee Springs State ParkIchetucknee RiverSuwannee and Columbia Counties, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

Belize City, Belize, Belize

The land and sea mammals of Middle America and the West Indies..Chicago :Field Columbian Museum,1904..biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15492075

While the rest of the manatee are back out in the gulf by now, this mom and calf are sticking to the river. What, with raising a pup in this goofy weather, and Memorial day right around the corner, no wonder why napping in the river is the way to go.I was very careful approaching these two, and kept my distance, especially every time they came up for air. I don't think they ever realized I was even there. Ichetucknee Springs State ParkIchetucknee RiverSuwannee and Columbia Counties, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

While most of the manatee have headed back out into the gulf by this time of year, this mom and calf are opting for a late check out in the lower-middle stretch of the Ich.I kept my distance, especially every time they came up for air, not even whistling nonchalantly or making fish noises. I don't think they even realized I was there. Ichetucknee Springs State ParkIchetucknee RiverSuwannee and Columbia Counties, Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

Maybe this calf is just seeing what mom is munching, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was asking what those goofy looking creatures up there are doing.Florida ManateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

While Mom gets a breath, the little one perfects it's algae scraping technique on a fallen limb.There's not much to browse on in the spring run, but mom knows what's best for this calf.Florida ManateeTrichechus manatus latirostrisBlue Springs State ParkOrange City, Volusia County Florida, USA Olympus OM-D E-M514-42mm II LensPT-EP08 Underwater Housing, PPO-EP01 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear

The land and sea mammals of Middle America and the West Indies..Chicago :Field Columbian Museum,1904..biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15492077

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