Alligators in Louisiana Wading Bird Rookeries

Most people think of alligators simply as predators, but they also play an important role in protecting Louisiana’s wading bird rookeries. Raccoons, opossums, and other mammalian nest predators are reluctant to enter waters occupied by large alligators. As a result, many nesting colonies gain an added layer of protection during the breeding season. In return, the alligators occasionally benefit from chicks that fall from the nests above. It is one of nature’s many balances and an important part of a healthy wetland ecosystem.

Nature in Action

During one of my recent Louisiana Wildlife Photography Tours, I captured this relationship on video. The clip shows an alligator feeding on a chick that had fallen from the rookery. While it isn’t an easy scene to watch, it honestly documents how these ecosystems function. As wildlife photographers, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to record nature as it unfolds.

An Alligator eating an Egret Chick

From Stills to Video

The second video looks back nearly twenty years to a similar encounter photographed with a Nikon D2X. At that time, creating wildlife “video” meant assembling a rapid sequence of still photographs. Today’s cameras make capturing these moments much easier, but patience, observation, and time in the field remain the keys to successful wildlife photography.

Another Alligator Clip, this one assembled from a number of still images created with a D2X

Whether photographed nearly twenty years ago or on my most recent tour, these two videos illustrate the same story. Alligators are more than predators—they help maintain the healthy balance that makes Louisiana’s wading bird rookeries such remarkable places to observe and photograph wildlife.