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Crafting Websites That Convert, Impress, and Grow Your Business

I build the web site. You build your business.

I engineer digital experiences. Get a high-performance, bespoke website designed to turn visitors into customers and supporters.

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Chris Akins Akins Creative Tallahassee

Choosing the Right Partner is Crucial for Your Long-Term Success

Why Work With Me

I come from a background in non-profits, small businesses, and local political campaigns, which means I understand the heart and purpose behind organizations like yours. My focus is on creating websites that reflect your mission while being thoughtfully tailored to your unique goals.

If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’re already thinking about a new website. You’re looking for value—someone small and local who will be responsive and. And just as importantly, you need a site that’s not only beautiful but also scalable and easy to maintain for the long haul.

Let’s create something that works as hard as you do, and sets you up for success today and in the future!

Let me know if this hits the tone you’re aiming for!

Contact

What My Long-Term Clients Say

google

I have used Chris Akins for website work and email newsletter campaigns for over 10 years. Ten years! I've also had special projects where I've asked him to do banner ads on Facebook or some other social media platform. Chris has great business work ethics and turns projects around on time and under budget. There are a lot of sketchy people in internet/social media/marketing......Chris is not...he's genuinely one of the best!

Jeff Howell
Jeff Howell June 7, 2021
google

I've used Chris since 2012 and I love his service, savings, and knowledge! Best choice, I've ever made!

Kristian Dunn
Kristian Dunn June 7, 2021

Why Not Get Started Today?

Quick and Easy

  • Let’s Get to Know Each Other

    Step
    • Schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals, challenges, and vision.
    • I'll answer your questions and explain how I can help.
    • Decide if you'd like to move forward to get the website you need.

  • Plan the Perfect Solution

    Step
    • We’ll collaborate to identify the best website features for your needs, like booking systems or interactive tools.
    • Decide on design preferences (brand colors, fonts, and overall style).
    • Review a detailed proposal that includes timelines, pricing, and project milestones.

  • Build and Launch

    Step
    • Once we kick off, I will begin building a structure based on your input
    • I'll keep you updated, and make revisions based on your feedback.
    • Before launch, I’ll test everything to ensure it works perfectly on all devices.

  • Keep It Growing

    Step
    • Get ongoing support with maintenance, updates, and performance optimization.
    • Explore additional services like SEO, content updates, or feature expansions.
    • Partner for a long-term strategy to keep your site effective as your business grows.

Tips For a Better Performing Website

I’m giving away my knowledge. Whether you choose to hire me or not, I want to help you build a properly structured website. Here you’ll find my favorite code snippets, code I use to build sites, or suggestions to make your site perform better.

  • Google Changed How it Presents Search Data – Websites Are Still Important, But Your Google Business Page Is Must-Have – Here’s Why

    • Solutions

    Why you need a Google Business Page and a Fully Detailed Website
    "Google and the Google logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

    TL;DR Let me paint you a picture. It's a Saturday morning. You open Google Search Console, coffee in hand, fully expecting to see the steady little mountain range of clicks you've worked years to build. Instead, you're looking at something that resembles a ski slope - one that goes in the wrong direction. You refresh.…

  • Fix for Bricks Builder Backend Not Loading on GoDaddy Hosting

    • CSS and HTML Code

    Fix for Bricks Builder backend not rendering on GoDaddy hosting

    On a recent website build for a client, I ran into an issue where the Bricks backend was not loading - only a white screen. Add the code snippet below to the .htaccess file to fix the issue, enabling the Bricks Builder backend to load properly on GoDaddy hosting. Source: Bricks Builder Forum.

  • CSS Fix for Border Radius on Nested Elements

    • CSS and HTML Code

    Css border radius trick before and after

    When you nest an element or image inside of a card and both have border-radius and padding, the border between the card and nested element can appear thicker at the corners, making it appear incongruent with the overall border of the card. In the image below you'll see the outer border In the image below…

  • How to Make Your Website Domain the Handle for your Bluesky Account

    • CSS and HTML Code

    Use URL as your handle in Bluesky

    If you use Bluesky social, you've noticed you can't remove .bsky.social from your handle so it appears as handle.sky.social. There is a way, though, to change your handle so it shows your domain name, which is great for branding or marketing. Here's how. You will need to have your own domain name and access to…

  • Download Free 2026 Vote Goal Worksheet

    • Solutions

    2026 voter goal calculation toolkit

    It's never too late to plan for 2026. I created a Google spreadsheet many years ago to help me calculate the number of votes I need to win per precinct, based on a similar-turnout election, which usually is the election four years previously for the same or similar office. Even if it's a race held…

Read More Blogs

Do you have these elements on your home page to convert customers?

Here are elements you can add to your website to convert visitors to customers.

Not all websites will have all these elements nor are they all the right choice for all websites.

If you can add these your website will be more than a basic brochure site and work to convert visitors to customers.

Hero

The introduction of you to your customers. This should contain an image of your product or service, a strong selling point, benefits, or social proof.

One big, good point or idea is better than many small points or ideas.

Benefits You Offer

The “why” of your benefit.

Show – don’t tell – show how your product or service benefits your prospect. This is a place to show pictures or a brief video.

Featured In or Reviews

If you’ve been discussed in social media or in the press, use this space to show where.

How It Works

Show specifics – step-by-step instructions. Show how your service or product works.

Let the Customer Contact You About Your Service

Provide your customer an opportunity to contact you about your service. If the customer needs more information, he or she can keep scrolling.

Reviews

Add reviews from satisfied clients. These can be manually added or can be dynamically added from Google Reviews or other review-based services.

This is where you can select the best reviews that lets your product or service shine.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Selling can sometimes be best described as removing objections one-by-one until a sale is made. FAQs allow you to anticipate and overcome these objections, putting you one step closer to making a sale.

Comparisons to Competitors

Differentiate yourself from your competitors. Use a table to compare your product or services to your competitors. Focus on what you provide that your competitors don’t.

Make it impossible for customers to consider others.

Risk Reversal

Remove the risk from your customer. Guarantee your service. Offer a money-back guarantee for a limited time if the customer is unhappy with your product or service.

This is usually the last objection a customer has: what if I’m unhappy? What if the product or service fails?

Eliminate the risk; welcome the customer.

CTA – Call to Action

Provide a second way to purchase your service. Don’t make them scroll back up or go to another page – commonly referred to as friction – where falloff can be between 10% and 50%.

St Marks Refuge Screenshot

Frequently Asked Questions

My photography

I'm an avid photographer specializing in wildlife and landscape photraphy.

@akinscreative
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Chris Akins

Aspiring photographer. Webmaster. Avid concert attendee. Sign up for updates at http://chrisakins.me/join.

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Double-crested cormorant cleaning his feathers #WakullaSprings #canonr5ii
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Double-crested cormorant cleaning his feathers #WakullaSprings #canonr5ii

Cooler temperatures are returning; so does my drive to get outside, where I find life most peaceful. Though it was the middle of the day, there are still wildlife highlights. This Osprey was perched in a slash pine across from Headquarters Pond in the #StMarksRefuge.
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Cooler temperatures are returning; so does my drive to get outside, where I find life...

4th of July at Ocklockonee Point, celebrating our semiquincentennial. 🇺🇸 🦅 🗽 🎆 #America250
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4th of July at Ocklockonee Point, celebrating our semiquincentennial. 🇺🇸 🦅 🗽 🎆
#America250

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and safe 4th of July! #America250
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Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and safe 4th of July! #America250

You may have noticed a drop in your website traffic this month. Google is using AI overview on search results. But to produce these results, Google has to get the info to present to users. This means your website, particularly for locally-based service businesses are important and should be more than a brochure site. It also means you need a fully fleshed out Google Business Page. Without these, you're invisible to prospects. Read more 👉 https://www.rfr.bz/i1bfdbf
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You may have noticed a drop in your website traffic this month. Google is using...

We recognize today the sacrifice made by fallen soldiers past and present whose mission was to preserve and defend from threats the founding ideals and ideas which embody what makes the United States truly great. #MemorialDay
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We recognize today the sacrifice made by fallen soldiers past and present whose mission was...

Bumble bee pollinating milk thistle at the #StMarksRefuge. Despite the drought, spring is in full swing.
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Bumble bee pollinating milk thistle at the #StMarksRefuge. Despite the drought, spring is in full...

The Bald Eagle was designated the national bird of the United States on December 24, 2024. The Continental Congress adopted the bald eagle for the Great Seal in 1782. The #StMarksRefuge is a destination you can regularly see bald eagles, usually August or September through April-ish. This eagle was perched in a pine tree not far from his nest. #BaldEagle #America250
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The Bald Eagle was designated the national bird of the United States on December 24,...

Fledgling great horned #owl perched in a tree at the #StMarksRefuge. He was hard to spot and he sees you well before you see him. #wildlife, #birdphotography
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Fledgling great horned #owl perched in a tree at the #StMarksRefuge. He was hard to...

Toothache grass, aptly named as it produces a numbing feeling n the mouth, tongue, and lips when chewed. This was growing in the Panacea Unit of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. #stmarksrefuge
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Toothache grass, aptly named as it produces a numbing feeling n the mouth, tongue, and...

The spiral staircase leading up the St. Marks Lighthouse tower. Though the tower itself is not open to climbing by the general public, you can take a tour of the keepers' quarters Fridays through Sundays from 11 AM until 3 PM. #StMarksRefuge #lighthouse #lighthousesofinstagram
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The spiral staircase leading up the St. Marks Lighthouse tower. Though the tower itself is...

United States flag at the St. Marks LIghthouse. This is the second-oldest lighthouse in Florida and the third version of the lighthouse, last repaired in 1866 after the Civil War. The lens, a fourth order Fresnel lens, installed at that time is now on display at the St. Marks Refuge Visitor Center. #StarsAndStripes #OldGlory #usflag
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United States flag at the St. Marks LIghthouse. This is the second-oldest lighthouse in Florida...

Macro shot of a Blue Jay tail feather's rachis and barbules, found on my walk around my neighborhood in Leon County. #bluejaybird #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #northflorida
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Macro shot of a Blue Jay tail feather's rachis and barbules, found on my walk...

Vader and I spent several days at Ocklockonee River State Park, which is home to piebald deer, which are a rare white-tailed deer with white patches mixed with their normal brown fur, and white squirrels. White squirrels are a genetic anomaly in Eastern Gray Squirrels, leucism, which is reduced pigmentation. They were brought into a hunting and fishing lodge in Sopchoppy from a Gadsden County farmer. They're numerous in population in the area and considered good luck. You're nearly guaranteed to see one at the park. Another reason to get outside. #WhiteSquirrel #SquirrelsOfInstagram #FloridaWildlife #OchlockoneeRiverStatePark #FloridaStateParks
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Vader and I spent several days at Ocklockonee River State Park, which is home to...

Great Blue Heron on a windy sunset just below the St. Marks Lighthouse. #stmarksrefuge
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Great Blue Heron on a windy sunset just below the St. Marks Lighthouse. #stmarksrefuge

An evening primrose converted to black and white.
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An evening primrose converted to black and white.

A brown pelican with a torn gular pouch feeding on fish. The injury didn't seem to be slowing him down.
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A brown pelican with a torn gular pouch feeding on fish. The injury didn't seem...

A female, I think, blue mud dauber. Known for their iridescent metallic blue bodies and predation of black widows, which they also feed to their larvae. Something that might scare us eats something that scares us more.
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A female, I think, blue mud dauber. Known for their iridescent metallic blue bodies and...

Maybe not quite garnet and gold, but close is fine and was taken during FSU's homecoming - a blanket flower growing by Lighthouse Pool at the St. Marks Refuge.
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Maybe not quite garnet and gold, but close is fine and was taken during FSU's...

A female boat-tailed grackle in the St. Marks Lighthouse parking lot on a 40-degree November morning.
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A female boat-tailed grackle in the St. Marks Lighthouse parking lot on a 40-degree November...

A great blue heron camped in a pine tree with a southerly-blowing breeze, close to bald eagle nest WK018a in the St. Marks Refuge.
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A great blue heron camped in a pine tree with a southerly-blowing breeze, close to...

An evening primrose along the trail around Lighthouse Pool at the St. Marks Lighthouse. My curiosity of all which surrounds us drove me to delve into macro photography to explore what we do not see but impacts our lives daily.
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An evening primrose along the trail around Lighthouse Pool at the St. Marks Lighthouse. My...

Mornings at the St. Marks Refuge frequently reward those who arrive early. Awake since 2 AM, afflicted by some middle-aged curse, I left my house around 7 AM after six cups of coffee and traveled to Lighthouse Road. About a mile before you reach the lighthouse is a group of trees on the right. Eagles had previously built a nest in a tree but a hurricane some years back destroyed it. The eagles would often roost there at various times of the day and recently began rebuilding a nest. Territorial, apex predators, and opportunistic hunters, you can sometimes see them spar with ospreys and other birds to take their food. I once watched two adult eagles fight off a juvenile eagle near Mounds Pool #3. One of the adults and the juvenile collided in mid-air, each with their talons fully extended, and could hear the impact of their bodies a quarter-mile away while watching through my camera's zoom lens. The juvenile quickly retreated. Benjamin Franklin wrote to his daughter about eagles, positing eagles are of bad moral character, lived dishonestly, and are cowardly and lazy. He wasn't wrong, but neither should we anthropomorphize animals. Eagles also mate for life and take turns with parental and home-building and maintenance duties.
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Mornings at the St. Marks Refuge frequently reward those who arrive early. Awake since 2...

Monarch season at the St. Marks Refuge. Monarchs, this time of year, migrate from Canada, stop by the Refuge for a few weeks, and then continue their journey over the Gulf and finish in Mexico. Monarchs have an interesting evolutionary adaptation: their lifespan is about two to six weeks, except for the fourth or migratory generation in the latter part of a year, which can live up to nine months, long enough to migrate and breed in the spring.
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Monarch season at the St. Marks Refuge.

Monarchs, this time of year, migrate from Canada,...

A recent foggy sunrise at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
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A recent foggy sunrise at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

Morning sun on the St. Marks Lighthouse.
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Morning sun on the St. Marks Lighthouse.

This great egret was resting on the shore along Stony Bayou 1 at the #StMarksRefuge
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This great egret was resting on the shore along Stony Bayou 1 at the #StMarksRefuge...

This red shouldered hawk can be viewed at various points of the day sitting on top of the same scrag.
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This red shouldered hawk can be viewed at various points of the day sitting on...

A male bufflehead and male boat-tailed grackles show off their iridescent feathers.
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A male bufflehead and male boat-tailed grackles show off their iridescent feathers.

Nature can surprise you sometimes. Animals can co-mingle in ways that you think they would not. We watched a male anhinga drying his wings while between two alligators. You can see how large the alligator in the background is: his head is to the left of the anhinga, his tale against the right edge of the photo. The average wing span of an adult male anhinga is a little over 3 /12 feet. #StMarksRefuge
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Nature can surprise you sometimes. Animals can co-mingle in ways that you think they would...

My brother and I visited #StMarksRefuge this past weekend; the day was clear, the temperature cool, and the wind low. Reptiles and raptors and shorebirds were out but silent, except for the distant call of an eagle, which we weren't backtracking a mile to find. It was as near a perfect day than any recently had.
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My brother and I visited #StMarksRefuge this past weekend; the day was clear, the temperature...

Controlled burns at the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge help maintain and restore ecological balance. Prescirbed fires have been used since the Neolithic Period to clear land.
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Controlled burns at the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge help maintain and restore ecological balance. Prescirbed...

This American Alligator was resting on the shore along Plum Orchard Pond, behind the Education Building and Visitor Center at the #StMarksRefuge. She's missing her front right claw, possibly lost in a fight defending her clutch.
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This American Alligator was resting on the shore along Plum Orchard Pond, behind the Education...

More cool and wet weather is coming… We have a limited supply of softshell jackets with the FDC logo for immediate shipping. Orders placed 12 PM on 1/16, will go out same day. Visit the Corrections Foundation store by tapping the link in our profile and then clicking on "Store" on our menu.
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More cool and wet weather is coming…
We have a limited supply of softshell jackets...

Stringfellow was perched at the top of a scrag close to Headquarters Pond at the #StMarksRefuge. While owls often eat nestling hawks, a hawk was once observed baiting an owl away from a nest while the hawk's mate ate the owlets.
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Stringfellow was perched at the top of a scrag close to Headquarters Pond at the...

For the second time in as many days, I found this red-shouldered hawk that I've named Stringfellow sitting in a tree just north of Headquarters Pond at the #StMarksRefuge. #Florida #raptor
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For the second time in as many days, I found this red-shouldered hawk that I've...

American alligator resting on the shore of Mounds Pool 1 at the #StMarksRefuge. Very large and very still.
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American alligator resting on the shore of Mounds Pool 1 at the #StMarksRefuge. Very large...

If you use Bluesky, you've probably noticed that .bsky.social is appended after your handle. If you have a domain, you can make that your handle, which can help with your branding. Here's how -> https://www.rfr.bz/ica19a3.
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If you use Bluesky, you've probably noticed that .bsky.social is appended after your handle. If...

I believe this is a lesser scaup, one of about 20 duck species in winter, at Lighthouse Pool at the #StMarksRefuge.
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I believe this is a lesser scaup, one of about 20 duck species in winter,...

After the bobcat and kit, I drove north on Lighthouse Road a few hundred feet and saw a red-shoulder hawk sitting in a tree just off the road. #StMarksRefuge
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After the bobcat and kit, I drove north on Lighthouse Road a few hundred feet...

I attempted counting alligators observed along the shore of Mounds Pool, but lost count. Fun fact about alligators. They have weak muscles to open their mouths and is why you see them with their mouths taped shut when being captured. But... The muscles they use to close their mouths are extremely strong and violent, exerting a force of over 2,000 pounds per square inch. A human? About 160 psi.
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I attempted counting alligators observed along the shore of Mounds Pool, but lost count.
Fun...

A bobcat and kit were crossing Lighthouse Road at the #StMarksRefuge.
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A bobcat and kit were crossing Lighthouse Road at the #StMarksRefuge.

The sun was getting lower in the sky. Standing on the observation deck lets you zoom in on the Fresnel lens of the St. Marks Lighthouse at the #StMarksRefuge
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The sun was getting lower in the sky. Standing on the observation deck lets you...

Christmas arrived for the American Bald Eagle. President Biden signed legislation on Christmas Eve making the American Bald Eagle the national bird. The eagle has been a national emblem and used on seals since 1782, but never our official bird. Bald Eagles were near extinction in the 1960s due to hunting (a specious argument was made they were not migratory so the Migratory Bird Act didn't apply) and exposure to pesticides that caused thin eggshell walls to be easily crushed or simply not develop. Breeding pairs numbered about 420 in the 48 contiguous states. Breeding pairs now number about 17,000, with the largest concentrations in Alaska, Minnesota, and Florida. #stmarksrefuge
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Christmas arrived for the American Bald Eagle.
President Biden signed legislation on Christmas Eve making...

The new Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge is officially rolled out at https://www.rfr.bz/i53f69a. What I thought was a simple rebuild turned into a four-month project with 300+ pages and over 500 photos. Improvements include: * content better organized so users can better find what they're looking for * search function that was missing from the old site * multiple ways to make donations/contributions and sign up for newsletters. * dedicated events calendar for lighthouse keepers' quarters' open houses, festivals, birding tours, and more * sitewide notifications so a notification bar is at the top of every page to communicate info visitors may need to know * schema for each type of pages and posts so content is better indexed by search engines Ongoing improvements: drip emails for marketing, better use of social media, landing pages for donations to better encourage new members or donations, dedicated events pages through the customer relations management tool for event signups and to encourage donations. Tools used: WordPress, Advanced Custom Fields, Bricks Builder, and Slim SEO.
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The new Friends of St. Marks Wildlife Refuge is officially rolled out at https://www.rfr.bz/i53f69a.
What...

I missed the eagles. I've been spending a lot of evenings and weekends rebuilding a website, which took time away I usually spend hiking, so I ventured into the St. Marks Refuge this past Sunday for an hour or so. The eagles did not disappoint. Soon enough I'll be on my multi-mile saunter.
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I missed the eagles. I've been spending a lot of evenings and weekends rebuilding a...

Baby alligator was swimming not far from mom. They'll stay close by until about three years old. When they reach about six feet if they live that long, they're apex predators with no natural predators, except humans.
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Baby alligator was swimming not far from mom. They'll stay close by until about three...

I felt lucky to see a yellow-crowned night heron. While not rare, you don't often see them and are found only in the Americas.
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I felt lucky to see a yellow-crowned night heron. While not rare, you don't often...

A female anhinga speared a bream in front of the Wakulla Springs tour boat.
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A female anhinga speared a bream in front of the Wakulla Springs tour boat.

As the weather turns moderate I find myself turning back to getting outside as often as time allows. At my stepdad's birthday celebration at Wakulla Springs, I took a jungle boat tour, which never disappoints. Wildlife tends to be more active in the morning or in the evening. I took the 4 PM tour, and alligators were taking in the sun along the shoreline.
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As the weather turns moderate I find myself turning back to getting outside as often...

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