 Everglades
National ParkEverglades, FL |
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We got up close to alligators, birds, snakes and snails. Harrison and
Amanda loved looking for wildlife and especially enjoyed discovering
little baby alligators! Really big alligators are a rare sight, but "Notch" (named for his damaged tail) gave us plenty of time to experience his largeness as he lazed on the sidewalk near the Shark Valley Visitor Center.
This precious ecological area provides a fascinating journey into nature at its most interesting. Our hope is added to the many that worry about the future of the Everglades. One ranger told us that with protective efforts, bird flocks like those of the 1800s that covered the sky (before they were hunted for their fashionable feathers and wings) could be seen again. If enough people see it as the essential refuge it is, the Everglades can be enjoyed for centuries to come. |
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Birds
of the Everglades
The Everglades is a bird watcher's paradise. We got to see hundreds of birds, many of them up close, in their natural habitat--not in a zoo! We all became familiar with the names of many of these tropical winged creatures and spent hours watching and labeling them. "We had fun spotting birds and looking them up in a little field guide to the Everglades. We saw the most birds at Shark Valley. They were some of the biggest and most beautiful birds I've ever seen. We saw a Great Blue Heron catch and eat some fish. We had to stand very still and wait quite a while, but it paid off and we got great video footage of this amazing hunter. Dad saw a Cormorant dive under the water and come up with a huge catfish! Birds are fun to watch."--Harrison We did get to see some of the more rare birds, like the Purple Galinule and the Wood Stork, but our pictures of these beautiful birds didn't turn out that good. |
From the Dover coloring book Swampland Plants and Animals by Ruth Soffer |
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Habitats
of the Everglades
Although the Everglades is called "a river of grass", there is more to this unique place than just endless miles of sawgrass marsh. In addition to the habitats shown above, bald cypress communities, rocky shores, sandy beaches and coral reefs contribute to making the Glades one of the most diverse and varied spots on earth. Lots of hiking trails and canoe waterways provide visitors with many opportunities to explore these rare environments. Amanda had a unique experience on the Bay Loop Trail at Flamingo. "When we were walking on a trail in the coastal prairie, I saw what I thought was a panther. It was crossing the trail in front of me and Mom and disappeared into the bushes. It was cute. I felt lucky to have seen it because there aren't very many panthers in the Everglades." (In fact, the population of panthers is so small that genetic problems spurred scientists to transplant 8 female Texas cougars to try to eliminate the mutations in future generations.) Coastal prairies lead to mangrove forests at the water's edge. (See our De Soto National Memorial page for more on mangroves.) Hardwood hammocks are isolated stands of trees and plants formed in slightly elevated areas where the biggest variety of living things are found. Butterflies and other insects, tree snails, songbirds, orchids and ferns, yucca and air plants all live in the hammocks. The pinelands of the Everglades survive by fire. Seedlings of other plants are destroyed, allowing the hardy slash pine trees to survive. Erosion of the limestone foundation of Florida creates solution holes, which in the pine forests, are micro-environments for a host of plants and small creatures. |
 National
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds : Eastern Region by John Bull, John, Jr. Farrand, Lori Hogan (Designer) |
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We checked out some of the really small wildlife, too. They represent an important link in the chain of life in the Glades. "When we returned from the Bear Lake trail, we spotted some beautiful zebra butterflies. They were nice and posed for some pictures."--Amanda "Apple Snails can detect air pressure within their shells and
they lay their eggs accordingly. |
Everglades
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"My dad took me riding around the beach in the shallow water. When he ran real fast, the water splashed in my face. It was really fun!"--Amanda Rob turns everything into a learning experience, and a trip to the beach is no exception. We went on one of his "Walk-and-Talks" and found lots of interesting ocean life. Dad waded out waist deep and discovered this sea urchin (which he returned to its home in the hollow of a rock after we gently explored it). We also found a big green slug/snail thing (we're still trying to find out its name) that discharged red ink when we touched it. |
) COLOR
ME!
Click on this image of American Alligators
for the full size picture, then print and color it!
From the Dover coloring book Swampland Plants and Animals by Ruth Soffer |
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"We went sailing with my uncle Rich and his friend Debbie around Miami. When the sails were out, the boat tipped a whole lot. It was a little scary, but Rich is a good sailor and he told me why we couldn't tip all the way over and I felt better after that. We also saw lots of cute dolphins just before we started back. They liked to swim along with the boat. When we were almost back to the dock, we got stuck in the shallows because of low tide, so we had to maneuver the boat carefully. The adults hung out over the side to get us unstuck. It was a lot of fun sailing with my uncle."--Harrison |
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We
couldn't come to Florida and not stop to see the Everglades. We're so
glad we did, and especially glad it was the dry season and the mosquitos
were few in number!)
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Everglades
National Park (True Books: National Parks) 
