Thursday, February 14th, 2013

Ooops....We've been too busy to blog...so now it's time to catch up.

Our Thursday included visiting the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve....how amazing!! Everglades NP is at the southern tip of Florida's Everglades, a 100-mile-long subtropical wilderness of saw-grass prairie, jungle-like areas, and mangrove swamp, that originally ran from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. Water, essential to the survival of the ecosystem, once flowed south from the lake unhindered. But with the population growth of southern Florida the built canals, levees, and dikes have diverted the water to land developments and agribusinesses. Not enough water is getting to the Everglades. Therefore, the special mission of this park is to save it! Other parks, in the National Park system were formed to save scenery, but the Everglades was created to preserve this vast ecosystem as a wildlife habitat. More than 700 plant and 300 bird species, as well as the endangered manatee and Florida panther, threatened crocodile reside in this tropical region. The rhythm of life in this area has been so changed by humans, that the life of the Everglades has been put at risk.

 

 

 

Big Cypress National Preserve was authorized in 1974 and comprises 729,000 acres. It was the first national preserve established by the National Park Service. It is an extension on the north west region of the everglades and allows a broader range of pre-existing activities. There are Ranger-conducted Activities, boardwalks, fishing/canoeing/kayaking, camping, bicycling, hiking,and wildlife viewing and bird watching. The endangered swamp panther was down to 6 known animals in the 60's. In order to broaden the genetic pool; six female puma were brought in from Texas. great success was realized and the Texas puma were trapped and returned to Texas five years later. Today the preserve panther populations over three hundred. Conservation success story. Programs are underway to increase the natural flow of water through this vast grass and cypress swamp to restore it to natural water flow from north east to south west and nourish the ten thousand coastal islands along the Gulf of Mexico. The Big Cypress Preserve provides refuge for many threatened species. Endangered species such as the Florida panther, wood storks and red - cockaded woodpeckers can be found in the preserve. Rare orchids, ferns and bromelids (air plants) can be found in many of the more inaccessable areas. Wildlife viewing is especially good including alligators, wading birds, manatee, alligator gar and other fish. Ranger conducted activities include swamp walks, canoe trips, bike tours,and campfire programs. Water is the key to the preserve as it receives nearly 55 inches of rainfall annually flooding the swamp with shallow sheets of life giving water. The visitor centers and the preserve are wonderful.

Beautiful mural depicting wildlife in the Everglades & Big Cypress National Preserve

Swimming alligator and mangrove trees

Alligator

 

 

 

Endangered manatee

Manatee coming up for air

Big Cypress National Preserve, north of road

Big Cypress National Preserve, south of road

Four alligaors sunning themselves

Alligator headed back to the water

Endangered Florida panther (stuffed variety)

Catfish had to jump up to breathe, as there is NOT enough oxygen in the water;
leaving rings of water fromwhere they had jumped for air

Cormorant

More gators