The Everglades

The River of Grass...

The Everglades are a unique place. From a distance (or even from close up if you don't pay attention), it is a place of magnificent desolation. Mile upon mile of flat terrain, sawgrass for as far as you can see, and the monotony broken only by the occasional hammock with a few trees. However, closer examination will reveal a precariously balanced ecosystem, changing with the seasons and sensitive to the slightest change in water level and flow. To the watchful eye the 'Glades are seen to be teeming with life, in the air, on the ground and in the water. The water controls this place, effecting the location and population of the wildlife. Of course, human presence continues to encroach on this wilderness, and the effects are clear if you compare the number and variety of flora and fauna compared to 50 (or even 30) years ago. But if you take the time to stop and look around, this is one place where you get an idea of the delicate balance of life that modern demands of civilization threaten.

They say that 'the devil is in the details'. Learn to appreciate the Everglades and you may decide that it is God that is in the details.

The following are photos all taken (as best I recall) within the confines of the Everglades National Park.

At the top of the food chain (if you don't count man) has got to be the alligator. And, depending on the time of day (and the time of year), you will doubtless see plenty of gators on any trip to the park. In general, they stay in the water or out of the way during the middle of the day and are more likely to be visible early in the day or near dusk.

The best time to visit the park is from January to March. The temperature is much more pleasant, there are not so many insects, and most importantly, this is normally the driest time of year so it is much easier to view the wildlife. During the wetter parts of the year much of the surface area of the park is covered by a slow moving layer of water (and thus the term 'River of Grass') so the wildlife tends to scatter, there being no natural incentive to congregate. In the dryer times of year, there are only certain places where the water is deep enough to be present throughout the year and so these are the places where animals gather. Many of these photos were taken at the Royal Palm visitor's area not too far inside the Main Gate of the park. There are regular activities conducted by the park rangers, and a boardwalk over Taylor Slough where generally you will find animals gathered.

	This is (I believe) an Ibis. (I make no claims on being an ornithologist!) We see them a lot in our neigborhood, many times foraging 10 or 20 in a group.
Be careful where you step!!! The gators were out sunning on this day and although they look sleepy and slow they can cover a short distance at a HIGH rate of speed! Needless to say, it's a good idea to give them no temptation!
	This is either an anhinga or a cormorant... I can NEVER remember which is which. (Editor's note: It's an ANHINGA - you can tell by the pointy beak. Cormorants have curved beaks.) Anyway... both birds hunt fish by diving and swimming underwater and both find perches where they can spread their wings out to dry off.
THIS is what happens when one of these birds is successful fishing... They spear the fish underwater with their beaks, then take them to shore to eat them. The way it's supposed to work is they jerk their heads to sling the fish into the air, and then catch them longways and swallow them that way. However, we must've watched this poor fellow for at least 20 minutes trying to dislodge the fish from his beak!
He eventually raked the fish off on a branch and so was able to have his dinner! We watched this 'show' from the boardwalk over Taylor Slough.