Everglades National Park - Florida
The Florida Everglades, also known as the River of Grass, is the third largest national park in the contiguous United States, the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River. It encompasses 1.5 million acres of tropical and sub-tropical habitat and boasts one of the world's most divserse ecosystems. Congress established it as a National Park in 1934, it was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Just a one hour drive from Miami and with three main entry points, the park receives an average of one million visitors per year. The park is comprised of a unique ecosystem of mangrove forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, freshwater prairies and hundreds of bird, animal and plant species. This includes the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and the most significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America. It is at the interface of temperate and sub-tropical America and includes fresh water, brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters and creates a complex of habitat that supports a high diversity of flora and fauna. This habitate provides refuge for over 20 rare, endangered and threatened species, more than 360 species of birds, 300 species of fish, 40 species of mammals and 17 species of amphibians. Receiving an average of 60 in (150 cm) of rain (Seattle receives and average of 40 in (102 cm)) helps provide a thriving, sustainable ecosystem for a wide range of sub-tropical and tropical species of animals. As a visitor to the park you’re only able to see a small fraction of the wildlife in the Everglades but understanding the potential for animals to thrive in a protected area sends an important message that protecting the wild, undisturbed ecosystems of our world is critical to maintaining the bio-diversity we have today.
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
The American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) can be found in the coastal wetlands of the US Sourtheast, as far North as North Carolina and as far west as eastern Texas. Their range extends down to southern Florida and includes the Everglades. Their dark skin is armored with small bony scales called scutes and half of its length is its massive, strong tail. They are cold-blooded and depend on the natural world around them to provide warmth, basking in the sun or digging holes in the mud to trap heat. They're usually found in slow-moving freshwater rivers but also inhabit swamps, marshes and lakes. Alligators are carnivores that eat fish, invertebrates, frogs, birds and mammals. They use their sharp teeth to capture prey, and their strong jaws are powerful enough to crack a turtle's shell. As an alligator's teeth are worn down, they are replaced with some alligators going through 3,000 or more teeth in a lifetime.
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) is one of two vultures species that can be found in the Florida Everglades (the other is the Turkey Vulture ( Cathartes aura)) both of which are protect by the state and the government as a migratory bird. They range from northeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. They have a uniform black color with the exception of white patches or "stars" on the underside of their wingtips and have a black bare skin head. As compared to turkey vultures they tend to flap their wings more and soar less, which helps distinguish them from a distance. It is a scavenger bird and feeds on carrion (the decaying flesh of dead animals) but may also eat eggs, kill newborn animals or scavenge in dumpsters and garbage dumps in populated areas. Without a voice box, the only sounds they can make are grunts or low hisses.
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is one of three pelicans found in the America's. They frequent inland and coastal waterways where fish are plentiful and catch them by diving at steep angles from 60-90 degrees at heights of up to 60m. They also rotate their body slightly to the left when diving to reduce impact on their esophagus and trachea located on their right side. As they enter the water they open their bill to scoop fish and surrounding water. Once they surface they tip their bill to drain the water before swallowing the remaining fish. In shallow coastal waters they often hunt in groups slapping their wings on the waters surface to corral schools of fish before taking turns diving. This Pelican was roosting on a post in Everglades City.
Double-Crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)
The Double-Crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is a dark, long bodied diving bird with a prehistoric appearance that can be found over the entire US and Southern Canada. They can be found on coasts, bays, lakes, rivers or almost any aquatic habitat and nest in trees near or over water, on sea cliffs or on ground on islands. Adults have a matte black body with orange bare skin at the base of their bill and aquamarine eyes. Their "double crest" can only be seen on adults during breeding season. One of the most recognizable behaviors of cormorants is when they spread their wings to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds so their feathers get soaked rather than shedding water. This is most likely to help them swim when underwater hunting for food. I was lucky to have my camera focused on this bird as it surfaced and flipped its snack over.
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
The Tri-colored Heron (Egretta tricolor) is a small species of heron that can reach 24-26 inches in height and is native to coastal parts of the Americas. It has a dark slate-blue head and upper body, a purple chest and white underparts and becomes even more colorful during breeding season. It has long legs which are yellow or dark colored and a long slender neck and bill. They are the only dark heron with light underparts. They can typically be found inhabiting fresh and saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangrove swamps, lagoons and river deltas from Massachusetts, down through the Gulf of Mexico and Carribean to as far south as northern Brazil. They are more solitary than other North American herons when feeding and mostly eat small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, leeches, worms, spiders, reptiles and insects. They are monogamous birds and start building a nest of sticks once they have been bonded to their mate.
American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
The American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a medium-sized bird with an overall white plumage, bright red-orange down-curved bill, long legs and black wing tips that are usually only visible in flight. They can be found from Virginia to the Gulf Coast of the United States and south through most of the coastal New World tropics. Males are significantly larger and heavier than females and have stouter bills. They live in a variety of habitats, although shallow coastal marshes, wetlands and mangrove swamps are preferred. They also frequent muddy pools, mudflats and even wet lawns. To feed, they wade slowly through shallow water and stick their long, down-curved bill into the substrate of the water body and sweep it back and forth across the bottom to pick out suitable food items. They're social birds that forage and fly in groups and nest in colonies.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
The Great Blue Heron (Andea herodias) is the largest and most widespread heron in North America. It has a slate-gray body, chestnut and black accents and very long legs and neck. They stand 3-4.5 feet high and have a six-foot wingspan, however, they only weigh between 4-8 pounds. They feed on fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, small mammals and sometimes even other birds. They can survive and be found in almost any wetland habitat in North America and are rarely found far from water. They mostly nest in colonies called "heronries" in trees near water and can be as high as 100 feet off the ground. They also have specialised feathers on their chest that will grow continuously and fray into a powder. This powder can be used to help clean off fish slime.
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a medium sized white heron with a black bill, black legs and yellow feet and is often considered the most elegant heron due to its curvy white plumage. During mating season they develop showy, lacy plumes on their head, neck and back. These plumes once fetched astronomical prices in the fashion industry, endangering the species, with prices reaching $32 per ounce in 1886 (which was twice the price of gold at the time). They live along the coast or inland wetlands and can be found throughout most of South America and the southern United States, migrating further north during the warmer months. Male Snowy Egrets fight for breeding territories, choose nest sites, and perform noisy courtship displays to attract mates.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) is a wading bird that's closely related to herons with generally long legs, neck and bills and a short tail and are common through much of the United States, as well as Central and South America, Africa, Australia, Asia, and some parts of Europe. They are completely white with a long orange-yellow bill and dark grey legs, measure between 33-40 inches tall and have a wingspan of 59 inches. They usually nest in colonies with other heron species in wooded swamps and wetlands. Nests are typically built 20 to 40 feet above ground in medium-sized trees and is built as a large, flat platform, constructed of sticks and twigs and usually lined with small pieces of plant material. They feed in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small reptiles and insects, spearing them with its long, sharp bill. It often waits motionless for prey, or slowly stalks its victim but never feeds at night like some other heron species.
American Darter (Anhinga anhinga)
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is a large waterbird that lives in shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams with branches or logs near the water so they can sun themselves and dry off. They are also known as the snake bird, for their snake-like necks that stick out of the water when they swim, and the water turkey, for its turkey-like tail. Unlike most waterbirds, the Anhinga doesn't have waterproof feathers. While that may seem like a disadvantage for their watery lifestyle, their wet feathers and dense bones help them slowly submerge their bodies under the water so they can slyly stalk fish and stab them with their dagger-like bill. They mostly eat small-to-medium sized wetland fishes, shrimp and crayfish and have also been known to eat young alligators and snakes. Sometimes they spear prey so hard that they need to return to shore and bang the prey on a rock to remove it. Although they’re a water bird they soar quite well and can often been seen soaring on thermals at great heights with a distinctive, cross-shaped silhouette.
Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is one of 6 different types of spoonbill in the world and get their name from their pink color. Their pink color is due to their diet of crustaceans and is the reason they're often mistaken with Flamingo's. Their "spoon" bills are relatively wide and flat, with a wider circular shape at the bottom of their bill. This “spoon” shape only develops once the chick has broken free of their egg, they’re actually born with straight bills. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these birds were nearly hunted to extinction for their bright plumage until the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was passed. Today they are listed under least concern on the IUCN Red list with a stable population, although, they still suffer from habitat degradation and loss. They are primarily found in the south in places like the southern tip of Florida. However, they have also been seen as far north as South Carolina and even Virginia. In South America, they’re widespread on the east side of the Andes Mountains, as well as along the northernmost coast of the continent. They also live in most of coastal Central America, as well as the Caribbean. Roseate spoonbills are true omnivores feeding on crustaceans, small fish, insects, and some plants. The collective noun for spoonbills is bowl. Have you ever seen a bowl of Roseate Spoonbills?
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a short and stocky heron with relatively short legs and a thick neck and can be found as far north as southern Canada and as far south as northern South America. They are found throughout the eastern United States as far west as North Dakota and the Great Plains states, although some occur on the west coast. Their diet consists of mainly small fish such as minnows, sunfish, catfish or pickerel and they hunt by standing still at the water’s edge, in vegetation, or by walking slowly in shallow water. When a fish approaches, the heron lunges and darts its head, grasping (or sometimes spearing) the fish with its heavy bill. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey underparts and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. They use their keen vision, hearing, and sense of touch to perceive their environment. They have especially acute vision that helps them to capture prey.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a hefty wading bird with a football-shaped body perched atop long legs. Their bodies are all white except for their black flight feathers and tail with a head that is unfeathered and scaly-looking. They have long necks and long, thick bills that are curved at the tip. Wood Storks fly with their neck and legs outstretched but tend to perch with the neck drawn in, giving them a humpbacked appearance. You'll often find them with their head buried beneath the water looking for food. They forage mainly by wading in shallow water with their head down and bill in the water partly open. Once they make contact with prey, by touch or sight, they quickly snap their bill shut. They breed in fresh and brackish forested wetlands and forage in wetlands, swamps, ponds, and marshes, especially those with an open canopy. They are the only native stork in North America and live from North Carolina throughout the Gulf and along the western coast of Mexico. Their numbers have dwindled over the years due to the altered cycle of high and low water in breeding wetlands making food scarce for young, who often succumb to starvation.
