A Reflection

I remember saying to myself at the end of the week "I have seen more wildlife during this 1 week in Florida than I have during 20 years in Britain".  I think i would stand by that statement.  I had seen such a diverse range of wildlife from waders to owls and from Alligators to Rabbit's Foot Ferns.  The Florida Everglades and wetland eco-systems are extremely fragile, but when healthy they are immensely productive and can support a huge range of wildlife.


The objective of this field trip was to develop an understanding of wetland eco-systems and the issues conservationists encounter when trying to manage them.  I believe I left Florida with a firm understanding and a strong desire to return.

An Anhinga "Snake Bird" sunning itself after
diving for fish.

Day 6: Everglades Wetland Research Park & 10,000 Islands National Park - 7th of March 2014

Abiotic Conditions

Temperature -27 C

Humidity - 81%

Cloud Cover - Clear skies throughout the morning with a small amount of clouds moving in for late afternoon

It was our last full day in Florida and once we were ready we set off to Naples, just a few miles south of Bonita Springs.  We were heading to the Everglades Wetland Research Park which was ran by Prof. Bill Mitsch, a world renown wetland ecologist.  The centre is owned by the FGCU and sees many visiting researchers from across the globe.  It's primary focus is that of nutrients regulation in the water along with water purification.

We were given a lecture on the alteration of hydrology caused by agriculture around Lake Okachobee and the knock on effects it has on the rest of the Floridian eco-system.  The land east and west of Lake Okachobee is drained for agriculture and the freshwater is forced into the Okachobee estuary.  This causes huge amounts of damage to Mangrove systems which can be destroyed if vast amounts of freshwater enter their brackish water habitats.  Storm Water Capturement areas have been created with 57,000 hectares of wetland habitat created to try and absorb some of this freshwater.
    The effects of run-off and nutrient leeching were also discussed.  When large amounts of nitrogen and phsophorus enter the water huge algal blooms can be created leading to eutrophiciation where the eco-system is starved of oxygen.  Through careful management the amount of phosphorus in the water has dropped by 82% however it must continue to drop to 10 parts per billion if it is to be acceptable. Nitrogen which leeched into the Mississippi River caused hyproxia in an area the size of New Jersey calling almost all the fish within the area as they were starved of oxygen.

We were then led on a tour of the centre where we saw a high-tech wetland laboratory which included extremely expensive machinery that could decipher the nutrient make up of soils and water. After leaving the lab we were then shown The Stockholm Wetlands Award which Prof. Bill Mitsch had been awarded.

10.000 Island Boat Trip!     

The 10,000 Islands National Park

The 10,000 Islands national park is a natural labyrinth of salt/brackish water with Mangrove creating an intricate maze of vegetation.

We hopped on board a tour boat and drove off into the national park.  The captain/tour guide began by explaining what laws were enforced to protect the park. He mentioned that the reserve has a huge population of crabs and other shellfish and has always been desirable for fishing.  However regulations now state that no fishing can take place within in the park and that all crabbing/fishing boats must cast their nets out to see across the border of the park.  By doing this it allows the reserve to act as a nursery for the target populations meaning they are less likely to be over exploited.  You could judge how productive the waters were by simply looking at how many piscatarian species of birds were seen.  Ospreys were nesting in large numbers, Anhingas were seen sunning themselves an many perches and Royal terns (Thalasseus maximus) and Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) were also seen.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Royal Tern, often seen perching into the wind

We were now sailing in a large body of water surrounded by Mangroves in almost every direction.  It was here was saw a small resident pod of Bottlenose Dolphins.  The captiain explained that this pod of Dolphins appeared darker skinned than they usually would for they spend their whole lives fishing in waters that are high in the chemical tanin.  Tanin enters the water from Mangrove leaves that breakdown in the water releasing the brown and bitter dye into the water.  The Dolphins were extremely inquisitive and as the boat picked up speed they began surfing the bow wake. There are numerous theories as to why they do this such as energy conservation as a greater speed can be reached with minimal effort when riding the bow wake.

An example of Dolphins riding the Bow Wakes

A visit to Fakahatchee Wildlife refuge

After the boat tour we headed back to the minibuses and on our way home swung by the Fakahatchee Wildlife Refuge after receiving a tip off that there was a Bald Eagle nest visible from the boardwalk. We arrived and immediatly spotted a large Alligator bathing in a pond to avoid to heat.  An Anhinga was also sunning itself next to the bank and would allow you to walk up to a few feet from it without any bother.  We entered the reserve and walked along the boardwalk.  We came to the Bald Eagle nest that was located about 50ft away from the boardwalk in the canopy of a tall Cypress tree.  The single large chick could be seen excising it's flight muscles and at times hovering for a few seconds when it's wings caught enough lift. 

      On our way back from seeing the Eagle we heard a deep but lyrical hooting coming from the vegetation.  After minutes of scanning the woodland we finally spotted the superbly camouflaged Barred Owl (Strix varia).  It could have been calling for numerous reasons, such as territorial defense or perhaps it was attempting to flush out any small mammals that may be spooked by the call. 

 

The Barred Owl has superb Camouflage 

Day 5: Corkscrew Swamp - 6th March 2014

Abiotic Conditions

Temperature - 27 C

Humidity - 96%

Cloud Cover - Mainly bright sunlight, as day progressed more cloud rolled in leading to a thunderstorm.

On our 5th day we drove southeast towards Corkscew Swamp. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a national Audubon Society sanctuary.  It protects one of the largest remaining Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) and Pond Cypress (Taxodium ascendens) forests in North America. The protection came around the 1940s when logging pressures were extremely high and therefore the Cypress Forest had to be put under immediate protection if it was not to be cut down. However, conservation work had been going on since the late 1800s as volunteer rangers took camp in the swamp in order to prevent hunters from poaching the Wood Stork colonies that breed at Corkscrew Swamp.  A 2.25mile long boardwalk has been built through the Cypress swamp allowing visitors to get close to the wildlife and really experience the swamps without getting their feet wet!

The Boardwalk through the wetland prairie that leads to the swamps.

The boardwalk led us through a wetland prairie before entering the swamp.  A wetland prairie is an area of land which is elevated just above that of the surrounding area meaning it does not flood as often.  this provides an opportunity for more fragile vascular plants to take hold such as Tickseed and Sawgrass.  We then made our way into the Cypress swamp.  Straight away we saw a Painted Bunting (Passarina ciris) perched on a twig.  It is a very colourful member of the cardinal family and are renown for being very elusive.  

We continued are slow walk through the swamp and analysed the vegetation around us.  It was predominantly ferns with Aligator Flags occupying the deeper ponds.  We able to see some very impressive strangler figs and combined with the other vegetation gave the swamp a very prehistoric atmosphere. 

A Strangler fig growing down a large
Cypress tree at Corkscrew Swamp

We progressed further and came across a large Alligator that was sitting in one of the deeper pools.  At first it was mistaken for a floating log but as we got closer it began to move and passed directly beneath us before resting under the bridge we were standing on.  This "living Dinosaur" just added to the Jurassic feel of the swamps.

A large Alligator moving through the swamp, It was perfectly
camouflaged and when still can easily be mistaken for a log! 

Before we left for Florida we had been promised that Raccoons were so common that we would be falling over them.  It had been 5 whole days in Florida and we were yet to see 1 black and grey bushy tail!  However, much to the relief of the individual who had declared that we were guaranteed to see a Raccoon, one was spotted foraging right next to the boardwalk.  Raccoons have extremely sensitive hands that are very dexterous.  This could be seen for the Raccoon was hauling away leaf litter then probing his hands around   the base of trees in search of prey.  Whilst he did that his head was free to keep an eye of for danger.

The elusive Raccoon seen foraging through the leaf litter

Earlier, before heading to the boardwalk, we had a small talk from one of the guides at the visitor centre at Corckscrew Swamp.  He explained the history of the drainage of the wetlands.  He mentioned that a developer named Hamilton Distin began draining the wetlands in the 1800s in order to make way for agriculture (which was suited to the flatland) and development.  With this drainage came of decrease in wader population of a massive 95%.  

      He then began focusing on the Wood Stork (Myteria americana).  The Wood Stork is considered an indicator species for the health of a wetland eco-system.  It has been estimated that to fledge a Wood Stork chick you need 440 pounds of small fish per chick.  This is truly a vast amount if you are to sustain a whole colony.  Wood Stork populations have plummeted due to the loss of their feeding habitats (wetland prairies) and the alteration to hydrology.  The Wood storks require shallow ponds where fish are concentrated in greater numbers and are therefore easier to catch.  However, due to changes made by development, the ponds have either disappeared and become too deep making it too hard for the Wood Storks to catch the vast amount of small fish they need to fledge their offspring. The Wood Stork population used to number in the hundreds of thousands but since Corkscrew swamp became a sanctuary the largest breeding population they have had has only been 6000.  

Since development and drainage began in the 1800s
Wood Storks have seen their populations plummet. 

We left the swamps in the nick of time and as we got back to the visitor's centre a thunderstorm rolled in and lashed the trees with high wings and driving rain.  This transition from strong sunlight to thunderstorm seemed to take a matter of minutes and it just goes to show how volatile Florida's climate can be.

Day 4: The JN "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge - 5th of March 2014

Abiotic Conditions
Temperature - 28 C
Humidity - 93%
Cloud Cover - very light almost none

The JN "Ding" Darling reserve is located on Sanibel Island just off the Gulf coast of Florida.  The reserve covers 21km squared including one of the U.S.A's largest undeveloped Mangrove systems.  In 1974 the park became part of the U.S.A's National Wildlife Refuge system.  The refuge has been named after the famous cartoonist Jay Norward "Ding" Darling.  He spent a lot of his time at his summer house on Sannibel Island.  He created the first "Duck Stamp" which was a large stamp that the public had to buy in order to be allowed to hunt.  The profits from the duck stamps were recycled back into conservation.  The refuge recently auctioned off an original Ding Darling duck stamp with the highest bid reaching $65,000.

Map of the JN "Ding" Darling National Refuge - Sannibel Island

A White Pelican coming in for landing

The Refuge sits upon the migratory path of many bird species, perhaps most notable of all is the White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrohynchos).  It is much larger than it's relative the Brown Pelican and can be seen in quite large numbers at the refuge.  The Refuge is immensely popular with a total of 245 species being counted.  This may be because it has a very diverse water system, with brackish lakes, Mangrove forests and open freshwater.  Many invertebrates thrive in the brackish waters.  However, development inland has seen more freshwater enter the refuge and leech into the brackish lakes.  This decreases the salinity and kills huge swathes of the invertebrates.  With the decline in invertebrates comes the decline of waders as many depend on the invertebrates to feed on.

A Brown Pelican hunting

We were led through a boardwalk that cuts through a mangrove system.  Here was saw a Cuban Tree Frog (Osteopolis septentrionalis) resting in a small bole in a mangrove.  The Cuban Tree Frog is an established invasive species that has a shorter gestation and development cycle than that of the native tree frogs.  This is very problematic as the Cuban Tree Frog predates on the native species and because of their shorter development time can easily out compete the native species.  

      We came to a small observation tower and from here we observed an Anhinga nest along with a roost of white Ibis (Eudocimus albus).  The male displayed a bright green eye patch that is used in courtship between the Anhinga pair.  Anhingas often nest over water to help with predator evasion however it is not uncommon to see Aligators waiting beneath a nest in case any of the chicks fall into the water below. 

Our guide emphasised the importance of volunteer workers which are employed in their hundreds to help maintain the park.  The park does not have enough profits to be able to support many full-time staff so it must rely on volunteers.  The profits that are made from the souvenir shop go directly into the Ding Darling conservation budget and this provides the refuge with vital extra income.  The park also possesses a "Wildlife  Drive".  This is where people can pay a small fee to drive along a road that takes you through the heart of the reserve and allows you to see many different species of wader such as the Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja).  The wildlife drive is closed on Fridays to allow the wildlife to feed in peace and to allow the refuge staff and volunteers to make maintenance checks on the facilities within the drive and assess the health of the wildlife.  

On our trip through the wildlife drive we came across a very charismatic bird.  It was a Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens).  It was running sporadically back and forth through the shallows with it's wings held up almost like an umbrella to reduce glare on the water surface.  The purpose of doing this was to scare any fish in hiding out into the open where they could then be caught.  This was extremely entertaining to watch! 

A Reddish Egret holding it's wings up to held reduce surface glare on the water. 

A little further along we stepped out of our minibuses and looked into the shallows.  Here we saw many small Atlantic Horseshoe crabs cruising along the bottom of the brackish lake. We observed male crabs pursuing female for several minutes until copulation was finally achieved. Again we saw the bank was littered with horseshoe crab carcasses proving that these crabs are a vital part of the food chain in Florida as they seen to be heavily predated.    

      As we progressed further along the drive we came across a small bridge where a West Indian Manatee was spotted close to the surface.  We all scrambled out to get a better view as it slowly swam directly beneath us.  You could see many scars on it's back and this may indicate previous injury from boats that are famous for killing many Manatees as collisions are quite common.  In order to try and prevent these collisions, speed limits have been introduced in areas known to be refuges to Manatees, this gives the Manatees an opportunity to swim deeper or simply get out of the way. 

Barefoot Beach Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) White Mangrove (Avicennia marina) 

Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

After the Wildlife drive we left the JN "Ding" Darling national wildlife refuge and headed to Barefoot Beach.  As you walk to the beach you pass through a small Mangrove forest on a Boardwalk.  Mangroves are an essential habitiat to Florida.  They provide many birds with perfect areas for hunting, nesting and roosting and act as a nursery for many species of fish.  As a habitat they are globally endangered. In Florida you find the Red, Black and White Mangrove.  The different Mangroves have varying tolerances to saline/freshwater.  The Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is seen growing the furthest out to see as it is capable of storing salts within it's leaves which it then sheds as to avoid being poisoned from the high salt levels.  A little further inland you find the White Mangrove (Avicennia marina), this is tolerable to both freshwater and saline conditions but does not have the capacity to deal with salts in such an effective manner as the White Mangrove.  Finally the Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) is the one that grows most inland.  it is very intolerable to saline conditions and will therefore only grow in inland areas.  As we were walking through the Mangroves we could begin to see this separation of Mangrove species as we progressed closer to the shore. 

Diagram illustration the dispersal of Mangrove species in Florida

Whilst walking along the boardwalk we began to here screeching coming from behind the treeline.  we craned our necks up and saw a Bald Eagle rowing itself through the air with large broad strokes of it's wings.  We then saw a pair of Ospreys, dwarfed by the Bald Eagle, come up and begin mobbing the eagle.  The Ospreys were nesting not so far away and they immediately deemed the eagle as a threat to the young or eggs that were sitting in the nest.   

Day 3: Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment - 4th of March 2014

Abiotic Conditions
Temperature - 28 C
Humidity - 100%
Cloud Cover - Direct sunlight, no clouds

After an early start and a long drive we arrived at the Loxahatchee Research Centre.  We got stuck in straight away and headed for a short boardwalk through another Cypress Swamp.  Here our guide explained some of the issues they were facing with invasive species.  They were spending huge amounts of money on the removal of these invasives but were met with success.  One problematic species was the invasive shrub called Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia).  Melaleuca was introduced in the 1880s to assist the drainage of wetlands and provide stability to soil banks.  A single Melaleuca tree can have as many as 13 million seeds and can therefore spread at an astonishing rate creating a monoculture thicket that out competes all other plants. A biocontrol was introduced in order to tackle the plant.  A weaver (Oxyops vitiosa) was introduced in 1997.  The weaver feeds on the flowers of the tree and studies from the Florida Gulf Coast University have found that the weavers can reduce seed production by as much as 50%.

An example of a Melaleuca thicket.

After the boardwalk we moved over to the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA).  On the way we came across a female Alligator wallowing in a small pond with 3 young beside her.  Across the road our guide pointed out the telephone poles all had large bore holes in them.  The culprit for the holes was the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), he mentioned that the local authorities were always complaining about the birds and the damage they cause to the poles.  

We set off again towards LILA.  The temperature had risen to 28degrees C and the humidity was extremely high.  With very little shade a lot of the wildlife had taken to the water to wallow, feed and cool down.  If only we could have done that!  

The purpose of LILA is to understand how much influence the hydrology of an Everglades system has on how well the eco-system performs.  An artificial everglade system has been created and researches can conduct experiments by altering the amount of water flow in each section allowing them to perform studies under controlled conditions.  The everglades are extremely flat and an increase in elevation of only a foot can be the difference between a swamp and an island .  The islands that are created in the everglades are biodiversity hot spots as they act as safe refuges for roosting/nesting birds.  The Alligators play a key role in the protection of these nesting islands as well for species such as the Raccoon (which often raid nests) are deterred from entering the water for fear of being predated by the Alligators. 

An Ariel view of LILA 

Research into the amount of Phosphorus that is leached into the everglades has also been conducted.  They found that the Everglades are in fact very low in nutrients and the wetland sits upon a thin layer of calcium.  When there is a high phosphorus level the calcium layer dissolves and the water nutrient level beings to increase which allows species such as Cattails (Typha latfolia) to form large monocultures which are very low in biodiversity. 

Cattails can quickly form monocultures when
Phosphorus levels are high

Once we had finished our tour of LILA we moved on to our next destination.  We drove deeper into the Everglades in order to get a taste of how many wetland conservationists get around on the water.  We went for a Air Boat Tour.  The tours were ran by local residents who were very knowledgeable and passionate about the eco-system around them.  The air boats are extremely loud and ear defenders had to be worn.  This made me wonder whether bombing around the tranquil everglades on a boat louder than Boeing 747 was actually harmful to the surrounding wildlife.  The boats flush out many bird species allowing you to get a great view of many species such as the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and the Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).  I thought that the loud noise and fast speed would really disturb ambush predators such as the Great Blue Heron however I then realised that if they were truly disturbed by the boats they simply wouldn't be in the area. I also came to realise, that whilst making alot of noise the air boat rides also create alot of revenue through tourism and this in turn will make it's way back into conserving the Everglades.  The boat rides also raise awareness of how delicate wetland eco-systems can be and, when healthy, how much wildlife they can support!

A Great Blue Heron taking flight after being disturbed by our Air Boat.

  

Day 2: Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) - 3rd of March 2014

Abiotic Conditions
Temperature - 28 C
Humidity - 86%
Cloud Cover - very light almost none


We woke to another clear morning and were again greeted with the sounds of Ospreys calling to each other from the near by nest.  Today's plan was to visit the Florida Gulf Coast University Campus which was about a 30 minute drive from the Vester Field Station.  Whilst being driven to the university we kept our eyes peeled for wildlife and saw species such as the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) and the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius).  The American Kestrel was behaving much like the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) and was seen hovering over the bank verges of a highway where it was searching for small mammals.

A storm pord at the FGCU

We arrived at the university and met with our guide Wynn.  Wynn is a renowned disturbance ecologist and has done much research into the effects hurricanes, flooding and drought can have upon ecosystems and the species within them.  He said that he looks for changes in species behavior as an indicator for disturbance and then basis his research around this disturbance.
      Wynn went on to explain a little bit about the layout of the university and that it is more than meets the eye.  He began by explaining that the university campus had set aside 50% as a reserve for wildlife.  There are many large pools are water around the campus as well, these were constructed in order to act as storm ponds.  When there is heavy rainfall the water flows straight to the ponds and this avoids any flooding and allows the university to hold the water on campus.  The storm ponds not only serve the university but provide a valuable habitat for species such as the Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) and the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).  There were many signs posted around the campus instructing everyone to avoid the alligators and above all to not feed them.  Wynn explained that if people were to feed them the alligators would become more bold and potentially threaten the safety of the public.  If an alligator is known to have been fed it then must be culled, a popular saying is "a fed alligator is a dead alligator".

An Alligator occupying a small storm pond
at the FGCU

We were visiting Florida through it's dry season so the water table was very low.  We walked over a dried marsh where, had we arrived in the wet season, we would have been knee deep in water.  Here we saw small mounds of earth that had been pushed up by burrowing crayfish that were escaping from the heat by digging down to the water table.  It was here that I first experienced Sawgrass (Clanium californicum). Sawgrass is a vascular plant that to approx 1m in height.  It is given it's name by it's serrated edges that if pushed against can easily slice into flesh.  We also saw Saw Palmeto (Serenoa repens), Wynn went on to explain how he saw this plant species as an indicator that there was once a large herbivore that grazed on them as only a large herbivore could deal with the saw like defences.

Saw Palmeto grow as large shrubs

We then moved into a small Cypress Swamp.  We were invited to split up and see what wildlife we could find.  I came across a Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia fajeensis) which was named after it's visible root system that resembles a rabbit's foot.  One of Wynn's assistants began to play a breeding call and drum of a Red Bellied Woodpecker (Malanerpes carolinus).  This immediately caused a raucous in the trees.  The woodpeckers are highly territorial and will not stand any intruders, so once they heard the fake calls they were screeching from tree to tree and drumming threats in return.  This gave us a perfect opportunity to see them up close and they even led us to one of their nest holes.  The floor was also littered with the empty shells of Apple Snails (Pomacea maculata).  These may have died through predation by Raccoons (tracks were found near by) or may have simply succumb to desiccation in the heat.

       We went further into the swamp and began walking though Alligator Flags (Thalia dealbata) which were growing in the parts of the swamp that were still holding surface water.  We could see small fish using them as shelter to avoid predators.  Upon exit of the swamp we were fortunate to see two American Robins (Turdus migratorius) which were perching high up on a Cypress Tree branch.  

Empty Apple Snail shells littered the floor
of the Cypress Swamp

A pair of Red Bellied Woodpeckers drumming
in retaliation to us playing a fake call

After the swamp we headed over to a sustainable garden project that the university had been working on.  The students at the university are required to put in a certain amount of hours of voluntary work at the garden.  Through this  system the garden has become very productive and the produce is sold to the local community.

Once we returned to the Vester Field Station we were given the option to head out onto the waterways in canoes.  This gave us a fantastic opportunity to get close to the surrounding Mangroves and see the wildlife that resides within them. We saw many Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) coasting on the water surface looking out for prey.  Whilst in our canoe we saw a very strange disturbance in the water.  We could not identify what it was but our best guess was that it was a Bottlenose Dolphin swimming on it's back with both pectorals showing through the surface.

 

"Ahoy there Sailors"
Exploring the Mangrove system via Canoe

Day 1: Lover's Key State Park - 2nd of March, 2014

Abiotic Conditions
Temperature - 26 C
Humidity - 48%
Cloud Cover - very light almost none

Our very first morning in Florida really put into context just how much wildlife the state has to offer!  On our walk to breakfast which we had at a local beach side restaurant we spotted numerous bird species including the Northern Mockingbird (Mimus Polyglottos)  along with Common (Quiscalus quiscula) and Boat-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus major) which were often seen squabbling on telephone wires.  Perhaps the most spectacular bird we saw that morning was the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).  I had personally never seen an Osprey back in Britain as they are notoriously elusive so I was particularly delighted to learn that there was a breeding pair nesting just a few feet away from the field station!  After breakfast we stepped out onto the beach to see a small pod of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) swim by close to the shore.  We hypothosised that the dolphins may have been corralling a shoal of small fish into shallow waters to make capturing them easier.

Osprey nest at the Vester Field Station

Lover's Key State Park is located just outside Fort Myers so was only a short journey, allowing us to spend the day at the reserve.  The name "Lover's Key" is said to have arisen because the island used to be accessible only by boat and that lovers would cross the water to get some privacy on the islands beaches.
      During the 1980s the Island came into private ownership.  At this time demand for luxury housing was very high and Lover's Key made the perfect site for development as it is in a beautiful location.  However, when development plans were put forward the owner faced very strong opposition from local residents and the government who threatened imprisonment if development went ahead.  The island was soon turned into a State Park which is governed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This has ensured the protection of the mangrove system that can be found at Lover's Key along with the wildlife that resides there.

A Turkey Vulture seen riding the thermals
at Lover's Key State Park

Upon arrival at Lover's Key we saw our first Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).  It could be seen soaring on thermals (columns of rising hot air).  The Eagles do this to conserve energy when gaining altitude as the rising air will provide lift and mean the eagle will have to spend less energy on beating it's wings when gaining height. Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) and Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) were also seen doing this as they searched for carrion.  As we made our way to the footpath we passed many palm trees which when inspected were seen to be home to Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei).  These are very terratorial creatures and can be often seen displaying their dewlaps (located on the throat) to warn off other rivals.  They are however, an invasive species from the carribean and have been said to be having a negative effect on the native Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis).
      We soon approached a bridge that crossed a natural canal that was flanked by two sides of thick vegetation.  We observed many small fish species and even the larger Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) that could be seen breaching the surface.  After a few more minutes waiting we saw a large shadow move through the water.  It was only until it's nose pushed up through the surface for a split second to gasp in air that we knew it was a West Indian Manatee! (Trichechus manatus).  We were quite fortunate to see the Manatee in the canals as Manatees often spend a lot of time out in the coastal waters feeding on sea grass, however when the natural canals become warm enough the Manatees will begin feeding in them.   The general public are allowed to use these canals too, as you can see in the image below, they are very popular with kayaks and paddle boarders.  This can lead to interaction between the public and Manatees but there are many signs telling the public to keep their distance from the Manatees and not to follow them in order to reduce stress on the Manatees that are recognised as an endangered species.

The natural Canal where the Manatee was spotted.
The canals are often used for recreation by people.

We moved on from the bridge and followed the track through a small scrub like forest.  We spotted an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) that was roosting in the hole of a tree waiting for dusk at which it will begin hunting.  We also came across some interesting fauna such as the Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea) which is spread by birds and bats through digestion and excretion.  The seed will germinate in the canopy and grown down to the ground whilst strangling it's host tree.  This may seem destructive but it actually creates many nooks and crannies in which invertebrates and small vertebrates make home.

Example of a Strangler Fig on a Cypress Tree.

An Eastern Screech Owl roosting and
avoiding the daytime heat. 

As we moved along the trail we began to see trees draped with olive green/grey vegetation.  This, we discovered, was Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides).  Spanish Moss is in fact an angiosperm related to the Bromeliacaea family and holds no relation to that off moss or even lichen.  The Spanish moss propagates itself by releasing seeds and but can also be spread by fragmented vegetation that is used by nesting birds.

Spanish Moss at Lover's Key State Park

      We began noticing small burrows that had been dug into the soil (that was mostly made up of sand) and soon found the animals that were responsible for the burrows.  It was the Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).  They excavate these burrows to avoid the scorching temperatures of the midday sun and are used as protection against the forest fires that are known to sweep through the scrub forests.  The tortoises are considered a keystone species as they are ecological engineers as their burrows provide refuge for many other species when the fires begin to spread.  It is thought that without the tortoises many more species would perish in the forest fires.


After completing the trail around Lover's Key we then walked to Barefoot Beach.  On the way we passed through a small mangrove swamp where we spotted numerous Horseshoe Crab (Limilus polyphemus) carcasses.  It is thought that these had been fish out and eaten by Raccoons (Procyon lotor). The Mangroves also gave us the opertunity to see numerous wading birds such as the Great White Egret (Ardea alba) and the Tricoloured Heron (Egretta tricolor).  The beach also gave us an oppertunity to see smaller shoreline birds such as Ruddy Turnstones (Aranaria interpres), Willets (Tringa semipalmata) and Laughing Gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla).

Great White Egret stalking prey in the
Shallows.

Gopher Tortoise grazing on seedlings, it soon returned to it's burrow