Audubon Florida's Director of Gifts and Grants Margaret Spontak nominates the Western Everglades for Florida's Special Places. Please enjoy her account of her latest trip to this magnificent part of our state:
Having been born and raised in Ocala, spending many of my childhood summers at a family cabin in the Ocala National Forest, I must always defer back to this area as my favorite place. However, my work with Audubon has inspired me to learn more about the Greater Everglades and all its wonder.
Just this past week I added some places in the Western Everglades to my list of unique natural areas worthy of nomination as a Florida Special Place. Of course I have to begin with our own Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary where I saw my first Painted Buntings and an open glade full of native sunflowers. Last week, I caught the end of a magnificent launch of my favorite butterflies, the zebra longwings. They had gathered for the night outside the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary library where hundreds of school children visit every year. And one evening at the Swamp I finally slowed down from the busyness of work to sit on the porch of the Corkscrew guest cabin to listen to the owls, eagles and evening sounds in this peaceful old growth forest. What a wonderful way to unwind.
A side excursion from Corkscrew led me to the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve with fellow Audubon employee Brad Cornell and a group connected with the Bailey Wildlife Foundation. Park Biologist Mike Owens had graciously offered to lead us on a swamp walk. He was more than wonderful. It was so special to see someone interject such enthusiasm and excitement into their work, even after serving at the park since 1993. We took a delightful slog through the cool tannin-colored swamp waters covered with a canopy of green and at times filled with a wonderful smell of licorice. I will never look at native bromeliads and orchids the same. Mike, of course, has a wealth of knowledge about each and every species we encountered amidst the pond apples, cypress trees and native palms.
After Corkscrew and Fakahatchee, I wasn't sure my weekend Valentine's adventure could top those experiences. My husband Vince joined me on a trip to Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island where we went on a guided boat trip with Everglades Area Tours. Bruce, a notable photographer and knowledgeable guide took us around many of the mangrove covered islands just off Chokoloskee where we saw a cacophony of birds including a gathering of hundreds of stately White Pelicans preparing for the expected storm and other smaller gatherings of American Oystercatchers, Terns, and Plovers. We witnessed three dolphins in a romantic encounter in the open water and a few manatees scouting for scarce plant food in a protected cove. By the end of the trip we knew the difference between white, black and red mangroves, a little history of the bay, recent ecological trends due to poor water quality, and the diversity of the fish and wildlife in the area.
Our guide and the suggestion of Brad Cornell led me to purchase Peter Mattheiessen’s book on the area entitled Shadow Country. The book vividly describes the slaughter of plume birds, alligators and other wildlife so prevalent during the island’s early years; as well as injustices committed to poor humans and people of color. It really captures the rugged roots of this island’s history reminding me a little of Marjorie Rawlings works around North Central Florida in The Yearling.
The Western Everglades should not be overlooked for the well-trodden Everglades Park adventures of Shark Valley and Flamingo, although all regions of the Everglades are spectacular. This trio of adventures describes why the Western Everglades are worthy of designation as one of Florida Special Places.
