Recently, Everglades Policy Associate Jane Graham (on right) had the opportunity to venture out on an airboat on three separate occasions, in the care of Sylvia Pelizza, at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Everyday, she saw something different and intriguing, and wanted to share her adventures with you.
January 18
It was a balmy 80 degrees F after a fresh rainstorm from the night before. Accompanying me was Palm Beach County Commissioner Priscilla Taylor, Joanne Davis of 1000 Friends of Florida, Dr. Nicholas Aumen of the National Park Service, and Sylvia Pelizza of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. It was Commissioner Taylor’s first time out on an airboat, and we wanted to show her not only the beauty of the natural system, but evidence of impacts of phosphorus and other nutrients on the delicate web of life.
On the edges of the refuge, thick swaths of cattails bristled in the breeze, replacing areas of open marsh and sawgrass that would naturally be there, but for the unnatural amounts of phosphorus entering the refuge. Soon, we boated into the peat swamp, and saw flocks of federally endangered Wood Storks. Off to the side, we saw an area full of feeding Glossy Ibises, and an assortment of Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, and Great Egrets. Dr. Aumen said this must be an alligator hole, an area where alligators dig deep holes for a buffet of fish, frequented by a plethora of birds. We boated closer and found a seven foot long alligator resting peacefully in the marsh.
On the way back, we saw a male Snail Kite. There are only 700 left of this federally endangered species, so this was a rare and exciting site. He swooped down and fed on a native apple snail. Limpkins enjoyed the bounty as well.
Driving back to the visitor’s center, we saw a twelve foot alligator sunning himself in the middle of the road. He took up an entire lane of traffic.
January 19
Today, newly elected Palm Beach County Commissioner Paulette Burdick accompanied Joanne Davis, Kathy Aterno of Clean Water Action, Sylvia Pelizza, Nick Aumen, and I out onto an airboat.
The weather wasn’t as perfect as yesterday. In fact, when we stopped to look at a tree island treated for maleleuca and climbing fern infestation, it started pouring rain for a few minutes. The rain was welcome for the thirsty system, as water levels have been extremely low lately. Last October, November, and December were the driest three months on record.
As we pulled away into the peat marsh, we stopped abruptly, because something was spotted on another tree island. It was a white tailed deer, leaping around.
We were hoping to show Commissioner Burdick the Snail Kite, but unfortunately he was no where to be found. We did see and hear a few Limpkins, which Joanne identified with their notable cackle sound.
January 24
Today, Palm Beach Commissioner Shelly Vana accompanied Joanne Davis, Sylvia Pelizza, Grant Gifford of Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Kim Baumgarten and myself out on an airboat. Later, we came up close and personal with a prescribed fire in the marsh.
We had special headphones with microphones that allowed us to speak with each other with the noisy airboat motor was running. This was ideal for Commissioner Vana, who was thrilled to see wildlife, and eager to learn their names. I could tell her as we spotted them, “Look, that is a Wood Stork! A Great Blue Heron! A Kingfisher!”
After the airboat ride, Sylvia Pelizza drove us to a prescribed burn on a portion of marsh grasses in the Loxahatchee Refuge. Due to the dry conditions, refuge managers burn portions of dead sawgrass to allow healthy sprouts to grow. Grant Gifford and John Wallace of the refuge flung ping pong ball sized igniters onto the grass, and the field rapidly burned. A Red-shouldered Hawk gazed on the flames from above, anticipating the buffet of snails and other treats when the flames subsided.
Here is a list of the wildlife spotted:
| *Wood Storks- over 15 | *Warblers |
| *White Ibis | *Snail Kite |
| *Glossy Ibis | *Coot |
| *Kingfisher | *Carolina Wren |
| *Red-shouldered Hawk | *Limpkins |
| *Black Vulture | *Anhinga |
| *Turkey Vulture | *Cormorant |
| *Great Blue Heron | *Mottled Ducks |
| *Great White Egret | *Killdeer |
| *Tri-colored Heron | *Alligators |
| *Snowy Egret | *soft shelled turtles |
| *Warblers | *queen butterfly |
| *white tailed deer |
Have you been out to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge lately? What were your thoughts?
