Everglades

I wonder if all the National Parks are going to be as fantastic as the Everglades.  Every day is an adventure and a learning experience.  Today we drove the 30 miles from our campground at Long Pine Key to Flamingo visitor's center and campground.  What a nice drive with observation walks to stop at along the way. 

We kept passing through spider webs along this boardwalk

I was fascinated by the intricacy of the spider's web

My goal today was to spot the wood stork and a crocodile.  The wood stork was put on the Endangered Species list in 1984.  It feeds not by sight but by touch, tacto-location, in shallow, muddy water.  The stork sweeps its submerged bill from side to side.  When it touches a fish, the bill snaps shut with a 25-millisecond reflex action, the fastest reflex known for vertebrate species. 

Endangered Wood Stork



This is all that remains of alligator food

We walked the 1/2 mile loop around Eco Pond and it was the best birding spot.  It was so nice that we put out a blanket and had lunch by the pond with our binoculars and camera close at hand.  I think I'm really getting into birding.  I was so excited when I spotted the wood stork, roseate spoonbill, osprey and glossy ibis. 

I was hoping to see a manatee and crocodile.  The park ranger told us of a place that we might see them.  She was right, no manatee, but the croc was sunning himself on the rocks.

Everglades is the only place you'll find both American alligator and crocodiles together

Life is an adventure and we are blessed to live it abundantly.