Corkscrew - A walk on Florida's wild side (Florida)

Member Name: Newfloridian

Product:	Florida
Date:	20/11/03 (71 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Back to nature, Audubon conservatory

Disadvantages: None

Imagine, if you will, the bald cypress trees reaching far above your head. Between the branches you see glimpses of the turkey vultures wheeling high against the clouds, the red-shouldered hawk soaring, the graceful flight of the swallow-tailed kites. If you are lucky you may catch sight of the Barred owl perched in the high branches or flashes of brilliant red as the male Northern Cardinal flits over the ground looking for food. By the pool overgrown with water lettuce you may catch the eye of an alligator or a Florida Redbelly Turtle. This is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Collier County, Florida.

Corkscrew contains the oldest remaining stand of bald cypress trees in the state of Florida. Most cypress forests were cut down for timber in the 1940s and 50s. In the early 50s the National Audubon Society accepted responsibility for the management and preservation of the area. An elevated boardwalk was constructed that allowed visitors to enjoy the wildlife and the beauty of the swamp.

The Sanctuary is open daily all year round although hours vary. Indeed it is noteworthy that the experience differs in the wet and dry seasons. It is also pointed out that mosquitoes and no-see-ums tend not to present a problem to visitors. Recent admission charges were $6.50 for adults and $ 3 for children. It is sign posted from the I75 at junction 17 (Bonita Springs) and is near the town of Imokalee. The approach road is unprepossessing and leads through backwoods settlements. There is ample car parking and a sympathetic and informative gift shop.

Essential to the visit is the Companion Field Guide which gives a short account of the origins of the Sanctuary and also lists, with illustrations the flora and fauna that can be seen around the area. A visit essentially involves a walk around the two and a half mile boardwalk with short excursions to elevated viewing platforms. There are areas representative of Pine Flatwoods (slash pine trees killed by lighteni
ng strike do not rot and can remain standing for centuries), Wet Prairie, Cypress Forest and Marsh. Many trees exhibit coloured patches on their trunks from colonies of lichen. Many trees also host the curious Strangler Fig. There are also many examples of plants that live away from soil (the epiphytes) which can be found high in the upper branches - Tillandsia, Spanish Moss, Old Man's Beard.

We saw many creatures and were able to identify most of them from the book. There are also rangers and friends of the Sanctuary on hand to point out sights that we may have otherwise missed. The mammals include Raccoon, Otter (we saw their spoor) grey squirrel and White-tailed deer. Twenty six species of bird of listed and illustrated. We learned the difference between a cormorant and an anhinga. There was also a Limpkin there that day - a species listed as of special concern in the state of Florida.

Alligators were in abundance sharing mud banks with the turtles. Although described we luckily did not come across the Diamond Backed Rattlesnake. We saw several stages in the development of the life cycle of the Southeastern Grasshopper. At the time of our visit, most were black and yellow juvenile nymphs. We were also acquainted with the two dominant butterflies: the Zebra Longwing and the Ruddy Daggerwing.

This is a 'Must See' place when visiting South West Florida. It's a comfortable half dfay trip from either Fort Myers or Naples. Appreciate the natural heritage of the planet and do your part to protect it. The Audubon Society and the Friends of Corkscrew Swamp are to be congratulated in their efforts both in local eco-system preservation and their attempts to bring such conservancy issues and sites to public attention.

Summary: