The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is the largest remaining cypress forest. In the 1800’s, the Plume Hunters slaughtered hundreds of thousands of egrets and herons for the sake of fashion. In 1886, millions were paying $32 an ounce. That was twice the price of gold at the time. It would take four egret plumes to adorn a lady’s hat.
The Sanctuary works with nature to manage the quality and quantity of our water. Water is the lifeblood of the Corkscrew swamp and the everglades. Yet during the last century, people altered the natural flow, attempting to control flooding and to make more land available for agriculture and residential development. As ground water supplies dwindle and water quality deteriorates, we are beginning to understand the impact of our actions and the need to restore the natural system.
The slough was the lettuce lakes along the boardwalk tail are in the bald cypress forest, but when water levels are too deep, no trees can grow. The deeper water and open skies attract a variety of wildlife, especially during the spring.
The Corkscrew Swamp has the largest nesting colony of the wood storks in North America. They nest here during the winter. The wood stork is one of the endangered species that depends on the protected habitat of the Corkscrew Swamp. When shallower ponds elsewhere begin to dry up, it is the best time to see wading birds, turtles, alligators, and other animals that require an aquatic environment.
One of the most amazing things I saw happened when they had a telescope set up on the boardwalk facing this Red shouldered Hawk. It was in the process of eating something, but I could not tell exactly what it was. While there, our class also saw a 10 foot alligator right up under the boardwalk. I had never been so close to an alligator before. The whole time I was there I kept thinking about A Land Remembered. Anyone who enjoys the wildlife should definitely take a trip there. It will blow you away! It puts you in the mind of Jurassic Park! (351)
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