Field Trip #2: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Historical Trends: In the early 1900's Plume Hunting was taking place in South Florida which was the result of poachers killing innocent wading birds as they nested. Old growth bald cypress trees which are pictured at the right were once at the mercy of harvesting timber companies and now 700 acres of old- growth bald cypress forests are being protected by the Corkscrew Swamp Santuary. Today, pollution, habitat fragmentation, and extensive drainage are some of the other obstacles nature is fighting and Governments are stepping in to help sustain the environment.

The value of wetlands: Acre for acre, wetlands support more diversity and abundance of living things than other ecosystems. They reduce flood damage by storing water during heavy rains. Acting as filters for pollutants, they keep lakes and rivers pure. Many plants and animals depend on wetlands for food and shelter.

Value of fire, water, and elevation: During the wet season water levels rise, streams and ponds overflow, and wet prairies fill. Fire in the corkscrew swamp can be of great use to some. Pine flatwoods flood South Florida during the dry season and need fire to stay healthy. Without fire, other plants would crowd in and the pine flatwoods landscape would disappear. The ash from fires also fertilize plants and increase fruit and seed production of many new plants.

Main Habitats: The Wet Prairie are the least flooded of the marsh system and are surrounded by sand cord grass, sedges and rushes.

The lettuce lakes were very cool to look at I thought and are found in the deeper lake regions of the swamp.

The Bald Cypress is everywhere at the Corkscrew Santuary. These trees are very tall and were amazing to look up at. There are around 700 acres of these trees and can grow up to 130ft. The bald cypress are able to provide homes for some animals such as owels and snakes and aid in stability, oxygen exchange, and food storage.

Sustainability: The board walk at the Sactuary is very long and weaves in and out of the swamp. It is a great example of using sustainable resources as it is made of recycled materials called Ipe. When visitation is at a high the boardwalk is there to protect all the natural resources Corkscrew Sanctuary has to offer.

Overall my field trip experience at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was fun and educational. I was able to see some sides of nature that I havent seen such as the lettuce lakes and being right next to a huge Bald Cypress tree which was pretty neat. I was able to see many different colored dragon flies and listen to the sounds of all differnt kinds of birds. I enjoyed my visit here and would go back again.