Corkscrew swamp- Florida Day 8

Our final full day of exploring the states was perhaps also the best day as we went to visit Corkscrew swamp sanctuary.

Panorama of the Cypress Swamp at Corkscrew

What is Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary?

Corkscrew covers around 13,000 acres of mainly wetland habitat but most importantly has the last 700 acres of pristine bald cypress swamp in the world!

It was established in 1954 by the national Audubon society when a realization swept the local population that the felling of the cypress swamps for the valuable timber was soon going to wipe out this habitat.

Today it home to the largest nesting colony of woodstorks in the states not to mention a variety of other endangered or threatened species.

Our Visit

We set off along the 2.5 mile boardwalk around the reserve and about 5-6 hours later I emerged after exploring this fantastic place.

I enjoyed my visit for two main reasons really.

Cypress Tree (Taxodium distichum) which has been 
commandeered by a Strangler fig
  (Nyssa aquatica)

Firstly its diversity of all kinds of animal and plant life (See species List at bottom of the page) all of which can be attributed to my second reason.

Never before have i come across a place where the influence of hydrology on habitat can be so clearly seen. Although i have visited the sanctuary before in 2012 its only now after studying wetlands that this was made apparent to me.

From one spot on the walkway its possible to see slash pine forest, wet prairie and cypress swamp in one view. Each distinct habitats created by a change in elevation and therefore water level by just a few feet.

The amount of other interesting things that i saw on my walk around the sanctuary would be too long to list but i will name a few highlights.

• Males of both the native Green anole (Carolina anole) and the invasive,Cuban, Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) displaying their Dulaps to attract a mate
• Black Racer Snake (Coluber constrictor priapus) on the hunt
• The flag Iris flower (Iris versicolor)
• The Size and presence of the Cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) 
• The intricate roots of the strangler figs (Nyssa aquatica)
• Two Raccoons (Procyon lotor) running under the boardwalk
• Banded Water Snakes (Nerodia fasciata) mating the in swamp
• The beauty of the cypress swamp

Sadly this was the last full day of our trip with the next day being the long journey back towards orlando airport and then home.

I hope you have enjoyed joining me on this great trip through florida's wetlands it was truly upsetting to leave it all behind!

D.

Left top to bottom- Wet Prairie bordered by Cypress swamp in the foreground and slash pine in the distance, Flag Iris (Iris versicolor). Center - Bald Cypress tree (Taxodium distichum). Right top to bottom - Native Green Anole (Carolina anole), Invasive Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei). 

Species List

Birds

Common Name	Latin Name
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus
Painting Bunting	Passerina ciris
Grey Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Great White Egret	Ardea alba

Plants

Common Name	Latin Name
Strangler Fig	Ficus aurea
Slash Pine	Pinus elliottii
Saw Palmetto	Saw palmetto
Wax Myrtle	Myrica cerifera
Cabbage Palm	Sabal palmetto
Willow	Salix caroliniana
Horrible Thistle	Cirsium horridulum
Brazilian Pepper	Schinus terebinthifolius
Bald Cypress	Taxodium distichum
Water Tupelo	Nyssa aquatica
Saw Grass	Cladium jamaicense
Spanish Moss	Tillandsia usneoides
Alligator Flag	Thalia geniculata
Red Maple	Acer rubrum
Resurrection Fern	Pleopeltis polypodioides
Pond Apple	Annona glabra
Flag Iris	Iris versicolor
Strap Fern	Campyloneurum phyllitidis
Boston Fern	Nephrolepis exaltata
Inland Leather Fern	Acrostichum danaeifolium
Water Fern	Salvinia minima
American Elder	Sambucus canadensis
Water Lettuce	Pistia stratiotes

Reptiles

Common Name	Latin Name
Brown Anole	Anolis sagrei
Green Anole	Carolina anole
Alligator	Alligator mississippiensis
Black Racer Snake	Coluber constrictor priapus
Banded Water Snake	Nerodia fasciata

Mammals

Common Name	Latin Name
Racoon	Procyon lotor

Invertebrates

Common Name	Latin Name
Apple Snail	Pomacea maculata
Fishing Spider	Dolomedes albineus
Ruddy Danger Wing Butterfly	Marpesia petreus

Florida Gulf Coast University - Florida Day 6

Our sixth day in Florida saw another very early start. This was because we were heading to the Florida Gulf Coast University main campus to catch some birds!

Bird Ringing

Top - Jerry Jackson in front of a Mist net explaining
 their history. Bottom Left - Yellow Rump Warbler
(Setophaga coronata) caught in mist net.
Bottom right- Jerry holding the 'Butter Butt'

When we reached our destination we met up with a semi retired member of staff called Jerry Jackson. Jerry holds the correct licensing and permissions to carry out bird ringing for the US fish and wildlife service using the otherwise illegal mist nets.

Mist nets brought to the US by italian immigrants in the 1900’s caused a rapid decline in small bird populations leading to outrage and banning. Now a days they can be used under licence for research purposes only and under strict guidelines. Their thin monofilament nylon mesh means they are almost invisible to birds subsequently catching and holding them safely until they can be examined and ringed by the researcher.

Jerry had set up three of these nets in a dry slash pine forest on campus and after multiple visits we were lucky.

The nets had captured a pair of Yellow rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata) who also go by the name of ‘butter butts’

Top - Jerrys Albino Red-eared Slider Turtle
  (Trachemys scripta elegans). Bottom - Pete and Repete
a two headed Red-eared Slider Turtle.

Jerry handled the small birds firmly but delicately in order to obtain the required measurements for the Banding to take place.

During the time we were with Jerry he spoke to us about the complex history and development of the bird ringing system in the USA, Canada and Mexico, its applications and how its still evolving today with the advent of GPS tagging.

Jerry ended by treating us to two of his own pets, both with rare genetic mutations. Firstly, an Albino Red eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) and secondly a two headed red eared slider turtle, brilliant named Pete and Repete. Pete and Repete were brought to him over 20 years ago by a farmer who said they wouldn't survive but the dedicated care of jerry, and a credit card to separate them at feeding times, means they have survived.

Exploring the Grounds

The second half of the day was spent with Prof. Edwin 'Win' Everham, some what of a legend at FGCU because of his passion and enthusiasm for all of nature and the environment.

He took us for a tour of the university grounds, including the wet bits, blessed relief for us wetland students who thought we might spend another day completely dry!

Left to right - Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). African Cichlid (Pterophyllum sp.). Swamp Bay (Persea palustris). Prof. Chris Freeman Slogging through a stormwater treatment wetland.

Wins passion and knowledge of the environment around his was very inspiring as he led the charge through the campus and its stormwater treatment wetlands, pine forests, wet prairies and cypress domes constantly finding something interesting to point out to us even if he didn't know what it was!

As we went he also pulled parts of the campus apart (he did also fix them afterwards) too see how nature was making use of them. This was most often the electrical junction boxes in which we found a Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) and razer snake eggs to name but a few things. He also has a number of fish traps set up in the stormwater ponds around the campus in order for us to get a full picture of their biodiversity.

What i liked about this is its illustration of how nature will move into constructed wetlands using them as microrefugia, protecting many wetland species, something i knew to be true but had never seen for myself until this point.

As i mentioned he took us into the cypress dome which is a truly stunning place. The presence of the cypress trees is dominating and you grasp why they have been dubbed ‘natures cathedrals’.

This was my second visit to this particular cypress dome having come before in 2012 at the end of the wet season. This time during the dry season it was really noticeable how much the water level changes between seasons.

Of course Dr. Dunn grabbed a soil sample, and then we started heading back towards the university to wash off our legs in the fountain.

Top left to right - My Fellow MSc students and I with Dr. Christian Dunn. Myself in the same swamp at the end of the wet season in 2012 as an illustration of the water level change.
Bottom left to right -  The cypress trees towering above us. Christian never happier than with a bag of soil. Prof Win Johnstone our guide across the campus. 

My thoughts on FGCU

I really enjoyed my visit to FGCU but it left me with alot to think about in terms of its philosophy and questions as to why Bangor University wasn't the same?

FGCU was built with environmental principles in mind, for example they didn't want to export more water than if nothing was there and currently around 50% of the campus is set aside for nature reserve. On top of that every single first year student at FGCU takes a compulsory module on sustainable living, how great is that?

The University also consult their staff and students on any new developments that are being planned, as after all they are either experts or trainee experts in their respective fields. Something that i'm not aware of Bangor doing.

Although it would it is a bit late for bangor to become more like its floridian counterpart in terms of its nature reserve coverage, it would be great if such things like sustainable living, or sustainable business modules became part of the curriculum here, even if it was just too increase general awareness of the world in which we live.

Our group photo at the end of the trip in the FGCU fountain

Species List

Birds

Common Name	Latin Name
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata

Plants

Common Name	Latin Name
Cabbage Palm	Sabal palmetto
Willow	Salix caroliniana
Poison Ivy	Toxicodendron radicans
Slash Pine	Pinus elliottii
Wax Myrtle	Myrica cerifera
Cabbage Palm	Sabal palmetto
Bayberry Bush	Myrica pensylvanica
Saw Grass	Cladium jamaicense
Bladderwort	Utricularia species
Spike Rush	Eleocharis vivipara
Water Lille	Nymphaea odorata
Swap Bay	Persea palustris
Black Eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta
Alligator Flag	Thalia geniculata
Pond Cypress	Taxodium ascendens
Black Tupelo	Nyssa sylvatica

Reptiles

Common Name	Latin Name
Red-eared Slider Turtle	Trachemys scripta elegans
Black Rat Snake	Pantherophis obsoletus

Invertebrates

Common Name	Latin Name
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly	Agraulis vanillae

Fish

Common Name	Latin Name
Flag fish	Jordanella floridae
African Cichlid	Pterophyllum sp.
Mosquito fish	Gambusia affinis
Sailfin Molly	Poecilia latipinna
Sun fish	Lepomis auritus
Golden Topminnow	Fundulus chrysotus

Amphibians

Common Name	Latin Name
Cuban Tree Frog	Osteopilus septentrionalis