The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was a very interesting field trip to take. Located in Naples, Florida, there are many different types of activities to partake in: bird walks, early walks, sunset strolls, night walks, and bird watching. The Audubon Society built the boardwalk with a special tropical hardwood that requires no chemical treatment and is harvested in a sustainable way that helps preserve the Brazilian rainforest where it grows. They also strive to use earth-friendly products and to reward companies that protect the environment. As you walk along the boardwalk trail, there are many interpretive signs on display to show the historical backgrounds of Corkscrew. The first sign you come across displays: The Start of the Sanctuary and continues with this quote, “We have to save the swamp a hundred times but we only get to lose it once.” In the 1930’s, lumbermen began logging bald cypress trees because the trunks were knot-free and the wood was highly resistant to rot. Lumber companies built railroads on levees to haul the huge logs out of the swamp. Once the railroads came in, there wasn’t much stopping the harvest of all south Florida’s cypress. In 1952, logging began at the southern end of Corkscrew Swamp. Because this was the largest remaining stand of unlogged old-growth cypress forest, concerned citizens and a coalition of organizations including the National Audubon Society joined forces to save it. Thanks to the willing cooperation of lumber companies that owned the land and the generous support of donors nationwide, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was established in 1954 with 2,880 acres of prime cypress swamp.
In addition, there was effort to get legislation passed to protect wading birds, which was the initial action of the fledgling Audubon Society. It was the first nationwide, grass-roots conservation organization in the country. The society’s efforts to save the plume birds launched many further actions that helped preserve Corkscrew Swamp, one of the few remaining functional parts of the greater South Florida Ecosystem. Corkscrew is also “working with nature to manage the quality and quantity of our water”. Water is the lifeblood of Corkscrew Swamp and Everglades. Yet during the last century, people altered the natural flow, attempting to control flooding and to make more land available for agricultural 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 that natural system.
This field trip was both fun and informative. I have learned much about the various plant and animal life in Corkscrew and I hope to one day visit again early in the day to see the animals in the natural habitat. Anyone that lives in Florida should take a moment to visit the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and enjoy the boardwalk. There are many exciting things to be learned and all you have to do is discover them for yourself.
Below are pictures from the trip:
Below are pictures from the trip:
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