and passes by a flock of black vultures
the anhinga is also known as snake bird
a Florida softshell turtle is digging in
a heron on the hunt
elevated trails let you enjoy flora and fauna without getting wet feet
black vultures seldom eat alone
a lubber grasshopper
a hawk on the lookout
they call this a little green heron
crocodile on the rocks
the Everglades National Park
The waters of
Lake Okeechobee flow slowly south to Florida Bay over a 150 km wide front, creating one of the worlds
most interesting ecologies
This "River of Grass" feeds the sawgrass marshes, swamps, mangroves and other eco systems that together are
called the
Everglades. A large part of the area is protected in the
Everglades National Park.
Here wildlife is thriving
with 40 species of mammals, including the very rare
Florida Panther and the more prolific raccoon.
Alligators, crocodiles, turtles and
snakes invest the swamps. One very successful invasive species is the
Burmese Python.
Manatees frequent the southern
parts near the sea where the water is not too shallow.
But above all the Everglades are known
for the several hundreds species of bird.
Ibis, heron, spoonbill and stork wade between the waterfowl in the marshes while hawks
and Golden Eagles soar high in the sky.
Black vultures are never in a hurry, they know time is on their side...
We have visited
the Everglades several times, most photos are from April 2001.
a deer is heading for the bushes
a typical landscape in the Everglades
a juvenile alligator, they sometimes become prey themselves
an alligator approaches
they quietly wait for lefttovers
a lineup of double crested cormorants