Big Cypress National Preserve part one

As it so happens a naturalist friend of mine was also in Florida that week visiting relatives. We live just a few miles from each other but hadn't managed to get together since the April Urban Nature Walk. We were each on opposite sides of South Florida so she suggested we meet up in the middle, at Big Cypress National Preserve. This picture is taken at the Oasis Visitor Center. Theres a wide canal between the road and the building, with a nice boardwalk and fence. Down in the canal there are many many alligators.

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Big Cypress National Preserve part two

There came a point in the "trail" where the palmetto crowded in providing an obstacle which I was happy to avoid. Some of the plants were sharp and pointy, and pushing through those palmetto fronds was one step more adventuresome than I wanted. My friend maintains hiking trails in Massachusetts and took a picture to share with her supervisors.
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3:00 snapshot #1488: The edge of the everglades

Second day in Florida, reddening up nicely. We left our friend and started heading back up toward Sanibel (our only planned destination).

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Tamiami Trail

After some lunch we went looking for more hiking trails. We were traveling on the Tamiami Trail between Ochopee and Naples, but damned if I can find this boardwalk on google maps. There was a small Native American gift shop, "closed due to death in the family," by the trailhead. We encountered several birders on our way.

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The Signs of Naples Zoo

On one morning of our trip, we went to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. And while I loved their animal and plant collections, their visible and well-organized animal training program, and the fact they use bicycles instead of golf carts for many purposes, I really liked their signage.

Most zoos can't afford to have staff in all locations, and so the signs have to do a lot of work keeping the guests safe and informed.


This is the fist time I've seen a zoo sign that is about reading the signs. I don't know if this increases the amount of attention that the zoo guests pay to the other signs, but I like it.
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Naples Zoo, keepers and their animals

One of the great things about Naples Zoo is that there are keeper encounters all day long, so you can plan your visit around them, and enjoy a rich educational experience. This two-toed sloth was brought out after a show that included a half-dozen species, three zookeepers, and a script with entertaining jokes as well as good conservation information.

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Wildlife and such at Naples Zoo

The first time you see a white ibis in Florida it's shocking and magical--aren't they African animals? Didn't the ancient Egyptians mummify them by the million? Then you see a flock of 20 in a drainage ditch. Then you realize you're seeing them basically anywhere there's water. Then, if you're me, you hand-feed them cat food at the zoo.

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