Home to hundreds of species of birds, like the White Crowned Pigeon, Wood Stork, Smoothed Tail Hawk, Roseate Spoonbill, and so many more. Other wild life, is here to see and enjoy too like the Florida Panther, Bobcat, Manatees, and many other Amphibians and Reptiles. The most famous resident is the Alligator mississippiensis. Yes, the American Alligator is King here. While at one time, not long ago this animal was an endangered species, it has made a come back. It is not longer endangered but remains threatened due to limited habitat. Many other of these magnificent animals along with the beautiful plants and trees the decorate the Everglades are also endangered or threatened. They are maintained here in an controlled environment in order that they may be preserved for all to see and enjoy in the future. In fact the entire ecosystem of south Florida depends on it.
Most of the photos to follow are of the Alligators. Sorry it was what I was looking for, and did I find them!! So, let's get started by taking US Highway 41. East to west, or west to east. It won't matter which direction you choose because you will still see both parks. We happened to be traveling from east to west. Picture opportunities are constant! You must put an adventure on your list that you will never forget. An Airboat ride through the flooded grasslands! It is the only way to experience the true feeling of these amazing wetlands of south Florida. OK, enough with the dialog already. Lets get on with the Airboat ride!
This beautiful Heron was just waiting for us to get out into the Everglades.
I know it doesn't look like much but what a ride. It is a bit unnerving when you get in and look for the seat belts. There aren't any! Oh, well...Hold on and kick the throttle open.
Open wide I have a treat for you.
The ride is a thrill for sure, but the real key to this adventure is the guide. We were lucky to be there early enough in the AM that no tourists like us had arrived as yet. Great! we not only get the Airboat all to ourselves, but we get a great guide. He has been doing this for years and we soon find out he has some special friends out there in the glades.
We only go a short distance from the dock and sharply turn behind the grassy mound barrier at the dock and come to a stop. He stops the engine and starts whistling and calling a special sound. Sure enough out of the grass comes one of his friends. A four foot Aligator! All right this is cool. this guy comes right up to the boat for a little treat of bread. Yea that's all it took and he came right up to the front of the Airboat!
Satisfied with his ( or her ) treat off he goes to wait for the next tourists to come by and offer a little treat.
Well now it was time to do some serious airboat riding and off we went. Oh, you noticed there are pictures of us flying through the glades. Remember the NO SEAT BELT issue? OK....so if you are going thirty five to forty miles an hour through the Glades in about a foot of water waiting at any second to hit a log, or rock, or ......... ALIGATOR, and come to a sudden and jolting stop guess where both my hands are? Right....they are not on any camera. Oh well, soon we reach an island after that exhilarating ride over the water. these islands are formed by the slow moving water that goes through the Everglades and gradually build up to become a small island in the middle of the Everglades. It is hear the Miccosukee Indians built their thatched roof awing's. they lived on the ground under these coverings. Needless to say watches were kept all through the night for ....Alligators and snakes!!!
Just as we arrive to this little island our guide once again throttles back on the engine and turns it off as he once again calls and whistles for one of his friends.
Oh, Yea! This guy is over six feet long and ready for a treat.
Alligators aren't the only animals out here to see. In fact over 50 species of Reptiles, and 350 species of birds share this habitat too.
Take a look at this beauty. I think she wants some of the alligators treat. Nice try but I doubt there will be any crumbs left over.
OK, now where is that Alligator again.
There you are! What are you peeking at?
So he really is friendly, or just playing the game for that treat. If he is not careful that treat will be one of his fingers. By the way how many fingers do you have? All ten, huh. OK. That's good.
OH YEA! Now he is ready for that treat!
Time we head over to the Island and see how the Miccosukee Indians lived. they don't inhabitants these Islands anymore, but they are still their property, and we are here as their guests for this visit.
Well look who has joined us as we leave the Airboat. Another of our guides friends. He tells us this is really one of his favorite Alligators out here in the Everglades.
I sure hope our guide doesn't run out of those pieces of bread he is using for treats.
Open wide definitely a "Feed me" gesture if I ever saw one.
This guy has the routine down pat. Open wide and get a treat. Behave and be a little patient and you can get another treat. Right?
Well maybe next time, but for now he seems quite content.
Looks the Alligators aren't the only ones out this morning looking for a snack.
The everglades were teeming with life this morning. What a great trip out over the shallow waters of the glades. Absolutely beautiful! We are racing back now to the dock. Our trip through the Everglades is not over. We still have many miles to drive to the west and expect we will still have some opportunities to see the most noted member of the Everglades along the highway.
We get back in our van and hit the highway westbound. There is an earthen mound that bounds the southern end of the Everglades in order to regulate the water flow through the entire park. This earthen mound acting as a dyke is broken every so often with a water gate use to release or hold back the water depending on the time of the year. Parallel to this mound is a rather large ditch that carries the water to the bridge sections along the highway in order for the water to flow under the road. Immediately we could see that this ditch would be an absolute magnet for ...........you guest it. ALLIGATORS! When I mean by the hundreds I am not exaggerating.
We came along one spot not long after we left the Airboat facility where the ditch was fairly wide before it went under the road to the south side. It looked peaceful enough. Even some turtles were taking a sunbath without a worry in the world.
Check this guy out! He is quite the show off don't you think? Pretty good balance there fellow.
Look over there. No farther to the left of the turtles and up at the waters edge. WOW! That is a big Alligator! He is easily fifteen feet long and acting like he owns the ditch.
Wait a minute. He isn't alone. Look there is another Alligator right next to that big guy. No wait.................
There is four of them. No I see five. Wait...........WOW they are everywhere! We counted seven of them in this one area alone. Time to cross over to the other side of the road where the water has gone under the road and see what is in the pool of water there.
Well no surprise anymore. Alligators. Needless to say we wanted to see some of these amazing animals and we did see more than we ever imagined. When it was all said and done we actually did count over one hundred Alligators in this road side lazy flowing water. I leave you now with a few parting shots that are up close and personal of these magnificent creatures.
