Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Naples, Florida

January 9, 2008
Visitors to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary find a pristine wilderness, and a 2.25 mile boardwalk that meanders through pine flatwoods, open prairies, and finally into the largest forest of ancient bald cypress in North America. The forest is also home to hundreds of alligators, otters, Florida black bears, white-tailed deer and red-bellied turtles. The boardwalk winds through the swamp's two "lettuce lakes," wide, shallow soup bowls that are favorite feeding grounds for wildlife. During the dry spring months, birds and reptiles congregate at the lettuce lakes in a competitive feeding frenzy, one of nature's most exciting, interesting performances. Corkscrew's water is actually a slow moving river that flows to the southwest towards the Gulf of Mexico. Plants and trees help to filter the water, keeping it clean and clear. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society and acclaimed as the crown jewel of the Audubon's sanctuaries. Audubon's first encounter with Corkscrew was in 1912, when it dispatched wardens to protect egrets and other birds from plume hunters. Today, Audubon is involved in restoring the Everglades and preserving the watershed to ensure a healthy ecosystem for the people and wildlife of Southwest Florida.

This lizard is a Brown Anole.


This bird is an Anhinga. It is a fish-eater with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water.