| When you go to Florida, wildlife confronts | | | | |
| you everywhere. Especially all the exotic | | | | American White Pelican Mottled Duck |
| birds fascinated me, often you come up close | | | | |
| to subtropical bird species while playing | | | | Anhinga Pine Warbler |
| golf or picnicking in a public park. | | | | |
| | | | Bald Eagle Purple Gallinule |
| Central Florida is actually a much more | | | | |
| interesting destination for naturalists than | | | | Black-Bellied Whistling Duck Roseate |
| I would ever have expected. Both Florida's | | | | Spoonbill |
| plant life and wildlife are surprisingly | | | | |
| diverse and Florida is the 3rd most | | | | Black-Necked Stilt Sandhill Crane |
| ecologically diverse state after Hawaii and | | | | |
| California. | | | | Crested Caracara Snail Kite |
| | | | |
| It is a nearly flat lowland that gently | | | | Eastern Bluebird Swallow-Tailed Kite |
| slopes to the sea on the east and west | | | | |
| coasts. This lowland has unique physical | | | | Florida Scrub-Jay Wood Stork |
| features that are associated with the diverse | | | | |
| ecosystems that exist here. The predominantly | | | | Naturally, one of the most well-known Florida |
| low-lying topography was created by | | | | animals is the American alligator. And |
| fluctuating sea levels over time. Coastal | | | | although this time we didn't see any (except |
| features include dunes, barrier islands, | | | | for a gator tail sticking out from under some |
| lagoons and tidal rivers, which were formed | | | | shrubs on our Swamp Buggy Tour), alligators |
| by tides, currents and winds. | | | | have made an incredible comeback after they |
| | | | were headed for extinction due to overhunting |
| The interior of Central Florida is | | | | earlier in the 20th century. Alligators were |
| characterized by swamps, marshlands and | | | | taken off the federal endangered species list |
| inland lakes, a haven for birds. South of | | | | in 1987, and on particularly warm days they |
| Orlando is the Lake Wales Ridge, a ridge of | | | | can be seen sunning themselves on the edges |
| sand hills paralleled by flatlands and sandy | | | | of ponds and waterways. |
| rolling hills. This ridge used to be an | | | | |
| island in earlier geological times when ocean | | | | Timacuan Golf Course was where we saw these |
| levels were higher. As a result many of the | | | | sandhill cranes, they are extremely tame and |
| species that exist here are unique to this | | | | definitely not afraid of human beings. |
| area. | | | | |
| | | | Different species of fish also exist in |
| My husband took a picture of this bird just | | | | Central Florida, a fact that makes it a |
| as its neck arched forward to catch a | | | | popular destination with anglers. The species |
| mosquito, unfortunately the picture of the | | | | include large-mouth bass, bluegill, redear |
| catch didn't turn out. | | | | sunfish, sunshine bass, speckled perch, |
| | | | catfish and a variety of other sweetwater |
| The Florida Birding Trail ( is a collection | | | | fish. |
| of sites throughout Florida selected for | | | | |
| their excellent bird watching or bird | | | | The wildlife of Florida is rich and varied, |
| education opportunities. This 2000-mile trail | | | | yet most of us are familiar with only a dozen |
| is designed to conserve and enhance Florida's | | | | or so species. Florida's amphibians include |
| bird habitat and promotes bird watching | | | | amphiumas, mudpuppies, newts, salamanders, |
| activities, environmental education and | | | | sirens, frogs and toads. |
| economic opportunity. | | | | |
| | | | Many interesting mammals can also be found in |
| Florida truly is a birder's paradise, due to | | | | Florida, including armadillos, bears, |
| its unique geographical location between | | | | beavers, bobcats, deer, feral pigs, foxes, |
| tropical and temperate regions. Florida is | | | | manatees, minks, moles, opossums, otters, |
| also a destination for many migratory birds | | | | panthers, pocket gophers, rabbits, raccoons, |
| from the north, some birds fly 3,000 miles to | | | | seals, shrews, skunks, squirrels, and |
| get here. In total Florida is home to more | | | | weasels. |
| than 470 verified species of birds. A great | | | | |
| article about the different species of birds | | | | Of course reptiles don't only include the |
| found in Florida can be found at the | | | | American Alligator, but also anoles, geckos, |
| Florida's Birders List, provided by Visit | | | | lizards, skinks and turtles. Hobby |
| Florida. | | | | naturalists will really enjoy their getaway |
| | | | to Central Florida. |
| Some of the unique birds to watch in Florida | | | | |
| include the following: | | | | A wonderful summary of Florida's wildlife can |
| | | | be found in a Wildlife Calendar at Visit |
| American Avocet Limpkin | | | | Florida. |