If you’ve ever been to the beach or out on a boat in Florida, than you have probably seen your fair share of brown pelicans. Most commonly found around coastlines of the Southern United States, this interesting bird is also quite common in the Everglades. While perhaps best known for annoying fishermen and boatmen, the […]
The Florida Everglades provide a lush and hospitable environment for a variety of plants and animals. While the majority of species found in the Everglades are harmless to humans, there are a few that should be watched out for. Among these are the American alligator, the Burmese python, and the poisonwood tree. While you might […]
It’s certainly easy to confuse frogs and toads – after all, they are both small amphibians with similar appearances that can often be found sharing the same environments. However, there are a few important differences to note that will have you easily identifying each with no trouble at all. Physical Characteristics Frogs are strong jumpers […]
While there are twenty-seven known species of snake that live in the Everglades, fortunately, only four of them are actually venomous: Cottonmouth Also known as the water moccasin, cottonmouths are a type of pit viper found mostly in the Southeastern United States. They are the only semiaquatic viper species in the entire world, and they […]
Airboats are also sometimes referred to as “fanboats.” Airboats are propelled with either aircraft or automotive engines. Automative engines are preferred for airboats, as automative gas is much less expensive than aviation gas. Airboat hulls are made out of aluminum or fiberglass. Airboat propellers can produce prop wash behind them of around 150mph. Propellers must […]
The osprey goes by many names – fish hawk, sea hawk, fish eagle, and river hawk – but all names seem to call out one particular characteristic of this powerful hunting bird, the fact that its diet is comprised almost entirely of fish. While this is certainly not the only unique characteristic of the osprey, […]
If you’ve traveled around Southern Florida, chances are you’ve heard the term “brackish” used when describing some areas of water. But what is brackish water and what makes it characteristic of some bodies of water and not others? Brackish water is a cross between freshwater and saltwater – it has a higher salinity level than […]
To understand the beauty and unique characteristics of the Florida Everglades ecosystem, one first learns that the Everglades are classified as wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land that remain saturated by water either seasonally or throughout the year. What separates wetlands from rivers and oceans is the ever present abundance of plant life and vegetation. […]
While the American black vulture is certainly not the most beautiful bird in the Everglades or the one with the best reputation, it might be one of the more interesting birds in not only the Everglades, but the entire world. Because the circling of vultures in the sky can often be a sign that something […]
In January of this year, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that he would be adding $130 million to the annual budget request to continue work on restoring the Florida Everglades. The budget request is a $60 million increase over last year, and is merely the beginning of an $880 million plan for restoration approved by […]
