It has become a tradition in my family to visit Everglades National Park before the end of each year. This year the park was not as crowded as before, the pandemic has done a number on winter tourism in South
Florida. One positive outcome was that, we had many of the trails all to ourselves.
This year the water level in the park was higher than usual during the winter season. Some of the Everglades restoration projects at the northern border of the park have been completed, increasing the natural flow of water coming to the park from the central part of the state.
Park experts, like higher water levels. They create more food for birds, specially during nesting time. This Great Egret is happy, higher water is no problem. I noticed that there were not that many birds in the park this year, may be they didn't get the memo about the extra water.
I am not a big fan of reptiles, but the fact that the Everglades is the only place on earth where Crocodiles and Alligators live side by side is very cool.
Gators love to sun themselves, the higher water levels reduces the spaces where they can enjoy the sun. This one is using part of the hiking trail and he doesn't care.
The Everglades is not all water marshes, there are tropical hardwood hammocks scatter throughout the park. Mahogany hammock is one of my favorite trails in the park, it doesn't feel like you are in the Everglades.
Flamingo is the end of the paved road in the park, next to Florida bay, and where you find plenty of Osprey birds.
Thank you for reading my blog this past year
I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy New Year
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