The Everglades

 

Today we visited our 41st national park. America currently has 63 recognized parks. The Everglades, along with Yellowstone and Death Valley are the largest parks in the continuous 48 states. The Everglades are a vast subtropical landscape of diversity and provide refuge for threatened and endangered species. They’re also known for harboring a healthy population of mosquitoes. Mark and I arrived at the park with head nets and repellent but couldn’t believe we didn’t have to use either. Mark and Jackson were able to sit in the shade of a pavilion, armed with my Dad’s old binoculars, and I got to hike along boardwalks and through hardwood hammocks. We saw egrets, white ibis, herons, hawks and a strange little bird that appeared to be walking on the water atop the lily pads. I later found out this “Jesus bird” was actually a purple gallinule. We also saw our first alligator of the trip. I didn’t manage to get a picture of any of the wildlife but the creator of the park brochure must have sent its photographer to the same section of the park we visited. I swear this is the same bird and alligator!






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