BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE IS KNOWN FOR ITS SPACIOUS WETLANDS THAT PROVIDE A HOME TO A WIDE VARIETY OF WADING BIRDS, ALLIGATORS, TURTLES AND FISH.

JOIN US FOR THIS MIDWINTER VISIT TO SOUTH FLORIDA NEXT ON NATURE SCENE.

A PRODUCTION OF: NATURE SCENE IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM SANTEE COOPER, WHERE PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT ARE EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE TO PROVIDING ELECTRIC ENERGY.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU MEMBERS OF THE ETV ENDOWMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

[Captioning sponsored by THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION] HELLO, AND WELCOME TO NATURE SCENE FOR A MIDWINTER VISIT AT THE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE NEAR NAPLES, FLORIDA.

I'M JIM WELCH WITH NATURALIST RUDY MANCKE AND, RUDY, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR A GREAT DAY FOR BIRDING.

I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A PERFECT TIME FOR BIRDS AND WE'RE RIGHT ON THE FLYWAY, THE MIGRATORY ROUTE SOUTH.

SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF STOPPING PLACES HERE AND I THINK WE'LL HAVE A GOOD DAY SEEING SOME BIRDS THAT CAME FROM FARTHER NORTH, MAYBE AND ARE SPENDING TIME IN THIS PART OF FLORIDA.

PRETTY EXCITING PLACE, TOO, BECAUSE OF FRESHWATER I MEAN, IT'S ABUNDANT HERE, USUALLY, YEAR ROUND MORE IN THE SUMMER THAN IN THE WINTER BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF WATER, I THINK, HERE AND THAT'LL ATTRACT OTHER ANIMALS, TOO.

MAYBE SOME OF THE REPTILES WILL BE OUT SUNNING BECAUSE THINGS ARE WARMING UP.

BASICALLY, THIS AREA, THOUGH, IS INTRIGUING BECAUSE IT USED TO BE OCEAN FLOOR.

LIMESTONE MATERIAL, REALLY, UNDER OUR FEET.

ORGANIC MATERIAL BEGAN TO FORM AFTER THE OCEANS WENT AWAY AND NOW WE SEE SOME REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING PLANTS.

FLATNESS ALL AROUND US AND GREAT HABITATS, GREAT PLANTS.

WELL, WHEN YOU SAY BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE OF COURSE CYPRESS TREES COME TO MIND AND THEY'RE ALL AROUND US HERE.

THE COMMON ONE HERE IS POND CYPRESS.

NEVER GETS AS LARGE AS THE BALD CYPRESSES THAT USED TO BE HERE.

MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN CUT AND TAKEN AWAY.

BUT POND CYPRESS IS TYPICAL OF THIS SITUATION A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA WATER HELPS.

NO LEAVES ON THIS TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE THEY SHED ALL THEIR NEEDLES-- THE ONLY CONIFER IN THE SOUTHEAST THAT DOES THAT.

AND THEN ALL THAT STUFF HANGING DOWN THAT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE LEAVES FROM A DISTANCE ARE MALE CONES ON THAT TREE.

IT IS ONE OF THE CONIFERS FOR SURE.

MOST OF THE VEGETATION AROUND US IS SAW GRASS.

YEAH.

SEDGES.

YEAH, REALLY, A SEDGE.

WE CALL IT A GRASS.

IT DOES HAVE SAW... SHARP, JAGGED EDGES BUT THAT'S THE ONE THAT YOU ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH THE EVERGLADES AND BASICALLY, THIS IS A LITTLE PIECE OF THE EVERGLADES HERE WITH SOME OTHER HABITATS MIXED IN.

BUT THAT IS WIDESPREAD, DOMINANT AND, AGAIN, LOVES THESE LITTLE SHALLOW WATER AREAS ON TOP OF LIMESTONE.

AND NOW, YOU MENTION BIRDS... LOOK AT THE WOOD STORK RIGHT IN THE TOP OF THAT LITTLE POND CYPRESS.

THAT'S A STRANGE- LOOKING ANIMAL.

A BALD HEAD.

YEAH.

IN FACT, SOME CALL IT "IRONHEAD," REALLY.

BIG OLD BEAK.

IT'S THE ONLY TRUE STORK THAT WE'VE GOT IN NORTH AMERICA.

AN INTERESTING ANIMAL, THOSE LONG, GANGLY LEGS AND YET PERCHED RIGHT UP IN THE TOP AS IF IT'S VERY MUCH AT HOME THERE.

AND, OF COURSE, THEY NEST UP IN THE TOPS OF THESE CYPRESSES.

ONE OF THE WADING BIRDS.

WE MIGHT SEE IT IN THE WATER LATER.

OH, YEAH.

LOOK AT THE CORMORANTS DOWN THERE, TOO.

A FEW CORMORANTS RIGHT UP IN THE TOP OF SOME MORE CYPRESSES.

DARKER BIRD, DOWN-CURVED BEAK.

ONE OF THEM LOOKS LIKE IT'S PREENING UP THERE.

A BIG OF A HOOK ON THE END OF THE BEAK THERE.

YEAH; BOTH OF THOSE BIRDS, NOW, SAY STANDING WATER AND THERE IS PLENTY OF STANDING WATER HERE.

WE'LL SEE THAT AS WE WALK.

AND THEN ANOTHER BIRD THAT SPEAKS TO STANDING WATER.

LOOK AT THE OSPREY DOWN THERE.

THE FISH HAWK.

THAT'S A DIVER.

HE PLUNGES INTO THE WATER.

YEAH, REAL SHARP EDGE ON THE BEAK.

CURVED DOWN.

LOOKING AWAY FROM US THERE.

A LOT OF WHITE ON IT.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK OF THAT AS A BALD EAGLE.

BUT OSPREY, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

OOH, AND MOVING AWAY.

LOOK AT THE WINGSPAN ON THAT BIRD AS IT DROPS DOWN.

ALREADY WE'VE SEEN THREE BIRDS AND ALL THREE HAVE DIFFERENT STYLES OF GETTING THEIR FOOD.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

LET'S GET STARTED.

2,400 SQUARE MILES OF SAW GRASS MARSH AND WET PRAIRIE LOOKS AND STRANDS OF TREES AS WE COME THROUGH BIG CYPRESS.

HIGHER GROUND, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT AND THE FOREST TYPE CHANGES WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE ELEVATION AND A LITTLE MORE ORGANIC-RICH MATERIAL AND NOT QUITE AS MUCH WATER.

THAT IS PALMETTO.

NOW, IS THIS THE STATE...?

IS THAT STATE TREE OF FLORIDA, RIGHT?

THIS IS THE STATE TREE OF FLORIDA.

THE LARGEST LEAVES I GUESS WE COULD SEE HERE.

LOOK AT THOSE LONG LEAVES.

AND THE STEM ON THE LEAF DOESN'T HAVE ANY JAGGED EDGES AT ALL.

SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR THAT: SABLE PALMETTO.

AND THAT GIVES IT THE COMMON NAME OF PALMETTO.

THAT'S THE LARGER ONE HERE.

UNDERNEATH, AND SCATTERED ALL OUT IN FRONT OF US-- THE SAW PALMETTO.

AND THAT VERY RARELY HAS A TRUNK THAT GETS FAR ABOVE THE GROUND BUT YOU SEE THE FRONDS, THE LEAVES ARE SMALLER AND IF YOU LOOK CAREFULLY THERE IS A LITTLE OF A SAW-LIKE JAGGED EDGE ON SAW PALMETTO.

AND THEN THE OTHER TREE THAT DOMINATES HERE TALLER THAN ANYTHING ELSE-- SLASH PINE.

AND THEY ARE INDEED SLASH PINES.

PRETTY MUCH A MONOCULTURE OF PINE IN TERMS OF THIS LARGE ACREAGE.

YEAH.

AND I SEE UNDERNEATH, UNDERSTORY.

WAX MYRTLE HERE, JUST SCATTERED ALONG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FRUIT ON IT YOU CAN SEE SCATTERED HERE AND THERE.

TYPICAL HIGHER GROUND AREAS.

BUT I NOTICED SOMETHING AS WE WALKED UP-- THIS IS A SIGN THAT WATER LEVELS HAVE BEEN HIGHER IN THE PAST BECAUSE HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FRESHWATER SNAILS.

RUDY, THAT APPLE SNAIL IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE DIET OF THE KITE.

YEAH, THE EVERGLADES KITE FEEDS EXCLUSIVELY ON THIS AND THE LIMPKIN FEEDS ON THIS A LOT.

TWO BIRDS THAT ARE FOUND HERE.

INTERESTING SNAILS.

DOES HAVE STRIPES ON IT WHEN IT'S YOUNG.

YOU SEE THEM VERY CLEARLY.

SEE THAT?

MM-HMM.

AND THEN TWIST IT ON AROUND AND YOU CAN KIND OF LOOK DOWN IN THE THROAT OF THIS THING.

ONE OF THE UNIVALVES.

ONE OF THE FRESHWATER SNAILS THAT REALLY, REALLY IS ABUNDANT HERE AND THEY START OFF SMALL AND GET TO BE-- LOOK AT THIS-- FAIRLY LARGE.

THAT IS A NEAT ANIMAL.

AND DEPENDENT ON THE WATER.

YEAH, AN INTERESTING QUESTION-- WHERE DOES THE CALCIUM CARBONATE COME FROM THAT THE SHELL IS MADE OUT OF?

WELL, IT COMES FROM THE LIMESTONE-- THAT'S CALCIUM CARBONATE, RIGHT?-- THAT FORMED ON OCEAN FLOOR AND NOW THIS ANIMAL HAS GOTTEN THAT MATERIAL AND MADE A SHELL OUT OF IT.

I LOVE THIS ONE.

AND WHAT'S THAT ONE?

COMMON NAME FOR THIS IS RAMSHORN SNAIL.

I THINK THAT MAKES GOOD SENSE.

LOOK AT THAT.

LOOK AT THE SHAPE OF THAT-- LIKE A RAMSHORN.

AND BOTH OF THEM, VERY, VERY COMMON IN FRESHWATER SITUATIONS RIGHT HERE.

AND A PERFECT PLACE TO FIND THE SNAILS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THIS MARSH AND VERY WET AREA.

I GUESS THOSE TALLER CYPRESS BEHIND US.

YEAH, THOSE ARE CYPRESSES OVER THERE.

AGAIN, THE POND CYPRESS NEVER GETTING LARGE BUT BIG CYPRESS, NOW, GETS THE NAME NOT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE TREES THAT ARE HERE TODAY BUT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG PRESERVE HERE.

WELL, PRESERVED 728,000 ACRES AND WHAT A JOB IT WAS TO PULL IT ALL TOGETHER.

LOOK OUT IN THE MARSH THERE.

LOOK OUT IN THE MARSH!

WAY OUT THERE, AND THOSE ARE ROSEATE SPOONBILLS.

I KNOW IT.

THE PINK!

PINK!

LOOK AT 'EM.

GET THE GLASSES UP.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SPOON-SHAPED BILL... AND THAT EXTRA RED RIGHT ON THE SHOULDERS.

LOOK AT THAT BIRD OUT THERE!

IT'S RARE TO SEE A PINK BIRD ANYWHERE... YEAH!

BUT HERE WE'VE GOT A NICE RED WASH ON THE WINGS, AS WELL.

OH, YEAH.

I SEE A FEW WHITE IBISES, I THINK WORKING AROUND BEHIND THEM HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK AT THE WHITE IBISES.

BUT ROSEATE SPOONBILLS, CLEARLY.

COUPLE OF THEM OFF IN THE DISTANCE JUST MOVING THEIR BEAKS SIDE TO SIDE.

YEAH.

SIDE TO SIDE...

TRYING TO GET INVERTEBRATES OUT OF THE GOO OUT THERE.

GOSH, THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL BIRD.

IT'S A LITTLE WETTER HERE ALONG THE TURNER RIVER CANAL AND, AGAIN, WILL GIVE US A CHANCE TO SEE MORE OF THE BIRDS.

WELL OVER 300 ON THE LIST HERE AT THE PRESERVE.

YEAH, WATER REALLY, REALLY DOES MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD AND, UH...

THIS IS A MAN-MADE CANAL, OF COURSE BUT IT'S FILLING WITH LOTS OF INTERESTING PLANT MATERIAL, TOO.

OF COURSE, CATTAILS, I SEE.

CATTAILS-- YEAH, YEAH, EVERYWHERE HERE AND A FEW INTERESTING TREES.

KIND OF STRANGE ONES ON THE SIDE.

I SEE FRUIT ALREADY ON THE RED MAPLE UP THERE.

BRIGHT RED IN COLOR.

AND WILLOWS SCATTERED AROUND AND A FEW MORE OF THOSE CYPRESSES.

WELL, NOW, LOOK AT THIS-- YOU GET SUNLIGHT UP HERE AND THERE ARE THE TURTLES OUT SUNNING.

RUDY, WHAT KIND IS IT?

LOOKS LIKE THE FLORIDA RED-BELLIED TURTLE TO ME, JIM BECAUSE OF THAT REDDISH ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SHELL AND A LITTLE BIT OF RED ON THE TOP PART OF THE SHELL.

DOMED UP, TOO, BUT JUST WARMING UP IN THE SUNLIGHT.

ON THAT LIMESTONE, I GUESS HE CRAWLS OUT OF THE WATER BECAUSE OF ALGAE PROBLEMS ON OCCASION.

GETS RID OF PARASITES UP THERE, TOO.

IF HE CAN DRY OUT, MAYBE THE LEECHES WILL DROP OFF.

AND LOOK WHAT HE DOES, DROPPING INTO THE WATER ONCE HE SEES US OR HEARS US OVER HERE.

ANOTHER ONE OF THE REPTILES OUT IN THE SUN-- ALLIGATOR.

THE SMALL ALLIGATORS.

WE'VE GOT, I'M SURE, ALLIGATORS OF ALL SIZES HERE IN THE SWAMP.

YEAH, THEY'RE DOING GREAT.

AND THIS STANDING WATER IN THE CANAL WITH LOTS OF FISH PERFECT SITUATION FOR THEM.

AND THEY'LL TAKE BIRDS AND OTHER THINGS.

MAYBE LIKE THAT MOORHEN THAT'S COMING DOWN THE WAY.

ORANGE ON THE BEAK.

OLD NAME IS COMMON GALLINULE BUT MOORHEN IS THE NAME THAT IT'S KNOWN AS NOW.

AND THE MOORHEN'S RATHER COMMON ALONG WATER AREAS LIKE THIS.

ABSOLUTELY.

FEEDING ON PLANT MATERIAL IN THE WATER.

I SEE ANOTHER ONE OVER THERE THAT JUST DOES NOT TO BE SEEN, I GUESS.

FROZEN IN PLACE.

GREAT BLUE HERON.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT BIRD.

THE LARGEST BIRD...

I GUESS THE TALLEST... ONE OF THE TALLEST WE WOULD SEE IN THE SWAMP.

OH, YEAH.

THAT LONG BEAK, NOW, GETS FROGS OR FISH OR SMALL SNAKES AND EVEN OTHER BIRDS SOMETIMES AND CHANGES THEM INTO...

INTO GREAT BLUE HERON.

BUT HARDLY MOVING.

THAT FREEZING PATTERN IS PART OF A STYLE OF HUNTING.

OH, YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND BLENDING IN, TOO, NOW WHEN A PREDATOR SHOWS UP LIKE US.

DOWN THE WAY, TOO I THINK THOSE ARE YELLOW LEGS DOWN THERE.

LOOK AT THOSE BIRDS.

A GROUP OF THEM.

OH, YES, THAT LIGHTISH BROWN.

THEY'RE HARD TO TELL AMONG SOME OF THE OTHER WADING BIRDS.

YELLOW LEGS.

YEAH, YELLOW LEGS.

YEAH, THAT'S A NEAT ONE.

THAT'S A PRETTY COMMON ONE HERE.

I KEEP HEARING SOMETHING.

WHAT IS THAT?

OH, LOOK AT THIS... LITTLE, UH... MOORHEN?

MOORHEN COMING IN.

A LITTLE FUZZBALL.

MAYBE A FEW WEEKS; MAYBE A MONTH AT THE MOST.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

LOOK AT THAT SMALL ANIMAL AND MAKING A PEEPING SOUND.

I GUESS TRYING TO ATTRACT ONE OF THE PARENTS TO FEED IT.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THAT LITTLE BIRD IS SAYING: "FEED ME, FEED ME, FEED ME."

THAT'S A TREAT HERE IN THE SWAMP TO SEE THAT.

YEAH, I'M SURPRISED THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR AND GETTING OVER BY ONE OF THE PARENTS.

AW, THAT'S NEAT TO SEE THE ADULT AND THEN THE VERY, VERY YOUNG ONE FIGURING THE YOUNG ONE WILL END UP LOOKING LIKE THE ADULT EVENTUALLY.

THAT IS A NEAT ANIMAL.

ANHINGA, OVER THERE, TOO.

NOW HERE'S ONE THAT YOU ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH DITCHES LIKE THIS FILLED WITH FISH.

"SNAKEBIRD" ANOTHER NAME.

LONG, SNAKELIKE NECK, LONG BEAK.

AND A SEX DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE COLOR PATTERNS.

YEAH, THE FEMALE IS THAT ONE THAT'S GOT BROWN ON THE NECK AND ON UP TOWARD THE HEAD.

AGAIN, KIND OF WARMING UP IN THE SUN BUT ALSO DRYING OUT.

ANHINGAS GET OUT OF THE WATER TO GET RID OF WATER THAT GETS ON THE BODY 'CAUSE THEY SWIM A LOT.

NOW, IS THIS A MALE OVER HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE?

UH, THAT... YEAH.

THAT'S THE MALE.

YOU SEE ALL DARK?

VERY, VERY BLACK ON THE NECK.

WELL, A LITTLE BIT OF WHITE FEATHERS, TOO BUT BASICALLY BLACK ON THE NECK.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF BLUISH COLOR AROUND THE EYES.

THAT ONE'S IN BREEDING PLUMAGE NOW, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

BUT THAT IS A NEAT ANIMAL UP THERE.

NOW HERE'S ANOTHER ONE-- ON THE BRANCH STICKING OUT THE WATER-- SEE THE TRICOLORED HERON?

OH, YEAH-- OLD NAME LOUISIANA HERON?

RIGHT.

SNEAKING DOWN, LOOKS LIKE HE'S GETTING READY TO GRAB A FISH AND THE FISH IS WIGGLING IN ITS BEAK OUT THERE.

AND AGAIN, CHANGING FISH INTO TRICOLORED HERON.

GOSH, THAT'S NEAT.

THERE'S SO MANY ANIMALS RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

I SEE A LITTLE BLUE HERON OVER THERE, TOO.

OH, YEAH.

LITTLE BLUE.

SOLID COLOR BLUE.

MM-HMM.

LITTLE BIT OF REDDISH TINGE ON THE NECK SOMETIMES BUT BASICALLY ONE COLOR AND, UH... BE FINDING PLENTY OF FOOD RIGHT ALONG THE CANAL HERE.

NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

NOW, THE VERY YOUNG LITTLE BLUE WOULD BE ALL WHITE.

WELL, THERE'S ONE RIGHT OVER THERE.

OH, YEAH.

THERE IS AN IMMATURE LITTLE BLUE HERON.

GREENISH LEGS... AND NOTICE THE BEAK HAS THAT DARK END ON IT.

TWO COLOR.

YEAH, YEAH, AND THAT'S TYPICAL.

BUT WHITE EVERYWHERE ELSE.

IT IS KIND OF CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER WHITE BIRDS OUT THERE THE ONE THAT'S THE MOST SHOWY RIGHT NOW IS THE SNOWY EGRET.

WHICH, DID YOU SEE THE ONE OUT OF THE WATER THERE?

YOU CAN SEE THE YELLOW OR GOLDEN COLOR FEET BLACK LEGS.

"GOLDEN SLIPPERS" THE OTHER NAME.

AND THAT'S BREEDING PLUMAGE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

OH, MAN-- OUT OF THE WATER THE WIND BLOWING IT A LITTLE BIT.

LOOK AT THE BREEDING PLUMAGE-- FEATHERS ON THAT THING.

THAT IS REALLY SPECTACULAR, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

STANDING HERE IN ONE SPOT AND SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO SEE.

YOU JUST GOT TO SLOW DOWN AND LOOK.

I SAW A KINGFISHER COME IN.

LOOK RIGHT THERE.

FEMALE NOW, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK ON THE BREAST THERE'S A BLUE BAND AND THEN THERE'S A BROWN ONE BELOW IT.

REALLY, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY THOSE ARE BELTS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THAT IS THE BELTED KINGFISHER.

THE FEMALE HAS THE BROWN BAND.

THE MALE DOES NOT.

NEAT ANIMAL.

ANOTHER BIRD OVER HERE, THE GREEN-BACKED HERON.

LOOK AT THAT THING.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A VERY LONG NECK BUT IT'S GOT A LONG NECK; FROZEN IN POSITION THERE.

WELL, MOVING A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH, DOWN THE BRANCH.

SNEAKING A LITTLE BIT DOWN.

YEAH, YOU CAN SEE THE LEGS A LITTLE BIT.

GETTING CLOSER TO THE WATER, I IMAGINE, SO HE CAN GRAB FISH.

LATE JANUARY, WINTER DAY, BUT IT'S WARMING UP HERE AND ALSO, WHERE THE PLAINS IN AND OUT, IT'S EASY TO KNOW WE'RE BETWEEN TWO BIG CITIES-- NAPLES AND MIAMI.

AND A GREAT VARIETY OF ANIMALS ARE HERE ANYWAY NO MATTER WHAT HUMANS ARE DOING, AND THAT'S NICE.

IT'S FRAGILE, A VERY FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT.

WELL, IT'S AN AREA THAT CAN BE CHANGED DRASTICALLY BY HUMAN ACTIVITY.

THANK GOODNESS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT IT.

AND NOT ONLY LOW AREAS LIKE THIS WHERE THERE'S WATER.

HIGHER AREAS ARE INTERESTING, TOO.

WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT A HARDWOOD HAMMOCK NEXT.

IT IS DARKER BACK HERE IN THE HAMMOCK BUT THIS TRAIL GIVES US A GOOD CHANCE TO GET INSIDE OF A HAMMOCK.

YEAH, AND THIS IS A MIXED HARDWOOD HAMMOCK SO THERE ARE QUITE A FEW INTERESTING PLANTS HERE, AND...

IN FACT, IN FACT, RUDY, IT'S CALLED "THE TREE SNAIL NATURE TRAIL" AND LOOK WHAT I FOUND AND THEY COME IN OVER 50 DIFFERENT PATTERNS.

THESE ARE ALL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FLORIDA BANDED TREE SNAIL, JIM.

PRETTY COMMON HERE, REALLY, BUT PROBABLY, YOU KNOW A CUBAN SPECIES THAT ARRIVED HERE BECAUSE OF HURRICANES.

MM-HMM.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME OF THEM ARE BANDED AND SOME OF THEM REALLY DON'T HAVE MANY BANDS AT ALL BUT THAT'S NEAT, ISN'T IT?

ANOTHER ONE OF THE...

UH, UNIVALVES ONE OF THE GASTROPODS.

LOOK AT THE... LOOK AT THE MARKINGS ON THAT THING AND THE BIG OPENING FOR THE BODY TO SLIP OUT.

FEEDING ON FUNGI, MAINLY; CLIMBING UP SIDES OF TREES AND OFTENTIMES, WHEN THE WEATHER'S DRY JUST FREEZING IN POSITION AND NOT REALLY MOVING AT ALL.

BUT FLORIDA BANDED TREE SNAIL IS THE COMMON NAME.

SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY BANDS AT ALL.

BUT THAT'LL SHOW YOU A PRETTY GOOD BIT OF THE VARIATION.

OF COURSE, LIKE EVERYTHING IN A NATIONAL PRESERVE THEY ARE PROTECTED, SO WE'LL LEAVE THEM.

ABSOLUTELY, AND WHEN YOU FIND A NUMBER OF THOSE DOWN ON THE GROUND YOU SHOULD FIND THINGS OVERHEAD, AND LOOK RIGHT UP HERE HANGING DOWN RIGHT ABOVE US.

AND LOOK AT THE BANDS ON THAT ONE, NOW.

AGAIN, BANDED TREE SNAIL IS A PRETTY GOOD COMMON NAME FOR THAT.

FROZEN IN PLACE NOW, PROBABLY CLOSED IN BECAUSE IT'S GETTING A LITTLE DRIER, BUT, UH... ESTIVATING-- THAT'S THE TERM FOR IT.

THEY'RE NOT VERY ACTIVE BUT LOOK AT THE MARKINGS ON THAT ONE THERE.

HERE'S ANOTHER ONE OVER HERE, RUDY A DIFFERENT ONE ALTOGETHER.

YEAH, WELL, REALLY, SEE, IT'S THE SAME SPECIES, BUT ITS VARIATION... LIGUUS IS THE GENUS NAME AND UH, INTERESTING LITTLE ANIMAL.

AGAIN, MAYBE NOT AS DARKLY BANDED AS THE OTHERS BUT YOU CAN SEE SOME BANDING ON THAT ONE, TOO AND THAT'S A LARGER INDIVIDUAL HANGING ON THE SIDE OF THAT TREE AND REALLY, YOU LOOK OVER HERE...

I MEAN, ALL AROUND US, SOME OF THEM REALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE BANDING ON THEM AT ALL BUT A LOT OF VARIATION, AND AGAIN SPECIES THAT PROBABLY CAME FROM THE WEST INDIES REALLY FROM CUBA.

AND NEED PROTECTION, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PLANTS AROUND US?

SEVERAL HARDWOODS, AS YOU SAID.

MOST OF THE PLANTS THAT ARE HERE ARE WEST INDIAN SPECIES.

THE ONE UP THERE WITH THE PEELY BARK ON IT THE REDDISH BARK THAT'S STRIPPING AWAY... GUMBO-LIMBO.

GUMBO-LIMBO IS THE COMMON NAME FOR THAT WEST INDIES AND HERE IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA.

IT GETS ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE PENINSULA OF FLORIDA.

USED MEDICINALLY.

YOU KNOW, THE RESINS IN THAT PLANT ARE USED MEDICINALLY.

AND SOME HAVE ACTUALLY CALLED IT THE "TOURIST TREE" BECAUSE OF THE SUNBURNED PEELY SKIN, IT LOOKS LIKE ON IT.

AND THE REDDISH COLOR, HUH?

ANOTHER ONE DOWN HERE-- WILD COFFEE THAT'S WIDESPREAD.

I MEAN, THAT'S ONE YOU EXPECT TO SEE HERE; THOSE ODD-LOOKING LEAVES ON IT AND, UH, ANOTHER ONE, A COCOPLUM, IT'S CALLED.

IT'S A MEMBER OF THE ROSE FAMILY.

THE FRUIT ON THAT THING IS ACTUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, EDIBLE.

I DON'T SEE FRUIT RIGHT NOW BUT IT IS EDIBLE FRUIT ON IT.

INTERESTING SHAPED ROUNDED LEAVES-- VERY, VERY TYPICAL OF THIS PART OF FLORIDA AND AGAIN, CONNECTED TO THE WEST INDIES.

THE LOOP ROAD REALLY PROVIDES BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO THE HEART OF THE CYPRESS SWAMPS AND TO EXPERIENCE THE NATURE OF BIG CYPRESS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

YEAH, WE'RE CLOSE TO LOTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY AND YET WE CAN GET AWAY AND SEE SIGHTS LIKE THIS AND REALLY HEAR SOUNDS LIKE THIS AS SOON AS WE WALK UP.

LISTEN TO THE FISH.

YEAH, IT'S THE FISH SPLASHING.

POPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT'S LIKE A BIG AQUARIUM THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO MAINLY FLORIDA GAR AND I MEAN IN LARGE NUMBERS.

LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.

THOSE ARE LONG ANIMALS AND NOT REALLY A GOOD FOOD FISH BUT PART OF THE WEB OF LIFE HERE.

SOME PEOPLE EAT THEM.

THEY DO HAVE BONY, UH, SCALES THAT ARE KIND OF INTERESTING.

A VERY PRIMITIVE FISH FEEDING ON OTHER FISH, USUALLY AND SPEAKING OF OTHER FISH LOOK AT ALL THE LITTLE TINY ONES IN HERE-- SMALL FISH UP AGAINST THAT LIMEROCK.

YOU CAN SEE THEM VERY, VERY CLEARLY.

AND THAT'S FOOD FOR A LOT OF THOSE BIRDS.

EXACTLY.

A LARGE REASON WE'RE GOING TO SEE AND HAVE SEEN SO MANY BIRDS HERE IN THE SWAMP.

THE OTHER FISH IN HERE... AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS A NATIVE CATFISH.

THIS, I BELIEVE, IS THE WALKING CATFISH.

THE INTRODUCTION?

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW EXOTICS THAT HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS IN THIS PART OF FLORIDA.

SEE THE LITTLE BARBELS ON THE FRONT?

THE WHISKERS LIKE A CAT'S WHISKERS THAT GIVE CATFISH THEIR NAME.

COMING UP, MAYBE GETTING SOME OF THOSE SMALL FISH RIGHT IN THE SHALLOWS.

I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN AS MANY FISH IN ONE PLACE BUT MUCH MORE EXCITING IS OVER AT THE EDGE OF THE WATER AND SEE THE WOOD STORKS AGAIN FEEDING THIS TIME.

OH, LOOK AT THEM, DOWN IN THE WATER NOW, MOVING ALONG.

THAT IS AN INTERESTING WAY TO FIND FOOD-- PUTTING YOUR BEAK DOWN, OPEN AND THEN MOVING YOUR FOOT SHAKING YOUR FOOT ALONG A LITTLE BIT KIND OF FEELING AND SHAKING AND SCARING THINGS UP AND THEY FEED...

THEY'LL FEED ON SMALL FISH AND OTHER VERTEBRATES AND THEN LOTS OF INVERTEBRATES, TOO-- SHRIMP AND OTHER THINGS.

THAT IS SO NEAT TO SEE A WADING BIRD IN ACTION AND YOU CAN DO THAT HERE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF, UH, BEHAVIOR IN THESE ANIMALS WHICH MAKES, UH, THIS PLACE VERY, VERY SPECIAL.

AND THEY'RE SO USED TO PEOPLE.

WELL, THE WOOD STORKS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO BIRDERS, TO A DEGREE BECAUSE HERE IS WHERE YOU NEED TO FIND THEM.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND THEM MANY OTHER PLACES.

AND THEY'RE MAKING A COMEBACK NOW, THANK GOODNESS AND NOT ONLY DO YOU SEE THEM IN THE WATER... LOOK AT THAT ONE FLYING UP-- YOU CAN SEE THE BLACK ON THE WINGS-- UP INTO THE TREE.

AND YOU CAN LOOK IN THOSE CYPRESSES AND THERE THEY ARE.

I MEAN, JUST SITTING AROUND PREENING, VERY NONCHALANT ON THOSE LONG, SPINDLY LEGS.

WELL, BEFORE THE DRAINING THERE WERE A HUNDRED THOUSAND NESTING PAIRS.

TODAY, JUST LITERALLY A FEW THOUSAND HERE AND THERE, BUT STILL THEY ARE MAKING A COMEBACK, AS YOU SAID.

YEAH, THOSE ARE REALLY NEAT ANIMALS AND AGAIN, AS WE SAID, THEY'RE IN THE CYPRESSES.

I MEAN, THESE ARE BIG OR LARGER CYPRESSES THAN WE'VE SEEN SO FAR AND YOU CAN SEE THE FLUTED BASE ON THEM THE BUTTRESSED BASE THAT IS FLUTED AND YOU CAN SEE CYPRESS KNEES-- YOU KNOW, THOSE MODIFIED ROOTS THAT COME UP MAYBE FOR GAS EXCHANGE.

BOY, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN INTERESTING WITH THOSE BIGGER BALD CYPRESSES IN THE PAST.

36,000 TRAINLOADS TAKEN OUT, I GUESS, IN THE '40s.

MADE A BIG CHANGE HERE, BUT STILL, A LOT TO SEE.

THE OTHER THING IN THE TREES THAT IS AMAZING-- THE FIRST TIME I SEE THESE BIG ONES, THEY LOOK LIKE BIRD NESTS.

THEY DO, OR PINEAPPLES TO A DEGREE, SOME OF THEM.

BROMELIAN FAMILY HAS PINEAPPLES IN IT AND THERE ARE THE BROMELIANS SITTING UP THERE-- SOME OF THEM WITH THE FLOWER STALKS COMING OUT.

THAT'S THAT REDDISH COLOR THAT WE SEE.

AIR PLANTS IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THEM AND THERE ARE ALSO QUITE A FEW ORCHIDS THAT GET UP IN TREES HERE-- EPIPHYTIC ORCHIDS.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING LOOKING IN THERE-- IT LOOKS LIKE JUST BALLS OF NESTS, REALLY, IN FACT, AIR PLANTS.

JIM, LOOK WHAT JUST LANDED IN THE SUNLIGHT OVER THERE-- ONE OF THE BUCKEYE BUTTERFLIES AND I THINK THAT'S THE ONE CALLED THE "MANGROVE BUCKEYE."

A LITTLE LARGER THAN THE BUCKEYE MORE COMMONLY FOUND IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES AND REALLY TYPICAL OF THIS PART OF FLORIDA ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, BLACK MANGROVES.

THERE IS A LOT TO SEE ON THIS SIDE, RUDY BUT IT SEEMS TO OPEN UP MORE OVER ON THIS SIDE.

OH, YEAH.

ISN'T IT NICE TO HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS JUST SO CLOSE TOGETHER?

AS SOON AS YOU GET HERE, LOOK AT THAT.

BIG ALLIGATOR RIGHT THERE-- SUNNY.

WHAT A WHOPPER.

NOW, THAT'S THE LARGEST ONE THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR AND OUT IN THAT OPEN THERE IS A LOT MORE SUN OVER THERE THAN THERE IS RIGHT HERE.

WARMING UP, SLOWLY BUT SURELY AND THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND HIM AND YET AGAIN, HE'S JUST WARMING UP.

STOMACH MUST BE VERY, VERY FULL, OR HE'D BE HUNTING.

ANOTHER LITTLE ALLIGATOR RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM THERE IN THE WATER.

A SINGLE WHITE IBIS UP THERE NEXT TO THE AIR PLANT.

BOTH HAVE THE RED...

THE RED ON THEM.

HEY, LOOK AT THAT REDDISH-ORANGE BEAK, CURVED DOWN-- TYPICAL OF THE IBISES, FOR SURE, AND THOSE SORT OF REDDISH-ORANGE LEGS.

THAT IS A NEAT ANIMAL, AND THAT IS THE ADULT, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

THAT WAS THE BIRD WE SAW, REMEMBER, THE ROSEATE SPOONBILL?

SO NOW WE'RE GETTING A REAL CLOSE LOOK.

VERY, VERY COMMON THIS TIME OF YEAR HERE.

AND LOOK AT ALL THE EGRETS OVER HERE, RUDY.

OH, YEAH, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

OF ALL KINDS.

WELL, YEAH, SNOWY EGRETS, EVEN BOUNCING AROUND OUT THERE.

LOOK AT ALL OF THE PLUMAGE ON THOSE SNOWY EGRETS BOUNCING AROUND, AND THEN OTHERS OUT THERE FEEDING IN THE WATER.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BRIGHT WHITE ONES AND THEN THE OTHER ONE NOW, MUCH LARGER...

THE GREAT EGRET.

THE GREAT EGRET.

LONGER NECK, THE YELLOWISH BEAK ON THE GREAT EGRET.

LOOKING FOR A MEAL OUT THERE, TOO.

I MEAN, PROBING, AND YET, SEE, NOW THAT CAN GO IN DEEPER WATER, RIGHT?-- THE SNOWY-- BECAUSE IT HAS LONGER LEGS AND IS A LONGER BIRD.

I ALSO SEE OUT THERE THE IMMATURE WHITE IBIS NOW.

THERE IS A DIRTY-LOOKING... SEE THAT?

OH, YEAH.

...IBIS, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT THE IMMATURE WOULD LOOK LIKE-- SORT OF BROWN ON IT, WITH THAT ORANGE BEAK AGAIN CURVED DOWN LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT AND HUNTING FOR FISH AND INVERTEBRATES.

THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY OUT THERE IS DOING AND REALLY, IT'S NEAT TO STAND IN ONE PLACE AND SEE ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY-- GREAT EGRET UP FRONT, LITTLE OF EVERYTHING BEHIND IT.

IT GIVES YOU A GREAT CHANCE TO COMPARE THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WADING BIRDS.

YEAH, SIZES AND COLORS AND OTHER THINGS.

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL AREA TO VISIT TO GIVE US A CHANCE TO OBSERVE WADING BIRDS UP CLOSE.

YEAH, AND AS YOU SAID, IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO COMPARE THINGS, TOO-- SIZES AND OTHER THINGS.

THAT'S KIND OF NICE, BUT THE VARIETY OF HABITATS HERE ALSO MAKES THIS VERY, VERY SPECIAL.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT I IMAGINE A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVE RIGHT BY AND THEY MISS SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD.

IT'S KIND OF AN ENCHANTING PLACE, REALLY.

IT IS, AND WE CAN BE THANKFUL IT WAS SAVED BACK IN 1974.

728,000 ACRES AT THE BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE BETWEEN NAPLES AND MIAMI, FLORIDA.

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