January 8th, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was on the agenda. The Corkscrew was not expected to yield many new species, but it has been one of our favorite places to visit over the years. In the past we have visited and seen the air plants, spider lilies, orchids, giant cypress… and noticed a few birds. Funny how “your focus determines your reality”. Today we focused on improving our birding skills.
Red Shouldered Hawk
As expected, most of the birds found were species already on our list, but we still enjoyed seeing them up close and personal…while seeing some green stuff and big trees around us.
While on the boardwalk, we came upon this interpretive sign:
Corkscrew Interpretive Sign
Our recent experience of an obsessive search for the Key West Quail-Dove, which made us consider a 12 step “Birders Anonymous” program, inspired Chuck to consider how Wakulla County fits into the 3-step “program” for wetlands described below; credit must be given to the folks at Audubon.
First Came Fear– (Some in Wakulla may still be in this first stage… imagine, one of our commissioners actually called wetlands “mosquito infested mud holes”!)
“I take a view of a swamp… Full of blogs… Poisonous weeds and vines… It’s miry bottom, and a harbor to turtles, toads, efts, snakes. And other creepy verm’n. The baleful thickets of brambles, and the dreary shades of larger growth, the dwelling place of the owl and the bittern; a portion of foxes and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird;”
-Jared Eliot (1685-1783)
Then Came Greed-(Many, including most of the Wakulla County Commission as evidenced by their ties to development while moving to eliminate wetland protections, are in this second stage)
“Our country includes within its boundaries 125 million acres of undeveloped wet and swamp lands… With proper drainage and protection, an estimated two-fifths of this area, or 50 million acres, would be suitable for crop or pasture use.”
-U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1953
Finally Came Understanding– (Sadly, too few are in this stage, and as long as our county leaders discourage scientific education or seemingly any higher education, may may never reach this enlightenment)
“Swamps and wetlands are important to the planet and all who live here. They are vital habitat for many different plants and animals, many of them endangered. They act as the earth’s “kidneys,” filtering poisons and protecting against the damage of weather extremes. They are delightful places of beauty and refuge. Without swamps and wetlands, our quality of life would be greatly threatened.”
The quotes from Marjorie Harris Carr, followed by that from Baba Dioum, Sengalese Poet, as provided on the Corkscrew Swamp interpretational sign, say it so well:
“The salvation of the Florida scene will come about only if the public savors its beauty, understands its limitations, and speaks up for its preservation.”
~~~
“In the end, we only conserve what we love, We will only love what we understand, We will only understand what we are taught”
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary reminds us that WE CAN HELP:
PROTECT– Protect wetlands and wildlife on your property
LEARN– Learn about wetlands near your home and learn to protect them
DEFEND– Defend wetland conservation laws and regulations
REMEMBER, OPPONENTS TO WETLAND PROTECTION
ONLY NEED TO WIN ONCE.