From freshwater lakes to our coastal seas, a rainbow of colors paints the Florida landscape. Scaling from single-celled organisms to 160 feet in length, algae can be the base of the food chain or coat our waterways in toxic slime. Here in Florida, our multicolored tapestry of algae blooms triggers many problems—driving away tourists, damaging …
Good news about the natural world doesn’t come every day. Fortunately, we have some springtime cheer to pass around. The wading bird nesting season in South Florida was exceptional in 2021. This flighted fauna produced nearly 102,000 nests, making it the second-largest nesting effort since surveys began in the mid-90s. Happily, due to ideal conditions, …
Eye-catching and iconic, wading birds warm the heart of even the coldest curmudgeon. As their name suggests, these long-legged birds forage by wading through water. In North America, South Florida is the most important breeding area for these winged creatures. A range of unique species makes their homes here including roseate spoonbills, snowy egrets, and …
The mere idea of crocodiles makes people shiver, bringing up images of diabolical, man-eating beasts. One of our most fearsome yet fascinating animals, watching videos of crocodiles lunging and tossing wildebeest around like dolls is spine-chilling. Nonetheless, crocodiles are still subject to the whims of the most horrifying predator yet: humans. The American crocodile was …