Natural History Wanderings

This morning I went  to Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach County, Florida. By getting there shortly after 7AM it was much less crowded than in the later afternoon.  24 Species were identified including a Wood Stork, Purple Gallinule, Egyptian Goose (not native),  Egrets (Snowy, Great and Cattle, Anhingas, and Doubled-crested Cormorants. Here is today’s bird list: Wakodahatchee Wetlands Bird List 1/19/13. No alligators were seen today.

Wakodahatchee means “created waters” in the Seminole Indian Language.  Wakodahatchee is 50 acres of utility land in Palm Beach County converted into  a recreation wetlands  with a three-quarter mile boardwalk.  It also serves as a natural filter for two million gallons of water a day.

There is an abundance of wildlife including turtles, frogs, alligators and birds. More than 140 different species of birds have been spotted at the site. There are a variety of wetland zones found at Wakodahatchee including the following habitats:

Open pond water areas to attract waterfowl and diving birds
Emergent marsh areas for rails, moorhens, and sparrows
Shallow shelves for herons and egrets
Islands with shrubs and snags to serve as roosting, nesting, and basking sites
Forested wetland areas for long-term habitat development
A three-quarter mile boardwalk winds through three of the wetland’s ponds