Mission to the Everglades Time to get out my rubber boots I just found out I am going on a research trip to the Everglades in Florida I have wanted to explore this huge wetland area ever since I became a wildlife biologist A wetland is land covered with water for part or all of the year The Humans for Habitats organization is sending me there They want me to see how a decrease in fresh water is affecting the land plants and animals I will also look for species that do not belong there signs of pollution and other threats My report will include the actions being taken to save the Everglades EVERGLADES 4
I started planning my trip right away I will spend most of my time in Everglades National Park It is one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States There are two seasons in the Everglades dry season and wet season The wet season is too hot and rainy to observe the ecosystem easily I have decided to travel during the dry season when water levels are low Animals will have to gather together at water holes to drink That is perfect for curious scientists There are thousands of different plants and animals in the Everglades These include more than 360 types of birds Dry season lasts from about November to March Wet season lasts from about April to October The Everglades used to cover almost 11,000 square miles 28,000 square kilometers People began to drain water from the land in the late 1800s so they could farm and build towns and roads Only half of the original wetlands are left today 5
Field Journal Day 1 Spatterdock Lake Okeechobee used to overflow its banks and create a shallow river that flowed all the way down to Florida Bay Lake Okeechobee I started my research trip where the Everglades ecosystem begins at Lake Okeechobee I climbed into a canoe and set out to explore Florida’s largest lake I was surprised how shallow the water was I could touch the bottom with my paddle in some places I did not want to disturb the delicate plant life though The lake was dotted with water lilies American lotus and spatterdock Plants that live on or near water are called aquatic plants They provide shade shelter and food for fish birds and other animals 6
I spotted some ring-neck ducks nibbling on water lilies and large mouth bass swimming near the canoe I was hoping to see a snail kite hunting along the shore These are rare birds and they are getting harder and harder to find Snail kites and other animals lost much of their wetland habitat when water was drained from the Everglades The Everglades receive only one-third the amount of fresh water they used to get from the lake 1/3 The large-mouth bass is one of 300 fish species found in the Everglades natstat STATUS REPORT ST456 part B Name Snail kite Rostrhamus sociabilis Description Snail kites are birds of prey that eat mainly apple snails The birds use their thin curved beaks to pull the snails out of their shells Apple snails are getting hard to find however They live in freshwater wetlands Less fresh water in the Everglades means less prey for snail kites Threats Habitat loss Numbers 400 breeding pairs Status Endangered Attach photograph here 7
