And now for something completely different... The Western Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp

The Western Everglades is about as far from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as you can get -- in distance and in character. Each is, however, unique as an example of a wilderness ecosystem. For those of you interested there is an excellent documentary DVD, Big Cypress Swamp: the Western Everglades, by filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus, produced in 2009.

Sunrise from our room at River Wilderness was mystical as morning sounds emerged from the surrounding landscape.

The Rod and Gun Club is the upper end of accommodations in Everglades City and has an excellent restaurant on a waterway. It is an historical landmark where Teddy Roosevelt among other dignitaries has stayed. At the River Wilderness, where we always stay, the units have screened porches right over the water.

Sunset from the porch of the Rod and Gun Club

Road kill on the way to Everglades City. These are Black Vultures tearing up an alligator.

The City Hall, Library, and most other government offices in Everglades City

February and March are great months for migrating birds.

Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills, and an assortment of egrets (probably).

A Snowy Egret. You can see his yellow feet in the water.

A pair of Roseate Spoonbills

There are huge numbers of alligators in the Everglades.

A Little Green Heron. I had never seen one before.

A rarely seen Purple Gallinule

A Great Blue Heron on her nest with two chicks. You may be able to see one of the chicks if you enlarge the photo.

Little Blue Heron

Anhinga

Entering Big Cypress Swamp

Completely different from the vast expanses of the "River of Grass".

A Snowy Egret in the swamp

Close-up

A pile of alligators

From the car window on the way out.

For me the Everglades are the most beautiful part of Florida. As with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge they are always under threat. Although they are likely to remain during my lifetime, I am not so sure about future generations....

I will be back in Fairbanks April 14th and looking forward to spring and summer.

By the way, for those of you who do not know, Lance Mackey won the Iditarod for the 4th time in a row. Go Lance!!!