Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida

January 15,16 & 17, 2009

We are staying with friends at Collier Seminole State Park on the western side of Everglades National Park near Marco Island which puts it about 20-miles south of Naples.

Collier Seminole State Park Campground features paved interior roads with 30-amps and water at each site with a central dump station. You should make reservations well in advance if you are planning a visit during January, February or March. That is when snowbirds are taking advantage of the warm weather and it is Collier Seminole State Park's busy season.

On this day we are taking a scenic drive to the east to visit Big Cypress National Preserve. Many people just refer to this area as the "Everglades" and it is but the portion of the Everglades that we are going to visit today has been preserved as Big Cypress National Preserve.

To get to Big Cypress National Preserve we drive about 30-miles east on US 41 to CR 839 also known as Turner Road. Turner Road is where we enter Big Cypress National Preserve. At the corner of US 41 and Turner Road the National Park system has provided a good size parking lot and a boardwalk where you can view wildlife of the Everglades. This is a good place to stop so plan ahead to stop here and enjoy much of the "wild" Everglades.

Anhinga at the Turner Road Park in Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida

This is a close up photograph of the needle sharp bill of an anhinga. Anhinga are excellent fishermen. That needle sharp bill is deadly. And they swim like a fish.

Sunning anhinga Big Cypress National Preserve at Turner Road & US 41 in south Florida

After swimming anhingas need to dry themselves as this one is doing.

Morning glory in Big Cypress National Preserve west of Everglades National Park in Florida

I think this is a white morning glory bloom. If it isn't please let me know what it is. Thanks in advance. Joyce took this morning glory picture from the viewing platform in Big Cypress National preserve at the intersection of US 41 and Turner Road.

Large alligators at the viewing boardwalk in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

These large alligators were sunning themselves on Turner Road in Big Cypress National Preserve about 30-miles east of Collier Seminole State Park. These alligators were at the viewing area (complete with nice parking lot) at the intersection of US 41 and CR 839....about 30-miles east of Collier Seminole State Park.

Big Cypress National Preserve east of Collier Seminole State Park in south Florida

We photographed this example of Everglades prairie while driving on Turner Road in Big Cypress National Preserve 30-miles east of Collier Seminole State Park.

From the intersection of US 41 and CR 839 (Turner Road) turn north and wander around in the true Everglades.

Big Cypress National Preserve east of Collier Seminole State Park in South Florida

This is a group of anhinga that had already arrived at their nightly roost in Big Cypress National Preserve an easy drive east of Collier Seminole State Park.

Ball moss in Big Cypress National Preserve east of Collier Seminole State Park in south Florida

This is a picture of ball moss which is closely related to Spanish moss and several other air plants that produce larger and prettier flowers. Ball moss is tolerant of cold winters and hot, dry summers.

Not a moss at all (mosses are not flowering plants), ball moss is an air plant or epiphyte because it derives all its nutrients from the air, rain, and dust, while taking nothing directly from the tree on which it is living.

Just like many orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and lichens, ball moss simply needs a place to live. It does well in trees. However, it can live on fences, wires, or shrubs.

Large sunning alligators in Big Cypress National Preserve east of Everglades NP in Florida

More large alligators sunning themselves along Turner Road in Big Cypress National Preserve.