Rookery Bay: Educational Center and the National Estuarine Research Reserve

Most of the extreme southern tip of Florida is swampy, tidal, and mangrove islands; a habitat of no-seeums, mosquitoes, reptiles, and wading birds. 

Mosquito Model
Rookery Bay Educational Center

 It is a difficult place for human survival without window screens and bug repellent.  As such it became the home of many Seminole Indians as the US government tried to eradicate them during the Seminole Indian Wars, 1813-1838.  It took a strong people to survive in this environment.  

Cistern at the Rookery Bay Education Center

Imagine relying on this for fresh water!
You had no choice until the mid-1900s

As a result of mostly uninhabitable land the state of Florida and the US government own/manage vast tracks of acreage.  The Seminole Indians of Florida has vast holdings through reservations and land acquisition.  However, 'progress' is on the move as people move from cold climates to the buggy, hot, swampy south.  

Wading birds amid
the Mangrove Islands
 and mixed growth hammocks
amid the streams, bays, and canals

One managed sectoin is the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprising over 112,000 acres just west of the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. It is impossible to traverse southwest Florida and not pass through these areas.  If you are interested you can download the map (PDF) from here.

Mangrove Seeds
which drop to the water
float, sprout, and finally take root

Visiting the Educational Center explains the purpose of Rookery Bay and other National Estuarine Research Reserves. With interactive displays for both children and adults, films, nature trails, guided walks, canoe/kayak rentals, events, programs, and an information booth.  (note the mosquito above)

Invasive Acacia Tree
Quite harmful to our state
Banned in many areas of Florida

  We enjoyed walking the nature trails which were dry, a treat in swamp land, where many small flowers decorated the paths.  The trail wanders through early settler homesteads if you consider 1900-1920 early settlers.

Small flowers that brighten the
nature trails

Flowers that brighten the
nature trails

  A trip to the Rookery Bay Educational Center is worthwhile as it explains the work of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and identifies their locations throughout Florida.  If nothing else, you will enjoy the exhibits, views, aquariums, and nature trail.

Pine cone on a pigeon plum tree?
Seems to have landed in a branch.