A white egret gorges on minnows as an alligator basks on a sun-drenched mud bank, ignoring the ibis wading in the weeds a few feet away. A warm breeze combs the lichen dangling from ancient cypress trees that tower over this secluded slice of eden.
You couldn’t get any farther away from Disney World if you tried. Yet, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is just down the road from Florida’s premier tourist attraction.
It is the antithesis of the heat, light and noise of the Florida theme-park experience.
Once a primary target for egret hunters and foresters alike, the National Audubon Society took stewardship in 1953 of what is now 14,000 acres in the last expanse of old-growth, virgin bald cypress in the world. Trees 25-feet around at the trunk tower 130 feet over the swamp.
Two-and-a-half miles of elevated boardwalks wind through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, which is also home to the Blair Audubon Center, delivering visitors to some of the most diverse flora and fauna found on the continent.
During spring break in late March, the swamp dries out considerably, the water retreating to small pools where the animals congregate, making for superb bird and wildlife viewing from the wooden benches placed on the boardwalk in these areas.
Stick bugs cling to tree trunks and branches; despite their imposing four-inch size and alien appearance are almost invisible to passers-by because they blend so well in their surroundings.
Audubon Society members filter through the park, setting up spotter’s scopes trained on barred owl chicks up in the cypress canopy or on a nest of baby alligators nestled in a mud bank. They answer any question you may have about this North American natural treasure, home to 200 bird species ranging from spoonbills to kites and kestrels. And for the budding entomologist or herpetologist in the family, there are plenty of bugs and reptiles to study.
It’s an outdoor classroom beckoning students to visit.
A three-hour drive from Orlando, down the spine of Florida through endless citrus groves, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is just that. A sanctuary, far from the braying throng of thrill-seekers packing Florida’s theme parks.
If you’re planning a Florida spring break trip, Corkscrew is must-see for the nature-lover in your family. It’ll be the best $35 (for a family of four) you spend while you’re there.
More details about Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary can be found at corkscrew.audubon.org.
