óñ [Captioning sponsoreby THE U.S. DEPARTMT OF EDUCATION] Jim: THISS PART OF THE EVERGLAD NATIONAL PARK-- THE NATION'S TRD LARGEST, 1.4 MILLIOACRES.

THOUSANDS ACRES OF SAW GRASS JUST MINUTES FROM THE BUSCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

I'M JIM WELCH HEREITH RUDY MANCKE, NATURALIS RUDY, IS PLACE IS GOING TO BE TRENDOUS I KNOWFROM WHAT YOU'VE SAID.

WELL, WE'RE STARTING O IN WHAT GUESS MOST PEOPLE WOULD COIDER THE EVERGLADES U KNOW, WITH THE SAW GRASS, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT FIRST.

BUT THERE'S SO MUCH DIVERSITY HERE, JIM THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SURPRISED BY THE AMOUNT DIVERSITY.

AND THE KEY IN THIS PLACE IS WATER.

THAT'S TRUEVERYWHERE REALLY.

THIS ITHE DRY SEASON, AND SO THERS NOT A LOT OF WATER HERE.

NOALLY, THERE WOULD BE WATER WHERE WE'RE STANDING.

AND SO TO SEE THE GREATEST VARIETY OF ANIMALS, FOR INSTANCE YOU GENERALLY GO TO WATERY ACES.

THE EVERGLES USED TO BE A LOT WETT THAN IT IS TODAY, THOUGH.

THE WATER COMES, YOU KNOW, FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE SORTF PILES UP THERE AND EN HEADS SOUTH FROM THERE FLOODING THE GLADES.

AND W A LOT OF THAT WATER'S BE DIVERTED AND THAT'SHANGED THE SITUATION HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT.

BUT EVEN WITHOUT THE CHAN THIS WOULD BE THE DRY SEAS OF THE YEAR.

IT'S THE DIVERSY, TOO.

FROM JT A FEW MINUTES FROM A BUSCITY LIKE MIAMI WE CAN SEE WHITE-TAILED DEER AND ALLITORS AND MANY, MANY KINDS OF BIR.

THDIFFERENCE IS THAT MIAMI A THE OTHER EASTERN CITIES ARE ON A HIGH RIDGE OF LESTONE.

IS IS A LOWER AREA, YOU SE LIMESTONE IS BEING DISSOLVED AWAY AND WE CAN SEE LITT PITS IN THE LIMESNE HERE, AS... YOU KNOW, RIGHT FRONT OF US AS WE'RE TALKI.

ANTHIS LIMESTONE HAS BEEN DIOLVED AWAY.

IT LOWER, AND THAT'S WHERE THWATER GOES AND THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE THE GREATEST DIVERSITY OF PLANT AND ANIL LIFE IN THE STATE.

THE GRASS THAT YOU TALKE ABOUT-- SAW GRASS-- WE NEED TO SAY UP ONT IS REALLY NOT A GRASS.

'S A SEDGE WHEN IAS GOING TO SCHOOL WE USED TO SAY "SEDGES HAVE EDGES"-- THREE SIDES USUALL TO SEDGES-- AND AT'S WHAT SEPARATES THEM FROM THERASSES OR FROM THE RUSHES T HERE.

IF YOU LOOK REFULLY AT THE EDGE, IT IS A SAW EDGE.

'S VERY, VERY SHARP AND CACUT YOU-- AND SO THE COMN NAME, SAW GRASS.

AND IT'S INTERESTING... TODAY IS SO WINDY.

A LOT OF TIMES, YOU INK OF THE EVERGLADES AS A RIV OF GRASS.

LL, THE WIND BLOWING THIS GSS REALLYIVES YOU THE FEELING OF TER FLOWING BY.

WE'RE JUST INSID THE PARK ENTRANCE.

THE'S SO MANY PLACES TO SEE IN THE EV ERGLADES PARK.

ALL WE GET STARTED?

I THINK WE SHOULD.

LET'S GO TO A PLE WHERE THERE'S MORE WATER AND I PROMISE YOU A GREATER DIVEITY OF ANIMALS TO TAKE LOOK AT-- EN A PLACE CALLED ANHIA TRAIL.

JIM, AINGA TRAIL REALLY ATTRACTS LOT OF PEOPLE AS WE'VE ALREA BEEN ABLE TO SEE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH HERE AND YOU CAN T SO CLOSE TO IT.

AND ST WITH A PAIR OF BINOCULAR YOU KNOW LIKE WE'VE G YOU N EVEN COME CLOSER TO SOMEING THAT REAY IS PROBABLY AS CLOSE TO U AS YOU'VE EVER SEEN IT INOUR LIFE.

A T OF BIRDS.

AND I THINK THAT ONE THE THINGS AT REALLY GETS PEOPLE, THOU, QUICKLY ARE OSE THINGS RIGHT THERE GHT ALONG THE TRAIL.

SEE THE BROWN WATER SNAKE COILED UP THERE ON THE LIMEONEY MATERIAL?

SUNNING A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, THOSE RTILES NEED TO COME OUT OF T WATER AND WARMP A LITTLE.

AND THE DAY'S GETTING WARM THIS WIND, THOUGH, IS KIND OF ROUGH, THOUGH, ISN'T IT?

IT IS, BUT SUCH A WELCOMRELIEF FR THE HOT SUN RIGHT NOW-- THIS DRYEASON HERE IN THE EVERGLADEPARK.

THESE REPTIL COME OUT AGAIN LIKE THELLIGATORS DO AND I CAN E FURTHER ALONG A CE ALLIGATOR SITTING UP ON E BANK.

YOU SEE TH GUY?

'VE SEEN MANY SIZES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST.

THAT A GOOD-SIZE ONE AND, OCOURSE, ONE OF THE REPTILE AGAIN.

THE SCALES ARE VERYBVIOUS.

AND THESE ANIMALS ED TO WARM UP A LITTLE.

NOW,T NEVER REALLY GETS COLD HE BUT THESE ANIMS NEED TO WARM UP A LITTLE T TO RLLY GET STARTED AND HE SITTING UP THERE, WARMING .

EYES CSED FOR A LITTLE WHILE D THEN OPENING UP.

YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE EYELIDS-- ONE THAT COMES UP ANDOWN AND EN ALSO SORT OF A TRANSPARE ONE THAT COVERS THE EYE WHEN THE ALLIGATOR'S SWIMMI.

LOOK AT THAT MOU ON THAT THING.

HE OPED IT UP THERE.

KIND OF A YAWN, I ESS, AND THEN CLOSING BACK WN.

YOU CAN SEE THE TEETIN THERE.

AGAIN, THOSE ANILS ARE NO GREAT PROBLEM TO OPLE 7o UNLESS YOU BOTHER THEM.

AND, OCOURSE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANY OF THAT TODAY.

RUDY, YO MENTIONED ONCE THE ALLIGATOR'S TH KEEPER OF THE GLADES AND THAT IN THE DRY SEAS IT WILL BUILD A HOLE FOR OTR CREATURES.

IT'S EXTREME IMPORTANT TO HAVE STANDINGATER IN THE EVERGLADES BECAUSE WATER VELS DO FLUCTUATE.

ANHINGA TRAIL IS ALONG TAOR SLOUGH ICH IS AN AREA WITH WATER SNDING BASICAY YEAR-ROUND, OKAY AND SO THAT REALLYTTRACTS A LOT OF ANIMALS MORE DURING THDRY SEASON THAN DURING THE WETTER SEASON.

THERS ONE OTHER THING JUST A LTLE WAYS.

LOOK AT THE... LOOK ATHE OTHER SNAKE OVER THERE BY THE GRASSJIM.

YOU SEE THAT?

ANOTHER WATER SNAK YEAH, THIS IS ON THAT CALLED A FLORIDA WATER SNE BECAUSE IT FOUND BASICALLY IN FLORIDA AND NOWHERE ELSE ON T PENINSULA.

AND AGAIN, A PRET GOOD SIZE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT WAS POISONOUS BUT A NONPOINOUS ANIMAL THAT DOES QUITWELL.

THAT BROWN WATER SKE A MINUTE AGO WAS NONPOISONOUSTOO.

THERE'S E 26 SPECIES OF SNAKE IN THPARK AND ONLY FOUR POISONOUS BUT STILL, LEAVE THEM ANE.

YEAH, AND ST OF THE ONES YOU SEE REALLY ARE GOING TO BE NONPOISONOUS.

THIS IS ALLY KIND OF A REPTILE DAY BECAUSE SEE AGAIN TURTLES.

SEE THOSE LITTLE TURTLES OVER THERE?

MM-HMM, BABIES.

YEAHJUST COMING OUT TO SUN.

ONE OF THEM'S COVEREWITH ALGAE ON THE SHELL.

THE OTHER ONE LOS PRETTY CLEAN.

BUT, AGAIN, THOSE E PROBABLY ONE OF THE TURTL THAT USUALLY GET LLED COOTERS DOWN HERE.

THERE'S PENINSULA COOTER THAT DOESELL AND ERE'S ALSO A RED-BELLIED TURTLE DOWN HERE THAT IS A ND TURTLE-- STANDING WATER TURTLE-- THAT DOES QUITWELL.

WHAT ABOUT THAT LARGE TULE OVER THERE THE EXTRELY BIG ONE?

UH, FLORIDA SOFT-SLL WOULD BE PROBABLY WH IT IS.

VERY PLIABLE SHELL.

YOU'REOING TO SEE...

PROBABLY NOT GET A VERY GOOD LOOK AT HIM BUT HE ALSO ACTIVE IN THE WATER AROUND US HERE.

A COUPLEJ" OFLANTS, TOO THAT ARE WTH MENTIONING.

THE YELLOW FLOWERS DOWN THERE ARE FLOWERS ONNE OF THE CARNIVOROUS PLAN oU CALLED BLADDERWORT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH BUT THAT KIND OF AN INTERESTING THI-- THAT'S OBVIOUS.

AND EN THE OTHER YELLOW FLOWER THAT REAY IS MUCH LARGER AND IS ALSO ATCHED TO THE PLANT WITH THOSE LAR GREEN LEAVES IS CALLEDPATTERDOCK.

A LOT OF INSECTS VE AROUND IT D THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ANALS TH COME TO THE SPATTERDOCK TO REALLY GET INSECT LI OFF OF IT.

AND I E ONE, A RARER BIRD THE RPLE GALLINULE.

SEE HIM MONG ALONG?

BEAUTIFUL COLORAON.

AUTIFUL PURPLE ON THE FRONT AND THE AK IS INTERESTING.

IT KIND OF YELLOW AT THE TIPND ORANGE AND THEN SORT BLUISH ON THE TOP.

D THAT'S AN ANIMAL YOU DON'T SEE VERY COMMONLY.

LOOK AT THE LONG TOES ONHOSE FEET.

EXTREMY LONG TOES D BECAUSE OF THE COLORATIO ATTRTS ATTENTION FROM MANY OF T TOURISTS PASSING DOWN THE BOARDWK.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, AND LO AT HE'S... AGAIN, HE'S LETTING US GEVERY, VERY CLOSE AND THAT'S NOT SOTHING YOU NORMALLY GEA CHANCE TO DO WITH THAT ANIMAL.

THE NG TOES ALLOW HIM TO WALK ON THE SPATTERDOCK LEAVES AND WAR LILY LEAVES AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, FLOATING VEGETATION LOOKG FOR INVERTEBRATES.

IS IT SAFE TO SAY, RY TH THE ANHINGA TRAIL, OR THEOARDWALK IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN ON OCCASION, T THIS CLOSE AND MAYBE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES?

OH, YEAHSURE, SURE.

AND THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR BIRD WATCHERS BUT, AGAIN, WE'VSEEN THINGS OTHER THAN BIRDS, TOO THATAKE IT VERY INTERESTING FOR JUST ABOUT ANODY.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE LITTLE BDS, DIVING BIRDS-- HIGH-BILD GREBE OUT THERE.

LOOK AT THAT TNG.

MA WOULD SAY THAT IS CUTE.

OH, TH IS CUTE.

NO OER WORD.

IT REALLY IS A FANTASTIANIMAL.

AND, AGAIN, A GREAT DIVE- TEN DIVING FAIRLY DEEP IN E WATER TO GETS S... ITS FOOD.

BULOOK AT THAT LITTLE BEAK AND THE FEATHERSLL RUFFLED UP THERE... CAN YOU TELL, LE OR FEMALE?

NO, NOT RELY.

LORATION?

NO, T REALLY.

SOME BIRDS VERY OBVIOUY DIFFERENT.

OTHERS REALLY AREN'T SOLEARLY DIFFERENT.

BUT THAT IS AN INTESTING ANIMAL.

AND THAT'S ONE THE BIRDS, AGAIN THAT DS QUITE WELL HERE.

JUST A LITTLE BEYONDIM LOOK AT THAT GREAT BLUE HERON.

NOW, THERE'S A BIRD THAT IEALLY LIKE.

ONE OF THE LARGEST YOU CAN SEE... ONE OF THE LARGEST WADI BIRDS.

IT'S VERY, VERY COMMON.

THE SORT OF BLUE-GRA COLORATION ON IT LONG NECK, STILTO-LIKE BEAK, LITTLE BEADYYES AND, AGAIN, VE, VERY OBSERVANT.

LOOKS LIKE HE REALLY SEES SOMETHING THERE MOVINGN THE WATER.

I THINIT'S REALLY THAT TURTLEES THAT YOU WERE LKING ABOUT A MINUTE AGO-- THATLORIDA SOFT-SHELL EASING BY D YOU SEE THE WAY HE MOVES VERY CAREFULLY ALWAYS WIT HIS EYES RIVETED ON WHATEVECAUSES THE CURIOSITY.

THAT IS THTURTLE-- LOOK AT THAT.

THAT IS THE TURTLE MOVING.

HE WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED ANYTHING THAT BIG.

HE WOULD PROBAY BE INTERESTED IN THE FISH THAT THEURTLE IS SCARING UP, YOU KN, BY ITS MOVEMENT.

N THE EAT BLUE IS SO STATIONARY AT TIM, IT DOESN'T SEEM REAL.

BLENDS IN SO WELL, T. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE UNLESS IT'S STANDING OUT VERY OBVIOUSLY LIKE THA W, THIS SECTION OF THE TRA IS PROBAB THE BEST PART TO REALLY SEA BIRD THAT GIVES THE TRAIL ITS NAME-- THE ANHINGA.

AND THERIS ONE RIGHT THERE WINGS SPREAD OUT.

LOOKT THAT-- GORGEOUS.

GORGEO SIGHT.

FANTASTIC BIRD.

COURSE, ANOTHER NAME ISHE WATER TURKEY.

TER TURKEY-- AND YOU SEE THE IL FEATHERS THERE U KNOW, SORT OF SPREADY KE A TURKEY'S TAIL WOULD LO.

AND WHEN IFLIES, IT LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE A TURKEY EXCEPT FOR THA LONG SNAKE-LIKE NECK WHICH GIVES ANOTHER NAME... A SNAKE BIRD THE SNAKE BI.

AND, AGAIN, A STILTO-LIKE BEAK.

IT FEEDS ON A VARIETY OFNIMALS IN THE WATER ESPECIALLY FIS AND EARS THEM WITH THAT SHARP AK.

AND TH'S KIND OF NICE.

AT IS A BEAUTY.

SEE THE SORT OF RQUOISE AROUND THE EYE ON TT ONE?

T. THAT LETS US KNOW IT'SN BREEDING CONDITION.

AND THAT IS A BEAUFUL ANIMAL, FANTASC BIRD.

AND THAT ONE IS THE FEME.

THE LE IS ALL BLACK.

THE FEMALE HAS THATORT OF BROWNISH THRT THD NECK ON IT, OKAY?

MM-H. SOOU CAN TELL SEXUAL DIFFEREES IN THAT BIRD VERY, VE EASILY.

THE ANHINGA IS ONE OF T MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS HERE O THE ANHINGA TRAIL.

THE TOURISTS SEEM TO LOVE IT.

THEY LAUGH AT SOME OF ITS AICS, THOUGH.

IT'S CLUMSY AT TES.

WELL, TAKE A LOOK OVER HER SEE THE ST UP THERE WITHHE FEMALE SITTING ON IT AND THE LE RIGHT BESIDE HER?

AND MOST PROBAY HE'SOING TO BE WORKING DOWN TO GET SOME MORE MATERIAL FOR THAT NEST AS TIME GOES ON.

AND SO WE'LL HE TO KIND OF KEEP LOOKG AT THAT.

BUT THAT'S THE MALE AND FELE TOGETHER.

YOU CAN SEE THDIFFERENCES VERY OBVIOUSLY I E SOMETHING ELSE THOUGH NO HERE... SEE THE BIRD-- LOOKS LI HE'S GETTING READY TO GRAFOR SOME FOOD OVER THERE THAT'S ALMOST ALLIGHT BLUE?

LITTLE BLUE HERON-- REMBER THE GREAT BLUE?

YOU CAN TELL BY THE COLORATN ON THIS ONE, TOO.

COLORATIONND SIZE.

THIS ONE IS MUCHMALLER HAS A LITTLE DARK ON THE EN OF THE BEAK THERE BUT LOOKS LIKE IS LOOKING FOR FOOD NS OUND THOSE SPATTERDOCK LEAV.

LITTLELUE HERON-- FANTASTIC ANIM.

SH, THERE ARE A LOT OF WADG BIRDS HERE.

AND THERE'S ANOTHE ONE OVER THERE YO THAT'S EVEN HARDERO SEE.

LOUISIANA HERON IS ONE OTHE NAMES FOR IT.

SEE, IT ío;w BLUISH AND YET IT'S GOT ALTHAT WHITE ON THE NECK AND THE FRONT OF THE BODY THAT MES THAT IDENTIFICATION EAS LOOK AT M GO OUT AND GRAB SOMETHING THERE IN THE WATER.

THAT HAS BN CALLED AUDUBON'S FAVORITE.

REALLY?

RE IN THE EVERGLADES.

YEAH, WELLTHAT'S INTERESTING.

BUT ANYWAY, HE CAMOUT D GRABBED SOMETHING GHT THERE.

PROBABLY GETNG LITTLE FISH.

NOW, LOOK AT THAT ANHINGA OVER THERE AGAIN.

PEOPLE WATCH THEM FOREALLY HOURS.

I'VE SEEN THEM STAND ON THEOARDWALK ANJUST WATCH THE ANTICS OF THANHINGA.

THE MALE GOES IN THE WATER AND GRABS THIS... LOOKS LIKE A WILLOW BRANC OKAY?

D IT COMES UP WITH IT AND IT'S TING TO GET ALL THE WAY TO THE NEST.

IT'S SO WET THAT ITAN'T FLY WELL.

THATTHER ONE BACK THERE WAS SPADING ITS WINGS TO DRY OUT AND SO IT'S T TO LEAP FROM BRANCH TORANCH TO GET UP TOHE TOP.

OF COURSE, THE FEMALE'S UP THERE.

LOOK AT HER LOOKING OVER TOWARD HIM AND THEN..BOOM!

LOOK AT THAT-- RIGHT IN THE NEST WITH HER ALMO KNOCKS HER OUT.

GIS HER THE LITTLE WILLOW BRCH AND SHE WEES IT INTO THE NEST AGAIN.

THEY'RE FASCINATINANIMALS.

THIS IS A FAINATING PLACE TO COME AND LOOK AT BIRDS.

OF COURSE, YOU'LL E THE ANHINGA AS Y MENTIONED EARLIER DRYING OUT A GOOD BI THERE'S REASONOR THAT.

JUST DSN'T HAVE ENOUGH OIL TO KEEP HIS FEATHERS DRY WHEN HE DIVES.

HE'S UNDER WATER SO MUCH HE HAS TO COME OUT AND REALLY DRY OFF BEFORE HE CAN FLY WE AGAIN.

GUESS THE WATER ADDS A LOTF WEIGHT.

TWOTHER BIRDS REAL QUICKLY HE.

THE BIRD THAT LOOKS LITTLE LIKE A PPLE GALLINULE AND YET HAS A LOT MOREHITE ON IT E AND A TOTALLY ORANGE... MOLY ORANGE BEAK IS THE COMN GALLINULE-- THE MOOR HEN NOW IS ANOTH NAME FOR IT.

AND THEN A VY CLOSE RELATIVE OVER THERE WH THE WHITE BEAK-- THE AMERICAN COOT.

GOSH, WE COULD STAY HERFOREVER.

AND OK DOWN RIGHT BELOW US, JI- THE ALLIGATORS.

E' ( chuckles ) VIEWS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND LITTLE GREEN HERON EVEN FURER ON.

WE COULD KEEP GOING FOR AT THIS ONE SPOT.

LOOK AT HIM.

HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S FHING.

ONE OTHER THING TH'S REALLY STRIKING HERE, I THINK ARE THE AIR PLTS.

OK AT THEM ALL OVER THE EE HERE, JIM RIGHT BY THE TRAIL.

SEVERADIFFERENT KINDS, ALL SIZES OHMAN.

NY LOOK LIKE PINEAPPLE TOPS YEAH, AND THEY'RE IN THE PEAPPLE FAMILY, SEE.

THESE ARE BROMELIADS.

THEY'RNOT PARASITIC ON THE TREE ALL.

THEY'RE EPIPHYTES.

THEY LE ON TOP OF THE PLANT BUT THEY GET MOISTURE OM THE AIR AND MINERALS OM THE AIR AND, OF COURSE, EY'RE GREEN PLANTS.

TH MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD THOUGH THEY DON'T LOOK ALTHAT GREEN AT THIS MOMENT.

SEE THE REUFF COMING UP LOOKING ALMOST LIKE CDLES?

A BLOSSOM OR FRUIT.

THAT IS E EARLY FLOWERING STALK, YH MING UP ON IT.

FASCINATING PLANT.

AND I THOUT I SAW...

YES, I DO SEE SO MOVEMENT.

woOK DOWN NOW.

TH IS VERY HARD TO SEE.

THISNIMAL REALLY CAMOUFLAG.

CAMOUFLAD.

AMICAN BITTERN EASING ALONG TRE AGAIN, STILETTLIKE BEAK LOTS OF BROWN ON THIANIMAL.

BLENDS N VERY WELL TO REEDS ANOTHER THINGS.

NOW, THAT IS A SPECIAL THING TO SEE HERE PERHS THAT'S ONE, RUDY THAT THE ARAGE VISITOR HERE ON T AVERAGE DAY ISN'T GOING TOEE.

YEAH, BECAUSE IT'S NOT OBVIOUS LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER TNGS.

IT'S USUALLY HIDDEN.

IT MAY BE HERE BUT IT'S NOT ALWS GOING TO BE SEEN.

IT'S FANTASTIC.AD WAR REALLY DOES ATTRACT A LOT OF INTERESTING LIFE-FORMS, DOESN'T IT?

YOU HAVE TTAKE YOUR TIME AND APPRECIE IT.

YOU CAN'T RUSH THROUGH IT WELLERTHERE'S ANOTHER PLACE TOTAY DIFFERENT.

THE PINELANDS-- IT'S VERDRY.

LET'S SEE WHAT KIND OF FE'S ATTRACTED THERE.

L RIGHT.

THIS PINELANDS AA, NOW, IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE D PARTS OF THE EVERGLADES.

IT'S A LTLE HIGHER, TOO.

NOT LY DOES WATER MAKE A DIFFENCE HERE BUT ELEVATION REALLY DOESAKE A DIFFERENCE.

D THESE FLORIDA SLASH PINE ICH ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE PALMETTO UNDERNEATH MAKE THIS OF COURSE, ANOTHER VERY UNIQUE HABITAT.

YOU WOULD PECT DIFFERENT PLANTS ANANIMALS TO BE HERE.

GOT SABLPALMETTO AND THE SAW PALMET OUT THERE.

SOME OF THESE PINES... WELL, THE PINES LOOK BURN OVER, RUDY.

WELL, FIRE IS ONE THING THE GLADES THATAS ALWAYS BEEN A NORMAL THG.

AND IT DS CONTROL THINGS.

NOW, IF YOU DID NOT HA A FIRE GOING THROUGH HERE EVERY W AND THEN THESE PINES, ESPECIALLY ULD BE SHADED OUT BY HARDWDS.

ANTHE NEXT THING WE WANT TO S IS THIS HARDWOOD HAMMOCK JUST BEYOND.

SEE, NOW WE'VE COME IO A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WORL NO IT'S A LITE DARKER IN HERE.

THE DIVERSITY OF THEVERGLADES, AGAIN.

YEAH, AND AGAIN, FIREEEPS PINES AND SAW PALMETTO BOY, WN FIRE CAN'T GET TO AN AREA THESE HARDWOOD HAMMOCKS FM.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ND OF LIKE GOING TO THE WESINDIES C WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT PLANTS HERE BECAUSE OF TREMENDOUS DIRSITY OF PLANTS THAT REALLY YOU'D FI IN CENTRAL AMERICA OR STH AMERICA OR NEAR THE WE INDIES AND SUCH.

THE ARE ALSO SOME INTERESTINANIMALS HERE AND I WAS HOPING 'D AT LEAST SEE ONE.

AND I SEE ONE SITTG OVER THERE: E OF THE TREE SNAILS.

BANDED FLORIDAREE SNAIL IS THE NAME.

SEE IT OVER THERE, JIM?

RIGHT.

FOUND MOSTLY RIGHT HERE T HE SUBTROPICS?

YEAH, AND ITIKES THESE HARDWOOD HAMMOCK AND FEEDS ON, LL, A LOT OF FUNGI.

IT'S A RATR USEFUL SNAIL BEUSE IT FEEDS ON SOME OF THEUNGI THAT WOULD KILL T TREES.

HOW DID THEY GEHERE?

HOW DID THE VEGETATION, HODID THE SNAILS COME?

WELLTHAT'S A REAL GOOD QUESTIO HOW ULD YOU GET FROM THE WEST IIES HERE EASILY-- WITHOUTAN?

AND MAN DIDN'T RLLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WI MOST OF THE INTRODUCTIONS OF THESE ANIMALS.

JUMP UP IN AURRICANE, I GUESS.

HURRICANESRE THE WAY TO GET HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO G FROM SOUTH TO HERE YOU JUST RIDE A STORM.

NOW, THEY DIDN'T AN ON THAT BUT SEED GOT BLOWN IN FROA HURRICANE.

THOSE SNAILS OVER THERE, GORGEOUS SNAILS PROBABLY WHED IN, YOU SEE, HANGI TO SOME VEGETATION AND BEGATO FORM COLONIES IN HAMMOC IN FLORIDA.

AND YOU'LL HAVE A NICEITTLE HARDWOOD HAMMOCK HERE Ñ?

AND THEN A SAWRASS AREA, YOU KNOW AND ANOTHER HARDWOOD HAMMOCK.

AND SO YOUET ONE POPULATION OF THE SNAILS IN ONE HAMMOC THAT'SGAEALLY VERY DIFFERENTLY RKED FR POPULATION IN ANOTH HAMMOCK.

BUT HURRICANES REALLY HAVE HAD AN EFFECT ON T SOUTHERN PART OF FLORA AND ELSEWHERE.

WHAT KIND OF SNAIL?

IT'S ONEF THE BANDED TREE SNAILS-- BANDED FLORIDA TREE AIL IS THE COMMON NAME FORT.

AND THEY'RE RARE ANIMALS ANCERTAINLY NOT TO BE TAMPER WITH.

DS BEAUTIFUL.

AND IT'S JUSSLEEPING DURING THE DRY SEAN?

NOT RRIBLY ACTIVE DURING THE D SEASON.

T'S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OTH AREA THAT KIND OF GES US AN OVERVIEW OF THND PLACE, OKAY?

THIS IS ANOTHEVIEW NOW OF THAT TYCAL SAW GRASS EVERGLADES AND I KIND OF LIKE IT EVEN THOUGH 'S GOING OFF IN THE DISTANC A LOT OF IT, HUH?

RUDY, IT'S BEAUTUL.

AND MUCH OTHE EVERGLADES IS THE SAW GSS AND, OF COURSE, E INDIANS CALLED IT PA-H-OKEE WHICH MEANS "GRASSY WARS."

MM-HMM, AND YOU CAN SEE WHY AND, AIN, THE WATER NOW IS DOWN.

WE SAID IT'S THE DRY SEASON.

LOOK AT THLIMESTONEY MATERIAL OUT THE 8@ AND SEE THE SKIM, THE DRIESKIM OF ALGAE THAT USED TO BE LIVINGOWN THERE, NOW DEAD.

AND A FEW CYPRESSES COMING OUT.

TH EY'RE DWARFS-- PROBABLY A BD CYPRESS VARIETY.

THEY DON'T DO WELL.

AGAIN, IS DRY THIS SEASON D THEY CAN'T GET THEIR ROOTDOWN VERY DEEP.

AND THEN ALMOST LIKE SHIPON THE SEA OF GRASS YOU SEE THESE LITTLE MMOCKS, THEY'RE CALLED HARDWOOD HAMMOCKS, FOR THE MOST PART DOTTING THE LANDSCE OUT THERE.

AND AT'S QUITE A HAVEN, YOU SEE FOR LOTSF LARGE ANIMALS ESCIALLY THE COUGAR, OR MNTAIN LION WHITE-TAILED DEER, RACCOON THAT KIND OF TNG.

U'RE GOING TO SEE A WHITE-ILED DEER LOOKS LIKE A DOE, RHAPS COMING OUT THRGH THE GRASSES NOW.

ON THE SIDLEOVER THERE LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN RNED A LITTLE BIT COMING OUT TO GET A LILE NIBBLE OF SOMETHING.

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE VER FRIGHTENED OF US.

AND, AIN, THAT'S ONE OF THE NTHINGS TO ABOUT EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.

E ANIMALS ARE USED TO THE PPLE AND SOT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNI TO GET EREMELY CLOSE TO THEM.

AND, OF COURSE, WITH BOCULARS YOU CAN GET EVEN CLOSER.IN RUDY, IT TRUE THAT THE ANIMALS..

THE OSER YOU GET TO THE EQUATOR THEY ARE SMALLER THAN THOSE UP NORTH?

YEAH, WHITE-TAILED DEER ARE ALL ER THE EASTERN UNITED STATE AND THE FURTR SOUTH YOU GO IN THE ITED STATES THE SMALLER AVERAGE WEIGHT AND SIZE.

AND THEN THERE IS THE Y DEER EVEN BELOW HERE THAT'S THE SMALLEST OF THE ITE-TAILED DEER VARIETIES.

D IT'S BEAUTIFUL HER VERY SERENE.

A LOT OF THINGTO SEE.

WE NEED TO HEAD FROMERE NOW AND SEE WHAT SALT WATER INFLUENCES HAVE DONE TO CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THEVERGLADES, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

'S ONE ANT THAT REALLY TELLS YOU THE WORLIS CHANGING AND GETTING SAY THIS THING WE JUST WALKEDETWEEN, JIM.

WITH THE SPIDERY- LOOKINLEGS.

RED MANGVE-- EXTREMELY COMMON NOW WHERE YOVE GOT SALTWATER INFLUENCES LOOK AT THE AERIAL ROOTS ON THAT THING... MM-HMM.

STANDING WAY AB E THE GROUND AND CREATING A UNIQUE HABITAT.

AND LOTS AND LOTS OF ANIMA REALLY FIND THIS TO BE A VERY GOOD ACE TO LIVE.

AND I SEE A COUPLE OF SIL SHELLS... OH, YES.

...WE MIGHT NT TO TAKE A LOOK AT BECAUSE THESARE TWO ANIMALS, NOW, AT DO VERY WELL MA IN SITTIONS JUST LIKE THIS.

MM-HMM, TH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VSEEN BEFORE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE APPLE SNLS, YEAH.

THIS ONE IS A LARGSNAIL.

LET'S JUST RN IT OVER HERE AND LOOK AT THE OPENING INHERE WHERE THE BODY OF THE SNA IS.

D D SINCE WE'RE IN THE EVERGDES WE'LL HAVE TO MENTION ONE BIRD THAT RLLY FEEDS ON THIS A LOT IS THE EVERGLADES KITE WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SNAIL KITE BECAUSE IT FEEDS MOST EXCLUSIVELY ON LARGE SNAILS KE THIS.

AND, AGAIN, YOU CAN E AS I TURN THE SHELL AROU THE SPIRAL THAT'S TYPICA OF THE GASTROPODS-- THE AILS.

NOW, THAT'S A BIG E. IT DOES WELL OUT HERE.

HERE'SHE SHELL OF ANOTHER ONE, MH SMALLER THAT I THINK IS JUSTERFECTLY NAMED.

MM-HMM, LOOKS LIKE AAM'S HORN.

AND IT'S CALLED-- MMON NAME-- A RAM'S HORN SNAIL.

AGAIN, ONE OF THE SNAILS THAT DS WELL IN FRESHWATER SITUAONS.

DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WATERERE TODAY BUT, AGAIN, IT'S A LTLE WETTER ARND THESE MANGROVES.

RAM'S HORN SNA.

THE ARE ALL SORTS OF INTERESNG THINGS GOINON IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

I THINK ONE OF T NEATEST, THOUGH IS THEAY THESE PLANTS GET DISTRITED IN AN AREA.

I SEE SOME FRUIT DOWN HE.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND JUST GET TWO THINGS AND I THINK I CAN POINT OUT HOW THIS THING WKS.

THIS IS THE MAROVE FRUIT AS IGROWS ON THE TREE, OKAY?

LOOKS LIKE A CIGAR SHAPE b IT BREAKS OFF AND HITS THE WATER WHICH IS USUALLY BELOW IT.

AND IT FLOATS MEWHERE AND FINALLY IS DEPITED.

WHEN IT IS DEPOSED, LOOK WHAT HAPPENS.

ROOTS BEGIN TO GROW ON T THING.

I SEE.

AND NOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT, YOSEE Y IS A POTENTIAL MANGROVE ANT GETTING STARTED.

AND MANGROVES PRODUCE VERY RAPIDLY AND DO VERY WELL IN SALTWATER SITUATIONS IN TROPICAL AREAS OF T WORLD.

AND, OF COSE, AS WE'VE SAID WE'RE IN T TROPICS TODAY.

AND THEY GROW TO A MASSE HEIGHT.

THEYET VERY, VERY LARGE AND TH DOMINATE.

YOU KNOW, THE ARE VERY FEW PLACES ERE YOU CAN GO WHERE ONE TR SPECIES, ONE WOODY SPECIELIKE THIS DOMINATES ERYTHING ELSE.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK GOF THE COASTLINE OF NORTH ARICA THIS IS THE ON TREE THAT REALLY HAS TACKLED SAWATER SITUATIONS AND DONE IT WELL.

OF COURSE, WE' NEAR FLORIDA BAY AND IN THE FRESHTER AND BRACKISH WATER, THEY THRIVE.

SURE, THEY DO VERYELL D ARE TAKING OVER, YOU SEE,HIS AREA.

YOU LOOK OUT HERE AND THEY'RE ST SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PCE-- SMALL NOW, BUT MAKING A BINNING.

AND LOOKGAIN, NOW.

REMEMBER THE GRASSY PRRIES THAT WE SAW EARLIER, S GRASS?

NO SAW GRA HERE.

NO.

WHAT GOING ON?

BRACKISH WATER, U SEE REALLY LIMITS THE RANGE OF THE SAW GRASS BUT LETS THIS LITTLE RUSH COMEN AND DO QUITE WELL SO HABITATS ARCHANGING.

LET'S GO TAKE A LO AT FLORIDA BAY.

I INK THAT'LL BE AN INTERESTG THING TO SEE AND WEL LOOK FOR SOME MANGROVES WN THERE AND E IF THEY'RE THERE.

TOO.

OKAY.

N YOU KNOW, A T OF TIMES U FIND IT HARD TO REALIZE THAT THERE'SO MUCH LIFE RIGHT AROUND US BUT YOU COME TO A ACE LIKE EVERGLADES AND LOOK ATHIS.

( chuckles ): HOMANY?

ISN'T THAT BELIEVABLE?

A LOT OF LAUGHING GULLS D SOME BLACK SKIMMERS MO AND... OH, THEY'RE PHENENAL FLYERS.

TAKING ADVANGE OF THE BREEZE OFF THE B.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WEE HEADED, JIM.

THISS A GREAT PLACE TO END UP.

BEAUTIFUL AR.

FLORIDA BAY REALLY SPECTACULAR ANIT'S JUST SPREAD OUT RIGHT FRONT OF US.

THIS IS A REAL RATHER SHALLOW BAY.

IT SURE DOES ATTRACT A LOT THINGS, DOESN'T IT?

IT DOES-- GREAT MARINE FE AND BIRD LIFE.

OH, BOY, BROWN PELICANSTH DIVING DOWN THERE GETTING FOOD AS WE STAND HERE.

THE TIDE'S BEGINNING TOASE OUT AND THEY CAN CATCH FISHRETTY EASY ASHE TIDE'S GOING AWAY.

YOU CAN SELITTLE AREAS OF TURTLE GRAS- THAT BROWNTUFF OUT THERE FLOATING IN THE WATER-- REALLY AACHED TO THE BOTTOM BUT BEG PUSHED AROUND BY THE WATE IT'S TURTLE GRAS EAT PLACE FOR SEA TURTLES OF GREAT DIVERSITY.

AND THENOF COURSE, THOSE ISLANDOUT THERE WHICH DOWNERE ARE CALLED KEYS ALLHE TIME.

ABOUT 100 OF TSE... 100 OF THOSE KEYS IN THE FLORIDA BAY.

RA THISS A SPECTACULAR PLACE.

I'VE USED E WORD "BEAUTIFUL" SO MY TIMES TODAY.

IT APPLIES; WINDY ALSOPPLIES.

YEAH, 'S BEEN A STRANGE DAY I GINK FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS THE RST THING THAT COMES TO MYIND WHENEVER I THI OF THE EVERGLADES IS T DIVERSITY AS YOU SAID, THOH.

I MEAN, WE'VE REALLY GONE FROMIGH, DRY GROUND TO WETLOUGHS ALL THE WAY DOWN ALONG THE BAY HERE AND THAT'SIND OF EXCITING.

THAT'S SOMETNG THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME, THOUGH, TO SEE, YOU KNOW?

IT DOES.

WE HAVE HAD A LONG DAYERE TRIETO SEE AS MUCH AS WE COULD BUT IT'S SO IMPORTAN THATHEN YOU VISIT EVERGLADES NIONAL PARK E TO SLOW DOWN AND GET OFTHE MAIN HIGHWAY AND VISIT SOME OF THEEAUTIFUL PLACES.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LLNJOY WHAT'S HERE.

ANTHERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE RE BUYOU GOT TO TRY TO GET AWAY OM THEM AND MAKET A VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENC BECAUSE THERE IS SO CH DIVERSITY HERE.

I WAREMINDED...

REMEMBER, WE STTED OFF SAYING THAT THE EVERGLADE TO MOST PEOPLE SAW GRASS STRETCHING FOREV AND THE ME EVERGLADES COMES FROM T FACT THAT THE EARLY RO PEANS COMING HERE SAW AN OPEN AREA THAT REMINDED THEM OF THELADES-- YOU KNOW, OP AREAS IN THEIR WOODS IN EOPE-- AND IT LOOD LIKE IT WENT ON FOREVER SH AND THE EVERGLADES NAME CE INTO BEING.

OF COURSE, WE OW THE EVERGLADES DON'T ON FOREVER.

THEY'VE BEENHANGED A LOT.

THEYAVE.

T THANK GOODNESS THE NATION PARKS SERVICE HAS PROTECTED A LARGE AMOU OF IT FOR US.

IT'S AART OF A NATURAL HERITAGE.

THEY WERE VERY THREATENED AND PERHAPS GENERATIS TO COME AC WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE OPRTUNITY TO SEE THE EVERGLADES EXPT FOR 1947 WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMAN DECLARED IT A NATIONAL PARK.

IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE.

WE ENCOURAGE Y NOT ONLY TO WATCH US HE NOW BUT COME AND STA BY THIS BAY FOR YOURSELF AND HAVE THESE EXPERIENCES FOR YOURSELF.

LET'S FINISH NATURE SCENE THIS TIM BY WATCHING THE NSET OVER THE FLORIDA BAY.

OH, YEAHWHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW.

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