Corkscrew Sanctuary

The trip to Corkscrew Swamp preserve happened on a very warm day. I enjoyed the trip mostly when I walked ahead of the group. Something about the atmosphere begged for quiet and I just didn't have the tolerance for large crowds. 


As to be expected I got bitten by a deer fly. If it bites, it usually finds me.

There were some cool moments... an alligator and babies (though you can't really distinguish them. Ugh cell phone cameras).

The two main types of ecosystems present at Corkscrew preserve are pine uplands and cypress preserves. There was a ton of different plant life....


The sanctuary was created to preserve the area for birds. There is a difference between conservation and stewardship. Corkscrew Sanctuary manages to do both. It conserves the land and habitat, but also instills stewardship in those who visit through education.


The preserve now serves to highlight the local habitat and preserve the land for a variety of species.

One of the unique aspects of the Corkscrew is its "living machine". According to the sanctuary website, the living machine is a waste treatment center that "used sunlight, bacteria, green plants, and animals to restore water to pure conditions".

History: The sanctuary was created by the Audubon society. At the time the area was being harvested in mass for its timber. The society purchased the land for a per tree price. While the goal was to create a safe habitat for wading birds and the like, the end result was the perseverance of the human spirit

The society was not one large corporation or an individual donor, it was a group of people with a common purpose that decided to make a difference.

Finding where you belong and how you can help is an essential part of making a difference and finding a place to belong. Hence the term civic engagement.

As for the role of ecology and why it's good... I think you could state "Nature Deficit Disorder" or "Biophobia" as two reasons to not just "build condos"... if you believe that sort of thing.

Personally, I like the way nature looks. I appreciate what it does for humanity and the importance of it to having a future. I just don't like to be submersed in it.