Enjoying The Natural Wonders of Audubon Corkscrew Swamp
Nature lovers visiting Florida’s Paradise Coast should make time to visit Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Established in 1954, The 13,000-acre preserve — located 30 miles northwest of downtown Naples — is home to 740 acres of majestic old-growth bald cypress trees, the largest remaining stand in North America. Many of the trees are 500 to 600 years old, with heights up to 130 feet and trunk circumferences exceeding 25 feet.
But majestic trees are just one of the highlights found in this wonderland of biological diversity, home to countless animal and plant species — including the famous Super Ghost Orchid, widely considered the largest ghost orchid ever discovered.
The park’s centerpiece is a 2.25-mile elevated boardwalk where visitors can spot myriad wildlife, including more than 265 recorded bird species. It’s no surprise that birding is big in Audubon Corkscrew Swamp.
Sally Stein is the park’s director of public programs. She oversees the many guided experiences that visitors can enjoy — ten in all, including the Early Birding Tour, Ancient Forest Tour, Backcountry Cycling Tour and Guided Swamp Walks.
When Sally talks about the park’s many marvels and the wonders of birding, it’s with a reverence that inspires even the most novice nature explorer. We asked her to share some of her thoughts about the park.
On the Boardwalk…
The very first boardwalk was built here in 1955. We've added on to it every year and had to replace it once. The current boardwalk has been here since 1995, and it brings you on an elevated pathway through wetland environments. You don't have to worry about getting your feet wet. You can get out there, and see wildlife up close because they're used to people walking down the boardwalk. I remember sitting on a bench out there once and a hooded warbler landed right on the bench with me.
It helps to go slow and stop a lot because you'll notice more that way. And it's good to keep your voice down so you don’t scare the wildlife. You never know what you're going to see on the boardwalk. You can keep an eye out for small things like walking sticks, praying mantis, butterflies or little jingle bell orchids hanging in the little branches of the trees. And so anytime I go out there, I just sit and sometimes stare at the trees and see what I can find in them. Look around and keep your ears open and you'll end up finding a lot while you're on the boardwalk.
On why birding is fun …
It's a good kind of natural relaxation to go birding. It's just you and the birds and you're right in the moment. You don't think about much else. And for the mystery solver, it’s fun trying to find out what species you’re seeing. Especially if you're new to birding, you use a lot of clues trying to decide which bird it is — maybe the habitat it's in, the flight pattern it's using. Birding gives every walk you take a thing to look for. It gives it a purpose.
A lot of people might think birding is boring — like they see people standing around just sharing the trees. But birding is really fun and exciting, because it gets you out into habitats. And you can bird if you're kayaking or cycling or doing anything. You can do it from anywhere.
Any special equipment a first-time birder needs?
For people first starting to bird, really all you need is a smartphone because you can have various apps like (the free) Merlin Bird ID, which can help you identify sounds that you're hearing from birds. (It also identifies birds in photos). A pair of binoculars is good to have as well.
On how Corkscrew came to be protected …
In the first half of the 20th century, much of South Florida’s old-growth cypress forests had been logged.
Logging companies were starting to log Corkscrew Strand. So in 1952, the president of the National Audubon Society talked with the logging companies, and they came up with the selling price for what is now the sanctuary. It was basically the value of the timber that was left that hadn't been logged. And it took about a year, year-and-a-half to raise the funds. Our mission stays the same — to protect the land for the animals and the people here in Southwest Florida.
On what it’s like to go on a guided swamp walk …
We take the swamp buggy and go north of the visitor center to an area called Lost Lake. It’s a marshy lake, and there's tons of wading birds in there. Anyone who can walk can do it. We go slow because you sometimes (in summer) end up in thigh-deep water. If you go in the fall and the spring, it’s more like ankle-deep water. But we just go slow and keep a lookout for various things along the way. And usually the birds are the most notable. You just need long pants that are stretchy for walking over logs and things, and also an additional pair of sneakers and a good pair of socks that you don't mind getting dirty.
On why Audubon Corkscrew Swamp is vitally important …
Corkscrew is what Florida used to look like for thousands of years. And by having it protected, we can save it for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.
Located at 375 Sanctuary Road West in Naples, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (last admission at 1 p.m.) during the summer (May 1– Dec 15) and extends its hours to 5 p.m. (last admission at 3 p.m.) during the winter season (Dec 15 – April 30). For more information, visit their website.