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Fire Activity
Currently there is fire activity within the Preserve. More »
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2013 Zone 4 Closure
Beginning at 12:01 am Monday, April 8, 2013, the Zone 4 airboat access within Big Cypress National Preserve will be closed due to low water conditions. More »
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Interstate 75 Mile Marker 63 Closure
Beginning summer of 2013 the rest area and backcountry access at mile marker 63 will be closed due to construction. More »
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Campground Closures
Beginning Monday, May 13 through Friday, August 16 camping will be available at the Midway Campground and the “loop” in the Bear Island Campground within Big Cypress National Preserve. All other established campgrounds will be closed. More »
Anhinga
Anhinga drying its wings
With the multitude of wading birds, song birds, hawks and eagles Big Cypress National Preserve is a bird watchers paradise. A bird enthusiast can easily see 50 species of bird in one visit. One of the many birds found here at the Preserve is the anhinga. What do they look like? Anhingas are often confused with cormorants, a closely related species of bird found in Big Cypress. The two birds are easily distinguishable by their tail and beaks. Anhingas have a sharp straight beak, while cormorants have a hooked beak. Likewise, anhingas have a longer tail than that of the cormorant. The beak of the anhinga serves as a spear for catching fish. Why do they do that? After hunting, anhinga sit in shrubs and trees with their back to the sun and stretch out their wings. This posture helps to dry the bird's water logged wings and warm its body after exposure to the cold water. In Big Cypress National Preserve, anhingas are often spotted sitting in the mangroves along Turner River Road safely out of reach of predators. Did you know? |
Did You Know?
Alligator hatching season is typically September through October in south Florida. A female can lay up to 50 eggs, about 45 of which will hatch, but only two or three will make it beyond the first two years of life.