Turkey Vultures at Sunset

Most of the Everglades National Park is marsh land. This tract, located northwest of Miami and facing the Gulf of Mexico, is one of the most unusual national parks in the United States. With Lake Okeechobee as its principal water source, the park hosts more than 300 different kinds of birds and animals, and approximately 700 species of plants. Among its endangered species are Florida panthers, manatees, and Green Sea turtles. Few other national parks are as dependent on water as is the Everglades. Depending on the annual rainfall for its well-being, the condition of the park varies from year to year. In 2001 the rainfall was not enough to keep the marsh land from drying out, but one year later it was more than adequate also to lure birds and animals back to the ponds.

The neighboring city of Miami and its vast metropolitan area compete for water from Lake Okeechobee. During the tourist season the metropolitan area population rises above 3.7 million and needs even more water. Both farms and homes are getting closer and closer to the park's entrance every year. Many people think that nature conservation should have more priority in the making of policies on water use.

Nesting Night Herons

The Everglades reminds me of the hometown where I grew up on the small island of Kagoshima in southern Japan. The Everglades has a relaxing atmosphere like that of my isolated and sparsely-populated rural hometown. The park has one motel, but I always like to camp farther away at Flamingo. That campsite is divided into two areas, one for automobile drivers and the other for hikers. My favorite place for a tent is under the palm trees in the hikers' area.

There are only "two seasons" in the Everglades. Winter is the dry one, and summer is the rainy one. The humid summertime brings headaches and insect bites, while the wintertime campsite has none of those discomforts. Ocean breezes move through palm leaves gently, and stars seem to get close enough to touch at night. On this kind of a quiet winter night, I may be even lucky to hear a Japanese music program on my short wave radio. And I am happy to the bottom of my heart.

Raccoon

This camp site's main residents are raccoons. They sleep during the day, becoming active at night. Every night they make noises with their noses, and I feel as if they intend to bite my head. They are wandering around outside my tent looking for meals. Once I was awakened by swishing noises in the grass. An eight-foot- long alligator was rushing near the tent to reach the water. There are always such surprises happening whenever I spend the night in a tent. One can't experience this kind of interaction with nature sleeping in a motel bed.

When the raccoons stop looking for food, it is early morning in the Everglades. Echo Pond is within walking distance of the camp site and is the best place to see wild birds. Before the sun rises there are many bird watchers walking around with their binoculars. Sharp bird sounds break the silence. White ibis fly out from the mangrove trees in the middle of the pond where they have been sleeping. Then herons, pelicans, and spoonbills start their day looking for their meals.

Alligator Near Campsite

Every year hawks make their nests in the highest trees on the edge of the pond. On my last visit to the pond, I saw a couple of hawks hunting around the pond. Hawks attack with a sharp descent using their sharp talons to capture unsuspecting small birds. When they aim for their targets it is the moment for a photographer to snap a picture. Hawks aren't afraid of humans too much, and so it is rather easy to approach them.

One morning while I was looking for my camera finder with zoom lens, a hawk disappeared from my view for a moment. Then desperate cries came from the water's edge: an early bird was completely gripped by the hawk's talons. However, the encounter lasted just for a moment, and Echo Pond returned to its usual silence. There are laws of nature which exist even on this peaceful pond.

Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034-6733 305-242-7700 www.nps.gov/ever

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