By Victor Block
During a recent visit to the southwest coast of Florida, I was treated to a spectacular live show presented by a variety of wildlife from Mother Nature's animal kingdom. I spotted several pods of dolphins rising gracefully to the surface of the water through which I was traversing in a boat to catch a breath. I marveled at nests that cormorants constructed of tree branches on poles topped by signs with instructions for boaters. I was told that the large beds of oysters I saw provide habitat for other marine animals and plants and filter algae from the water, providing a safe, nurturing environment for hundreds of species of sea life.
That experience took place in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, an unspoiled enclave of mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters about twice the size of Baltimore, Maryland. The reserve encompasses 40% of Collier County, the largest in the state.
It is one of 28 protected sanctuaries in the country, stretching over 1 million acres that maintain their unspoiled environment. Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Its watershed covers 64,000 square miles, spanning portions of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Some 250 fish species utilize the bay, and 300 bird species can be seen in the watershed.
Most estuaries were formed when ocean levels rose at the end of the last Ice Age and water spilled into river valleys and glacial channels. They are areas where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating a brackish mixture. This combination of fresh and salty water produces a variety of habitats. These unique environments provide a transition zone between land and sea and are home to a wide variety of animals and plants. In fact, estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems in the world.
Over time, these estuaries have served as safe habitats for numerous kinds of animal life that rely on them for food, places to breed and migration stopovers, and they have protected coastlines from erosion and storm damage. These are among reasons why estuaries have been referred to as "nurseries of the sea," as many species rely on them for nesting, breeding and feeding.
In the United States, estuaries are nurseries to more than 75% of all the fish and shellfish harvested. In addition, they offer inviting places for recreational activities and exploration. They're popular destinations for fishing, birding, hiking and boating.
My sightseeing boat tour of the Rookery Bay reserve was one of those activities. I learned that the water over which we moved is home to dolphins, tarpons, bull sharks and other fish. Stingrays and crocodiles make it their home, along with spinner sharks which — I was told — rise above the surface and twirl when they are feeding on other fish. When the water warms, manatees — large, droll-looking, slow-moving marine mammals that are referred to as sea cows — venture into the sanctuary.
Birdwatchers are drawn by the variety of tropical flyers that live year-round in the reserve, including roseate spoonbills, egrets and herons. Many others migrate to the area in the winter or stop to rest while flying farther to South America.
Today, estuaries face a number of threats, including urban development, declining water quality and loss of habitat for native species. Pollution also poses a significant threat to their water quality.
Following my introduction to Rookery Bay, I checked out the nearby Environmental Learning Center. It houses four research laboratories, classrooms and an auditorium. Of greatest interest to me were the large aquarium, interactive exhibits and other hands-on experiences.
I started by watching a short film that recounted the history of the place and opened with the very apt words: "It's magic." My next stop was an aquarium where I learned about marine animals with entertaining names such as polka-dot batfish and red-eared and yellow-bellied slider turtles. The walls of an art gallery are adorned with paintings of birds and flowers. After enjoying what is inside the facility, I took a stroll along the elevated wooden pathway outside that meanders through a mangrove forest.
The Rookery Bay Reserve provided a welcome introduction to the system of estuaries throughout the United States that awaits discovery and exploration. Now that I know about them, I will include more of them in future travels.
WHEN YOU GO
For more information: oceanservice.noaa.gov
Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Cormorants alight on pilings at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Naples, Florida. Photo courtesy of Karen Foley/Dreamstime.com.
View Comments