Diario de nancyjmorrissey

My daughters, cousin Tim, and I visited the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida in September 2011 as a Home school Bird Study field trip. Our goal was to photograph and study (up close) birds that we were studying and say in nature. The girls observed that the birds were much larger than they originally thought and could look them in the eyes! They saw their coloring, claws, wing spans, and nesting materials. As a result of this trip, we have gained insight into the life and mishaps of birds and how people can help them back into the wild.

We arrived in Sebring, Highlands County, Florida, USA in April, 2008. We have lived in a scrub development on high ground, a farm house on 6 1/2 acres of old Florida land held by one family, and a lake front house.

My children and I have explored area parks and gardens, as well as yard weeds, flowers, and trees.

We collect data and photos from the same areas every year to see what is new or changed. We have helped the Ridge Rangers, Lake Watch, and wild life protection. Hope our research helps.

When we travel out of state it is along the Eastern Seaboard; New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Caroline, etc.

We also visit museums and aquariums.

Since Highlands Hammock State Park is located so close to us, we often hike a few of their trails each time we visit ($6.00 plus tax per car load, open dawn to dusk). The children and I try to photograph and identify the flowers, trees, birds, reptiles, insects, and animals. They are learning to recognize and identify bird songs. We like to go at different times of the year to see what is new. We are keeping a journal of pictures from each visit and add our observations and photographs to this site for identification and research purposes. It is a nice home school nature journal botanical, zoological and environmental awareness project.

Bok Towers and surrounding Gardens is one of our favorite places to explore. The Gardens change throughout the months as the flowers appear at different times. We often go for Mother's Day, Christmas, and Fall. The bells are always pleasant to hear on the hour. There is a huge variety of plants, birds, animals, insects, and fish to photograph, watch, and listen for. Several habitats too. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Every few months we follow the scrub trail to see what is in bloom. Endangered and rare wildflowers and plants.

Julie and I joined the Ridge Rangers on a Photo Blitz adventure. We arrived in time for a7:00 a.m. sunrise over the marsh. Beautiful (we drove for about 39 minutes from Sebring to Royce Road in Lake Placid). Witnessed the color changes. Saw three Snail Kites so it was registered as a breeding ground! Also saw a family of sand cranes flying in and landing in the marsh. Julie recorded her observations by close up photographs of the flowers she found. After an hour we followed the group into the hardwood hammock and found: Shell Ginger, Florida Jasmine, Air Pine, and pea plants, etc. We then boarded the trucks and traveled down the road to the Savannah. This is open prairie with sedge, grasses, and wildflowers. Tall pines in the distance with morning mist rising. Saw two sand cranes, hawks, and insects. Also Lady Tresses orchid. We then boarded the truck for the uphill ride to the top of the Lake Wales Ridge to the sugar sand scrub area. The area had been burned about three years ago. We observed and tried to photograph the scrub jays. We took photographs of: saw palmettos, pawpaws, prickly pears, oaks, rosemary, etc. We also helped monitor and record data on restoration area oak saplings. After a rest we continued back to the Center, stopping to see Gopher Turtle burrows, Blue Lupines, and other flowers and trees. It was a long and full day for us.

We decided to drive South to Lake Placid to explore Lake June in Winter Scrub Trail. It has been hot and dry and the area is suffering from a drought. The admission is $2.00 per car, deposited in the machine. Parking lot has restrooms but minimal shade. You can walk down to Lake June where there is a picnic table. We followed the Tomoka Trail Walk, which explores scrub, pine lands, hardwood hammock, fern walk, and a small stream. The trail rises and dips and is easy to follow. Signs posted "Beware of Bears". We saw indigo snakes, lizards, birds, squirrels, darters, grasshoppers, a gopher tortoise, and a mature bald eagle. We took a lot of photographs of what we saw, and are trying to identify the various plants, animals, and insects. Bring water!