Eric & I Go on a River of Grass Everglades Adventure

tripadvisor is an internet resource that Eric and I use often.  Eric found River of Grass Everglade Adventures, checked the reviews and booked a tour.





Eric & I are ready to see
the Everglades up close
in Captain Steve's
Airboat.










Steve is a local and has seen the Everglades change dramatically throughout the five decades. Today is a windy day.  Steve tells us that he doesn't expect to see many birds.

A Great White Heron

The Everglades are in a very delicate state.  Human activity has greatly disurbed the area's natural flow of water throughout the region.





Steve tells us that the
water level is very low.

He sees conditions for a
drought developing.





Alligators are dormant throughout most of the winter.  That's why Eric and I were able to get so close to them in Shark Valley.  Steve tells us that some visitors think that dormant alligators need to be poked or prodded.  They do so at their peril.  People get hurt when they harass alligators.

This alligator basks in the

sun, near its den.

The alligator's snout 

has sensors.

Its sense of smell is

acute.

A Great White Heron

in flight

Alligators are cold blooded 
creatures whose bodies
are regulated by their
surrounding environment.

The Everglades stretch out before us.

A Great Blue Heron

in flight

This young alligator
glides through
the water.

I am happy to be on a boat, at

distance, as this alligator

approaches.

We flush smaller birds
out the grass.

This alligator is older,

& bigger.

A Common Gallinule

It isn't concerned about

the alligator swimming

nearby.

We go through an area
with Lily Pads

I didn't get a good shot of

the striped baby alligator.

Alligator eggs and newborns have a very high mortality rate.  Eggs can drown.  Mom can sit on the eggs and kill them. Snakes, birds and other alligators eat the hatchlings.

The Everglades are in a very delicate state.  Human activity has greatly disurbed the area's natural flow of water throughout the region.