Page 97 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #06

Q&A

Q WHAT CAN I SEE N...? NATIONAL PARKS OF THE WORLD
I
EVERGLADES

FLORIDA, USA

A It’s one of the most famous
wetlands in the world, and an
airboat ride down the‘River of 3
Grass’– a name that alludes to
the fact that the Everglades is
essentially one large, slow-
moving waterway – is a bucket-
list wildlife adventure.
The dry season (December
to April) is the best time to
visit, when the park’s denizens
2
congregate at remaining pools
of water.The Anhinga Trail,
a raised boardwalk over a
large area of sawgrass marsh,
offers close-up encounters
with alligators, turtles and, of
course, the anhingas from
which it takes its name (also 4
known as‘snakebirds’, due
1
to their habit of swimming
with their serpent-like necks
above the water).
A flash of pink means you're
in the presence of one of the shallows. Look out also for the TOP OF THE NATIONAL PARK IN NUMBERS
park’s most colourful stars, the famous – and now endangered TICKLIST
roseate spoonbill.This beautiful – Everglades snail kite, gliding 8.10 360 2.7
wader is visible all year round low over the water in search of 1 Anhinga Trail
THE HOURLY
and can often be seen in mixed its mollusc prey, and, if you’re 2 Roseate spoonbill FEE (US$) TO THE NUMBER THE MAXIMUM
DEPTH OF THE
OF BIRD
flocks, swinging its head from lucky, the west Indian manatee, 3 Everglades snail kite HUNT INVASIVE SPECIES EVERGLADES IN
side to side as it probes the surfacing to breathe. 4 American alligator PYTHONS SIGHTED METRES

VOLUNTEERING What does planting entail? deer fences to prevent bird strike.They also
HOW CAN The trees we plant (more than 30 species) are help out in our nursery and office.The main
opportunity we offer is to join a‘Conservation
native to the forest.We plant as naturalistically
I HELP...? as possible – so randomly rather than in rows, Week’– we run 30 through the year,in different
and without stakes,tubes or labels.Spring and
locations.Volunteers spend a week together,
autumn are the busiest planting seasons. planting saplings and learning about the forest.
Trees for Life
What else do your volunteers do? What’s a recent achievement?
What does Trees for Life do? All sorts.They check and repair fences,bash InApril we planted our 1,500,000th tree.It was
We are working to rewild the Scottish Highlands bracken, remove invasive species and‘mark’ a huge milestone for the forest and a wonderful
by protecting and restoring the globally unique boost to wildlife and people.We couldn’t have got
Caledonian Forest.We are planting trees, this far without our volunteers.
A volunteer
reintroducing native species and inspiring plants a What’s planned for the future?
Illustration by Bex Glover; volunteer: T rees For L fe What species does the area support? 2018: our Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project
people to get involved.
birch tree.
We are starting two groundbreaking projects in
and our Skills for Rewilding programme. We also
Mammals such as the wild boar, pine marten,
plan to reintroduce more red squirrels,open a
wildcat and red squirrel,and birds including
the capercaillie,crested tit and endemic
new research centre,give excluded groups the
chance to volunteer,and bring back beavers.
Scottish crossbill.In addition,our Dundreggan
Conservation Estate has been described as
a‘lost world’of biodiversity with several rare
www.treesforlife.org.uk
insects recorded.
June 2018 O CHRIS ALDRIDGE BBC Wildlife 97