Bits of Nature . Earth Podcast

Brenna Robe, Podcast Cohost and Bird Artist (https://blazingstar.design/) takes us on a short walk in her neighborhood, which happens to be home to wild peacocks.  Obviously a non-native species to Florida, these impressive birds have take up residence in many parts of the state.  Check the website  https://bitsofnature.earth for a picture.

Join your host, Jamie Robe, as he braves the cold (...it's Florida, so yes, 48F feels very cold to us here) to climb the observation tower at Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa Florida.  It is a clear blue sky, sunny. Take a few minutes to watch the Hillsborough River as it flows on its ancient quest from its source (tropical rain drops and ancient aquifer springs) ... all the way to its destination in the sea.  There are hundreds of black Turkey Vultures sitting on the cypress trees across the river. Some are sunning themselves, before lifting off to glide all day on thermals. Thenlet's talk about what the river ecosystem looks like now, and what it was like in prehistoric times. Is there a spiritual dimension to walking in nature? 

My cohost today is Brenna Robe, a wildlife and bird artist. She does a lot of hiking in Florida, as well as visits to special places like the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, to find inspirations for her paintings. https://blazingstar.design Join us as we walk and talk about birds! This episode is a visit to one of the largets bird rescue operations in the world. Since 1970, this property on the Gulf of Mexico, has housed and rehabilitated thousands of birds. These include brown Pelicans, vultures, eagles, gulls, owls, and many more. The Avian Rehabilitation Hospital & Sanctuary is dedicated to the care of sick, injured, & orphaned native wild birds. Located in Indian Shores Florida, about an hour from Tampa, there is free parking (for a dozen cars) and free admission.  They need donations to operate. seasideseabirdsanctuary.org    

We are on a pine needle covered path thru an upland habitat. An overcast day morning, you can feel the freshness in the air. It is a a sea of Saw palmetto plants, with small oak trees and tall pine trees poking up into the sky. Lots of what we would call "damage" in human terms, from the recent hurricane Milton. Some examples of very tall (estimated 90 ft+) pine trees.

When you are standing in Florida, most likely there is stone sponge under your feet, called an aquifer. Sometimes a part of this structure weakens and collapses into itself. In an urban area, this is called a sinkhole, and it can result in a road or house being swallowed into the earth.  Sounds frightening. In nature, the result is often a new wetland, pond, lake, or swamp. Today, Today, I am taking you with me into the heart of a just such a wetland. This one is called a Cypress Dome. You will find out why.