Shark Valley

Transcription

( 'Invisible Wings' song ) ( frogs calling ) ( thunder ) ( music fades out ) ( 'Firm Foundation' song) (frogs calling ) ( underwater bubbling ) ( frogs calling ) ( tram driving ) ( music fades out ) Ranger: Well, hey there, I am Ranger Laurie. I want to welcome you to Everglades National Park. And, here we are at Shark Valley which is the north entrance to the park. And, you are actually in a valley here. We are in the valley of the Shark River Slough. When you come in to Shark Valley, everything is right here: Visitor Center, Trams, Bicycles, Restrooms. You do not have to go far to go out on the path. And what we have when I say path, we have a fifteen mile loop out here. It just takes you right out into the Everglades, immerses you into it. There is several different ways to explore. We have a two-hour guided tram tour. You can rent a bicycle or bring your own if you have it with you. Another way to explore if you don?t have two hours to ride a bike or take the tram tour: You can just walk right down the trail here behind the visitor center. What is really amazing is the midway point. You get out there, we have an observation tower. You get to get up to the 50 foot level. And from up there, you get a nice sweeping 360 degree view of the Everglades. Concession employee: Have a great ride. Hello. Visitor: I would like to rent a bike. Sure thing maam. Ever been here before? Visitor: We did the bike ride today. We rented these bikes and went all the way down to the observation tower. Hunted some alligators, visually, visually. ( Laughing ) You don't go ten feet before you run into your first alligator and there are alligators all over the place. And, I think that is a pretty amazing experience that you are right next to them. Sometimes they are just sitting there right alongside the road. By the time you are done with it, I don?t know if you would say comfortable, but you are used to seeing alligators. And, they are very much a central part of the experience. ( background chatter ) ( limpkin running ) ( limplin breaking open snail shell ) Ranger: Here at Shark Valley, we experience two seasons: The dry and the wet. We are just transitioning out of the dry season now into our wet season. It can get very dry in here. As you see what is around me looks very cracked, almost like a desert. The wet season then begins, usually, end of May and into June all the way through November. During the wet season, we will get 80% of our annual rainfall of about 60 inches. In the wet season, in this area where I am standing right now, I could be standing in three to four feet of water. Here at Shark Valley, you are going to find yourself immersed into a sawgrass prairie. ( 'Firm Foundation' song ) The Shark River Slough here is basically the heart of the Everglades. Because without the water that flows through this area, the southern end of the park and the Gulf Coast... ....areas would not receive the amounts of water that they need. So, we are going to be making our way down to the observation tower. While you are out here exploring Shark Valley, you are going to see different things at different times of the year. Now, during the dry season, during the winter time, this is the time of the year that we get a lot of... ...migratory birds and different animals in here. So, this is the time of year here at Shark Valley when you are going to see more wildlife. During the wet season, because we are full of water, all the wildlife is going to spread out. So you are not going to see as much wildlife. And from satellite, you will see the slough system which is predominantly sawgrass prairie. And, then you will see these little dots. And, these little dots are the tree islands. So, if you would like to come with me, we are going to take a short hike into the hammock. If you are not comfortable, you are more than welcome to stay on the tram. This is one of the highest places of elevation here at Shark Valley Slough. Many peoples that lived here in the Everglades for thousands of years and for years after... ...and even up to current history used the hammocks for their homes. There is also a very nice hammock trail that is just before the tower when you walk in. I am going to be going down there...it is one of my favorite places. Again, make sure you bring all your belongings with you. So that the crows don't have a field day with your things, your items ( laughing ). ( crows cawing ) ( 'Firm Foundation' song ) Visitor: It is deceptively hot. Is it 85 degrees right now? I don?t know. Ranger: From the tower, you are going to be looking down upon the canal behind it. And, there is going to be turtles swimming and alligators swimming. Sometimes, it depends on the time of year, like in the springtime there can be a lot of juvenile birds running around. Everything from Tricolored herons to Night herons to Green herons to Anhingas. ( camera shutter clicking ) ( music fades out ) When you come back on the west side, you are actually going to be following a canal. It is a little more enclosed area. You do not see the tree islands quite as much. But what you will see possibly is more wildlife. It actually offers an extra area of fresh water for our critters to enjoy. You know, just like us, they need fresh water to survive. ( 'Firm Foundation' song ) ( music fades out) Here at Shark Valley during the winter time, which is our dry season, we offer many programs for people to enjoy. It can be anything from our two hour tram tour to a 30 minute Shark Byte. And then, the best program of all is the full moon bike ride that will get you out here in the Everglades in the evening. Filmmaker: Have you been to the Everglades before? Visitor: No. This is your first time? Yep. How was it? It was fun?it was fun. I saw a lot of alligators and turtles and birds, and stuff. It is a great park and a great area. And, it should be taken care of by people. Because once it is gone, it is gone. And, there is nothing you can really do to get it back. You can always see stuff again. That is what is great about the Everglades: It is always changing. So, you will never see the same thing twice. Visitor: I think the Great blue heron was my favorite. I have never seen such a big bird before. And, I think it is really cool. Filmmaker: Did you see the one right behind you? Oh, yeah, I think on the way back, we spotted that one. Visitor: And the best thing that I saw was the view all green, green, and green from the tower that is there. I would describe it as Evergreen: Everglades is Evergreen ( laughing ). Ranger: I chose to work here because you are right there. You can step out the back door of the visitor center and you are right there. You are right in the element. You can look out the back window and see the otters crossing the road. And, the birds flying around. And, once I started working, I just fell in love with the Everglades. And, that is why I am here now because I really love the place. There is so much to learn out here. And, everyday it is different. And, that is what makes it so exciting to come to work. ( frogs calling ) ( music fades out )