Owned
and operated by the National Audubon Society, this
popular preserve is located north of Collier Seminole
State Park, and south of the town of Estero. The
sanctuary is found by taking the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41)
to David Brown Highway (County Road 846). Drive east on
CR 846 for 18.9 miles to County Road 849. Turn north
(left) and drive 1.6 miles to the sanctuary entrance. You
can also get there by taking Interstate 75 south from
Fort Myers or Estero, exiting at County Road 846.
If
you didn't see bald cypress in Big Cypress
National Preserve, you'll certainly see them here. The
11,000-acre sanctuary is home to the largest remaining
stand of the old-growth cypress trees. The campaign to
save the cypress groves dates back to 1911, when the
society moved to protect the area not only for the
cypress, but against plume hunters who had moved into the
region in behest of the millinery trade, and proceeded to
kill great quantities of great egrets, and wood storks.
The first 6,000 acres were purchased in 1954, by the
society and affiliated groups under the umbrella of the
Corkscrew Cypress Rookery Association. The remainder of
the sanctuary lands were bought in 1968.
The
visitor center provides sanctuary trail
information and other materials on its mission. A
wildlife-viewing walk along the 1.7-mile boardwalk trail
is aided by a trail booklet. The trail heads out from the
sanctuary headquarters, through a grove of slash pine and
palmetto, and then crosses a damp prairie, leading into
the cypress. Epiphytes (air plants) grow on the limbs of
the trees. On the floor are ferns of the swamp, including
leather, Boston, and strap. Birds and animals are seen
from the observation platform, while unusual vegetation
including water lettuce is seen floating on the small
ponds, with turtles and frogs nearby. The nests of the
wood stork are located high in the cypress trees. Thirty
species of orchid grow within the sanctuary, although you
may spot four or five along the boardwalk route. This is
a walk that requires an illustrated field guide, and the
"Audubon Society Guide -- Wetlands" (Houghton Mifflin) is
about the best available for this type of terrain, and
for the rest of the Southwest Florida wetlands. The book
hass wopnderful pictures of the flora and fauna of the
region.
Corkscrew
Swamp Sanctuary
