Cooper’s Hawk at Avian Reconditioning Center (ARC)
Osprey
Fortunately for us, my brother’s home in Apoka not only provided us with sunny warm temperatures but is also strategically located within a few miles of two of our favorite haunts. Our primary target was a loop trail on the north shore of Lake Apopka. Formally named St. Johns River Water Management District’s Lake Apopka North Shore and Wildlife Drive, it’s more commonly referred to as the Lake Apopka Loop Trail. Through the 1940s, Lake Apopka was one of Central Florida's main attractions. Anglers traveled from throughout the United States to fish for trophy-sized bass in Lake Apopka, which is the fourth largest lake in Florida and lies 15 miles northeast of Orlando. Being so close to Orlando made it a playground for residents and vacationers. Unfortunately, in 1980, a local pesticide manufacturer improperly disposed of significant amounts of DDE, which then spilled into the lake. DDE is a persistent organochlorine that is produced by the metabolic breakdown of DDT. The US Environmental Protection Agency designated the area as a Superfund clean-up site. Through the efforts of many organizations, the lake today has nearly recovered and flourishes with myriads of floral and fauna. On February 20, 2014, the Lake Apopka Loop Trail was opened to the public, which is a one-way drive through
wetlands levies and canals. It’s become a premier location to watch birds in the Southeast United States. The driving portion of the trail is open to vehicular traffic from Friday to Sunday. Other days of the week, it’s a delightful bike ride or leisurely walk without the inconvenience of automobiles. With all our camera equipment, we nixed the idea of riding a bike, although I can see how exciting that would be. There are more than 360 species of birds documented on the 50,000-acre eco system, located directly in the middle of the state, which makes it highly attractive to birds migrating through Florida. In 1998, the annual one-day Christmas bird count identified 174 species of birds, which was the highest species count for an inland count for North America north of Mexico in the 115-year history of the Christmas bird count. The best times to bird watch are in the fall, winter, and spring. An exception is the mid- July spectacle of the Swallowtail Kites foraging over the north shore prior to their migration to South America. Peak counts of more than 1,500 individuals can occur during that time. We rode in style in comfortable camp chairs in the back of my brother’s truck, armed with our Cannon cameras and several lenses including a 400 mm that gets us up close without disturbing
FOR THE BIRDS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2022 | 21
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