Ding Darling Field Trip May 29, 2011

I went to Ding Darling on May 29, 2011, with my family, after watching the required video. My tour guide Don, was very insightful and enthusiastic about the reservation. Don pointed out a strangler fig immediately after we loaded the bus. This tree was beautiful and lush, but what made it look so odd was the trunk of the tree, where what looked like vines were cutting into it. He also showed us coffee bean plants on the side of the trail and everyone was amazed, we did not know that coffee beans grew in Florida. He then said that if we tried to make coffee out of them that it would not taste very well. Don also pointed out my favorite Christmas plant, the poinsettia that was also growing on the side of the road. He informed me that the red “petals” on the plant were not actually petals of a flower but actually were colored leaves to disguise as a flower. After looking at the plant, this realization made much more sense because the “flower” was not blooming, instead it was growing. We saw many birds throughout the reservation and Don knew exactly what each one was. We saw many ospreys, a couple of double crested cormorant relaxing in the water, some white ibis, a great egret, and beautiful rosette spoonbills. Don pointed out the red, black, and white mangroves along the trail, it was the first time my little brother and sister had ever really learned about them, which shocked me because I grew up learning about these trees. My brother was amazed by the mullet fish that jumped out of the water a lot. Don informed us that it is not quite clear as to why they jump, but there were many folk tales as to why they do so such as, not enough oxygen, avoiding predators, or even getting rid of parasites. We did not see much wildlife besides the birds, and jumping fish, though we did see a momma raccoon with her young walking along the trees that were still lying on the ground after hurricane damage struck a few years ago. I learned a lot from Don on this tour, I had been to Ding Darling once before with my dad and my step-mom, but we did not get out of the car much to see around, this trip was much more worth it.