A purple gallinule steps lightly on the lily pads

While walking through Sweetwater Wetlands Park, one's mind can easily wander thinking about what Florida must have looked like hundreds of years ago, or even further back then that. These massive swamps and wetlands contain thousands of species of flora and fauna. Old cypress and oak trees draped with Spanish moss create a beautiful natural canopy, a backdrop seemingly untouched by human hands. There aren't very many parks where you can see what mother nature looked like way back when, but this park is one of them.  Looking out into the swamp, if you let your imagination wander, you can imagine what a sight this was prior to european settlers. Yes, there are some visible signs of man: telephone poles, wires, water control devices, parking lots, and thankfully bathrooms, etc. The management and staff of the park is to be highly commended for all their hard work to maintain the park in such a natural state. 

Here is a purple gallinule referred to as a 'swamp hen.' Gallinules have long legs and long toes to enable them to walk onto floating vegetation like lillies. These birds can be found in a wide range and variety of habitats: from Florida to California, the Gallopagas Islands, Iceland, Great Britain, Portugal and Cape Verde. Purple gallinules have floating nests within dense vegetation along the shallow margins of lakes and rivers and marshes. They are monogamous pairs, and juveniles remain near the nest to help care for their siblings. They consume seeds, leaves and fruits of both terrestrial plants, insects, frogs, snails and earthworms. I have pictures of common gallinules with little ones to post as well.