Category: wetland

  • A cold windy visit to an observation tower -watching Turkey Vultures

    Season 1 : Episode 5

    Location: Lettuce Lake Part, Tampa, Florida

    Date: 1-4-2025

    Join your host, Jamie Robe, as he braves the cold (…it’s Florida, so yes, 48F feels very cold to us here) to climb the observation tower at Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa Florida. 

    It is a clear blue sky, sunny. Take a few minutes to watch the Hillsborough River as it flows on its ancient quest from its source (tropical rain drops and ancient aquifer springs) … all the way to its destination in the sea.  There are hundreds of black Turkey Vultures sitting on the cypress trees across the river. Some are sunning themselves, before lifting off to glide all day on thermals.

    Thenlet’s talk about what the river ecosystem looks like now, and what it was like in prehistoric times.

    Is there a spiritual dimension to walking in nature? 

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth

  • Visiting a Cypress Dome

    Season 1 : Episode 1

    Location: Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa, Florida

    Date: 12-22-2024

    When you are standing in Florida, most likely there is stone sponge under your feet, called an aquifer. Sometimes a part of this structure weakens and collapses into itself. In an urban area, this is called a sinkhole, and it can result in a road or house being swallowed into the earth.  Sounds frightening.

    In nature, the result is often a new wetland, pond, lake, or swamp. Today, Today, I am taking you with me into the heart of a just such a wetland. This one is called a Cypress Dome. You will find out why.

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth