I imagine it was sometime in the early 1970s. The television was small, black and white and had an arrangement of antennas on top that would make any modern HAM radio operator jealous. Occasional lines zig-zagged across the screen and static was common as members of my family and I tuned into Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Marlin Perkins made his way through the static and the Sub-Saharan brush to tell us about the latest creatures he might be encountering this episode and we didn’t dare move until an advertisement came on. When the program was over, we went outside to play. It’s what we did back then. And there we stayed until forced by some pseudo-responsible adult to come inside and bathe and go to bed. We were young and our imaginations fertile. We were quite certain that like Mr. Perkins we too would encounter lions, water buffalo or maybe just a sixteen foot constructor of some kind. Our parents assured us that it was just the neighbor’s cat and a garter snake.
Although I no longer believe there is a lion waiting outside our back door or a hungry python I might have to grapple with about (not too far from the truth here in Florida) after spending a good portion of my life outdoors, I have come to the conclusion that not only are we often surrounded by beauty if we just take time to look, but wildlife flourishing everywhere. So for this blog, I thought I’d take folks along on an adventure. I chose two parks on the margins of the city and two completely surrounded by the city and set out to see what I could find.
The other place I chose on the margin was a stormwater reclamation project. It is a truly remarkable transformation of what used to be a trash heap that polluted a Wakulla Springs tributary called Lake Henrietta Park. Paved trails border a pond and end in a dirt trails with some remarkable wildlife. I heard a lot more animals than I was able to photograph.
When I finished there, I headed downtown to Cascades Park. Cascades Park is in the shadow of downtown Tallahassee and is a reclaimed toxic site. When I arrived it was a hot but not too stifling afternoon. I parked and wandered into the creek bed. It was other worldly. The sounds of passing cars were muffled. I could hear the children above playing and laughing and the water in the creek and waterfall churning by. As the numerous dragon danced and dodged by me, I found it hard to believe that I was a five minute walk from downtown.
Everywhere I turned here there were animals. There were numerous birds, turtles, and frogs all quietly making a living right next to dozens and dozens of people jogging, eating, playing and having endless conversations on the phone.
The last stop I made was a small park in the heart of suburban Tallahassee not far from I-10 called Dorothy B. Oven Park. I was chatting with a friend of mine on the phone wondering aloud if I was going to find any wildlife here when wildlife found me! A sizable Red Tailed Hawk launched from beside the road with a squirrel that she had just acquired for dinner and swopped up into a tree right in front of my truck. I excitedly informed my friend I had found the hawk (much to his amusement) and got out with my camera.
This tiny park was awash in life too. Many birds (not surprisingly most had sought cover) and the small pond had a small alligator and an otter! I was able to photograph the otter but the alligator slipped under before I brought the camera to bear.
I expected that my travels to these parks would yield some interesting animal encounters. I expected that some of the parks might be nice. What I failed to anticipate was the absolute abundance of wildlife of all kinds. I failed to anticipate beauty where none had existed before. I certainly did not anticipate the “velociraptor” taking off right in front of my truck with its culinary prize clutched tightly. I challenge you all to channel your inner Marlin Perkins and get out there. If you already do, try someplace new and prepare to be suprised.
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