My family and I spent two days at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Starting out early in the morning, just after sunrise, we walked on the sand along the ocean and then onto the raised boardwalk to explore Smyrna Dunes Park.
Florida is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the United States, with more than 80 distinct ecosystems. The 73 acres within Smyrna Dunes Park has five ecosystems: ocean, river, dunes, scrub zone and saltwater mash. There was a lot to see!
I compared the ecosystems that I observed at New Smyrna Beach with those in Lake County Florida where I live. Lake County’s ecosystems are inland, and freshwater-based while New Smyrna Beach is coastal and saltwater-based.
We saw birds, tortoises, and lizards. I used my binoculars to observe the animals and plants. The Gopher tortoises and Brown Anole lizards were easy to identify, as well as many of the plants. With dozens of different bird species native to Florida, and many more migrating through Florida on their way south, identifying birds was the most challenging.
One way to identify birds is with the Merlin Bird ID app. I chose to use a book, instead, to match the birds with their names. I was able to confirm that I had seen hawks, plovers and gulls, as well as a flock of Snowy Egrets, and a Flycatcher.
I used the iNaturalist app to identify plants that were less familiar to me: Sea Oats, Saw Palmettos, and Beach Morning Glories.
As my family completed our walk through Smyrna Dunes Park, I was mindful of the words in Psalm 8 of Bible scripture: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Mary Kaeding