Benefits of Living at Corkscrew Eclipse any Downsides

One of the really interesting and unique aspects of being an intern at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is that we live on the property. Our rustic cabin housing is nestled in the pine flatwood habitat near the research lab and the director’s office. Our Corkscrew home even has a name: the Gator Hole. It is an enjoyable experience working and living with my fellow interns. We all really get along and become friends during our time here.

Living at Corkscrew definitely has some perks. We have a very short commute to work, we see wildlife in our yard (one intern even saw a panther right outside the Gator Hole), and we have access to the boardwalk and other parts of the property almost all the time. This includes being able to experience Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary at nighttime, something that is a rare opportunity for guests. The remote location of Corkscrew makes it a dark sky site and an excellent stargazing location. 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary boardwalk at night. Image credit: RJ Wiley.

This past Sunday night into Monday morning we were able to observe the only total lunar eclipse that will occur this year. This lunar eclipse was only visible in North and South America as well as western parts of Europe and Africa. Lunar eclipses happen when the sun, Earth, and moon align during a full moon. The moon moves into the shadow of the Earth resulting in a lunar eclipse. The moon during this eclipse was referred to as a “supermoon” because the moon was closest to Earth in its orbit, making the moon seem larger and brighter. 

The moon orbits the earth in an ellipse shape bringing it closer and farther to Earth. The farthest point in the ellipse is called the apogee and the closest point is called the perigee. A “supermoon” appears larger because its an average of 40,000 km closer to Earth. Image source: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Lunar eclipses also turn the moon a reddish hue and people call them “blood moons.” This is caused by the same effect that gives sunrises and sunsets their reddish orange colors. Small molecules in the atmosphere scatter blue light making the sky blue, leaving behind red light that refracts in the Earth’s shadow.

As the moon is covered by the Earth’s shadow, it turns a reddish orange color. Image source: NASA.

I was able to convince interns Randi and Kendall to stay up with me and watch the eclipse. The full moon before the eclipse was beautiful in itself. It was so bright we could easily see in the dark. Around 10:40 p.m., the partial eclipse started as the Earth shadowed the moon. We periodically stepped outside every 10 to 20 minutes to watch the progress of the eclipse. As the eclipse continued, the sky became darker revealing hundreds of stars that were previously out shined by the moon. Finally, just past midnight, the full eclipse occurred with a beautiful dark red moon. 

I have always been fascinated by space and I love stargazing. I was glad I was able to see this amazing astrological event and share it with the other interns. The next total lunar eclipse won’t be visible in North America again until 2022, so we were lucky to be able to watch it and in such optimal viewing conditions. Just another benefit of living at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary!

-Amy, Education Intern

You can learn more about the lunar eclipse in this NASA article: How to Watch the Only Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, Plus a Supermoon

Everyone’s Least Favorite Frog: The Story of the Cuban Treefrog

Coming to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary from the Rocky Mountains, I had only ever seen a handful of frogs, many of which were pets. Thus, as I began to adventure out into the swamp I became increasingly intrigued by the number of amphibians and the variety of species that were present. From treefrogs to Pig Frogs, we saw and heard many of Florida’s beloved native frog species during our field days. On one day in particular I took a look inside of a well in a back-country and much to my delight it was filled with frogs! I was so happy I began to try to grab the cute little critters to get a better look. Unfortunately these frogs were not what I had been hoping for… I quickly learned that the large, brown frogs I had first been so enamored with were actually the loathed invasive Cuban Treefrog (Ostepilus spetentrionalis).

          Cuban Treefrogs as their name suggests are native to Cuba and the West Indies. These slimy little critters first came to Florida in the 1920s as stowaways on cargo ships, making their first appearance in the Florida Keys. However, by 1952 they were spotted throughout Miami. Some 60 years later and the Cuban Treefrog has proved its dominance in Florida as it has reached even isolated pockets in the Panhandle, and survived numerous freezing events. 

          So what effect has the broadening of the Cuban Treefrog’s range had on Florida’s native ecosystems? Well, being that the Cuban Treefrog is the largest species of treefrog in North America, it has the tendency to prey upon not only insects, but other native treefrogs such as the Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea). Eating native treefrogs is not the only issue posed by the Cuban Treefrog’s diet. Their mere consumption of insects also significantly limits resources for other native frog species making the Cuban Treefrog an all around menace to Florida’s native amphibian populations.

          But that’s not all! These sneaky little frogs have also found their way not into the hearts of local residents, but into their homes. Many Florida residents report finding Cuban Treefrogs inside of flower pots, sliding glass doors, and even in their toilets. Given their ability to hide in dark and small spaces they can be especially allusive to homeowners. However, if a Cuban Treefrog is found in your home you are advised to alert Southwest Florida’s regional invasive species managers via 1-888-IVE-GOT1  or online at IveGot1.org. Humane euthanization is also permitted through the application of benzocaine to the back of the frog, followed by freezing.

          Despite the havoc that the Cuban Treefrog has wreaked on the majority of Southern Florida, there is still much we can learn from these frogs and the effects that they are having on natural environments. Invasives are highly damaging to native ecosystems and species. Immediate identification and removal are the best ways to combat these deadly species, followed by consistent and strict management policies and practices. If the Cuban Treefrog could have been identified within the Florida Keys early on, its range could have been drastically limited and thousands of native species populations may have been preserved. Now, the Cuban Treefrog population is to a point where complete removal is not a feasible option, but that is not to say we cannot prevent the next large spread of invasive species within Florida.

           Now, as I return to that back-country well and see those slimy, brown Cuban Treefrogs I remember their story and the lessons they have taught Florida residents and wildlife managers alike about invasive species. I am not filled with a hatred for the species, but an understanding of how moving forward we must do better. So let’s all remember the story of the Cuban Treefrog and promise to always be cautious when transporting plants and animals from different regions and ecosystems, and never release domestic pets into the natural environment!

~ Evan, Conservation Intern

A Review of My Time at Corkscrew

Despite being familiar with the temporary job process, 6 months never seems as long at the end of a job as it seemed from the beginning. This month is my last here at Corkscrew, with my last day falling on February 1^st.

My internship has flown by, and over the 5 months I have lived and worked here, my appreciation for the sanctuary and its history has grown. As I type this, I can see a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) on a tree just outside, searching for its fill of insects. In just the second month of my internship, I briefly looked to the side out a window while processing fish in the lab, and saw nothing other than… a Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi)!! It walked right between the lab and the intern housing, at 9 in the morning. Another intern and I ran outside for a longer look and saw it crouch in front of some bushes for about 20 seconds before chasing an Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) out! Both the rabbit and the panther disappeared back into the bushes, and 2 seconds later, you would have never known they were there.

Experiences like these are inevitable at Corkscrew Swamp, and I can’t overstate how lucky we are that people in the past recognized its worth enough to protect it from development. I have enjoyed every second of my internship, from fish sampling to herp surveys! It’s hard to pick a favorite experience because I love every moment I’m out in the field. There’s always something new to see because the environment is always changing – increasing or decreasing water levels in particular determine what you might see.

The wildlife here make this place special in an ecological sense, but the people I’ve met and worked with made this place home. The friendships I made are friendships I hope last much longer than my internship. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked here with the people I’ve worked with, as all of us share a passion to preserve and protect natural areas for the benefit of future generations. Time spent in the field and lab is truly enhanced by the people that time is spent with, and I will miss working with all the wonderful people here. I have no doubt that Corkscrew will continue to flourish through their dedicated, passionate work.

As for me, I’ll be moving up to the panhandle in February to work at Florida State University’s Coastal and Marine Laboratory as a research technician. I will be working with Dr. Sandra Brooke, who will become my graduate school advisor in the fall if everything goes to plan! My intention is to study coral ecology, particularly with respect to anthropogenic impacts such as climate change. I am incredibly excited to see what changes the next year brings, but I will always be grateful for the time I spent at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary as an intern. J

- Randi Bowman, Research Intern