Corkscrew Sanctuary
Our class’s visit to Corkscrew Sanctuary was absolutely amazing, living just a few moments away, I was shocked to see how such an intricate and brilliant array of ecosystems could be thriving right beneath my nose! The collection of plant and animal species were quite impressive and the transitions between geographical and environmental landscapes were often obvious and sometimes subtle. In an instant the scenery goes from prairie like to jungle like, from dry to completely under water.
Our guide described the different fungi and bacteria organisms that actually depend on one another for survival, the bacteria which grows on the fungus and aids in its absorption of nutrients from the sun and the fungus which provides nutrients and moisture for the bacteria to live upon. She also discussed the importance of forest burns, which allow for old underbrush to be burnt and allow new vegetation growth to flourish. We discussed the ideas of environmental and species conservation as well as the awful impact of deforestation, pollution and overfishing our local waters.
One of the most significant parts of the visit to corkscrew sanctuary was the introduction to the park and a moment taken to recognize the incredible water filtration system they have established and begun to utilize within the park. The process uses reclaimed water that is then filtered through a collection of plants that each has a key role in the successful filtering of the water. The clean water is then reused in the bathrooms, the fact that these plants when discarded must be handled as a biohazard is rather appalling, only further proving that the kind of chemicals and hazardous materials that we consume ourselves, most likely account for much of the disease and physical hardships we suffer from.
The idea of filtering this reclaimed water, though costly is something that I’d love to see instated within our public school systems. Students would not only benefit from the use of clean and abundant water source /process but schools can utilize this process as a means to educate and lead students in a more environmentally friendly and conscious direction.
The most disturbing aspect of the visit to this Audubon protected land was the discussion we had regarding the use of feathers in women’s hats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The idea that these incredible birds were slaughtered for their magnificent feathers makes me sick to my stomach. As a fashion lover myself I have learned to value the importance of NOT purchasing furs of ANY kind and always encourage others to do the same. The exploitation and annihilation of any species for the pleasure of fashion is a disgrace, one that I find personally offensive. The following websites are links that lead to historical articles written about the shameful mistreatment of these incredible birds.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Plume_Trade.html
http://www.oldandsold.com/birds/bird-study-32.shtml