The bald eagle is one of the largest birds in the Northeast. In profile, as it flies toward you, its wings are held straight out; the more common turkey vulture soars with its wings held in a V-shape. As the eagle passes overhead, the feathers at the tips of its wings are widely separated, and its relatively short tail is usually fanned open.

Height: 30 inches

Weight: 8-12 pounds

Wing Span: 6-7 feet

Adult Color: (by about 5 years)

* white head and tail
* dark brown body and wings
* bright orange-yellow beak and feet
* lemon yellow iris

Immature Color:

* chocolate brown mottled with white
* black beak gradually lightens to a spotty horn color
* dark brown iris gradually lightens to pale yellow

Male and female eagles look identical, although females are usually the larger of the two.

Females weigh 10 - 14 pounds, while males generally weigh 8 - 10 pounds. Females have a longer beak and longer back toe.

Although not common (only 1 or 2 along the Upper Delaware annually) the golden eagle is frequently mistaken for an immature bald eagle.

The park's diverse landscapes and its landforms altered by centuries of human activity provide habitat for a variety of birds for both breeding and migrating. More than 260 species have been identified in the recreation area.

River and stream corridors are hosts to species ranging from Louisiana waterthrush to bald eagles. Bottomland forest along the river support cirulean warblers. Hemlock dominated ravines offer breeding habitat for blackburnian and black-throated green warblers, acadian flycatchers, and hermit thrush. Agricultural fields provide open space that is frequented by wild turkey while the surrounding trees offer hunting perches for raptors scanning fields for small prey. Grasslands provide breeding habitat for bobolink and grasshopper sparrow while wetlands are inhabited by waterfowl, shorebirds, and herons. Deciduous forests, perhaps the largest landscape component, provide habitat for birds ranging from the scarlet tanager to the ruffed grouse.

During the fall and spring months many birds migrate along the river valley. More than 30 species of warblers have been recorded during spring migration. In the fall the Kittatinny Ridge provides an important migratory corridor for raptors. The Delaware River valley offers important wintering habitat for a large population of bald eagles attracted to the open water for foraging. Golden eagles are less frequently sighted but are recorded nearly every winter. Bald eagles are frequently seen along the river during the summer months and in 2002 the first recorded successful nest in the recreation area fledged two young. In April of 2003 the Minsi Cliffs in Pennsylvania at the Water Gap were the site of a peregrine falcon nest, the first peregrine nest in this areas since the 1940s and 1950s.

A 2.25-mile raised boardwalk takes visitors through several distinct habitats found within the 11,000-acre Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, including the largest remaining virgin bald cypress forest in North America.

This natural system is managed by the National Audubon Society to maintain the native plants and animals found here and to preserve the natural processes that have been occurring for thousands of years.

This photo tour will introduce you to each of the habitats along the boardwalk - pine flatwood, wet prairie, pond cypress, marsh, lettuce lakes, and bald cypress forest - and give you a small sampling of some of the sights you might see along the way.

The aerial photo below provides you with a view of the boardwalk area and an overlay of the boardwalk path. If this photo tour piques your interest, please visit us the next time you are in Southwest Florida.

The following boat launch areas are located in the Lake County portion of the Ocala National Forest. The scenic 382,000-acre National Forest touts more than 23 small streams and 600 natural lakes. Although many of the bodies of water can be reached by two-wheel drive vehicles, most are approachable only by walking or by driving on four-wheel drive trails. For more information about Ocala National Forest boat ramps, call the Seminole Ranger District at (352) 669-3153.

Boat launch access in the Ocala National Forest is classified by one of four different categories:

Class A: All-weather hard surface pavement extending into water making it suitable for all vehicles.
Class B: All-weather sand, clay or general road, which may have some hard surface but not extending into the water. Suited for all vehicles.
Class C: Approached by improved sand, clay or gravel road. Not recommended for passenger cars but useable for pickup trucks.
Class D: Approached by unimproved clay or sand road. Recommended only for four-wheel drive vehicles. Entry into lake may be no more than tracks.

Alexander Springs Creek
BOAT ACCESS (2 sites): Alexander Springs Creek is accessible at public landings located at the stream crossing of State Road 455 and the terminus of Forest Road 552. Launching facilities are carry-in Class D for jon boat or canoe at the State Road 455 site and Class B ramp at the Forest Road 552 site.

Chain-O-Lakes
BOAT ACCESS (2 sites): The Chain-O-Lakes is served by two launch facilities: a Class B boat ramp is accessed from Forest Road 562, an unimproved clay road, and a Class D launch accessed from a four-wheel drive trail off Forest Road 599. Parking is limited at both locations.

Clay Lake
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): Clay Lake is accessed by an unimproved road off Forest Road 540. Although the access road is suitable for all vehicles, trailer launching at the Class D entry is not recommended without a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Cowpen Pond
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): Cowpen Pond is accessed by an unimproved sand road off Forest Road 540 that may not be suited for a two-wheel drive vehicle. Trailer launching at the Class D entry is not recommended without a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Crooked Lake
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): A Class D entry with limited parking is located at the terminus of a four-wheel drive trail off County Road 445A.

Crows Bluff
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): A Class A boat ramp off State Road 44, near the intersection of State Road 42, provides access to the St. Johns River that extends north to Lake Dexter. Access is suitable for all vehicles.

Gobbler Lake
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): Gobbler Lake is accessed by a four-wheel drive trail just off State Road 40. Boat launching facility is a Class D entry with limited parking.

Grasshopper Lake
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): A Class A boat ramp and a public fishing pier are located on an unimproved road, .3 miles east of State Road 19. Access is suitable for all vehicles.

Lake Beakman
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): A Class A boat ramp is located alongside State Road 19. Access is suitable for all vehicles.

Lake Dorr
BOAT ACCESS (2 sites): There are two Class A ramps that provide suitable launching for all classes of fishing boats. Both are located on improved roads adjacent to State Road 19, about 12 miles south of State Road 40.

Lawbreaker Lake
BOAT ACCESS (2 sites): Although there are no identified launching sites, small jon boats and canoes can be carried to the lake at several locations. Access roads off State Road 40 to the lake are extremely sandy and recommended only for four-wheel drive vehicles.

Sellers Lake
BOAT ACCESS (2 sites): A Class A boat ramp located off State Road 19 provides access to Beckman Lake, which is connected to Sellers Lake by a small channel that is open during normal water levels. However, during periods of low water, the channel is impassable.

A Class D entry is located off unimproved Forest Road 599C. Trailer launching at the Class D entry is not recommended without a four-wheel drive vehicle.

St. Johns River, Lake George Section
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): Lake George establishes the northeastern boundary of the Ocala National Forest. One trailer launch to Lake George that is located in Lake County is the Blue Creek boat ramp. The Class A boat ramp is at the terminus of Forest Road 9984. Accessis suitable for all vehicles.

Wildcat Lake
BOAT ACCESS (1 site): A Class A boat ramp is located off State Road 40, just east of the intersection with State Road 19. Paved parking is provided for a nominal fee.

The Flint River is an approximately 150 miles (240 km) long river, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The river drains 8,460 sq mi of western Georgia, flowing south from the upper Piedmont region south of Atlanta to the wetlands of the coastal plain in the southwestern corner of the state. Along with the Apalachicola and the Chattahoochee, it forms part of the ACF basin. In its upper course through the red hills of the Piedmont it is considered especially scenic, flowing unimpeded for over 200 miles.

Natural History

The river is considered to have three distinct sections as it flows southward through western Georgia. In its upper reaches in the red hills of the Piedmont, it flows through a deeply incised channel etched into crystalline rocks. South of its fall line near Culloden, the channel transforms to a broad, forested swampy flood plain. South of Lake Blackshear, it transforms again, flowing through a channel in limestone rock above the Upper Floridan Aquifer below southwestern Georgia and northwestern Florida.

The river has been prone to floods throughout its history. In 1994, during flooding from Tropical Storm Alberto, the river crested at 43 feet in Albany, resulting in the emergency evacuation of over 23,000 residents, and creating one of the worst natural disasters in the state's history. Interstate 75 was closed in Macon, and Albany State University was also seriously flooded, as the river became a few miles or several kilometers wide in some places. The water lifted caskets from cemeteries and left them along with drowned cattle and other livestock stuck in trees and other places. Other significant floods occurred in 1841 and 1925.

In January 2002, a winter storm blew through Atlanta the day after New Year's Day, and deicing fluid leaked into the river when the airport's drainage system overflowed. Nobody became seriously ill from the antifreeze, which made it into drinking water for some, but the airport changed the system to avoid the problem in the future. This has not been tested yet, however, since even as of 2007, this was the last major snow event the city had seen due to several warm or dry winters.

Osceola National Forest is an American National Forest located in Florida.

Osceola National Forest was created by President Herbert Hoover's proclamation, on July 10, 1931. It is named in honor of the Native American Seminole warrior, Osceola.

The forest is made up of approximately 200,000 acres of pine flatwoods and cypress-hardwood swamps in northeastern Florida and is about 50 miles west of Jacksonville. It is located in parts of Columbia, Baker, Bradford, and Hamilton counties. The forest is headquartered in Tallahassee, as are all four National Forests in Florida, but there are local ranger district offices located in Olustee.

A 23-mile section of the Florida National Scenic Trail is included in the park grounds. Other hiking trails in the Park include: Olustee Battlefield Trail, Trampled Track Trail, and Mt. Carrie Trail. There are two horseback riding trails through open pine flatwoods and near scenic bays. The park is also open to hunters and fishermen with permits.

Within the forest is the Osceola Research Natural Area, designated a National Natural Landmark in December 1974.

Osceola National Forest is home to many species including the alligator and the red cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species.

A blueway is similar to a hiking trail. Physical and geo-positioned markers guide trail users through the waterways. An ideal blueway trail also includes an abundance of scenery and wildlife as well as easy canoe and kayak access. The Lake County Community Blueways Project identifies scenic waterways that feature nearby amenities for paddlers. The eight trails are within the areas of the St. Johns River, Golden Triangle, Palatlakaha Basin and Oklawaha Basin.

Each zone offers a different experience for trail users. For example, the Golden Triangle Run skirts along the lakefronts of Tavares and Mount Dora and is a shorter trail suitable for casual or novice users. Several of the St. Johns River trails are categorized as "wilderness" Blueways as these runs are located in remote, undeveloped areas and offer paddlers hiking and camping opportunities.

The idea of developing a Blueways program was introduced to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners in January 2005. Since then, the departments of Public Works, Environmental Utilities and Tourism & Business Relations have worked diligently to make this project become a reality. Lake County was granted a temporary permit for its collection of Blueways on Oct. 12, 2005. The temporary permit allowed the County time to install physical markers along the trails before completing the application process. This past year, 49 markers were place along the proposed trails.

"This project would not have been possible without our partners, the Lake County Water Authority, the cities of Leesburg, Mount Dora and Tavares and the Lake County Sheriff's Office," said Lake County Commissioner Catherine Hanson. "With a name like Lake and its 1,000 freshwater rivers and lakes, this was a logical project for the County."

The permitting process for Lake County's Blueways designation included approvals from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Blueways designation also requires the ability to respond to waterborne search and rescue situations, which the Lake County Sheriff's Office has had the ability to do for some time.

In addition to benefiting Lake County residents, the Lake County Community Blueways Project is expected to attract visiting paddlers to the County. Responsible for marketing the program, the Lake County Department of Tourism and Business Relations will unveil maps for each Blueways trail in Spring 2007. The maps will be available online, by calling 800-430-LAKE or visiting the Lake County Welcome Center at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

A license is not required to fish in the ocean. There are, however, safety concerns when ocean fishing:

* Be cautious of surf conditions. Sudden waves can wash the shore and sweep you out to sea.
* Watch your footing; seaweed and algae-covered rocks are extremely slippery.

Ocean fishing areas in the park include:

* Sargent Drive, Somes Sound
Mackerel and bluefish (when running, periodically in mid-July, August, September) striped bass (July, August, September).
* Frazer Point, Schoodic Peninsula
Mackerel (when running, periodically in mid-July, August, September).

Detailed Locations:

Picnic area; the pond and wetland across the street

Highlighted Birds:

Great blue heron; wood duck; American black duck; bald eagle; belted kingfisher; hairy woodpecker; alder and least flycatcher; black-capped chickadee; red-breasted nuthatch; winter wren; golden-crowned kinglet; hermit and wood thrush; gray catbird; cedar waxwing; American redstart; common yellowthroat; song, swamp, and white-throated sparrow; red-winged blackbird; and scarlet tanager

Detailed Locations:

Parking lot, Wild Gardens of Acadia, Jesup Trail, Hemlock Trail, Stratheden Trail, Great Meadow along Park Loop Road

Highlighted Birds:

Nashville, Tennessee, yellow, chestnut-sided, magnolia, black-throated blue, black-throated green, and black-and-white warblers; American redstart; common yellowthroat; ovenbird; barred owl; mourning dove; ruby-throated hummingbird; downy, hairy, and pileated woodpeckers; eastern wood-pewee; alder and least flycatcher; eastern phoebe; great-crested flycatcher; red-eyed vireo; black-capped chickadee; brown creeper; winter wren; hermit and Swainson's thrush; gray catbird; cedar waxwing; American goldfinch

With a record of 338 bird species encountered, Acadia National Park is considered one of the premier bird-watching areas in the country. Through the years, park staff and countless amateurs have observed the gradual extension of southern and temperate bird species to the region. Twenty-three species of warblers alone have been recorded as breeding in the park!

Acadia's offshore islands are also important nesting grounds for many birds, often marking the southern breeding limit for the species. Due to their secluded location and productive marine environment, the offshore islands administered by the park also serve as a critical nesting habitat for eiders and other sea birds, raptors, colonial birds (herons) as well as providing important wintering habitat for northern shorebirds (purple sandpipers) and harlequin ducks.

Both the swift peregrine falcon and the bald eagle actively use areas within Acadia National Park. Eagles have been studied for several years to determine their breeding activity and population changes, and their response to environmental contaminants and human-caused disturbance. Peregrine falcons have rebounded since being on the brink of extinction in the mid-1960s. The falcons were reintroduced into the park in 1984, and have been returning of their own accord to nest successfully from 1991 to the present.