2/7/23 Shark Valley

So the winner of yesterday's trivia question about the strange prickly pods that I took a picture of was my brother, Russ.   They are called nicker nuts.  The pod contains the seeds of the warri tree.  The seeds are smooth and shiny and the name is derived from the Dutch word knikker meaning marble.  In the Caribbean, nicker nutsd are used to play the game mancala

This morning we drove up to Shark Valley and got there just in time to join the two hour tram ride around the park.  The guide explained that Shark Valley got its name because although their is not much elevation in Florida, Miami sits about 20 feet above sea level and the western area near Naples is also on a small ridge - ergo valley.  The shark apparently comes from when Ponce de Leon was exploring southern Florida and discovered a shark nursery in the mouth of a river.  Apparently the Everglades flows into this river.  We saw some alligators, Great Blue herons, black and turkey vultures and American egrets.  I took a picture from the top of the tower, the half-way point of the trip.  The best find of the day however happened just as we started back from the tower.  There was a 10 foot crocodile sitting and sunning by the side of the road!  She was very photogenic and posed for us with her toothy grin.  On the return trip we saw purple gallinules, anhingas sunning to dry their wings, a small blue heron, a tri-colored heron and a night heron.  When the ride ended we walked back along the road for about a quarter of a mile.  We were so happy we did as we were able to spot a group of baby alligators.  Mom was across the water keeping a close eye on us the whole time we stood there.  We also got a pic of a swamp lily and a group of gars near the surface of the water.  The funny looking structure on the yellow background is actually a scute (the bony structure from the alligator's back).  It helps the animal with temperature regulation acting as a solar panel to warm the blood that runs through it.  We had a lovely day - 70 and clear this morning and 81 this afternoon.  I think we will go back to the Farmer's Market restaurant for dinner again tonight.  Dave is hoping for grouper.