Journal #6 - Corkscrew Sanctuary

When I first learned that I had to take this class, I figured it would be the worst class here at FGCU, with the exception of math classes. Through the years, I only continued to hear bad things about the class. However, the first field trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary proved those rumors wrong. I actually am starting to enjoy learning more about nature. I feel that without this class, I wouldn't know as much about what is going on in the world, nor would I really go out of my way to learn about the things that may not have interested me in the first place. There are some things that I pay attention to, specifically animals, but this course is just broadening my education, more so about the environment we live in. During the trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary, I learned that the trees there are some of the oldest trees around which was fascinating. I was visiting a part of history. Also, I learned more about how some species of birds have gone extinct. Concurrently with this class, I am taking a class titled Science in the Movies. In that class, I learned about specific birds that have gone extinct such as the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, California cockatoo, and so forth. The reasons for these birds to have gone extinct are the same reasons for the birds at Corkscrew Sanctuary: overhunting and the fashion of feathers in women's hats. While being at Corkscrew Sanctuary, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker which is similar to the extinct Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. It was amazing how significant the size of the Pileated Woodpecker was. Corkscrew Sanctuary is a secluded reserve, so that makes it much more easy to see nature as opposed to being more in the city area of Estero. Because of this, I enjoyed greatly being able to see such birds that I normally wouldn't get the chance to see or remember to look out for. The one thing I was surprised that I didn't see were the alligators. We did happen to see them on the way out though. However, all I hear about how there is an over population of alligators, and yet I hardly see them anymore. The main animals I wish I had seen while being at Corkscrew Sanctuary were the otters and maybe even a large cat. It seemed that we just learned a lot about the trees, which were mainly the same ones I learned about at CREW. All in all though, I would definitely go visit Corkscrew Sanctuary again when I had the time, specifically when the weather turns cooler. With the weather changing, I can see the difference in the trees and the types of species at Corkscrew Sanctuary.