Wak-a-da…wha…?? — Birds Bugs Buds

Wakodahatchee. Wetlands. Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

I still stumble over this but will eventually get it right.

On my first trip to the southeast coast of Florida I looked forward to visiting lovely hubby’s family but didn’t expect much in the way of nature excursions. Wasn’t this the land of vast strip malls and housing developments?

I was wrong.

Don’t get me wrong. Such architectural monuments of our modern society are there (then again, they are everywhere). But I was awestruck by how much nature flourished!

I’m not certain how we found Wakodahatchee on that first trip. Our discovery, nearly 10 years ago, might be likened to Ponce de Leon’s centuries-ago quest to find the Fountain of Youth. He ended up in Florida, too.

You might call our discovery a Fountain of Birds, but it’s actually more a Fountain of Wastewater.

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have wastewater. But that’s the modern predicament and short of significant changes to our lifestyles, I’d say the best way around the imperfection is to manage it as best as we can. Enter such projects like Wakodahatchee.

Wakodahatchee consists of 50 acres on a previous wastewater utility property. It’s nested between a few large housing developments and the entrance is easy to miss at 13270 Jog Road – you just wouldn’t expect a nature preserve in that exact location.

Great Blue Heron nestling, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Opened in 1996, the wetlands offer naturalists of all ages and backgrounds (i.e., kids to snowbirds, birders to strollers – babies and walkers, alike) a 3/4-mile boardwalk that offers up-close encounters with the natural kind. As an added bonus, boardwalk gazebos offer some shade with a bench to enjoy a walking break. Plus, for my long-time readers who know my fondness, there’s a nice bathroom!

On a daily basis, roughly two million gallons of treated wastewater are pumped into the wetland from the Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility. Doing their job as a natural filter, the wetlands allow that water to percolate, returning fresh water into the water table.

White Ibis, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Wakodahatchee is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and it’s easy to see why with approximately 180 species recorded. The plant life is extraordinary along with associated insects. And be on the lookout for turtles and alligators!

Antillean Skimmer, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Anhinga with Fish and Painted Turtle, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Along with a few other spots I’ll be mentioning soon, we keep returning to Wakodahatchee on every visit. I could go on to explain with words but maybe I’ll just let the pictures illustrate why...

Wood Stork, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Cow Lily, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Glossy Ibis, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Red-winged Blackbird, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Snowy Egret, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

African Swamphen, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Wakodahatchee Wetlands / Delray Beach, Florida