Musings From Paradise

Canoeing at Key Biscayne National Park

Nick Viani — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:54:40 +0000

Sightings for Feb. 20:
Mockingbirds, Little Blue Herons (adults and a juvenile), White Ibises, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Kingfishers, Brown Pelicans, Coots, Ospreys, Double-crested Cormorants, Common Grackle, Hill Myna (2)
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John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Nick Viani — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:35:54 +0000

Travel day from Key West back home in Coral Gables. As usual, we packed several stops along the way, including 3 state parks: Zachary Taylor State Park (Key West), Bahia Honda State Park (Big Pine Key), and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park (Key Largo).

Sightings for Feb. 19

Palm Warblers! Magnificent Frigatebird, Black and White Warbler, a female American Redstart
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Key West Botanical Garden & the Mariel Boat Lift

Nick Viani — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:17:54 +0000

After a day on the water, we chilled on Saturday and visited the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, the only “frost-free” botanical garden in the continental United States. In addition to this “one of a kind” tropical forest and garden filled with butterflies, birds, plants and beautiful flowers, a special section is reserved for a half-dozen dilapidated makeshift boats tucked away in a shady corner and dedicated to the bizarre exodus of refugees fleeing Cuba in the spring of 1980.
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