This photographic study of some of the flora and fauna of Lake Apopka was conducted over a short period of time. It is to encourage you to visit and reflect over the vast improvements since the recovery process has been made to the muck farms and damages done by runoff into the lake. It now continues from lawns of homes and businesses. We must protect our wildlife and precious water supply.

Rotary International’s newest Area of Focus, Protecting the Environment, intends to direct our attention to correcting damages we have already done and preventing future damage. Mea culpa. Therefore, as a Rotarian, I am donating proceeds from this book to environmental causes.

Lake Apopka’s history is long and both heroic and tragic. Timucuan canoe fragments have been recovered from Lake Apopka’s muck over the last century by farmers dating back to about 1200-1500 modern era (Slim, P, 2015, p. 37). The area was indigenous until Ponce de Leon and Spanish rule from the 1530s and the British from the 1763. The Spanish took over again 20 years later. In 1822, the U.S. Florida Territory began and the State of Florida was established in 1845. (p. 124) After being used as a WWII farm source eutrophication set in from misuse. (Chomaics, 2018)

Sadly, the lush lands of the banks and the water of Lake Apopka were tainted with improper disposal of a dangerous chemical that was outlawed in the 1970s. DDT, and other organochlorine pesticides, caused deformation and nearly killed off many species of animals in the biome including alligators and eagles.

The St. Johns Water Management District (SJRWMD) is working to detoxify the site by cleaning the soil and the water (the difference can even be seen over time on satellite images). They maintain this wildlife drive allowing people to see the work they do and visit the flora and fauna of the area that are being restored. Another Federal Superfund Site is on the south end of the lake.

Chomanics, C. (2018, Oct 17) The History of Agriculture on Lake Apopka: Birds, Alligators, & Farm Workers. Retrieved May 23, 2021
https://fleetfarming.org/the-history-of-agriculture-on-lake-apopka-birds-alligators-farm-workers

Slim, P. (2015). The Pennings of Perrine Slime: Stories of Northwest Orange County Florida. Florida: Olmstead Publishing.

Reflect over each image again. Did the sunlight make it appear natural or did it appear painted? Do you see the animal’s eyes? Are they open? Do they glisten? Are they yellow? Are they blue? 

Is the alligator grinning? What was it thinking? Had it just eaten?

Had it just challenged a competitor for territory or did it just mate? 

Were the heron’s feathers ruffling in the wind to dry? Were they wet from diving for a meal? Is it stalking prey?

Were there other avian in the image? Did you miss some the first time? Was the raptor cleaning the lake? It could be eating live prey or carrion.

If you find an injured raptor in the central Florida area you can take it to The Avian Reconditioning Center for Birds of Prey on Lester Road in Apopka, Florida.
One way to prevent injuries to birds is to examine trees for nests and cavities before cutting. There could be bird nests in branches and tree cavities.