We visited Lee County’s Manatee Park last winter and liked it so much we came back today. Although only 17 acres, the park was thoughtfully laid out to attract all kinds of wildlife. The manatees and other marine animals congregate in winter for the warm water in the discharge canal from the power plant across the street. But there is also a butterfly garden and areas planted for several common Florida habitats. (All pictures are by quoderat except for the pirate manatee, which zanna took. Quoderat also did the photo processing.)

The Gulf of Mexico is starting to warm up again, but there were still lots of manatees and fish in the canal during our visit. The younger manatees surface for air more frequently than the larger ones; perhaps they can’t hold their breath as long yet. Many of the older manatees have propeller scars on their backs. They seem so relaxed, drifting up to the surface, raising their nose just into the air, and then drifting back down with a wave of their broad tale.

There is a fenced walkway that runs the length of the canal, letting the humans get close enough to watch, but not bother the manatees. There are lots of informative signs describing manatee behavior and biology along the path. Here is the donations box:

There was a huge old tarpon in the canal as well, probably over five feet long. It didn’t come near the surface of the water often, so it didn’t get its picture taken. Neither did the leaping mullet. This school of gar fish did though.

There are lots of birds at the park as well. This red-bellied woodpecker seemed interested in a bee flying around this tree’s flowers.

White ibis, common in Florida, but always striking with their bright salmon colored skin and blue eyes.