Wildlife
Don DesJardin
Northern Parula Warbler
|
With its mixture of uplands and aquatic habitats, Box-R attracts
diverse and abundant resident and migratory wildlife. Expect rails,
shorebirds and wading birds in the tidal freshwater marshes, while
surrounding pine uplands host brown-headed nuthatches, eastern towhees,
pine warblers, red-bellied, downy and pileated woodpeckers, southeastern
American kestrels, and Bachman’s sparrows. Bald eagles, ospreys and
swallow-tailed and Mississippi kites are common in the area. During
spring and fall migrations, check for neo-tropical songbirds in the
hammocks and bottomland hardwoods. Wood ducks (and other waterfowl),
red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, Acadian flycatchers, as well as
northern parula and Swainson’s, prothonotary, yellow-throated, and
hooded warblers favor floodplain swamp habitats. Boaters may spot
alligators, otters and a variety of turtle species. Box-R’s uplands are
home to white-tailed deer, wild turkey, feral hog, raccoon and opossum
are common.
