 Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, swimming in dark tannin swamp water near spatterdock lily pads, Golden Club and Maidencane. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA. Friday, March 5, 2021 - return trip from overnight on the Big Water shelter. Middle Fork Suwannee River between mile marker 28 and Billy's Lake.  Young alligator basking in the sun on a moss covered log in a cypress swamp. Alligator mississippiensis. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.  Golden Club Neverwet plant, Orontium aquaticum, with flowers in the swamp. Photographed paddling on the Middle Fork Suwannee River canoe kayak trail in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.  Large American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, swimming in dark tannin swamp. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.  Large American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, swimming in dark tannin swamp. Photographed on the Middle Fork Suwannee River in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia and Florida, USA.
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Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator basking on a log gaping throat pouch; Big Water Lake, Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. From naturalist Francis Harper’s journal during his first visit to the Okefenokee Swamp in May 1912:
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Eyes of American Alligator visible above the blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Billy`s Lake along the Suwannee River. The relatively swift downstream current of the Middle Fork Suwannee River brought us all the way back south to Billy's Lake in less than five hours. We entered Billy's Lake about 3:30 under full sun (which typically makes for poor photography). Amanda moved the canoe along fairly swiftly as I scanned left and right to shoot any and every gator I saw. - Sunny, with a high near 72, with a low around 48. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.  Eyes of American Alligator visible above the blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Billy`s Lake along the Suwannee River.  River Turtle, Pseudemys concinna. Paddling canoe along Suwannee River Canal; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  American Alligator along the Suwannee River Middle Fork canoe trail; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Thursday, 11:15AM to 12:40PM - at the junction of Billy's Lake and the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red canoe trail), we turned our canoe northward. The cypress trees close in and form a narrow channel through the swamp.
 American Alligator along the Suwannee River Middle Fork canoe trail; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  American Alligator along the Suwannee River Middle Fork canoe trail; Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp hiding in the Spatterdock green lilly pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp hiding in the Spatterdock green lilly pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large American Alligator swimming in tannin blackwater swamp hiding in the Spatterdock green lilly pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake.  Large River Cooter turtle, Pseudemys concinna, basking in the swamp waters of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail.  American Alligator swimming submerged in the swamp showing only eyes, near green lily pads. Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Middle Fork, red canoe trail, between Billy`s Lake and Minnie`s Lake. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Stumps of Cypress trees remain throughout the Okefenokee Swamp from extensive logging operations and clearcuts from the Hebard Logging Company in the 1920s. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail. As beautiful as the Okefenokee Swamp is today, I can only imagine the grandeur of the pristine beauty prior to the logging of the early 1900’s. It has been nearly 100 years since the logging took place, but the scars of wide scale timber removal remain to this day. Many of the cypress have been growing back since the saws were silenced, but I do not think we see what the early explorers and swampers saw in the 1800’s.
In his book Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp published in 1927, naturalist Francis Harper wrote, “This was doubtless one of the most magnificent stands of cypress in the country, many of the trees towering to a height of about 100 feet, and having a diameter of more than a yard above the swollen base.” If the post-exploitation Okefenokee can hold such magnificence today, one can only imagine what it would have been to step foot in the towering cypress cathedrals of yesterday. But as long as we continue to preserve this national treasure, future generations won’t have to use their imagination. Cypress grow slowly, but they do grow! One day. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Canoe trail sign - canoe trail only permit required beyond this point. Just north of Big Water Lake. Okefenokee Swamp is a blackwater swamp wetlands habitat on the Georgia Florida border, USA.  Big Water Lake; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Thursday, March 4, 3:55 PM to 4:35PM - the final leg of our paddling northward on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red canoe trail) to overnight at the Big Water shelter. Sunny, with a high near 73. Light northwest wind.  Big Water Canoe Shelter; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red trail) between Mile Markers 24 and 23. Thursday, March 4, 2021, 1:45 to 2:50 PM - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red trail) between Mile Markers 24 and 23. - Sunny, with a high near 73. Light northwest wind. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Bright red male Northern Cardinal perched in a shrub thicket at sunrise with blue sky background along the Stephen C Foster State Park campground hiking trail. Birding and nature photography in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA Thursday, 7:30 to 8:45 AM - Upon waking with the sun and the call of a Carolina Wren, I left my tent with camera in hand to take a short walk around the Stephen C Foster State Park campground until my daughter woke up. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Canoe trail directional sign for Big Water camping platform shelter and Floyd`s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail. Thursday, 4:30 PM - After six hours of northward paddling against the current of the Suwannee River Middle Fork (okay, I’ll admit the electric trolling motor did most of the work), we arrived at our destination. We would be spending the night deep within the Okefenokee at the Big Water shelter. As we approached, two large alligators slipped off the shelter platform and into the surrounding swamp water.  Sunset at Big Water overnight camping platform shelter in the Okefenokee Swamp. Camping is by permit reservation only. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail. A spacious, roofed platform complete with picnic table and outhouse were our accommodations for the evening. A clean bathroom and weak cell phone signal was surprise enough, but I was a quite startled to find a light switch on the dock as well. However, I quickly realized the joke as I read the inscription, “Don’t forget to turn off the lights when leaving. Thank you.” We were treated to a beautiful evening - the nighttime stars were incredible – and a wonderful sunrise. During the night stillness the echoes seemed to carry forever.  Clear nighttime stars over the Big Water shelter in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message
On Friday, March 3, 2021, my daughter and I got an overnight permit to camp at the Big Water Lake shelter in the Okefenkee National Wildlife Refuge. Beautiful landscapes and wonderful wildlife unfolded during our full day of paddling northward on the Middle Fork of the Suwannee River. The night-time echoes and stars overhead were a sight and sound unmatched in another other place we have camped. An overnight Okefenokee Swamp visit is well worth any effort and is a must-see for every naturalist.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator showing teeth. Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail from mile marker 23 and 22 . Thursday, March 4, 2021, 3:22 to 3:55 PM - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red trail) between mile markers 23 and 22.  Stumps of Cypress trees remain throughout the Okefenokee Swamp from extensive logging operations and clearcuts from the Hebard Logging Company in the 1920s. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail. OKEFENOKEE OVERNIGHT AT BIG WATER PART 3- MIDDLE FORK FROM MINNIE'S LAKE TO FLOYD'S jUNCTION3/4/2021 Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Large American Alligator basking in the sun. Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail from the Minnie`s Lake platform to the intersection with the Floyd`s Junction Trail green trail. Thursday, 12:40 to 1:45 PM - paddling northward on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red trail) from the Minnie's Lake platform to the intersection with the Floyd's Junction Trail (green trail).
 Large American Alligator basking in the sun. Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail from the Minnie`s Lake platform to the intersection with the Floyd`s Junction Trail green trail.  Large American Alligator basking in the sun. Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail from the Minnie`s Lake platform to the intersection with the Floyd`s Junction Trail Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Canoe trail directional sign for Big Water shelter and Floyd`s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail. Thursday, March 4, 2021, 1:45 to 2:50 PM - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red trail) from the Floyd's Trail junction to Mile Marker 24. - Sunny, with a high near 73. Light northwest wind.  Large American Alligator submerged in tannin blackwater swamp. Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail from Floyd`s Island junction trail to mile marker 24.  Golden Club Neverwet aquatic plant and bright flowers Orontium aquaticum - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail  Large American Alligator submerged in tannin blackwater swamp. Thursday, March 4, 2021 - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Paddling north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork red trail from Floyd`s Island junction trail to mile marker 24.  Pickerelweed aquatic plant, Pontederia, rising above tannin blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Photographed near Big Water Lake along the Middle Fork Suwannee River. Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Tandem Kayakers on Billy's Lake; Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Thursday, 10:30 to 11:15 AM, Billy’s Lake – The food and tent were packed, camera batteries were charged, and our canoe was loaded (probably with a few too many comforts). We shoved off from solid ground at the Stephen C Foster State Park to not set foot on solid ground again until we reached the Big Water shelter in approximately 8 hours. We would be travelling westward across Billy’s Lake, and then north on the Suwannee River Middle Fork (red canoe trail). Since we wouldn’t be returning to the Stephen C Foster campground tonight to recharge batteries, I turned off my camera GPS and placed my phone in airplane mode for bird listing on eBird. My Garmin eTrex was running to help us navigate up to Big Water, and to later tag the location of the many alligators, birds and other observations we’d photograph along the way.
Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  American Alligator with fish hook stuck in eye. Fishing tackle and fishing line pollution poses a threat to wildlife. Aquatic wildlife becomes entangled or injured. Photographed Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. `Sophie` is the resident alligator at the Stephen C Foster State Park in Georgia and was injured in late 2020. For many years now, our first happy gesture upon arriving and leaving the Okefenokee Swamp is to say ‘hello’ to “Sophie”, the resident alligator that inhabits the boat bay at the Stephen C Foster campground. But in 2021, our joy at seeing her quickly turned to sadness, and a bit of outrage. Sophie had suffered a horrible injury.
No doubt, a boater failed to pull in their gear before entering the small bay. A large hook, with a length of line still attached, had penetrated Sophie’s eye and caused considerable damage. I have nothing against fishing, but poor practices and lazily discarded tackle can cause serious problems for wildlife. Waterfowl are often entangled in lines causing lacerations, feather damage and death. Turtles often swallow hooks or get them caught in their beaks. Hooks left in released fish can be ingested by other wildlife causing internal bleeding. To be sure that other alligators don’t suffer like “Sophie”, be sure to clean up all hooks, lures and line. For more information and tips, see https://www.wildlifecenter.org/fishing-tackle-threats-wildlife |
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In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
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