 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  Long Brown Water Snake, Nerodia taxispilota, coiled on a Cypress Tree branch in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. A large non-venomous snake with keeled scales. The Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area canoe and kayak trail. January 21, 2021. From naturalist Francis Harper’s journal during his first visit to the Okefenokee Swamp in May 1912:
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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 An excerpt from E.A. McIlhenny's 1935 work, The Alligator's Life History:  Black and white monochrome photography of a large American Alligator swimming in the blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia USA. Large epidermal scutes line the back. January 21 2021. "The deep booming roar of a twelve foot male alligator is a sound that once heard will never be forgotten. It is not unlike the first boom note of the ostrich, or the deep, slow-throat roar of the lion before he begins the quick short-cough roars; but exceeds in volume both of these sounds. It has much more volume and is deeper in tone than the bellow of the largest of our domestic bulls. I know of no sound, natural or artificial, that causes such a tremendous vibration of the atmosphere as the full-throated roar of a full-grown alligator. Often when near these reptiles as they bellowed, I have felt a very distinct vibration of my diaphragm caused by the trembling of the air by the broken waves of sound thrown out by these great creatures." Page 71 E.A. McIlhenny (1872 – 1949), of the McIlhenny Tabasco Sauce company, was a hunter, explorer and naturalist that established the Avery Island wildlife refuge on his family estate in Louisiana and wrote The Alligator's Life History in 1935. While some of his statements are criticized by modern science, he was one of the most knowledgeable alligator experts in the country at the time. His work contains valuable information and entertaining anecdotes. 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  An Eastern Phoebe tyrant flycatcher bird perched on a rustic canoe kayak trail sign post to Cravens Hammock in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. January 21, 2021. Because it is one of the least scenic areas of the Okefenokee, I don’t typically make trips up “The Sill” when I bring along a companion. The Sill is a long, straight, man-made canal on the western side of the refuge. Its deep channel and ease of access makes it ideal for fishing, but there isn’t much in the way of swamp scenery. But I was solo this trip, and not out to impress anyone with the beauty of the swamp. Also, being cool and cloudy, I knew that if any alligators were to be found out basking in the Okefenokee, they’d be on the high, cut, dry banks of The Sill. So after an early morning 5-hour drive, my canoe hit the waters around 11 AM.  Large black Turkey Vulture soaring in the blue skies over the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. The Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area. Cathartes aura is also called a Turkey Buzzard. It wasn’t as easy without my daughter, the usual canoe captain that steered the trolling motor while I sat up front with my camera. With just me in the back, the bow of the canoe stuck pretty high in the air, and the occasional strong wind gusts frequently spun me off course. But it was near perfect flight conditions for the soaring Turkey Vultures. Even though the cloud cover persisted most of the afternoon, a ray of sunshine occasionally warmed the air and prompted some of the alligators to hit the banks for a bask. They were quite inactive because of the cool temperature, and mostly watched as I paddled by.  Large American Alligator basking on the shore of the Suwannee River Sill Recreation area in Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia USA. January 21 2021.  Large American Alligator basking on the shore of the Suwannee River Sill Recreation area in Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia USA. January 21 2021.  Cravens Hammock canoe kayak trail directional sign in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Georgia. Cravens Hammock has an overnight camping platform along the brown 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  Brown Water Snake, Nerodia taxispilota, coiled on a Cypress Tree branch in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. A large non-venomous snake with keeled scales. The Suwannee River Sill Recreation Area canoe and kayak trail. January 21, 2021. A fascinating description of the snake-laden, dark forests of the Okefenokee Swamp from Cecil Hulse Matchat's 1938 novel, Strange Green Land:
Cecile Matschat’s works published in 1930's are full of colorful stories of the Swampers that lived in the Okefenokee, exciting folklore encounters with bear, boar and cannibal alligators, as well as scientific descriptions of the flora and fauna of the great swamp. They are a worthwhile purchase if you come across used copies of these collectible out-of-print treasures of Okefenokee literature. 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 the shore of the Suwannee River Sill Recreation area in Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia USA. January 21 2021. With the last hour of daylight, a few alligators were still visible on The Sill. 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  Methane gas under decomposed organic peat causes peat blowups, forming mud peat batteries where herbs and grasses grow. Peat batteries form hammocks of trees, or houses, shown on the horizon in this photograph. Neverwet, maidencane and other plants and wildflowers grow on peat islands. Indian name Okefenokee means trembling earth, because of these peat islands. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Abstract from a report made to Dr. George Little, State Geologist of Georgia, by C.A. Locke, Engineer in charge, Charleston Corps of Engineers. December 1875.
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 Swamp Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie. Sarracenia minor okefenokeensis is a carnivorous plant native to North America in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Green and red tubes with domed lids. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.  Okefenokee Hooded Pitcher Plant Flower  Groups of tall Okefenokee Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie
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  Barred Owl perched on a cypress limb. Strix varia, also known as Hoot Owl, is a large raptor owl that can be heard and seen day and night in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding wildlife photography in the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Excerpt from Francis Harper's Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp, published March 1927:
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  Reflection of a beautiful American White Water Lily flower in tanin blackwater of Chesser Prairie in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Nymphaea odorata, also known as fragrant waterlily, beaver root, fragrant white water lily, and sweet-scented water lily. Some of the wildflowers and plants photographed while paddling Chesser Prairie 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  Okefenokee Swamp prairie ecosystem. Landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants, cypress trees, Spanish Moss and water lily pads. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Excerpt from the 1875 Okefenokee Exploration by The Atlanta Constitution:
In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the paper released many exciting stories from the Okefenokee Swamp. 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  Hooded Pitcher Plants on a floating island in Chesser Prairie. Sarracenia minor okefenokeensis is a carnivorous plant native to North America in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Excerpt from the 1875 Okefenokee Exploration by The Atlanta Constitution:
In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the paper released many exciting stories from the Okefenokee Swamp. 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. -- "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 An excerpt from the journal of Howell C. Jackson describing the beautiful Okefenokee Prairies as he surveyed the Okefenokee Swamp in 1890…  Okefenokee Swamp prairie ecosystem. Landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants, cypress trees, Spanish Moss and water lily pads. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. “I am at this instant writing this letter in the midst of the Okefenokee, using my notebook for my desk. I am standing in water nearly to my hips. Near above me, and pointing heavenward are some of the largest and most graceful Pine and Cypress I have ever seen. Around me on every side a network of gallberry bushes, bamboo briars, bay bushes and vines woven into such an impenetrable mass. The width of these bays varies from 100 to sometimes 1,200 feet. This picture, like most others is also not all together without its attractive side. Within the range of my eye are the water lily, the spotless purity of its exquisite flowers beautifully contrasted with the dark face of the water upon which it is growing, while the warm morning air is laden with the perfume of the cape jessamine, yellow jessamine and the bay blossoms.”
H.C. Jackson, Camp Robinson, June 4th, 1890 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  Barred Owl perched on a cypress limb. Strix varia, also known as Hoot Owl, is a large raptor owl that can be heard and seen day and night in the Okefenokee Swamp. Birding wildlife photography in the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia USA. Excerpt from the 1875 Okefenokee Exploration by The Atlanta Constitution"I returned to my bed of leaves and slept delightfully, until the startling whang-hoo of an old owl perched in the oak above us, warned us of the approaching day. No one can hardly realize how startling this noise is at the first blush, except the man who had camped in a swamp, and had one of the hideous creatures to whoop unexpectedly very near him. We were very thankful, however, to this fellow for his kindness, for we desired a very early start, and it is doubtful if any of us would have opened our eyes before sunrise." – C.R.P. - The Atlanta Constitution, September 30, 1875. In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the paper released many exciting stories from the Okefenokee Swamp. 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  Tater Rake Run Kayak trail directional sign in the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia USA. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Suwannee River Recreation Area.  Tater Rake Run canoe and kayak boat trail through Chesser Prairie in Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia. Excerpt from Francis Harper's Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp, published March 1927:
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
Male River Cooter turtle basking on a stump in the water. Wildlife conservation photography on Chesser Prairie in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA. Pseudemys concinna is a freshwater turtle in the southeast United States. Males have longer nails than females.
On the third and final day of our October 2020 Okefenokee trek, we broke camp early in the morning, loaded the car and canoe, and left Stephen C Foster State Park. We drove over an hour around the southern end of the Okefenokee, across a bit of Florida, and back north to the eastern entrance of the Okefenokee at the Suwannee Canal Recreation area. Here lies the Refuge Headquarters and the Richard S Bolt Visitor Center.
The first 1.5 miles ae along a straight, somewhat boring, man-made canal. I can imagine some first-time visitors may be less than thrilled with the Okefenokee visit if this is all they see. Especially if they are not used to paddling and turn around before reaching one of the beautiful prairies on this eastern side of the Swamp.
Okefenokee Swamp prairie ecosystem. Landscape panorama of Chesser Prairie. Blue sky and clouds over Neverwet Golden Club plants, cypress trees, Spanish Moss and water lily pads. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly, Agraulis vanillae, on a Bidens wildflower near Okefenokee Hooded Pitcher Plants on Chesser Prairie. Canoe paddling trail through the National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, USA.
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