Studying Water and Wildlife

Science-driven Stewardship

Our mission is to preserve Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and support the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems throughout the Western Everglades. We use science-driven stewardship and education to protect birds, other wildlife, and people.

Our team relies on a variety of methods for ongoing monitoring of water and wildlife.

Water Levels

The research team monitors water levels at the Sanctuary through gauges placed at strategic locations to measure this critical driving force in the ecosystem. Canals operated to drain water during rainfall events from low-lying communities downstream are pulling water faster out of this increasingly vulnerable wetland of international significance. 

Wood Storks

Audubon staff conduct aerial flights to monitor Wood Storks nesting at the Sanctuary and other Southwest Florida locations using fixed-wing aircraft and drones. A combination of regional wetland loss, on the order of tens of thousands of acres over the last few decades, and degradation of many remaining wetlands near the Sanctuary has led to the near-collapse of the nesting colony that historically relied on Corkscrew Swamp.

Mammals

Staff use camera traps for long-term monitoring of mammal populations in the Sanctuary. Data on mammal communities help guide habitat stewardship activities and provide data on how land use changes or other factors outside the Sanctuary affect our native wildlife. These data also allow Audubon to detect and respond to new or emerging threats, like invasive species.

Aquatic Fauna and Reptiles

Fish, macroinvertebrate, amphibian, and reptile data provide information on how the ecosystem is responding to wetland water levels and provide insight on the food available for predators, like wading birds, alligators, and otters. These prey species are indicators, and data collected from fish traps and frog calls helps the research team connect the dots between the annual rise and fall of water and the health of the entire ecosystem.