jckegley
12-09-2007, 06:49 PM
This may be out of context for the CNPA site, because it is not in the Carolina's, it is in Florida.
(Note: the Rhesus monkey photograph was not taken in a zoo. The creature is wild and can go as it pleases. While not indigenous to the US, they do now live wild in the Silver River State Park and parts of Ocala National Forest in Florida. The photo was taken hand held while in a kayak. The monkeys have been wild since the 1930's, apparently some escaped the tourist attraction at the spring head and propagated up and down the river corridor. They are now managed to keep them in control. Occasionally one is killed crossing State Rd 40.)
The Silver River is one of my favorite places to photograph and not just because of the primates there. The river is generated from a spring and is approximately 5.5 miles long. The upper half of the river is crystal clear, the lower half can be just as clear depending on weather. Just beautiful. I have paddled there many times and in many seasons. It is always spectacular.
Pros:
Lots of wildlife, especially birds, many acclimated to humans as long as you stay in your boat.
I have observed the following animals at Silver River; Anhinga, Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Ibis, Little Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Common Moorhens, Coots, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Limpkins, Reddish Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Wood Storks, Wild Turkeys, Barred Owls, Alligators, Deer, Armadillos, Raccoons, and Rhesus Monkeys.
Beautiful scenery and crystal clear water.
Cons:
1. Must have a boat (kayak/canoe/motorboat) to explore and photograph.
2. Can be very busy with boat traffic.
3. There is a tourist attraction at the spring head (Silver Springs). Can be noisy and obnoxious. Of course if that bothers you, just don't boat the last mile and you will be spared.
Directions:
Launch at the Ray Wayside Park boat launch in Silver Springs (Ocala) off of State Rd 40. The launch is right before State Rd 40 crosses the Ocklawaha River if going east toward Daytona.
Silver River Rhesus Monkeys (http://www.wildlifesouth.com/Locations/Florida/SilverRiver.html)
(Note: the Rhesus monkey photograph was not taken in a zoo. The creature is wild and can go as it pleases. While not indigenous to the US, they do now live wild in the Silver River State Park and parts of Ocala National Forest in Florida. The photo was taken hand held while in a kayak. The monkeys have been wild since the 1930's, apparently some escaped the tourist attraction at the spring head and propagated up and down the river corridor. They are now managed to keep them in control. Occasionally one is killed crossing State Rd 40.)
The Silver River is one of my favorite places to photograph and not just because of the primates there. The river is generated from a spring and is approximately 5.5 miles long. The upper half of the river is crystal clear, the lower half can be just as clear depending on weather. Just beautiful. I have paddled there many times and in many seasons. It is always spectacular.
Pros:
Lots of wildlife, especially birds, many acclimated to humans as long as you stay in your boat.
I have observed the following animals at Silver River; Anhinga, Cormorants, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Ibis, Little Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Common Moorhens, Coots, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Limpkins, Reddish Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Wood Storks, Wild Turkeys, Barred Owls, Alligators, Deer, Armadillos, Raccoons, and Rhesus Monkeys.
Beautiful scenery and crystal clear water.
Cons:
1. Must have a boat (kayak/canoe/motorboat) to explore and photograph.
2. Can be very busy with boat traffic.
3. There is a tourist attraction at the spring head (Silver Springs). Can be noisy and obnoxious. Of course if that bothers you, just don't boat the last mile and you will be spared.
Directions:
Launch at the Ray Wayside Park boat launch in Silver Springs (Ocala) off of State Rd 40. The launch is right before State Rd 40 crosses the Ocklawaha River if going east toward Daytona.
Silver River Rhesus Monkeys (http://www.wildlifesouth.com/Locations/Florida/SilverRiver.html)