Here in Florida, one of the most beloved creatures we come across is the Manatee. These are truly gentle giants growing to weigh over a ton and eating several hundred pounds of vegetation each day. During the colder months and during cold stretches in Spring, the manatee will congregate in warm bodies of water, mainly springs. They require warmth to survive and thus large numbers show up in places like Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, FL. Over two hundred may show up on any given day and the number of people who come to the spring to see these magnificient beasts is much much higher than that! In addition to the manatee, the spring and its environs play host to many of Florida's most spectacular birds. While on an eco-tour boat today, Sharon and I spotted and photographed such beautiful species as the limpkin, the American bittern, the Purple gallinule, and the Bald eagle. If you plan to visit the spring, don't miss the boat trip after checking out the manatees.....it's a great place to spend the day!
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