The Meritt Island National Wildlife Refuge along with a narrow barrier island forms a large part of the Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. Sharing a border with NASA's Kennedy Space Center, this refuge provides buffer area for safe launch of space shuttles, rockets and the like. What is mind boggling though, is the variety of the flora and fauna in the region.
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| The swamp |
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| Trees near the water at the refuge |
Home to alligators, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, pelicans, roseate spoonbills, anhinga, ibis, herons, egrets and more - this refuge provides a feast for the eye not only to an avid bird watcher or wildlife enthusiast, but also to the layman and those wanting a quiet holiday away from the madding crowd.
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| A manatee under water |
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| A 'frisbee' like tail of a manatee feeding on sea weeds |
The sea cows or manatees prefer warm temperatures and congregate in shallow waters. Often they are watched from above by fearless American black vultures.
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| On the prowl, American Black Vultures |
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| A lone vulture posing for a picture |
The wading birds on long legs move through the shallow water searching for fish, frogs, insects and other creatures. Each bird has a unique feeding habit - some using the bill as a probe, others like a spear or scissor.
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| An ibis in the swamp |
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| An egret |
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| An anhinga basking in the sun |
