CREW Bird Rookery Swamp - Observation Deck

You don’t need to hike the entire 12-mile loop trail here at CREW Bird Rookery Swamp to experience its biodiversity. This observation deck offers prime viewing of some of CREW’s abundant plants and animals. 

This man-made pond was created in 2007 when gravel was removed to build-up the parking lot here at CREW Bird Rookery Swamp and it didn’t take long for nature to make good use of it! 

If you stand still and quiet, you’ll likely see many different bird species here, including Anhinga, Great egret, Snowy egret, Great blue heron, White ibis, and perhaps American bittern, Red-shouldered hawks, Swallow-tailed kites, and Turkey vultures as well. Many of these species roost up in the towering Bald cypress trees that line the banks of this pond, each festooned with air plants of different shapes and sizes, including bunches of Spanish moss. These birds swoop down periodically seeking out lizards, amphibians, insects and small fish in the tall grass and shallow waters. 

You might also observe alligators and otters plying the waters searching for prey as raccoons and other smaller mammals seek out tasty morsels along the banks. If you peer carefully beneath the surface, you might spy Largemouth bass, Bluegill, Bowfin, and Eastern mosquitofish, and if you listen carefully, you might also hear Pig and Cricket frogs calling out for mates.