Resilience can mean many things to different folks. At the Calusa Heritage Trail, we are continuously inspired by watching what we like to call “resilience in nature” and how the animals and plants around us can thrive in different ways following disturbance.
The resident red bellied woodpeckers love to forage on the trunks of palm trees snapped during Hurricane Ian in 2022. While not the picture-perfect palm tree that is common across Pine Island, this tree is just as beautiful and appreciated here!
Standing dead trees, or snags as they are sometimes called, provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife. They offer nesting cavities, shelter, perching spots, and food sources for birds, mammals, and insects. Fungi are also reliant on these important parts of our ecosystems.
Along the Grand Canal, we have been curiously watching to see how an oak tree toppled during the same storm may or may not survive. As we get closer to spring, we are happy to see new green leaves. Who says you must stand up straight to be a mighty oak? Not us!
When you visit the Calusa Heritage Trail, please feel free to share with us your observations of “resilience in nature”!
