Photos: A walk through Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

A 2.25 quarter mile-long boardwalk leads visitors through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary located in Collier County east of Naples. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was established to protect the largest remaining stand of ancient bald cypress trees left in North America. The Audubon Society accepted management responsibility and the first boardwalks were built in 1955.

A field of alligator flag plants (Thalia geniculata) nestle up against the Pond Cypress stand along Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's 2.25 mile-long boardwalk. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

Varieties of wild hibiscus can be observed along Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's 2.25 mile-long boardwalk. This one can be identified by its palmate leaves and maroon throat. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

Wet prairies can be observed along Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's 2.25 mile-long boardwalk. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has a 2.25 mile-long boardwalk leading visitors through a variety of pine flatwood, wet prairies, around a marsh and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

Many of the trees inside the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary have the roots of the strangler fig growing on them. Often the winter frost will help eliminate the strangler fig's growth and it will not kill its host tree seen here surrounded by swamp ferns. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

Swamp lilies are abundant during the summer months in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary located east of Naples in Collier County. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's observation tower offers visitors a higher view of the wet prairies and is an excellent view for bird watchers. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

A swamp hibiscus is observed while walking along Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's 2.25 mile-long boardwalk. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The water dropwart plant (Oenanthe) grows alongside the 2.25 mile-long boardwalk at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

Swamp cattails are abundant in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A roseate spoonbill forages for food by wading in shallow, muddy water in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

This is just one of the many species of water birds seen at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

The anhinga swim with their bodies partly or mostly submerged and their long, snakelike neck held partially out of the water. After a swim they perch on branches or logs to dry out, holding their wings out and spreading their tails. This one rests near a water hole in Corkscrews Swamp Sanctuary on April 29, 2018.

An American alligator lurks in a lettuce lake at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.When the water is colder they are forced on the banks to warm in the sun. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A cypress knee is a distinctive structure forming above the roots of a cypress tree. This one was burned during a wildfire in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The burn allows new vegetation to flourish. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

This Carolina wren, perched on the boardwalk at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, was photographed on April 29, 2018. The small brown bird darts in and out of the vegetation and is a year-round resident of the sanctuary.

The buttonbush grows along the boardwalk at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and resembles a pin cushion. It appears in the spring and summer and can grow to a height of nine feet. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A group of Florida red-bellied turtles gather on a partially sunken tree branch in one of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's lettuce lakes. Females will sneak into a female alligator's nest and lay their own eggs in the nest. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

Resting on a log in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, this anhinga spreads its wing to dry. They have very small oil glands to shed water so must dry out their wings using the heat of the sun. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A great egret sits on a downed tree limb in one of the wet prairies at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The beautiful bird is the symbol of the National Audubon Society. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

An American alligator crawls out of water at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. When the water is cold they are forced to head to the muddy banks to warm up in the sun. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A barred owl sits among the trees at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The large owl is a year-round resident of the sanctuary and feeds on frogs, rodents and sometimes fish. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

The native blue flag iris grows in moist or wet soil and appears in the spring at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A red-shouldered hawk can be seen along the 2.25 miles of boardwalk in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. It is the most common of the hawks seen in the sanctuary and feeds on snakes, frogs and lizards. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

A Pond Cypress forest grows adjacent to a wet prairie in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Over 13,000 acres is being preserved by Blair Audubon Society. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The 2.25 mile-long boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary allows visitors a spectacular view of the 13,000 acres of natural wetlands and wildlife. (Photographed April 29, 2018)

The Blair Audubon Visitor Center located within the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary focuses on science-based public policy, advocacy and education. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The Blair Audubon Visitor Center at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers a nature-themed gift shop for visitors. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The Blair Audubon Visitor Center at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers a nature-themed gift shop for visitors. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The Blair Audubon Visitor Center at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers a nature-themed gift shop for visitors. (Photographed June 23, 2018)

The Blair Audubon Visitor Center at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers a nature-themed gift shop for visitors. (Photographed June 23, 2018)