By Kurt Zuelsdorf

The kayak drifted inward with the tide before the sun peeked over the treetops on a recent morn. Simple paddle strokes broke the glassy surface of the upper creeks. An endless stream of birds headed in the same direction as me. Could it be? Were we all heading to the same party? To the spot that Stetson Law Students picked clean of debris. Where volunteers of all ages helped remove hundreds of bags of garbage from the swamp floor just days before!

Winged traffic thickened in the air like a Monday morning’s commute. In the creek several Tarpon slowed their pace… then stopped as the sneaky Snook swirled ahead. Fish chasing minnows left & right and switching lanes without signaling… so typical at such an event.

Birds, like chatter at a fancy party grew louder as I neared.  At the last turn through the narrow grass channel I was greeted by the host; a Great Blue Heron standing tall displaying his finest plumes. He announced my arrival loud and clear – not a good thing for this party crasher! My cover was blown…

The grand entrance of the hammock opened up into a lagoon and for the first time in ages the waters were free of debris! Tri-colored herons stood to the side waiting to perform as the mullet milled around the dance floor in a well-choreographed routine. A yellow-crowned night heron snatched a fiddler crab and munched as I passed through the elegant dome of mangroves and into the grand ballroom.

All the big players were there. White Ibis by the dozens worked the floor and the crowd. The gaudy Roseate Spoonbill filtered the creek for snacks trying not to be noticed, yea right! Scrub Jays & Red-winged black birds were in attendance too. White Egrets moved about the dance floor and canopy above – a handsome young couple were having a squabble over how to properly eat a creek chub at such a fancy event.  Young herons attending their first gala sat awkwardly along the edges, almost unnoticeable if not for the occasional squawk for attention.

The swamp jesters, the Little Green Herons, showed off their acrobatics. Some hung upside down from the red mangrove roots to snatch a minnow, while others stood in the vines and provided a chorus of croaky swamp tunes.

A family of raccoons entered through the back door and barged their way into the buffet line working busily to wash clean then crunch on everything they could find. A young one sampled a snail…a tickle… a taste… then a headshake in disgust. I was disappointed that the otter pulled a no-show, but it’s hard to find a sitter for the new pups at the last minute you know!

Twisting my head for a final glimpse of the star-studded cast, I caught the eye of the surly security guard…the resident alligator! Realizing that my plumage didn’t meet the dress code I slid silently out the side door confident that this party will go on and on if WE let it!

As the mangrove doorway closed behind me I imagined them asking me to deliver a message to all of those who made this party possible and those yet to come: