A Wood Stork hatchling peers over its nest at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
Three Anhinga chicks reach out to mom at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands is a booming breeding ground for Wood Storks.
An American alligator glides through a pond at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
A Great Blue Heron flees from its juvenile offspring at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
Tricolored Heron chicks get some fresh air as their mother readjusts her resting spot in their nest at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
Nesting wading birds, including Wood Storks, are a draw for photographers at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are one of several duck species that call Wakodahatchee Wetlands home on March 25, 2025.
A Green Heron check in on its nest along a pond at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
One of three Great Egret chicks in a nest at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
An Anhinga pair protects their nest at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
A Tricolored Heron is among the breeding birds that attract large crowds to Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
A Glossy Ibis tends to its nest at Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 25, 2025.
Wakodahatchee Wetlands bursts with new life
Each year, the spring equinox brings new life and longer days.
I first noticed signs of spring while driving to the Friends of the Everglades office in early March. The bright yellow blooms of tabebuia trees light up Ocean Boulevard in Stuart.
This year, cold fronts extending deep into March offered crisp mornings and breezy evenings worthy of longer walks and outdoor dinners.
Without a doubt, my favorite part of spring is an annual visit to Wakodahatchee Wetlands, where dozens of bird nests burst with new life.
South Florida nature photographers and nature lovers flock to the quarter-mile boardwalk for up-close-and-personal views of storks, egrets, herons, anhingas, ibis, ducks, alligators and more Everglades wildlife.
This former wastewater utility property has been modified into a 50-acre slice of the Everglades, nestled within a dense urban area just minutes from the Florida Turnpike and downtown Delray Beach.
It’s a picturesque reminder that despite increasing development in South Florida, we’re still living in the Greater Everglades ecosystem. It’s on all of us to appreciate it, protect what remains and restore what’s been lost.
I hope you enjoy these images and are inspired to go create some memories of your own.
All the best,
Leah Voss
Friends of the Everglades Multimedia Producer
Pro tips for visiting Wakodahatchee Wetlands:
-Arrive early or be prepared to wait for a parking spot. I had no trouble parking around sunrise, but when I left mid-morning on a Tuesday, there was a line of traffic waiting to get in.
-Bird nests can be extremely close to the boardwalk. Give wildlife space.
-Don’t forget to slow down and take in the wider views.
-Consider visiting the nearby Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands during your trip.
About Wakodahatchee Wetlands:
Wakodahatchee Wetlands
13270 Jog Rd.
Delray Beach, FL 33484
Spring hours 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Free entrance
