When most people think of Florida, the first thing they think of is the beach. The next place they probably think of are the swamps (after all, the University of Florida stadium is nicknamed The Swamp). The swamps are an important habitat around here, and they come in all sizes from this small one to very large ones like those around Lake Okachobee. This little swamp is part of the area where there was a cattle egret rookery last year. Every so often I go by there in search of signs of birds beginning to nest there. So far, I haven’t spotted any, but the cattle egrets are just beginning to return to this area, so I’m still hopeful. On this particular evening, the sun was beginning to set, and a small group of larger birds (probably Sandhill cranes) was flying over the swamp on their way to roost. It was quiet and very peaceful, which it certainly wouldn’t have been last summer, when the rookery was filled with birds.