Equipped with binoculars, field guides, and AI technology, we set out for a crisp fall morning adventure at Alafia State Park. We discovered that today’s nature walk isn’t just about what you can see, but what technology can help you hear, identify, and explore!
Our day began with Ranger Stephanie setting up a special telescope, allowing us to observe Osprey nests in the distance without distortion. Before we hit the trail, she made sure we were digitally prepared, recommending essential apps like Trailforks and Avenza for smart, safe navigation.
Listening to the Landscape
Binoculars in hand, we headed out onto the yellow trail. It wasn’t long before we paused near the power lines, an unexpectedly noisy spot that was teeming with birds. This was the perfect moment to deploy our first tech tool: the Merlin app.
By simply listening, Merlin began generating a real-time list of species. We watched in amazement as the app identified calls from the Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, and even a quiet White-eyed Vireo. We then used our binoculars to verify the birds, turning the hike into a fun, tech-aided kind of scavenger hunt. We quickly learned that leaving Merlin running in the background built a comprehensive log of every bird we passed!
Flora, Fauna, and the Famous Wildlife
Moving deeper into the woods, we turned our attention to the ground. We learned about invasive species like Cogongrass and Caesar’s Weed growing alongside native gems like the beautiful, purple Beautyberry plants. The trail showed us Florida’s diverse ecosystem, with sections of towering pines, ancient oaks, red maples, and palms.
Evidence of wildlife was everywhere. The youth on the walk quickly pointed out various animal prints, scat, game trails, and delicate spiny spider webs. We had the privilege of spotting a group of whitetail deer running in the distance and an alligator resting peacefully in a nearby lake. During one stop, a curious youth member also became engrossed entirely with the fascinating textures of a Turkey Tail Lichen cluster. We did not even see it until he showed us.
But the biggest gasp of excitement came when Ranger Stephanie pulled out a mysterious plastic bag containing a gray ball. It was an owl pellet! After carefully picking it apart, we found a tiny skull. What is the skull of…? Google Lens to the rescue! A quick photo confirmed it was the skull of a mouse. This moment perfectly illustrated how traditional field observations and high-tech tools work together.
The combination of binoculars, a powerful telescope, and identification apps like Merlin and Google Lens truly transformed our wildlife walk into a next-generation adventure. We can’t wait to return in the spring when the Osprey are nesting, so we can use our new skills to observe what they feed their young!
0
