Most who come to see the Silver River want to be sure to see the Gators. Your are sure to find them soaking up the sunshine. As with all cold blooded animals, this sunning is intrinsic to their metabolism, and is as important as food to them.
One of the unique features of a spring fed river system is the constant 72 degree water temperature. For our cold blooded animals, it creates the exception to the rule. This environment creates a situation where they will breed year around.
This unique eco-system is also condusive to changing migratory behaviors in some of the wildlife that visits the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers. Once they discover the abundance of food, and the constant water temperature, they are prone to staying where life is good. An example of this is the Wood Ducks, a migratory bird.
We saw a huge Osprey this week. These birds are also known as Fishing Eagles. Well, there is plenty of fish to be found on these Rivers.
Large schools of Blue Shad and Mullet have been spotted recently. If you are curious about those beautiful blue fish you have been seeing, they are the Blue Shad, closely related to the Gizzard Shad.
The Silver River is one of the coolest places to be on a hot summer day. Hot is the word though, and it is best to be on the Rivers very early in the day, or after the sun starts to set.
See you on the Rivers!