Green Cay Wetlands facts for kids
The Green Cay Wetlands is a special nature park in Boynton Beach, Florida. It's also known as the Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center. This amazing place helps clean water and is home to many animals and plants.
The park covers about 100 acres (0.4 square kilometers). It was bought in 1999 from Ted and Trudy Winsberg. They used to farm on the land. The Winsbergs sold the land for a much lower price. They had one important rule: it had to become a wetland. Building the park started in July 2003. It was finished in 2004. The Palm Beach County Utilities and Parks departments worked together to create it.
You can explore the park on a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) wooden boardwalk. This raised walkway takes you through different natural areas. You'll see places like cabbage palm forests, cypress swamps, and other wetland areas. Along the boardwalk, there's even a Seminole chickee hut. You'll also find gazebos with signs that tell you about the animals and plants.
Inside the Nature Center, you can learn about the water cycle. There's a pond with turtles and a home for frogs. You can also see a special area with young American alligators. A wetland diorama shows what the park looks like up close. The center also has a theater, a gift shop, and an exhibition hall.
Green Cay Wetlands is important for cleaning water. It's a water reclamation facility. This means it naturally filters millions of gallons of water every day.
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Amazing Animals at Green Cay
Many different kinds of animals live at Green Cay Wetlands. It's a great place to see birds, reptiles, and mammals in their natural homes.
Birds of the Wetlands
You can spot many beautiful birds flying around the park. Some common birds include the purple gallinule and the black-bellied whistling duck. You might also see the black-crowned night heron or the tall great egret. Other birds living here are the white ibis, common gallinule, and the colorful roseate spoonbill. Look for the glossy ibis, least bittern, and limpkin too. The mottled duck, northern rough-winged swallow, northern flicker, and sora also call this park home.
Reptiles and Mammals
The park is home to some interesting reptiles. The American alligator is a well-known resident. You might also see the Florida redbelly turtle swimming in the water. Mammals that live here include the marsh rabbit and raccoons. If you're lucky, you might even spot a bobcat or a river otter.
Plants of Green Cay
The wetlands are full of many different plants and trees. These plants help make the park a healthy place for animals.
Trees and Water Plants
You'll see many types of plants and trees at Green Cay. Some common trees are the sabal palm and the live oak. The tall bald cypress and the red maple also grow here. In the water, you can find plants like pickerelweed and duckweed. The impressive royal palm and giant bulrush are also part of the park's plant life.
More Information
- South Florida Birding Trail Guide, printed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- Green Cay Wetlands brochure.
- Official Site: Green Cay Wetlands, Palm Beach County website
- Green Cay on Facebook: [1]
Images for kids
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A Florida redbelly turtle resting on a log
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A Green-winged teal swimming in the water
