Birds Encyclopedia

Florida's wildlife has always played an important role in the history of human beings inhabiting the state. Native Americans depended on birds, mammals, and fish for sustenance. The state's first European explorers encountered new and intimidating species like the American Alligator and the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. In later years "plume hunters," ventured into the Florida wilderness in search of enormous rookeries of herons and egrets, killing an abominable number of birds for feathers that were used to adorn the hats of fashionable ladies.