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Great
Dismal Swamp, NE North Carolina - SE Virgina
The Great Dismal Swamp is located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North
Carolina. Lake Drummond at 3,100 acres and the largest natural lake in Virginia
is located in the heart of the swamp. Overall the Great Dismal National Wildlife Area consists of over
111,000 acres of forested wetlands.
 The swamp vegetation comprises of 5
major forest types and 3 non-forested types of plant communities. The
forested types include pine, Atlantic white-cedar, maple-blackgum, tupelo-bald
cypress, and sweetgum-oak poplar. The non-forested types include a
remnant marsh, a sphagnum bog, and an evergreen shrub community.
Tupelo-bald cypress and Atlantic white-cedar, formerly predominant forest types
in the swamp, today account for less than 20 % of the total cover. (The pic to the right is that of Turks Cap Lily- they grow to a height of 10 feet tall at times, caught in camera by Jeffrey Pippen.) Three
species of plants deserving special mention are the dwarf trillium, silky
camellia, and log fern. The dwarf trillium is located in the northwestern
section of the swamp and blooms briefly each year for a 2 week period in
March. Silky camellia is found on the hardwood ridges and in the
northwestern corner of the refuge. The log fern, one of the rarest
American ferns, is more common in the Great Dismal Swamp than anywhere else on
earth.
Over 200 species of birds have been
identified on the refuge and over 96 of these species have been reported as
nesting on or near the refuge. Birding is best during spring migration
from April to June when the greatest diversity of species (particularly
warblers) occurs. Winter brings massive movements of blackbirds and
robins to the swamp. Two southern species- the Swainson's warbler and
Wayne's warbler (a race of the Black-throated Green warbler) are more common in
the Great Dismal Swamp than in other coastal locations. Other birds of
interest are the wood duck, barred owl, pileated woodpecker, and prothonotary
warbler
Zuni
and Antioch Pine Barrens, Southeast Virginia
 Also in the region, in Southeast Virginia, on the east
side of the Blackwater River near the village of Zuni, lays one of the State's
finest old growth loblolly pine and turkey oak woodlands. The pines are
impressive in stature, especially considering that they inhabit dry sandy
soils. The Pine/Scrub Oak Sandhill community supports a number of plant species
that are rare in Virginia including Plukenet's flatsedge, sandy-woods chaffhead
and viperina. The wet swales between the sandhills create ecotones that are
home to a great diversity of wildflowers. Among many others there can be found
orchids, trilliums, bellworts and lilies. These herbaceous plants are
components of a woodland community that are dependent on frequent fires. (The pic to the left is that of a rare pitcher plant plant found in the Great Dismal Swamp. The ecoregion is also listed by WWF as endangered due to conversion of wetlands to other uses.)
Also located on this preserve are
important longleaf pine communities that represent some of the last native
longleaf left in Virginia. Some of these trees are being used in a breeding
program by the Virginia Department of Forestry in an effort to restore native
longleaf pine to its former range in Virginia.
Merchants
Millpond State Park, North Carolina
Located in NE North Carolina, the 3,250 acre park includes
complex, mature ecosystems. Towering bald cypress and tupelo gum tree
with growths of Spanish moss and resurrection ferns, shade the pond's dark,
acidic waters. Numerous species of aquatic plants, such as the floating yellow
cow lily and the submerged coontail, thrive in the pond.
The diverse habitats in the park
support a variety of animals. Wetland wildlife and aquatic species are
particularly abundant. More than 200 species of birds, ranging from graceful
egrets to turkeys and owls, have been recorded in the park. Pileated
woodpeckers, barred owls, and red-shouldered hawks also enjoy the swamplands.
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