13026 Jog Road
Delray Beach

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The number of species at Wakodahatchee number in the hundreds, perhaps even a thousand or more when you consider all the life within its confines. There are alligators and turtles, dragonflies and butterflies, migratory birds and wading birds, fireflag and pickerel weed. But the one species that really makes this place what it is, is one most people don't really notice: the pond apple. Wakodahatchee really is a series of tree islands that the pond apple created.

These islands, small and large, provide the perfect place for birds, especially herons, to nest. They're the reason why you will see dozens of great blues, great whites, cattle egrets, tricolors, anhigas, cormorants and more raising their young here. These islands provide safety from the herons' major predator, the raccoon.

Live oaks form an allee at the north end of the property, providing relief from the heat. Alligators frequently nest along the levy in summer; in winter, the trees attract an abundance of migratory birds. Wakodahatchee is about half the size of nearby Green Cay Nature Center, but its lack of size gives it a more intimate feel. There are restrooms and drinking water and interpretive signs on the boardwalk. The place can draw large crowds, especially in winter, and parking can be tight. Wakodahatchee does have security on duty. Hours are 7 a.m. to sunset, more strictly enforced than other sites.

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