Although there were no orange trees at Ulumay, there were many
other sites to see. A turn at the rustic entrance sign to the sanctuary
took me down a dirt road to a short fishing pier jutting out into
the Indian River; a great place for family fishing. The place was
quiet and lush. First impressions left me wondering if the trip
would be worth it. As soon as I asked myself, “What could
I possibly see here,” I turned my head just in time to spot
a beautiful medium size bird with a baby blue beak. The bird soared
gracefully from the mangroves adjacent to the fishing pier. My heart
began to beat a bit faster in anticipation of seeing more wildlife.
Under the intense Florida heat, I strolled down the dirt road. To
my left, Royal Terns were riding the wind blowing from the west.
Then, I approached a small group of wildlife, indeed. Mountain bikers
of all things! I peered around the landscape looking for a trail.
Where were they biking? Aha! To my left was a trailhead that introduced
a narrow dirt road. I had to explore were it led, of course. I walked
as far as I could under the glaring sun.
The flat dirt road seemed to go on forever, nestled between two
canals. Along my hike I found company with several bird species,
including Little Blue Herons, and a very tall Great Egret. Trying
to get closer to the herons, I walked to the edge of the shore and
spotted a small stingray gliding through the shallow brackish water.
As I hiked further into the refuge, I came across a tall pole. Atop
the pole was a grand nest. Thankfully, the refuge was providing
nesting areas atop several poles for what I believe was Ospreys.
In addition to the opportunity to mountain bike down miles of trail,
adventure seekers can also rent a canoe and launch into the Ulumay
Inlet from the trail. A sign clearly marks the launch site.
The Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary is a hidden treasure that will reward
anyone with a day of soft adventure within a very accessible and
significant city. As I trot back to the car everything seems to
be in place in this small and protected piece of land. A Red Winged
Blackbird flew overhead, mullet sprouted up and over the water in
both canals beside me, and I smiled in response to the rhythm of
life I was a part.
Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary
805 Sykes Creek Parkway
Merritt Island, Florida
321.455.1380
