When William Bartram rode on horseback through the upper Florida peninsula in 1744, much of his journey passed through longleaf pine forests. Since that exploratory journey, the peninsula's landscape has changed and many animal species native to the region have disappeared. The red wolf's howl is no longer heard, the red-cockaded woodpecker is endangered, and other species, from the pine snake to the gopher tortoise, are threatened. Many of these animals depended on the rich forest ecosystem for sustenance. Along the Blackwater River, many animals can still be encountered, especially birds such as red-winged blackbirds, great blue herons, red-shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, great egrets, belted kingfishers, little blue herons, reddish egrets, snowy egrets, tri-colored herons, American kestrels, Mississippi kites, ospreys, and barred owls. Preserving the Blackwater River will help ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty of nature.