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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Sandpipers investigate a washed up horseshoe crab on the river bank on Kennedy Space Center. Sandpipers are found on shores and in wetlands around the globe, breeding on the Arctic tundra then returning to more temperate climes. KSC shares a boundary with the Merritt Island Wildlife Nature Refuge. The refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. In addition, the Refuge supports 19 endangered or threatened wildlife species on Federal or State lists, more than any other single refuge in the U.S. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-07pd0869

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Sandpipers investigate a washed up ho...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Sandpipers investigate a washed up horseshoe crab on the river bank on Kennedy Space Center. Sandpipers are found on shores and in wetlands around the globe, breeding on the Arc... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A bald eagle perches on a pole on Launch Pad 39A, seemingly monitoring the instruction of the space shuttle Atlantis STS-122 crew on slidewire basket operation, part of the emergency exit system on the fixed service structure of the pad. Bald eagles use a specific territory for nesting (they mate for life), winter feeding or a year-round residence. Its natural domain is from Alaska to Baja, California, and from Maine to Florida. Bald eagles have a presence in every U. S. state except Hawaii. There are a dozen eagle nests in both Kennedy Space Center and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds Kennedy. Bald eagles live near large bodies of open water such as lakes, marshes, seacoasts and rivers, where there are plenty of fish to eat and tall trees for nesting and roosting. Bald eagles feed primarily on fish, but also eat small animals (ducks, coots, muskrats, turtles, rabbits, snakes, etc.). Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd3396

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A bald eagle perches on a pole on Launc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A bald eagle perches on a pole on Launch Pad 39A, seemingly monitoring the instruction of the space shuttle Atlantis STS-122 crew on slidewire basket operation, part of the emerge... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wild turkey tries to blend into the palmetto underbrush near the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The center coexists with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses 140,000 acres. The refuge comprises a wide variety of habitats, including coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks. These habitats provide sanctuary for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals, including more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. For additional information about the refuge, visit http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky KSC-2014-2531

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wild turkey tries to blend into the palmetto...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wild turkey tries to blend into the palmetto underbrush near the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The center coexists with the Merritt Island Nati... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The closeup of this Florida softshell turtle shows its snorkel-like snout. A totally aquatic freshwater turtle, it prefers lakes and slow-moving rivers. It was spotted near the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The species main food is crayfish, fish, frogs, tadpoles and some vegetation. It ranges throughout all of Florida. Kennedy shares a boundary with the Merritt Island Wildlife Nature Refuge, which is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen KSC-08pd1625

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The closeup of this Florida softshell turtl...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The closeup of this Florida softshell turtle shows its snorkel-like snout. A totally aquatic freshwater turtle, it prefers lakes and slow-moving rivers. It was spotted near the Shutt... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An Egretta Heron, also known as a Tricolored Heron, wades through water just north of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Kennedy coexists with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, habitat to more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fish and 65 amphibians and reptiles. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin KSC-2011-1030

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An Egretta Heron, also known as a Tricolored H...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An Egretta Heron, also known as a Tricolored Heron, wades through water just north of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Kennedy coexists with ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the turn basin near the NASA News Center swims a large fish, perhaps witness to the arrival today of the external fuel tank that will launch Space Shuttle Atlantis on the next shuttle mission, STS-115. The tank, designated ET-118, was shipped from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The area is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the center. The wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 117 fishes, as well as 310 species of birds, 25 mammals and 65 amphibians and reptiles. In addition, the Refuge supports 19 endangered or threatened wildlife species on Federal or State lists, more than any other single refuge in the U.S. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-06pd1020

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the turn basin near the NASA News C...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the turn basin near the NASA News Center swims a large fish, perhaps witness to the arrival today of the external fuel tank that will launch Space Shuttle Atlantis on the nex... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, two bald eagles stand sentinel as STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh and Pilot Barry E. Wilmore practice landings in a Shuttle Training Aircraft in preparation for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mission. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge coexists with Kennedy Space Center and provides a habitat for 330 species of birds including bald eagles. Bald eagles, which mate for life, use a specific territory for nesting, winter feeding or a year-round residence. Its natural domain is from Alaska to Baja, Calif., and from Maine to Florida. For information on the refuge, visit http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/Index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-6262

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kenne...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, two bald eagles stand sentinel as STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh and Pilot Barry E. Wilmore practice landi... More

State-licensed animal trapper James Dean sets the open door of an animal trap on KSC. He hopes to catch a large monitor lizard spotted recently near S.R. 3, a route into the Center, by several area residents. The lizard is not a native of the area, and possibly a released pet. Dean is working with the cooperation of KSC and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-00padig048

State-licensed animal trapper James Dean sets the open door of an anim...

State-licensed animal trapper James Dean sets the open door of an animal trap on KSC. He hopes to catch a large monitor lizard spotted recently near S.R. 3, a route into the Center, by several area residents. T... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A colony of brown pelicans takes advantage of a respite from winter temperatures to sun themselves along the edges of the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The brown pelican is found along the coast in California and from North Carolina to Texas, Mexico, the West Indies and many Caribbean Islands, as well as Guyana and Venezuela in South America. It is listed as endangered only in Louisiana, Mississippi, and in the Caribbean. The species is considered to be long-lived. One pelican captured in Edgewater, Fla., in November 1964, was found to have been banded in September 1933, over 31 years previously. Individuals can weigh up to eight pounds, with larger pelicans having wing spreads of over seven feet. Their nests are usually built in mangrove trees, but ground nesting may also occur. Nesting takes place mostly in early spring or summer with the male carrying nesting materials to the female. Although the female builds the nest, both share in incubation and rearing duties. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge coexists with Kennedy Space Center and provides a habitat for 330 species of birds including brown pelicans. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-1348

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A colony of brown pelicans takes advantage of a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A colony of brown pelicans takes advantage of a respite from winter temperatures to sun themselves along the edges of the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A colony of brown pelicans enjoys a respite from the winter temperatures with a dip in the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The brown pelican is found along the coast in California and from North Carolina to Texas, Mexico, the West Indies and many Caribbean Islands, as well as Guyana and Venezuela in South America. It is listed as endangered only in Louisiana, Mississippi, and in the Caribbean. The species is considered to be long-lived. One pelican captured in Edgewater, Fla., in November 1964, was found to have been banded in September 1933, over 31 years previously. Individuals can weigh up to eight pounds, with larger pelicans having wing spreads of over seven feet. Their nests are usually built in mangrove trees, but ground nesting may also occur. Nesting takes place mostly in early spring or summer with the male carrying nesting materials to the female. Although the female builds the nest, both share in incubation and rearing duties. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge coexists with Kennedy Space Center and provides a habitat for 330 species of birds including brown pelicans. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-1349

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A colony of brown pelicans enjoys a respite fro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A colony of brown pelicans enjoys a respite from the winter temperatures with a dip in the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The brown pelican ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans sun themselves along the edges of the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Docked nearby is the Pegasus barge, often enlisted to bring the space shuttle's external tanks to the basin. The brown pelican is found along the coast in California and from North Carolina to Texas, Mexico, the West Indies and many Caribbean Islands, as well as Guyana and Venezuela in South America. It is listed as endangered only in Louisiana, Mississippi, and in the Caribbean. The species is considered to be long-lived. One pelican captured in Edgewater, Fla., in November 1964, was found to have been banded in September 1933, over 31 years previously. Individuals can weigh up to eight pounds, with larger pelicans having wing spreads of over seven feet. Their nests are usually built in mangrove trees, but ground nesting may also occur. Nesting takes place mostly in early spring or summer with the male carrying nesting materials to the female. Although the female builds the nest, both share in incubation and rearing duties. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge coexists with Kennedy Space Center and provides a habitat for 330 species of birds including brown pelicans. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-1350

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans sun themselves along the edges o...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans sun themselves along the edges of the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Docked nearby is the Pegasus barge, often enlisted to brin... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans make unlikely companions for the Pegasus barge in the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The barge often transports the space shuttle's external tanks into the basin. The brown pelican is found along the coast in California and from North Carolina to Texas, Mexico, the West Indies and many Caribbean Islands, as well as Guyana and Venezuela in South America. It is listed as endangered only in Louisiana, Mississippi, and in the Caribbean. The species is considered to be long-lived. One pelican captured in Edgewater, Fla., in November 1964, was found to have been banded in September 1933, over 31 years previously. Individuals can weigh up to eight pounds, with larger pelicans having wing spreads of over seven feet. Their nests are usually built in mangrove trees, but ground nesting may also occur. Nesting takes place mostly in early spring or summer with the male carrying nesting materials to the female. Although the female builds the nest, both share in incubation and rearing duties. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge coexists with Kennedy Space Center and provides a habitat for 330 species of birds including brown pelicans. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-1351

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans make unlikely companions for the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans make unlikely companions for the Pegasus barge in the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The barge often transports the space shutt... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans enjoy a respite from the winter temperatures at the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Behind them is the Pegasus barge, often used to transport the space shuttle's external tanks into the basin, and NASA's News Center. The brown pelican is found along the coast in California and from North Carolina to Texas, Mexico, the West Indies and many Caribbean Islands, as well as Guyana and Venezuela in South America. It is listed as endangered only in Louisiana, Mississippi, and in the Caribbean. The species is considered to be long-lived. One pelican captured in Edgewater, Fla., in November 1964, was found to have been banded in September 1933, over 31 years previously. Individuals can weigh up to eight pounds, with larger pelicans having wing spreads of over seven feet. Their nests are usually built in mangrove trees, but ground nesting may also occur. Nesting takes place mostly in early spring or summer with the male carrying nesting materials to the female. Although the female builds the nest, both share in incubation and rearing duties. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge coexists with Kennedy Space Center and provides a habitat for 330 species of birds including brown pelicans. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2010-1352

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans enjoy a respite from the winter ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Brown pelicans enjoy a respite from the winter temperatures at the Turn Basin in Launch Complex 39 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Behind them is the Pegasus barge, often used... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A female Red-bellied Woodpecker clings to a utility pole where it has made a home on Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. The most common type of woodpecker in the South, the "Zebraback" nests in the cavities of trees and consumes large quantities of wood-boring beetles, as well as other insect pests. More than 280 species of birds make their homes on the 140,000-acre refuge, which lies within the boundaries of Kennedy Space Center.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A female Red-bellied Woodpecker clings to...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A female Red-bellied Woodpecker clings to a utility pole where it has made a home on Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. The most common type of woodpecker in the South, the "Zebraback... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Co-located on the Kennedy Space Center is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, one of the finest refuges in the world. Here, birds, amphibians, mammals and other wild creatures thrive in a multitude of habitats untouched by the human hand. The refuge is living proof that high technology and nature can successfully co-exist. Photo credit: NASA KSC-95PC-0239

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Co-located on the Kennedy Space Center is...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Co-located on the Kennedy Space Center is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, one of the finest refuges in the world. Here, birds, amphibians, mammals and other wild creatu... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Startled by the almost silent appearance of the orbiter Discovery as it lands following the STS-91 mission, several birds hurriedly leave KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) for a more secluded spot. The SLF is nestled among the wilds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 300 species of birds. Discovery's main gear touchdown on Runway 15 was at 2:00:18 p.m. EDT on June 12, 1998, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. The wheels stopped at 2:01:22 p.m. EDT, for a total mission-elapsed time of 9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 1 second. The 91st Shuttle mission was the 44th KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program and the 15th consecutive landing at KSC. During the mission, the orbiter docked with the Russian space station Mir for the ninth time, concluding Phase I of the joint U.S.-Russian International Space Station Program. STS-91 also featured first flights for both the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the Space Shuttle super lightweight external tank. The STS-91 flight crew included Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt; Pilot Dominic L. Gorie; and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Janet Lynn Kavandi and Valery Victorovitch Ryumin of the Russian Space Agency. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas also returned to Earth as an STS-91 crew member after 141 days in space KSC-98pc739

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Startled by the almost silent appearance...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Startled by the almost silent appearance of the orbiter Discovery as it lands following the STS-91 mission, several birds hurriedly leave KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) for a... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Discovery nears touchdown on Runway 15 of KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the STS-91 mission. The SLF is nestled among the wilds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, as is apparent from the abundance of native vegetation and water surrounding the landing strip. Main gear touchdown was at 2:00:18 p.m. EDT on June 12, 1998, landing on orbit 155 of the mission. The wheels stopped at 2:01:22 p.m. EDT, for a total mission-elapsed time of 9 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 1 second. The 91st Shuttle mission was the 44th KSC landing in the history of the Space Shuttle program and the 15th consecutive landing at KSC. During the mission, the orbiter docked with the Russian space station Mir for the ninth time, concluding Phase I of the joint U.S.-Russian International Space Station Program. STS-91 also featured first flights for both the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the Space Shuttle super lightweight external tank. The STS-91 flight crew included Mission Commander Charles J. Precourt; Pilot Dominic L. Gorie; and Mission Specialists Wendy B. Lawrence, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Janet Lynn Kavandi and Valery Victorovitch Ryumin of the Russian Space Agency. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas also returned to Earth from Mir as an STS-91 crew member after 141 days in space KSC-98dc734

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Discovery nears touchdown on...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Discovery nears touchdown on Runway 15 of KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) to complete the STS-91 mission. The SLF is nestled among the wilds of the Merritt Island ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A fire burns in the background as members of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service operate firefighting equipment soaking the grass and underbrush in an attempt to keep the fire away from Kennedy Parkway and the wooded area on the other side of the road. Lightning touched off three different fires Sunday evening in and around Kennedy Space Center at Tel IV, Ransom Road and Pine Island Road. This area is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge operated by the service. The fires were a short distance from operational facilities at the space center and forced the closing of Florida State Route 3. The fires are being contained by firefighters from Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service KSC-98pc767

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A fire burns in the background as membe...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A fire burns in the background as members of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service operate firefighting equipment soaking the grass and underbrush in an attempt to keep the fire away ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A wooded section of the southeast corner of Kennedy Space Center burns on Monday, June 22, after lightning touched off three different fires Sunday evening in and around Tel IV, Ransom Road and Pine Island Road. This area is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fires were a short distance from operational facilities at the space center and forced the closing of Florida State Route 3. The fires are being contained by firefighters from Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service KSC-98pc768

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A wooded section of the southeast corne...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A wooded section of the southeast corner of Kennedy Space Center burns on Monday, June 22, after lightning touched off three different fires Sunday evening in and around Tel IV, R... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Charred trees and brush in a wooded section of Kennedy Space Center still burn Monday, June 22, after lightning touched off three different fires Sunday evening in and around Kennedy Space Center at Tel IV, Ransom Road and Pine Island Road. This area is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fires were a short distance from operational facilities at the space center and forced the closing of Florida State Route 3. The fires are being contained by firefighters from Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service KSC-98pc766

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Charred trees and brush in a wooded sec...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Charred trees and brush in a wooded section of Kennedy Space Center still burn Monday, June 22, after lightning touched off three different fires Sunday evening in and around Kenn... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographers, it is common feeding behavior among the wild alligator population on the space center. Alligators are carnivorous and will eat any living thing that crosses their paths and is small enough for them to kill. For this reason, it is dangerous to feed wild alligators, and in Florida, it is also illegal. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is located on Kennedy Space Center property. KSC-98pc771

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a sma...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographe... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographers, it is common feeding behavior among the wild alligator population on the space center. Alligators are carnivorous and will eat any living thing that crosses their paths and is small enough for them to kill. For this reason, it is dangerous to feed wild alligators, and in Florida, it is also illegal. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is located on Kennedy Space Center property. KSC-98pc773

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a sma...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographe... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographers, it is common feeding behavior among the wild alligator population on the space center. Alligators are carnivorous and will eat any living thing that crosses their paths and is small enough for them to kill. For this reason, it is dangerous to feed wild alligators, and in Florida, it is also illegal. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is located on Kennedy Space Center property. KSC-98pc772

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a sma...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographe... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographers, it is common feeding behavior among the wild alligator population on the space center. Alligators are carnivorous and will eat any living thing that crosses their paths and is small enough for them to kill. For this reason, it is dangerous to feed wild alligators, and in Florida, it is also illegal. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is located on Kennedy Space Center property. KSC-98pc770

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a sma...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographe... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographers, it is common feeding behavior among the wild alligator population on the space center. Alligators are carnivorous and will eat any living thing that crosses their paths and is small enough for them to kill. For this reason, it is dangerous to feed wild alligators, and in Florida, it is also illegal. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is located on Kennedy Space Center property. KSC-98pc769

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a sma...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A large alligator attacks and eats a smaller one in a natural display of cannibalism. Although this event has been observed infrequently by Kennedy Space Center's staff photographe... More

At the end of its 6-hour, 4.2-mile circular trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building, the STS-95 Space Shuttle Discovery, still on the Mobile Launch Platform and crawler transporter, sits at Launch Pad 39B. To its left is the Fixed Service Structure that provides access to the orbiter and the Rotating Service Structure. Above it is the 80-foot fiberglass lightning mast that provides protection from lightning strikes. The top of the photo looks west, across the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. While at the launch pad, the orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters will undergo final preparations for the launch, scheduled to lift off Oct. 29. The mission includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process KSC-98pc1107

At the end of its 6-hour, 4.2-mile circular trek from the Vehicle Asse...

At the end of its 6-hour, 4.2-mile circular trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building, the STS-95 Space Shuttle Discovery, still on the Mobile Launch Platform and crawler transporter, sits at Launch Pad 39B. To i... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking northwest, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in the Launch Complex 39 area of KSC can be seen with its new coat of paint, along with newly painted American flag and NASA logo. The improved look was finished in time to honor NASA's 40th anniversary on Oct. 1. In order to do the job, workers were suspended on platforms from the top of the 525-foot-high VAB. One of the world's largest buildings by volume, the VAB is the last stop for the Shuttle before rollout to the launch pad. Integration and stacking of the complete Space Shuttle vehicle (orbiter, two solid rocket boosters and the external tank) takes place in High Bays 1 or 3. The High Bay doors (shown partially open), four in all, are 456 feet high. The low-door section, 114 feet high, has four panels that move horizontally. The upper section, 342 feet high, has seven panels that move vertically. It takes about 45 minutes to open all panels. Beyond the VAB is the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The SLF is used for end-of-mission orbiter landings, and also military and civilian cargo carriers, astronauts' T-38 trainers, Shuttle Training Aircraft, and helicopters KSC-98pc1239

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking northwest, the Vehicle Assembly ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking northwest, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in the Launch Complex 39 area of KSC can be seen with its new coat of paint, along with newly painted American flag and NASA ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A young, male bobcat balances gingerly on telephone pole cables next to the south-bound lane of Kennedy Parkway. The cat is nocturnal and is seldom observed during the day unless scared from its daytime shelter in the grass or beneath a shrub. Usually found in broken sections of heavily wooded or brushy country, bobcats are reported as common in scrub strand and roadside or weedy grass habitats at KSC. The bobcat is known to inhabit mangrove habitats and will readily swim across small bodies of water. The bobcat occurs across southern Canada then south over the entire United States, except for the midwestern corn belt, to southern Mexico. It is the last large mammalian predator remaining on KSC. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which is located on Kennedy Space Center property, is home to many species of wild animals, including the bobcat. KSC-98pc1602

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A young, male bobcat balances gingerly o...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A young, male bobcat balances gingerly on telephone pole cables next to the south-bound lane of Kennedy Parkway. The cat is nocturnal and is seldom observed during the day unless s... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An alligator swims in the water nearby. The center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 140,000 acres that are a habitat for more than 330 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. It contains more than 1,000 known plant species. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, and a variety of insects. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2014-1999

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A great blue heron catches a small rodent along the shore of an inland waterway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. An alligator swims in the water nearby. The center shares a b... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This roseate spoonbill seems to pause midstride as it searches for food in a canal in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas KSC-99pc14

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This roseate spoonbill seems to pause mi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This roseate spoonbill seems to pause midstride as it searches for food in a canal in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color a... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill feeds alongside a canal in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds are named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill and feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas KSC-99pc15

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill feeds alongside a ca...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill feeds alongside a canal in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The birds are named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill and feed in sh... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A drop of water clings to the chin of a horned grebe after surfacing from underwater in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The species inhabits marshes and lakes in summer, but winters along the Atlantic Coast to Texas. This is the most common saltwater grebe in the East KSC-99pc20

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A drop of water clings to the chin of a ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A drop of water clings to the chin of a horned grebe after surfacing from underwater in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The species inhabits marshes and lakes in summe... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An alligator lurks in the murky, mossy waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Its tail surfaces behind him, looking like a log in the water. The wildlife refuge harbors nearly 5,000 American alligators, some of which can be seen in the canals and ponds around KSC. The refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The open water provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl and a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99wl09

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An alligator lurks in the murky, mossy w...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An alligator lurks in the murky, mossy waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Its tail surfaces behind him, looking like a log in the water.... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Its newly grown, wispy feathers reflecting light like a halo, an unidentified baby bird waits, probably for its next meal, in its stick-assembled nest. The nest is in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with KSC. Hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods share the 92,000-acre refuge with fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes. The diverse landscape provides habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles, including such endangered species as Southern bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Atlantic loggerhead and leatherback turtles, osprey, and nearly 5,000 alligators KSC-99wl13

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Its newly grown, wispy feathers reflecti...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Its newly grown, wispy feathers reflecting light like a halo, an unidentified baby bird waits, probably for its next meal, in its stick-assembled nest. The nest is in the Merritt I... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A great blue heron pulls its catch from the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The great blue inhabits lakes, ponds, rivers and marshes from Alaska, Quebec and Nova Scotia to Mexico and the West Indies. Its principal food are fish or frogs but it may also feed on small animals, reptiles and even other birds. Great blue herons can be found year-round at the wildlife refuge KSC-99wl11

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A great blue heron pulls its catch from ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A great blue heron pulls its catch from the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The great blue inhabits lakes,... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Ducks take flight across the marshes of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The duck at top-center is a pintail, which can be found in marshes, prairie ponds and tundra, and salt marshes in winter. They range from Alaska and Greenland south to Central America and the West Indies. The open waters of the Wildlife Refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The refuge comprises 92,000 acres, ranging from fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes to hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods KSC-99wl10

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Ducks take flight across the marshes of ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Ducks take flight across the marshes of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The duck at top-center is a pintail, which can be found in marshes, pra... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center, an anhinga gets ready to eat the fish it captured in the nearby Indian River with its long, dagger-shaped bill. The bird will flip its catch into the air and gulp it down headfirst. The anhinga is also known as the "snakebird" because in the water its body is submerged so that only its head and long, slender neck are visible. Ranging the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from North Carolina to Texas, north in the Mississippi Valley to Arkansas and Tennessee, and in the South to South America, it inhabits freshwater ponds and swamps with thick vegetation. They are often seen with wings half-open, drying them in the sun since they lack oil glands with which to preen KSC-99wl05

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center, an anhinga gets ready to eat the fish it captured in the nearby Indian River with its... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Spotted in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center, an anhinga captures a fish in its long, dagger-shaped bill. It is also known as the "snakebird" because in the water its body is submerged so that only its head and long, slender neck are visible. Ranging the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from North Carolina to Texas, north in the Mississippi Valley to Arkansas and Tennessee, and in the South to South America, it inhabits freshwater ponds and swamps with thick vegetation. They are often seen with wings half-open, drying them in the sun since they lack oil glands with which to preen KSC-99wl06

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Spotted in the Merritt Island National W...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Spotted in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center, an anhinga captures a fish in its long, dagger-shaped bill. It is also known ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center, is winter home to hundreds of waterfowl such as these coots and pintail ducks. The smaller coot inhabits open ponds and marshes, wintering in saltwater bays and inlets. They range from southern Canada to northern South America. The pintail can be found in marshes, prairie ponds and tundra, and salt marshes in winter. They range from Alaska and Greenland south to Central America and the West Indies KSC-99wl07

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Merritt Island National Wildlife Ref...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center, is winter home to hundreds of waterfowl such as these coots and pintail ducks. T... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pintail duck is poised for landing, joining other ducks and coots on the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The refuge is winter home to hundreds of waterfowl such as these coots and pintail ducks. The smaller coot inhabits open ponds and marshes, wintering in saltwater bays and inlets. They range from southern Canada to northern South America. The pintail can be found in marshes, prairie ponds and tundra, and salt marshes in winter. They range from Alaska and Greenland south to Central America and the West Indies KSC-99wl08

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pintail duck is poised for landing, jo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pintail duck is poised for landing, joining other ducks and coots on the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The refuge is winter home ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A black skimmer proves its name as it flies low over the water in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. They skim the surface of the water for fish, with the tip of their lower mandible cutting through the water. They also wade in shallow water, jabbing with their blade-like bills at the fish scattering before them. Skimmers breed chiefly on sandbars and beaches, feeding in shallow bays, inlets and estuaries, such as the Wildlife Refuge. They range from Massachusetts and Long Island to Florida and Texas, and from Mexico to southern South America KSC-99wl12

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A black skimmer proves its name as it fl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A black skimmer proves its name as it flies low over the water in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. They skim the surf... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sandpiper wades the water in the Merritt Island National <a href="http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/captions/subjects/wildlife.htm">Wildlife </a> Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. Sandpipers are usually seen foraging on the beach or margins of lakes, ponds, marshes or streams. The open waters of the Wildlife Refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The refuge comprises 92,000 acres, ranging from fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes to hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods. The diverse landscape provides habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles, including such endangered species as Southern bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Atlantic loggerhead and leatherback turtles, osprey, and nearly 5,000 alligators KSC-99pc64

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sandpiper wades the water in the Merri...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sandpiper wades the water in the Merritt Island National kscpao/captions/subjects/wildlife.htm">Wildlife </a> Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. Sandpipers ar... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pintail duck swims calmly in the waters of the Merritt Island National <a href="http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/captions/subjects/wildlife.htm">Wildlife </a>Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. The pintail can be found in marshes, prairie ponds and tundra, and salt marshes in winter. They range from Alaska and Greenland south to Central America and the West Indies. The open waters of the Wildlife Refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The refuge comprises 92,000 acres, ranging from fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes to hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods. The diverse landscape provides habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles, including such endangered species as Southern bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Atlantic loggerhead and leatherback turtles, osprey, and nearly 5,000 alligators KSC-99pc65

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pintail duck swims calmly in the water...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pintail duck swims calmly in the waters of the Merritt Island National kscpao/captions/subjects/wildlife.htm">Wildlife </a>Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A robin perches on a branch in the Merritt Island National <a href="http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/captions/subjects/wildlife.htm">Wildlife </a>Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. Robins range throughout North America, from Alaska to Florida. Although considered a harbinger of spring, they do winter in northern states, frequenting cedar bogs and swamps. They also winter in Florida, where they often can be seen in flocks of hundreds near KSC and the wildlife refuge, which comprises 92,000 acres, ranging from hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods to fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes. The diverse landscape provides habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles, including such endangered species as Southern bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Atlantic loggerhead and leatherback turtles, osprey, and nearly 5,000 alligators KSC-99pc66

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A robin perches on a branch in the Merri...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A robin perches on a branch in the Merritt Island National kscpao/captions/subjects/wildlife.htm">Wildlife </a>Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. Robins range t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male pintail duck (foreground) paddles in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center while a female behind him bobs for food. The pintails can be found in the marshes, prairie ponds and tundra of Alaska, Greenland and north and western United States; in the winter they range south and east to Central America and the West Indies, sometimes in salt marshes such as the refuge offers. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0103

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male pintail duck (foreground) paddles...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male pintail duck (foreground) paddles in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center while a female behind him bobs for food. The pintails ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A flock of ducks launch into the morning sky in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0106

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A flock of ducks launch into the morning...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A flock of ducks launch into the morning sky in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 sp... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male pintail duck (left) and female pintail (right) look like bookends on a glass-topped table in the winter waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The pintails can be found in the marshes, prairie ponds and tundra of Alaska, Greenland and north and western United States; in the winter they range south and east to Central America and the West Indies, sometimes in salt marshes such as the refuge offers. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0104

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male pintail duck (left) and female pi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male pintail duck (left) and female pintail (right) look like bookends on a glass-topped table in the winter waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Spac... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Male (foreground) and female pintail ducks climb onto a grassy spot in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The pintails can be found in the marshes, prairie ponds and tundra of Alaska, Greenland and north and western United States; in the winter they range south and east to Central America and the West Indies, sometimes in salt marshes such as the refuge offers. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0107

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Male (foreground) and female pintail duc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Male (foreground) and female pintail ducks climb onto a grassy spot in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The pintails can be found ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two female pintail ducks search for food in the winter waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The pintails can be found in the marshes, prairie ponds and tundra of Alaska, Greenland and north and western United States; in the winter they range south and east to Central America and the West Indies, sometimes in salt marshes such as the refuge offers. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0105

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two female pintail ducks search for food...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two female pintail ducks search for food in the winter waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The pintails can be found in the marshes, prai... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mockingbird perches on a limb in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The birds range from southern Canada south to the Caribbean and winter in the southern part of the range. Mockingbirds are very vocal, often imitating the sounds of other birds. Besides providing a winter home for the mockingbird, the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0108

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mockingbird perches on a limb in the M...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mockingbird perches on a limb in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The birds range from southern Canada south to the Caribbean and winter in th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The distinctive fan-shaped, black-bordered crest and striped breast identify this hooded merganser, swimming in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Usually found from Alaska and Canada south to Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee, hooded mergansers winter south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast, including KSC. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0111

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The distinctive fan-shaped, black-border...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The distinctive fan-shaped, black-bordered crest and striped breast identify this hooded merganser, swimming in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The broad, distinctive bill is a primary feature of this northern shoveler, paddling in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Typically found in western Canada, Alaska, Colorado and Southern California, it can also be found farther east and south, wintering in the United States along the southeast coast. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0109

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The broad, distinctive bill is a primary...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The broad, distinctive bill is a primary feature of this northern shoveler, paddling in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Typically... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female hooded merganser swims solo in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The male is distinguished by a fan-shaped, black-bordered crest and striped breast. Usually found from Alaska and Canada south to Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee, hooded mergansers winter south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast, including KSC. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0115

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female hooded merganser swims solo in ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female hooded merganser swims solo in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The male is distinguished by a fan-shaped, black-bordered... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male and two female hooded mergansers swim in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The male displays its distinctive fan-shaped, black-bordered crest. Usually found from Alaska and Canada south to Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee, hooded mergansers winter south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast, including KSC. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0110

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male and two female hooded mergansers ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A male and two female hooded mergansers swim in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The male displays its distinctive fan-shaped, bla... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This male blue-winged teal is one of 23 species of migratory waterfowl that winter in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The male is usually identified with pale blue shoulder patches and a white crescent in front of its eye. The blue-winged teal's normal range is from Canada to North Carolina, the Gulf Coast and southern California, preferring marshes, shallow ponds and lakes. It winters as far as northern South America. The refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0112

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This male blue-winged teal is one of 23 ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This male blue-winged teal is one of 23 species of migratory waterfowl that winter in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The male is... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Balancing on one leg, a roseate spoonbill is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0113

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Balancing on one leg, a roseate spoonbil...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Balancing on one leg, a roseate spoonbill is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- These wood storks stand in grassy patches near the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Known as "flint heads" and "gourd heads" because of their naked crowns, the wood stork is found throughout Florida and occasionally South Carolina and Texas, breeding in cypress and mangrove swamps. The refuge is a year-round home for wood storks, plus great blue herons, great egrets, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, as well as a wintering area for 23 species of migratory waterfowl. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0114

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- These wood storks stand in grassy patche...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- These wood storks stand in grassy patches near the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge at Kennedy Space Center. Known as "flint heads" and "gourd heads" because o... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A belted kingfisher soars over the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The pigeon-sized, blue-gray male is identified by the blue-gray breast band; females show a chestnut belly band. The belted kingfisher ranges throughout the United States and Canada, wintering south to Panama and the West Indies. They dive into the water for fish and may also take crabs, crayfish, salamanders, lizards, mice and insects. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pc0132

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A belted kingfisher soars over the Merri...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A belted kingfisher soars over the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The pigeon-sized, blue-gray male is identified by the... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A young female red-breasted merganser swims in the quicksilver water of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Usually found from Alaska and Canada south to Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee, hooded mergansers winter south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast, including KSC. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0140

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A young female red-breasted merganser sw...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A young female red-breasted merganser swims in the quicksilver water of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Usually foun... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female red-breasted merganser swims low in the water at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Usually found from Alaska and Canada south to Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee, hooded mergansers winter south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast, including KSC. The open water of the refuge provides wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds. The 92,000-acre refuge is also habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0139

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female red-breasted merganser swims lo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female red-breasted merganser swims low in the water at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Usually found from Alaska ... More

The entrance, shown here, to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Information Center is on Beach Rd. (SR 402), which skirts the north end of the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. The refuge, which shares a boundary with the center, is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The visitor information center offers a variety of interesting displays that describe the wildlife and habitats of the refuge. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, but closed on federal holidays and Sundays from May through October KSC-99pc0138

The entrance, shown here, to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refu...

The entrance, shown here, to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Information Center is on Beach Rd. (SR 402), which skirts the north end of the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An Eastern gray squirrel pauses in its daily search for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The Eastern gray squirrel is found in wooded, suburban, and urban areas statewide. It nests in tree hollows or leaf nests in treetops. It forages during the day, mainly early morning and late afternoon, both on the ground and in trees, living on a diet of acorns, nuts, fruits, berries, insects, and bird eggs. Food plants include cypress, buckeyes, elms, grapes, tulip trees, mulberries, and tupelo. It breeds in late winter or early spring and again in late spring or summer, bearing two to six young. The eastern gray squirrel chatters when disturbed. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pc0137

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An Eastern gray squirrel pauses in its d...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- An Eastern gray squirrel pauses in its daily search for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The Eastern gray squ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Rough-legged hawk stares at the landscape from a perch in a tree in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This type of hawk is rarely seen in Florida, ranging from northern Alaska through Manitoba and Newfoundland and wintering from California east to Virginia. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center, is habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pp0227

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Rough-legged hawk stares at the landsc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Rough-legged hawk stares at the landscape from a perch in a tree in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This type of hawk is rarely seen in Florida, ranging from norther... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Rough-legged Hawk fans its wings as it gently lands in a tree in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This type of hawk is rarely seen in Florida, ranging from northern Alaska through Manitoba and Newfoundland and wintering from California east to Virginia. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center, is habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles KSC-99pp0226

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Rough-legged Hawk fans its wings as it...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Rough-legged Hawk fans its wings as it gently lands in a tree in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This type of hawk is rarely seen in Florida, ranging from northern A... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans search for a meal in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The habitat of white pelicans are marshy lakes along the Pacific and Texas coasts, wintering chiefly in coastal lagoons such as this one. They often capture fish cooperatively, forming a long line, beating their wings and driving the prey into shallow water. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0249

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans search for a meal in the ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans search for a meal in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The habitat of white pelicans are ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female red-breasted merganser paddles in the rippled water of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center. Male mergansers have a green head, gray sides, white neck ring and rusty breast. One of three mergansers commonly found on salt water, it ranges from northern lakes and tundra ponds, wintering principally on the ocean and in salt bays. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0247

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female red-breasted merganser paddles ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A female red-breasted merganser paddles in the rippled water of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center. Male mergansers ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans soaring over the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge reveal the black wing feathers that are hidden when folded. The habitat of white pelicans are marshy lakes along the Pacific and Texas coasts, wintering chiefly in coastal lagoons such as this one. They often capture fish cooperatively, forming a long line, beating their wings and driving the prey into shallow water. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0250

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans soaring over the waters o...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans soaring over the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge reveal the black wing feathers that are hidden when folded. The habitat of white pelicans are ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A white pelican stretches its eight-foot wing span as it prepares for flight. The black wing feathers, hidden when folded, appear as shadows against the dappled waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The habitat of white pelicans are marshy lakes along the Pacific and Texas coasts, wintering chiefly in coastal lagoons such as this one. They often capture fish cooperatively, forming a long line, beating their wings and driving the prey into shallow water. The 92,000-acre refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center, is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0251

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A white pelican stretches its eight-foot...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A white pelican stretches its eight-foot wing span as it prepares for flight. The black wing feathers, hidden when folded, appear as shadows against the dappled waters of the Merri... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A belted kingfisher perches on a twig in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center. The pigeon-sized, blue-gray male is identified by the blue-gray breast band; females show a chestnut belly band. The belted kingfisher ranges throughout the United States and Canada, wintering south to Panama and the West Indies. They dive into the water for fish and may also take crabs, crayfish, salamanders, lizards, mice and insects. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0246

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A belted kingfisher perches on a twig in...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A belted kingfisher perches on a twig in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the Kennedy Space Center. The pigeon-sized, blue-gray male is ide... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of blue-winged teals glide through the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Inhabiting marshes, shallow ponds and lakes from British Columbia, Quebec and Newfoundland to North Carolina, the Gulf Coast and southern California, the teal winters as far south as South America. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0252

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of blue-winged teals glide throug...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of blue-winged teals glide through the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Inhabiting marshes, shallow ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans are joined by a few egrets at a feeding frenzy in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Pelicans in flight display their black wing tips, which are hidden when folded. The habitat of white pelicans are marshy lakes along the Pacific and Texas coasts, wintering chiefly in coastal lagoons such as this one. They often capture fish cooperatively, forming a long line, beating their wings and driving the prey into shallow water. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0248

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans are joined by a few egret...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- White pelicans are joined by a few egrets at a feeding frenzy in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Pelic... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A snowy egret wades the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Ranging from northern California, Oklahoma and Maine to southern South America, the snowy egret winters north to California and South Carolina. In the East, they are best known as salt marsh birds. Once an endangered species, their numbers have increased again. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0256

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A snowy egret wades the shallow waters o...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A snowy egret wades the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Ranging from northern California, Oklahoma... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A flock of short-billed dowitchers crowd onto a grassy mound in the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The dowitchers range from southern Alaska to eastern Canada, and they winter from the southern United States to central South America. They often frequent coastal flats during migrations. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0254

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A flock of short-billed dowitchers crowd...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A flock of short-billed dowitchers crowd onto a grassy mound in the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A glossy ibis searches for food in the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Identified by its chestnut plumage and green wings, the glossy ibis ranges on or near the coast from Maine to Florida and Texas. It inhabits marshes, swamps, flooded fields, coastal bays, and estuaries. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0257

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A glossy ibis searches for food in the s...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A glossy ibis searches for food in the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Identified by its chestnut ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The furious beating wings of a blue-winged teal launch it from the water as another swims calmly beneath it in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Inhabiting marshes, shallow ponds and lakes from British Columbia, Quebec and Newfoundland to North Carolina, the Gulf Coast and southern California, the teal winters as far south as South America. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0255

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The furious beating wings of a blue-wing...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The furious beating wings of a blue-winged teal launch it from the water as another swims calmly beneath it in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of willets soars to a landing among a flock of short-billed dowitchers on a grassy mound in the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Willets are best identified in flight by their black-and-white wing pattern. They breed in southern Canada, the United States and the West Indies, wintering from the southern U.S. to central South America. The dowitchers' range is southern Alaska to eastern Canada, and they also winter from the southern United States to central South America. They often frequent coastal flats during migrations. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0258

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of willets soars to a landing amo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of willets soars to a landing among a flock of short-billed dowitchers on a grassy mound in the shallow waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sandpiper-like Lesser Yellowlegs eyes the water for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The gray-streaked wader is found in marshy ponds, lake and river shores, and mud flats in Alaska and Canada; it winters in the southern United States to southern South America. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0304

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sandpiper-like Lesser Yellowlegs eyes ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A sandpiper-like Lesser Yellowlegs eyes the water for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The gray-streaked wade... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Black-necked Stilt hunts for food in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The stilt is identified by its distinct head pattern of black and white, its very long red legs, and straight, very thin bill. The stilt's habitat is salt marshes and shallow coastal bays from Delaware and northern South America in the East, and freshwater marshes from Oregon and Saskatchewan to the Gulf Coast. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0303

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Black-necked Stilt hunts for food in t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Black-necked Stilt hunts for food in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The stilt is identified by its ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Roseate Spoonbill sweeps the water for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The brilliant pink bird is named for its straight bill with the broad spatulate tip. Preferring a habitat of mangroves, it is usually found on the coasts of southern Florida and Texas, occasionally in Louisiana., in the West Indies, Mexico and Central and South America. Spoonbills feed on shrimps and fish in shallow waters, sweeping their bills from side to side and scooping up whatever they encounter. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0305

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Roseate Spoonbill sweeps the water for...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Roseate Spoonbill sweeps the water for food in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The brilliant pink bird is named fo... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill balancing on one leg is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0364

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill balancing on one leg...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A roseate spoonbill balancing on one leg is reflected in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, na... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two male blue-winged teals are joined by a female in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The teals inhabit marshes, shallow ponds and lakes from British Columbia, Quebec and Newfoundland to North Carolina, the Gulf Coast and southern California, wintering as far south as South America. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0366

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two male blue-winged teals are joined by...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two male blue-winged teals are joined by a female in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The teals inhabit... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two roseate spoonbills wade in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pink color and paddle-shaped bill, feed in shallow water by swinging their bill back and forth, scooping up small fish and crustaceans. They typically inhabit mangroves on the coasts of southern Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0365

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two roseate spoonbills wade in the water...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Two roseate spoonbills wade in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. The birds, named for their brilliant pi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The newly added Robot Scouts exhibit at the KSC Visitor Complex is situated next to the Rocket Garden. Part of the $13 million expansion to the Visitor Complex, the exhibit helps describe for visitors the accomplishments of unsung space heroes space probes and their role in space exploration. It also includes a display of how data from robotic probes might be used to build a human habitat for Mars. Visitors can witness a simulated Martian sunset. Other additions include a new foyer, films, and an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0407

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The newly added Robot Scouts exhibit at ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The newly added Robot Scouts exhibit at the KSC Visitor Complex is situated next to the Rocket Garden. Part of the $13 million expansion to the Visitor Complex, the exhibit helps d... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the Robot Scouts exhibit in the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, this display offers a view of how data from robotic probes might be used to build a human habitat for Mars. Visitors witness a simulated Martian sunset. Other new additions include and information center, a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater, plus an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0401

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the Robot Scouts exhibit in the ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the Robot Scouts exhibit in the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, this display offers a view of how data from robotic probes might be used to build a human ha... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expanded KSC Visitor Complex, Center Director Roy Bridges presents Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks with a plaque, NASA jacket and hat. Brooks narrates the new film Quest for Life at the Visitor Center. Brooks was recognized for his contribution to advancing the public's understanding of NASA and the search for life elsewhere in the universe. The Complex now includes an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks, a new foyer, films, and exhibits. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0406

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expand...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expanded KSC Visitor Complex, Center Director Roy Bridges presents Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks with a plaque, NASA jacket and hat. Brooks na... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The KSC Visitor Complex welcomes more than 2.75 million visitors each year. Featured are bus tours of the space center with up-close views of Space Shuttle launch facilities and International Space Station processing. The Visitor Complex has recently undergone a $13 million expansion, with new exhibits, films, and an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0409

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The KSC Visitor Complex welcomes more th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The KSC Visitor Complex welcomes more than 2.75 million visitors each year. Featured are bus tours of the space center with up-close views of Space Shuttle launch facilities and In... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expanded KSC Visitor Complex, Center Director Roy Bridges addresses guests and the media. The $13 million addition to the Visitor Complex includes an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks, a new information center, films, and exhibits. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0404

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expand...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expanded KSC Visitor Complex, Center Director Roy Bridges addresses guests and the media. The $13 million addition to the Visitor Complex includes... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex includes a new International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. Other additions are a new information center, a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0397

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The $13 million expansion to KSC's Visit...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex includes a new International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orientation video, with an introduction to the range of activities and exhibits, and honor the center's namesake, President John F. Kennedy. Other new additions include a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater, and an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0402

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orien... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orientation video, shown here with photos of John Glenn in his historic Shuttle mission in October 1998, with an introduction to the range of activities and exhibits, plus honor the center's namesake, President John F. Kennedy. Other new additions include a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater, plus an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0403

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orien... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex includes a new International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. Other additions are the new information center, a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0408

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The $13 million expansion to KSC's Visit...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex includes a new International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orientation video, with an introduction to the range of activities and exhibits, and honor the center's namesake, President John F. Kennedy. Other additions include a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater, plus an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0399

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orien... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A host robot, Starquester 2000, helps describe for visitors the accomplishments of unsung space heroes space probes and their role in space exploration. The walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit is part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex. Other additions include a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater, plus an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks. Inaugurated three decades ago, the Visitor Complex is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0400

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A host robot, Starquester 2000, helps de...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A host robot, Starquester 2000, helps describe for visitors the accomplishments of unsung space heroes space probes and their role in space exploration. The walk-through Robot Scou... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expanded KSC Visitor Complex, Center Director Roy Bridges presents Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks with a plaque, recognizing his contribution to advancing the public's understanding of NASA and the search for life elsewhere in the universe. Brooks narrates the new film Quest for Life at the Visitor Center. The $ 13 million addition to the Visitor Complex now includes an International Space Station-themed ticket plaza, featuring a structure of overhanging solar panels and astronauts performing assembly tasks, a new information center, films, and exhibits. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0405

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expand...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the grand opening of the newly expanded KSC Visitor Complex, Center Director Roy Bridges presents Deep Space Nine star Avery Brooks with a plaque, recognizing his contribution t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orientation video, with an introduction to the range of activities and exhibits, and honor the center's namesake, President John F. Kennedy. Other new attractions are an information center, a walk-through Robot Scouts exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, and the film Quest for Life in a new 300-seat theater. The KSC Visitor Complex was inaugurated three decades ago and is now one of the top five tourist attractions in Florida. It is located on S.R. 407, east of I-95, within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge KSC-99pp0398

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Part of the $13 million expansion to KSC's Visitor Complex, the new information center welcomes visitors to the Gateway to the Universe. The five large video walls provide an orien... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of black-necked stilts protect their grass-lined nest in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Stilts usually produce three or four brown-spotted buff eggs in a shallow depression lined with grass or shell fragments. In the nesting season they are particularly agressive. Stilts are identified by a distinct head pattern of black and white, very long red legs, and straight, very thin bill. Their habitat is salt marshes and shallow coastal bays from Delaware and northern South America in the East, and freshwater marshes from Oregon and Saskatchewan to the Gulf Coast. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0507

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of black-necked stilts protect th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A pair of black-necked stilts protect their grass-lined nest in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Stilts usually produ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Black-necked Stilt sits on its nest in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Stilts are identified by a distinct head pattern of black and white, very long red legs, and straight, very thin bill. They usually produce three or four brown-spotted buff eggs in a shallow depression lined with grass or shell fragments. In the nesting season they are particularly agressive. Their habitat is salt marshes and shallow coastal bays from Delaware and northern South America in the East, and freshwater marshes from Oregon and Saskatchewan to the Gulf Coast. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0506

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Black-necked Stilt sits on its nest in...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Black-necked Stilt sits on its nest in the waters of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Stilts are identified by a di... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A black-necked stilt waits near its nesting mate nest in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Stilts usually produce three or four brown-spotted buff eggs in a shallow depression lined with grass or shell fragments. In the nesting season they are particularly agressive. Stilts are identified by a distinct head pattern of black and white, very long red legs, and straight, very thin bill. Their habitat is salt marshes and shallow coastal bays from Delaware and northern South America in the East, and freshwater marshes from Oregon and Saskatchewan to the Gulf Coast. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge also provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0508

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A black-necked stilt waits near its nest...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A black-necked stilt waits near its nesting mate nest in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Stilts usually produce thre... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mother gallinule (right) calls her two chicks to enter the algae-covered water in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. Gallinules, called Moorhens in the Old World, are duck-like swimming birds that constantly bob their heads while moving. They are identified by the prominent red bill with yellow tip and red frontal shield as well as white feathers under the tail, as shown here on the mother. Gallinules range throughout the Americas, from southern Canada to southern South America, inhabiting freshwater marshes and ponds with cattails and other aquatic vegetation. The 92,000-acre wildlife refuge is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds KSC-99pp0660

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mother gallinule (right) calls her two...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mother gallinule (right) calls her two chicks to enter the algae-covered water in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with Kennedy Space Center. ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of Kennedy Space Center, a female Golden-Silk Spider repairs its web. The female can be identified by its brownish-green abdomen with a white spotted irregular pattern. The golden-silk spider repairs the webbing each day, replacing half but never the whole web at one time. Its web may measure two to three feet across. The center shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a 92,000-acre refuge that is a habitat for more than 331 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks, cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, as well as a variety of insects KSC-99pp1187

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of Kennedy Space Center, ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On the grounds of Kennedy Space Center, a female Golden-Silk Spider repairs its web. The female can be identified by its brownish-green abdomen with a white spotted irregular patte... More

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