natalie@coastalbreezenews.com 

Paddlecraft launch site. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY ROOKERY BAY

The state of Florida, Collier County Parks and Recreation and Rookery Bay National Estuarine Reserve have teamed together to create a new park in Collier County. The Isles of Capri Paddle Craft Park, located on the corner of US-951 and Isles of Capri Boulevard is slated to open by March of this year. With only the finishing touches left, the park will have much to offer both Collier County residents and visitors.

The park, which sits at the entrance to the Isles of Capri, will feature two open-air pavilions and public restrooms. Its greater purpose, however, will be to serve as a launch site for canoes, kayaks and paddle boards into McIlvane Bay. The bay “is a great location to access Rookery Bay Reserve as long as it is done in an environmentally safe way,” explains Randy McCormick, Environmental Manager of the Department of Environmental Protection at Rookery Bay, as well as Project Manager of the park. McCormick, who has worked on the project from the beginning adds. “The public can enjoy the area in a quiet and peaceful way,” as motorized water craft will not be permitted.

The finalization of the Isles of Capri Paddle Craft Park has been a process over fifteen years in the making. The ecologically delicate land was originally considered for condominium development. Due to the sensitivity of the area, the land was purchased under the Preservation 2000 (P2000) Act, which is now known as Florida Forever. This program, funded by the State of Florida, purchases environmentally sensitive land throughout the state.

Pavillion.

The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is estimated to contain over 110,000 acres of nearly pristine subtropical mangrove forest. One of only three estuarine reserves in the state, it is managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas. The Rookery is also administered by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These partnerships are essentially how the land came to be acquired and developed.

While the State of Florida owns the land, Rookery Bay monitors it and cares for it. Their first concern 15 years ago regarding the purchased land was the desperate need for mangrove restoration on the property. A grant from NOAA provided for a successful restoration of the devastated mangrove area.

Once this process was complete, the State of Florida provided the funding to build the park. With only a few inspections remaining, the park will soon be open to the public.

Restroom facilities.

It will be sub-leased, however, to the Collier County Parks and Recreation Division as a county park. “The county has the expertise on managing parks,” explains McCormick. However, “there is a management plan within the sub-lease which states how the park should be treated as it is environmentally sensitive,” he adds.

The partnership created among these organizations has not only saved an environmentally sensitive area but it has also given the public a chance to enjoy the enchanting ecosystem that is Southwest Florida through the creation of The Isles of Capri Paddle Craft Park.

To learn more about the Rookery Bay and its many partnerships visit www.rook erybay.org 

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2012 Nature Festival. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

The 8th Annual Southwest Florida Nature Festival will take place January 13th to the 15th. The event, hosted by Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Center will feature numerous events, expeditions and speakers that will hi-light the unique ecosystem that is Southwest Florida.

Beginning on Friday and running through Sunday, the center will host field trips at 20 different locations. Some of these trips include birding walks, turtle walks, canoe and kayak excursions, swamp buggy tours and more. These field trips take place all over Collier County and a few are even in Lee County. Some of the places to explore include Big Cypress Preserve, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Naples Botanical Garden, Tigertail Beach of Marco Island and many, many more.

“Group sizes are limited to make each experience unique.” explains Renee Wilson, Research Translator at the Rookery. “Many of these excursions are not available on a daily basis. All trips are led by expert guides who offer quality information and a memorable experience.” Visit www. rookerybay.org to see a full list of field trips and to register for the one that interests you most. Trips are filling up fast so make sure to sign up as soon as possible.

While these field trips are taking place all over Southwest Florida, Rookery Bay will host a number of activities at their facility on Saturday the 14th. Visit the Rookery for only $10 and have access to their Learning Center, experience trail walks on-site and attend up to four presentations hosted by local environmental experts.

This photo entitled Snow Shoes was taken by keynote speaker Michael Male. The Snowy Egret is often known as the bird that wears the golden slippers.

Learn about the Burrowing Owl with Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist of Marco Island at 11 AM. Jack Berninger of the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve will discuss the unique flora and fauna of the Everglades at noon. Up next is Ted Below of the Rookery Bay Reserve. He will be discussing the life of the “Not So Brown Pelican” through its ever-changing colors at 1 PM. Jonee’ Miller of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida will be discussing “Tales from the Wildlife Clinic” at 2:00 PM. The lecture will focus on amazing and surprising animal rescues within the area. All four of these presentations are included in the $10 admission price.

Spend an extra $10 to listen to the Keynote Speakers of the event and you won’t be disappointed. Michael Male and Judy Fieth will be sharing their experiences filming Florida’s waterbirds. Michael and Judy are well-known in the filmmaking community. Their footage has been featured in many nature documentaries including LIFE, Planet Earth and Life of Birds, to name a few. They have been documenting the behavior of bird life for over 25 years and often spend weeks at a time with individual birds while filming. Their presentation, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, will include a video presentation featuring the great birds of our area such as the Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork and Limpkin. There will also be a question and answer section and light refreshments will be provided.

While Rookery Bay will be closed on Sunday, there will still be many field trips available. Going into its eighth year, the festival continues to grow in popularity. “We have always used our Annual Southwest Florida Nature Festival as a way to stimulate appreciation of the wildlife and habitat in our area,” adds Wilson. “These natural areas don’t protect themselves. By raising awareness we can help support habitat conservation efforts which is not only environmentally important, but economically important as well.”

Economically speaking, the events and trips are priced very reasonably. Field trip costs start at only $10. Visit www.rookery bay.org to learn more about their Nature Festival and to join in on the festivities.

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natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

A closer look at the reticulated python.

The Skunk Ape Research Center in Ochopee, Florida has added a fascinating new piece to its collection of weird and wild. Stop at the research center and camp ground on US-41 to see and feel the skin of a 20-foot reticulated python.

According to David Shealy, owner of the Skunk Ape Exhibit, the reticulated python “was found on US-41 and Burns Road, which is located in the Big Cypress Reserve, about two-and-a-half miles from our shop here. The snake was found by a hunter on the side of the road and it was assumed the snake was run over. But when I skinned it I couldn’t find where a vehicle had hit it and there were two empty casings found nearby.”

The length of the python is evident in this photo. The skin was actually too long to fit on the wall so the head was removed. PHOTOS BY NATALIE STROM/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

Shealy and others in the area came to the conclusion that it was probably seen by someone driving by who simply shot it and left it. To shoot a reticulated python, or any other species of python that now live in the Everglades, is not necessary illegal. The species is one of six non-native constrictor snakes that can now be found in and around the Everglades. The worst invader, the Burmese Python, is now considered an established species, meaning that they have multiple breeding populations. Or more simply put, there are a lot of them out there.

According to Scott Hardin, the Exotic Species Coordinator for Florida Fish and Wildlife, “these species are not protected nor are they native to the area. As long as a person is within a zone where it is safe to shoot a gun, the snake may be shot.”

This may sound harsh, but the invasion of these species is considered to be a problem in the Everglades. They do not have many natural predators but are a very powerful predator themselves. The introduction of a non-native species to an area can often be disruptive, just as these pythons, especially the Burmese, have become.

Biologists speculate that the jump in python activity in the Everglades is due to human causes. Many people purchase a pet without realizing the care involved. For some it was easier to just release their suddenly large, powerful snakes into the glades. Hurricanes have also contributed to the problem. Breeders of constrictor snakes have lost many as a result of hurricane devastation.

Due to such carelessness, constrictor pythons may no longer be kept as pets as of July 2010, in the State of Florida. Those who already owned large snakes were able to be grandfathered in as long as they microchip their snake, pay a $100 registration fee per year and keep it in very secure conditions. Commercial breeders are also under strict regulations by the state and are not allowed to sell their snakes to anyone in Florida.

Biologists at Florida Fish and Wildlife are working hard to monitor all snake populations and to keep them from traveling further north in the state. As Hardin explains, “The Everglades is a National Park which means that it is legally controlled by the federal government, not the FWC.” This makes controlling the population that much more difficult. But there is always hope. “There are not a lot of biologists out there, but there are a lot of people. We ask that everyone keep their eyes peeled and report sightings of large snakes. This gives us a head start.”

If you see a constrictor snake, shoot it, run it over, leave it alone; it’s your choice. But you should definitely call 1-888-IVEGOT1 and report what you saw and where. This helps to identify constrictor populations. Hardin remembers when the call came in reporting Shealy’s find in Big Cypress. “At first we believed it to be an extremely large Burmese, but after closer examination we realized it was actually a reticulated python.” Proper identification is important as all sightings are mapped and monitored, giving biologists a better idea of the constrictor snake population.

David Shealy poses with a gorilla at The Skunk Ape Research Center.

While the freeze in January of 2010 proved to eliminate many large snakes, it is clear that there are still many more present and thriving. Always use extreme caution if you do come across one, and if you have an exotic pet you can no longer care for, look for Pet Amnesty Days in the area where you can drop your pet off and it will be placed in a new, secure home.

Still a doubter of the constrictor population in the Everglades? Visit Shealy at the Skunk Ape Research Center on US-41 in Ochopee and see for yourself the massive snake that symbolizes one massive problem.

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Karenia brevis.

Marco Island is currently experiencing a red tide event caused by a harmful algae bloom (HAB) of the algae species, Karenia brevis. Karenia brevis is a microscopic algae species that naturally occurs in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Atlantic Ocean waters. The “bloom”, or a higher than normal amount or concentration of this algae in the water, creates decreased dissolved oxygen in the water, immediately causing fish to die and wash ashore onto the beaches and float in the bays and canals. The higher than normal concentrations of Karenia brevis in the water also has caused mild complaints of upper respiratory irritation by beach goers and islanders. The irritation is a result of the neurotoxins released by Karenia brevis into the air. The neurotoxins, in this case called brevetoxins, if produced at very high concentrations, can cause damage to nerve cells or tissues and can kill a large number of shellfish, fish and other marine animals as well. The concentrations of Karenia brevis offshore Collier County and in the inlets and passes of Marco Island have been in the low to medium ranges which have caused the outcome we are experiencing for the past two weeks. The winds are helping to keep most of the impacts offshore, but unfortunately, the dead shellfish and small fish arrived in high numbers, still lingering in some waterways of the island. In the past couple of weeks, many residents, especially if boating south of Marco Island in the 10,000 Islands, have noted the thousands of Black Vultures circling, hunting and doing their job as the “waste management” of the Everglades by feeding on the fish carcasses.

The effects of Florida’s red tide were first recorded in the logs of Spanish sailors and explorers and is seen in coastal Florida somewhere almost every year. As the population of Florida grows, more awareness and impact (aesthetically, physically and economically) from red tide grows, too. If a bloom lasts for an extensive period of time or it has very high concentration of the algal species, public health is at risk as well as the economy that is dependent on tourism and fisheries. With these impacts in mind, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWC-FWRI) directed $1,000,000 each year between 2007-2009 to find environmentally acceptable technology to control Karenia brevis blooms and the effects they have on Florida. Grants issued with this money, created twelve projects that specifically addressed red tide in Florida, including alleviating human health impacts; economic impact studies; investigating biological, chemical or physical control of blooms and/or their toxins and outreach and education strategies for coastal communities. Though some projects are ongoing, many projects have halted due to budget cuts.

One of the most current and helpful projects that was created is the Beach Conditions Reporting System by Mote Marine Laboratory. It is “real time” reporting of beach conditions by park rangers and volunteers, twice a day. Wind direction, surf status, respiratory irritation, and water color are reported and recorded for beach goers who can access the information in “real time” via a hotline (941-BEACHES) or website (www.mote.org/beaches). This allows beach goers to make informed decisions on which beach to visit with minimal exposure to red tide. Since 2008, on Marco Island, the Collier County Park Rangers give reports at Tigertail Beach, South Beach and Caxambas Pass locations twice a day, 365 days a year.

There are also ongoing, hopeful studies of biological controls regarding the toxicity of Karenia brevis being conducted at the Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) and by the Smithsonian Institute. The study at GIT has a goal to identify which phytoplankton (microscopic plant organisms naturally present in the waters) can be a natural biological control of Karenia brevis toxicity and whether the phytoplankton could also benefit other marine life. The Smithsonian study is looking at micro parasitic species that could be introduced to red tide blooms to control and shorten the bloom.

As an islander and coastal resident of Florida, one of the most important factors to remember to contribute to the control and mitigation of red tide blooms in the coastal waters is to know what is being applied to your yard and swales. Nutrient introduction to the surface waters from run off from yards and streets can contribute to more intense and longer lasting red tide blooms. Following Florida Friendly Landscape best management practices and principles by planting the right plants in the right place, using minimal fertilizer and chemicals, and conserving water, all contribute to improved water quality in the adjacent water bodies.

Important Information: To report dead fish or red tide symptoms, please call the Collier County Pollution Control and Prevention Dept. at (239) 252-2502. To speak to a health professional anytime, toll free, call the Aquatic Toxins Hotline at 1-888-232-8635. Collier County Red Tide Updates are also available on the Red Tide Hotline at (239) 252-2591. This is an automated recording with the most recent Red Tide information for Collier County available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information on red tide or Florida Friendly Landscape, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com

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NRichie@cityofmarcoisland.com

South Florida Big Cypress Swamp. -SUBMITTED PHOTO

Marco Island is surrounded by a richness of unique natural worlds to explore and enjoy with family and friends. All are a relatively short drive off the Island and can be experienced in any degree – from a day trip to an overnight to many days of camping. By foot or watercraft, get to know the “real” Florida in Marco Island’s own backyard. Here is a list of nine “must-experience” southwest Florida sites. For more information, the phone number and website address has been provided for each.

ROOKERY BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE

239-417-6310 and www.rookerybay.org 

A prime example of a nearly pristine subtropical mangrove forested estuarine ecosystem, Marco Island’s environment benefits from being surrounded by this 110,000 acre Reserve. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, and camping are all activities to enjoy in Rookery Bay. There are designated sites for boat ramps and primitive camping. Guided kayak tours are available. Visit the Learning Center, a 16,500 square foot center with auditorium for hands-on activities, scientific laboratory views, live wildlife displays, trails, observation bridge and daily programs. Many annual events – Dive Into Oceans, Southwest Florida Wildlife Festival and Estuaries Day should not be missed!

Collier-Seminole State Park.

COLLIER-SEMINOLE STATE PARK 

239-394-3397 and www.floridastateparks.org/collierseminole/

This 7,271 acre park has one of three rare stands of native Royal Palms in the state of Florida and is part of one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world. Its claim to fame though, is that it is the site of a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, the last existing Bay City Walking Dredge. The dredge was built in 1924, and it was used to build the Tamiami Trail Highway (U.S. 41) through the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp, linking Tampa and Miami and opening southwest Florida to travelers. It is amazing to look at the Dredge and think what it must have been like for the men who built the Trail! It’s a great spot to spend the day hiking, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, riding the tour boat or stay longer by camping. The annual “Jammin’ in the Hammock” Blue Grass Festival each spring is very popular.

PICAYUNE STRAND STATE FOREST

239-348-5775 and www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/picayune_strand.html

(Restrooms and parking are located at 2121 52nd Avenue, SE, Naples, 34117.) This is a 78,625 acre area in Collier County for birdwatchers, horseback riders, hikers and campers. As the heart of the Big Cypress Water Basin, this mostly hydric forest of slash pine, cypress and palmetto, is underwater most of the time. Land managers have created approximately 22 miles of horse trails for equestrians, which include ten paddocks, non-potable water and equestrian camp sites. If you are a hiker, there is a 3.2 mile hike on which you will encounter Bald Cypress that were not logged in the 1940s, and now are around 100 years old. Birders can check off many species on their list on this hike – Wood storks, Night Herons, Egrets, Owls, Woodpeckers and Hawks, are only a short list of what can be seen.

FAKAHATCHEE STRAND STATE PRESERVE 

239-695-4593 and www.floridastateparks.org/fakahatcheestrand/ 

Known as the “Amazon of North America”, this linear strand is the only place in the world where Bald Cypress and Royal Palms share the same forest canopy, naturally. Orchids, bromeliads and rare and endangered, very diverse, plant life thrives. Panthers, black bears and alligators all find the Fakahatchee Strand habitat suitable for their needs. Take a walk on the wild side and walk the 2,000 foot boardwalk through this capsule of amazing biodiversity. In January 2012, Art in the Preserve – En Plein Air, is an experience not to miss.

10,000 ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE PRESERVE 

239-353-8442 and www.fws.gov/floridapanther/TenThousandIslands/

This 35,000 acre Preserve, known as the “10K”, consists of mangrove habitat, near shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest expanses of mangroves in North America. 200 known species of fish and 189 species of birds inhabit this watery world depending on the mangrove and sea grass habitats in the 10K. Many are listed as threatened or endangered such as the Sawfish, Kemps Ridley and Loggerhead sea turtles, Bottled Nose Dolphins, Woodstorks, Manatee, Peregrine Falcon, and Bald Eagles. Boating is the way to see it. Using your own boat, a charter or the tours offered by the Preserve, this is an area not to miss when in Southwest Florida.

FLORIDA PANTHER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

239-353-8442 and www.fws.gov/floridapanther/

This refuge is habitat for the Florida Panther but many other species that depend on the same ecosystem of wet prairies, hardwood hammocks and tropical plants depend on the area, too. It is a 26,400 acre refuge with two public pedestrian trails located at the northeast corner of the I-75 and State Road 29 intersection. It is not uncommon to see panther tracks near the trail. Each March, the Refuge hosts “Save the Panther Week” when swamp buggy rides, birding and plant walks and other activities for the public are available.

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

239-695-1201 and www.nps.gov/bicy/

Historically, the Big Cypress is home and refuge for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Seminole Tribe of Florida and early Floridian settlers. Now, getting around Big Cypress is by vehicle, foot, canoe/kayak or bike. While enjoying the scenic car ride along State Road 41, visitors can stop at several boardwalks and lookouts to view endless landscapes and sight wildlife. Panther, Deer, Black Bear, birds of all kinds, all make their home in this Preserve. At the Oasis Visitor Center, American Alligators sun and swim along a boardwalk that puts a visitor only a few feet from these large reptiles. (And don’t miss, just down the road is photographer, Clyde Butcher’s studio, which has displayed his encompassing photos of the Everglades and beyond that will take your breath away!) Non-motorized boat launching is available for paddlers to explore the waters and wildlife under the cypress, Royal Palms and hammocks of this swamp.

CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY

239-348-9151 and www.fl.audubon.org/who_centers_Corkscrew.html

Known as the “Heart of the Everglades”, this 14,000 acre swamp in the western Everglades is owned and managed by National Audubon. A 2.25 mile boardwalk winds through the largest remaining stand of old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. Four types of habitats, as well as, alligator, deer, raccoon, many of the over 200 species of birds can be seen when exploring the Corkscrew Swamp boardwalk. Annually, endangered woodstorks roost and nest along part of the boardwalk. The elusive Ghost Orchid has bloomed along this boardwalk, also. For a quick stop, the Blair Audubon Center located at the boardwalk trailhead is a treasure itself! This is a must see destination for residents and visitors alike.

SHARK VALLEY TRAIL - EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

305-241-7700 and www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/shark-valley-trails.htm 

A 15-mile trail that loops through the “River of Grass” gives you up-close views and encounters with alligators and birds such as Roseate Spoonbills, Great Blue Herons, Gallinules and many more. In spring, newly hatched alligators sun in the canal just a few feet from the trail. Ride an open air tram with commentary from a naturalist or get some exercise and ride a bike around the paved looped trail. Bring your bike or rent a comfortable cruiser at the Park. Half way through the 15 mile loop, a two story observation tower is open for visitors to see a panoramic view of the 100 miles of Everglades National Park. The Shark Valley Trail is an adventure for all ages.

When planning your trip, remember to layer clothing, bring plenty of water, pack a lunch or snacks, binoculars, and camera. Be prepared with sun protection (glasses, hats and sunscreen) and bug spray. Get out and explore southwest Florida!

For more information on local wildlife, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. 

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Waterwise landscaping with native species. - PHOTOS BY NANCY RICHIE/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

For a developed, man-made island, Marco Island is fortunate to have a large diversity of wildlife. Once made up of approximately 6,000 acres of mangroves, this island was developed into over 100 miles of dredged “finger” canals that are fortified with seawalls. As the largest of the 10,000 Islands and surrounded by the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Marco Island benefits from this natural environs that supports furred, finned, feathered and scaled wildlife.

Just walking to the mailbox, it is not hard to spot a native species in the neighborhood such as a White Ibis, American Kestrel or Burrowing Owl. Or sitting on a dock or in a lanai, one may see a Manatee resting in the canal or Bald Eagle fishing for dinner, dipping and skimming the water surface.

Cognizant of the wildlife that lives on the island and that one day all the properties will be developed, an effort to provide habitat in our own backyards is important to sustain these populations for generations to come. All grass, a ficus hedge and a hibiscus bush does not make a habitat and may even have high costs to maintain. But a sustainable landscape with native plant species and natural features makes an oasis for wildlife in the midst of urban development.

Low maintenance ideas.

For example, our large population of resident Gopher Tortoises requires shrubs for cover, native plants for food, such as, Prickly Pear Cactus, Gopher Apple and Beauty Berry. Song birds, both resident and migratory, require berries and seeds from such plants as Cocoplum, Jamaican Caper and Sea Grape – all of which are excellent native species examples to plant in lieu of a ficus hedge.

Not only more interesting in leaf, flower and seed shapes than that of a ficus hedge, these species grow robustly, can be hedged (or not) to a desirable shape and provide birds, amphibians and reptiles food and cover. An added plus is the roots will not destroy sidewalks, pool decks or foundations as ficus notoriously do.

Lush landscaping.

The native species do provide habitat for native wildlife, but also give the homeowner the opportunity to conserve water, protect water quality, reduce maintenance and chemical use; overall save money. A national EPA study found that homeowners use 30% of potable water on landscape! With the cost of water on our Island, using less water equates to more dollars saved!

There are simple ideas to incorporate in your landscape to enhance and create habitat for native animal species but also save money and protect the island’s natural resources for the future. One of the most important steps is to reduce lawn area. Large areas of sod are like “desert” for our island wildlife. Wildlife require cover from the elements, nooks and crevices to hide and protect offspring, and food and water sources.

Looking good.

Large expanse of lawn does not provide any of these basic needs. Sod also requires irrigation, pesticide and herbicide management and constant maintenance. Removing a quarter to a half of the lawn area in your yard and replacing it with native flowers, groundcovers, shrubs and trees, is a huge step toward enhancing wildlife habitat and in turn gives you a cost savings. Using the principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping, the right plant in the right place, will reduce water consumption, chemical use and maintenance. In these economic times, all dollars saved count!

The City of Marco Island partnered with the South Florida Water Management District Big Cypress Basin and the Water Symposium of Collier County and other sponsors, such as local landscape company, Island Gardeners, owned and operated by Alan Brown, to create a Florida Friendly Landscape demonstration garden. It can be visited at the City Hall Campus, 50 Bald Eagle Drive. Removing irrigation and sod, replacing Fox Tail Palms with native Sable Palms and Coontie with shell groundcover in the approximately 425 square foot area saved the City approximately $3,000 in irrigation and maintenance in less than one year. Not only very attractive and economical, the landscape is habitat for native birds, reptiles and butterflies.

Here are some easy steps to get started in your backyard:

REDUCE LAWN AREA: Replace open turf/lawn areas with “islands” of native plants. Landscapes with native groundcover, shrub and tree species reduce maintenance time and cost, water and chemical use. Landscape that is native doesn’t have to be “messy” – there are many species that can showcase a yard and home without losing street side appeal.

PROVIDE WATER SOURCE: Using a rain barrel for water collection and run off from the roof are easy ways to provide and save water on site. Using a low area in the yard that could provide a seasonal “wet spot” for amphibians, reptiles and birds is beneficial. Creating a “river bed” of rock that can be wet in our rainy months is an aesthetic feature of the landscape as well as habitat for the beneficial insects, amphibians and reptiles in the yard. Space for a pond? A perfect addition in the landscape is to plant the edges with water-loving wetland plant species and create a micro habitat in the yard.

PROVIDE FOOD SOURCES: Using native species that have flowers, seeds and berries provide natural food sources that eliminate the need for the use of harsh chemicals in our yards that ultimately runoff to the canals and Gulf of Mexico.

PROVIDE COVER/SHELTER: Provide bird houses, nest boxes, trees and even a tree log or leaf litter on the ground. Wildlife will find a home in your yard and provide shelter to raise their young. These features can be incorporated into landscape design to provide interest and beauty to a yard. And ultimately, provide the habitat to sustain wildlife for years to come.

For more information on native plant species suitable for Marco Island yards, landscape ideas, local native plant nurseries and local wildlife, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com. 

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Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort and Spa is a star in the crown of Marriott Resorts. Visitors come from all over the world to our Paradise to enjoy the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the smooth, sandy beaches and the first class accommodations of the Marriott.

The guests’ every need is met, more accurately, anticipated by an expertly trained staff. There are four restaurants on site from fun casual at Pazzi’s to the elegance of Kurrent’s fine dining.

Rooms are well appointed with private balconies overlooking the Gulf and beach, the carefully manicured grounds or views of the Marco Island skyline. It is no surprise that the Marco Island Marriott is one of the most successful resorts in the Marriott family of hotels and resort destinations.

The Marriott philosophy is not only about profits and corporate financial success, however. Certainly they have met success here in Paradise with more than 85 million dollars in sales in the past year. “The Marriott is one of the few corporations which has an incredible brand presence that has carried its culture all the way through the company since Mr. & Mrs. Marriott opened their first root beer stand,” commented Chris Major.

Chris is Chairperson of Spirit To Serve at the Marco Island Marriott and Spa. There is a corporate commitment to every community where the Marriott has a presence. Spirit To Serve provides the vehicle to deliver services to the community following its Mission Statement.

“We pledge that our community will be a better place to live and work because of our efforts and support towards: Environment, Social Responsibility, Fund Raising”

Chris is assisted by Co-Chairs, Cathy Nelson and Susan Ryziw. Active committee members include: Mike Tighe, Rich Lutz, Steve Lawrence, Dace Stewart, Dao Tran, Hilda Aviles, Melissa Pronovost, Mary Benedict, Savannah Landry, Nikki Di Pietro, Judy Mayo, Cat Drake and Oana Stanoui.

All of Spirit To Serve activities are centered around one of their three core commitments. In the area of the Environment, the team and the Marriott Associates who sign up to assist, do a “Clean the Beach” Walk on multiple days at the Marriott property. A crew of volunteer associates clean up a section of Route 951 quarterly as part of a community wide program called Adopt-a-Road Clean up.

Guests at the Marriott were invited to join associates in a clean up project at Rookery Bay or a building project at Habitat For Humanity. “Give and Get” is a new promotion which offers guests attractive discounts in return for donating volunteer hours at these local community sites. Cathy Nelson noted: “This is such a great opportunity for guests to get to know the staff and the community in an entirely different perspective.” Chris commented, “the team is very keyed in on this new aspect of giving and we think it will build over time and become part of the Marriott culture.”

Social Responsibility is taken seriously by the team and the entire Marriott family. This year Spirit To Serve pledged a goal of 250 volunteer hours of service to Habitat. The team reached 212 hours by mid-September and look forward to surpassing its own expectations. Volunteers work on Saturday mornings performing whatever jobs are required on site. They paint, do carpentry, install roof supports, hammer nails and assist with landscaping.

Cathy shared good news. “A Marriott associate has just been approved for a Habitat home and we will send out a call for volunteers to participate in ‘raising her house,’ hopefully by the end of the year. Home for the holidays is our goal!”

Cathy and Susan are spearheading a new project, a cookbook with recipes submitted by Marriott associates. Benefactors will be Tommie Barfield Elementary School and Charter Middle School. Susan and Cathy revealed that the recipes coming in are unique and represent foods of many cultures which reflect the ethnic diversity of the Marco Island Marriott staff. The cookbook should be available for sale in time for the holiday season.

Spirit To Serve assisted with the design and planting of the ‘Garden of Hope’ at St. Matthew’s House in Naples. A front desk associate suggested the idea and the Marriott team developed a plan and provided the financing for seeds and start up costs. Residents of St. Matthew’s have taken over the care of the garden and, two years later, its yield has been so successful that the chef at St. Matthew’s reports he has produce all year long. The Marriott team continues to provide funding and technical support whenever it is needed.

Another very special commitment is the team’s work weekly with the Harry Chapin Food Bank. The Mobile Food Pantry is a very well organized program which provides food to families who qualify in advance and submit their shopping lists. Marriott associates sign up for a time and location to assist with handing out food supplies.

The Marriott also sponsors a major food drive with associates bringing in thousands of pounds of food which is transported to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. The need has doubled in the past 2 years. Cathy commented: “It is so satisfying to be able to help people who are working hard to maintain their families.”

The Spirit To Serve team is involved with projects all through the year including a lunch prepared and served at the Marco Island Fire House to express appreciation for the First Responders in our community. The team put together 100 school bags filled with supplies, enough for St. Matthew’s House to provide one for every child in residence, with several left over which they shared with other families in need.

During the holidays last year, associates visited residents at Lely Palms, sang Christmas Carols and handed out cookies. The Carolers were well received and plan to include the event in this year’s activities. An annual Christmas Toy Drive in conjunction with the Marco Island Fire Department inspires Marriott associates to donate hundreds of gifts for children and assist with their distribution.

A project to benefit the Humane Society of Collier County was a favorite with Marriott associates. They brought in toys, food and related items for delivery to the Humane Society’s new facility in Naples.

Spirit To Serve has a third goal: Fundraising. The Marriott is legendary for its support of the American Cancer Society. Relay For Life took place on the beach in front of the Marriott in 2009 and 2010 followed by a memorable Luminary service in the courtyard of the Marriott. The American Cancer Society was the recipient of the funds raised and will benefit from a “Power of Pink” breast cancer prevention campaign currently running for the month of October at the Marriott Spa.

St. Matthew’s House, Harry Chapin Food Bank, YMCA, All Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Marco Island Academy, Susan G. Komen Cancer Cure, Friends of Rookery Bay are direct beneficiaries of fundraising events held throughout the year. Make A Wish Foundation received funds and accommodations for a family in order to fulfill a special “wish.” Pumpkin pies are baked by pastry chefs in the Marriott kitchens and sold to associates before Thanksgiving. Monies raised benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

The next big event will be the Marco Island Beach Music Festival on October 29 beachside at the Marriott. Monies raised will benefit the American Cancer Society, Marco YMCA, Marco Island Academy and Friends of Rookery Bay. A beach run and torch relay to benefit Children’s Miracle Network is scheduled for November 11.

Chris Major reports that the committee’s fundraising goal for 2011 is $70,000 which has been surpassed already. He expects to reach close to $100,000 due to the outstanding commitment of the Marriott staff. “We are very engaged in the community. It is so fulfilling to help people who need our support. It makes me proud that we can count on our associates to come through and help out whatever the need.”

The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort and Spa is fulfilling the Marriott commitment to our island community with amazing good will and generosity. Spirit To Serve has become a way of life for the Marriott family, a way to look at what needs to be done, what is required and “let’s get to it.”

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Have you noticed? There is a change in the way the morning and afternoon light hits Marco Island and in the way the air feels lighter on your skin. It must be fall in southwest Florida. To many, it means time for the first “snow birds” to arrive with the Island roads, restaurants and shops getting pleasantly busier. For regular beach goers and birders, the change means time for a different type of “snow bird” to arrive on the beach – seeing the end of the spring and summer shorebird nesting species, changing to the fall migration and wintering shorebird species arrival to the beautiful Marco Island beach.

Changing Sands 

This past nesting season for shorebirds, specifically the Wilson Plover (Charadrius wilsonia), Least Terns (Sternula antillarum) and Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger), on Marco Island in the Big Marco Pass federal Critical Wildlife Area (CWA), otherwise known locally as Sand Dollar Island, was hugely successful. Successful nesting equated to approximately 800 adult Black Skimmers, 225 Least Terns and a dozen Wilson Plovers nesting, producing high numbers of chicks, even though the entire “island” changed dramatically due to currents, tides and storms. This nesting success makes Marco Island Big Marco Pass CWA the largest nesting site in the State of Florida for Black Skimmers and the second largest for Least Terns.

Sand Dollar Island, the dynamic spit of sand attached to Marco Island since the late 1990’s, has threatened to breach for many years during the stormy summer months. Especially with seasonal higher than average tides, the Gulf of Mexico has rolled over the thinnest part of the “island”, only to rebuild and stay intact after a few tidal cycles. This past July, Sand Dollar Island finally did breach in two, but not at what looked to be the most vulnerable point. Instead it breached approximately a third of the length of the “island” from the most northern tip – almost at the historical point for the opening of Big Marco Pass. In the past two and half months, the breach has widened and deepened creating a “new” island to the north of Sand Dollar Island and a natural pass wide enough for boat traffic to pass through to the Gulf of Mexico. The depth and width of the pass look to be somewhat permanent for near future.

Shorebird Steward Success 

Black Skimmer chicks. - Photo by Audubon biologist Lindsay Addison

This year was the second year for the Collier County Shorebird Steward Program coordinated by the Collier Shorebird Alliance. Shorebird Stewards are trained volunteers who spend a few hours on the beach each weekend during the shorebird nesting season, April through mid-August. Their role is to minimize nest disturbance by educating beach goers about the beach-nesting shorebirds and the posted areas for nesting, doing simple repairs to the postings of the nesting areas and collecting data for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). In Collier County, Collier Audubon, City of Marco Island and FWC have coordinated a successful program with 12-15 trained volunteers, or stewards, on the beach regularly each weekend from April through mid-August to share knowledge on the nesting shorebirds, their characteristics, habitat and natural history, and provide opportunities for beach goers to see the shorebird chicks up close with birding scopes. This past season, 3,300 Marco Island beachgoers were contacted with the information from the Shorebird Stewards. Birding and beaching go hand-in-hand in our beautiful natural environment of Sand Dollar Island. Research has shown ecotourism is on the rise and very valuable for Florida’s economy. The Stewards stats show beachgoers from around the world visited Marco Island, thrilled to view and share the beach with the threatened bird species and their chicks. Shorebird Stewards are committed to educating beachgoers about Big Marco Pass CWA ensuring its status as one of the largest colonies of nesting Black Skimmers and Least Terns in the state of Florida.

Changes for Fall Migration and Wintering Shorebirds 

Least Tern chick. - Photo by Audubon biologist Lindsay Addison

Now that nesting is over and chicks have fledged, the fall brings about migrating species, such as the Ringed-billed and Herring Gulls, Caspian, Royal, Sandwich and Forster’s Terns, Piping Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, Red Knot, Dowitchers, and more. They stop over and feed and rest on their way to South America or winter over. Beach goers can also see White Ibis, Snowy Egrets, Brown Pelicans, Reddish Egrets, Osprey and even a Peregrine Falcon. Big Marco Pass is habitat for over sixty species of sea, shore and water birds. What is truly unique and amazing to the Marco Island beach goer is how many species one can see in a walk and how close one can get without disturbing them. For a developed, urban Island with an extensive recreational beach, Sand Dollar Island is really a natural paradise in Marco Island’s own backyard. Some species will winter, like many “snow birds.”So,as we welcome the “snow birds” from the northern states to our community, let’s do the same for the migrating and wintering shorebirds on the beach. Do not chase or disturb a flock of birds – they are just resting and conserving energy for their global journeys.

What You Can Do to Help 

• Respect posted and closed beach areas and please keep your distance.

• Leave your pet at home – dogs or pets are not allowed on the Marco Island beaches.

• Keep it clean – Litter is not only unsightly but attracts shorebird predators such as fire ants, raccoons and crows.

• Volunteer as a Shorebird Steward – contact Nancy Richie at 239-389- 5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland. com

• Be a part of the expanding knowledge of shorebirds – report your observations to shorebird@myfwc.com. (Please note in the email the date, time, specific as possible location, species or best description, and describe any leg band colors or combinations of bands.)

• Report dogs on the beach or vandalism to the posted area to the Collier County Sheriff non-emergency number 239-252-9300. Be specific with your information, even take a photo. The information will be relayed to the FWC Law Enforcement.

For more information on shorebirds or to volunteer as a Shorebird Steward, visit the websites: www.flshorebirdalliance.org or www.collieraudubon.org And get out there and enjoy the beautiful Marco Island beach! 

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GE’s LEAPmbr system, introduced in July 2011, is the result of a multi-year development effort. It was driven by GE’s product innovation and development capabilities and more than 25 years of experience with proven, highly reliable MBR technology in diverse applications around the world. Data from Marco Island demonstrates the cost and efficiency savings of the GE LEAPmbr system compared to existing GE MBR technologies resulting in:

• A minimum 30 percent reduction in energy costs
• A 15 percent improvement in productivity (greater water-treatment capacity)
• A 50 percent reduction in membrane aeration equipment and controls, leading to a simpler design with lower construction, installation and maintenance costs
• A 20 percent reduction in physical footprint leading to further reduced construction and installation costs as well as lower ongoing consumption of cleaning chemicals. These results were announced at WEFTEC 2011, the 84th Annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference.

“The number one cost here at our water and wastewater plants is energy,” said Jeff Poteet, general manager of the water and sewer department of Marco Island. “If we can reduce those costs by 30 percent, which is what the LEAPmbr system is going to do for us, it won’t just make my staff look good, it will demonstrate the real value our water utilities are providing to consumers.”

The city of Marco Island, in southwest Florida, is a resort community whose wastewater volumes have increased driven by development and by a gradual phase out of septic systems. Additional space for expansion was unavailable, and large seasonal population fluctuations meant project timing would be critical as well. Thus, in a series of phases beginning in 2003, the city evolved its wastewater operations from a 3.5-million-gallon-per-day conventional treatment facility into a 5-mgd GE MBR system, in the same physical foot print. The treated water at Marco Island is used for irrigation at an elementary school, condominiums and hotels and golf courses, thereby conserving freshwater supplies.

The MBR system at Marco Island consists of five GE MBR process trains, each with six cassettes of GE ZeeWeed* 500D modules. GE and Marco Island have collaborated over the past two years to demonstrate various technology innovations that are part of the new LEAPmbr system. In its most recent demonstration beginning In May 2010, GE replaced a ZeeWeed 500D cassette in one of the working trains with a ZeeWeed 500D LEAPmbr cassette, side by-side. A dedicated air blower was provided for the LEAPmbr cassette, which was instrumented for data collection and put into use in real-world, varying conditions.

Blower operating data revealed the 30 percent reduction in energy use for membrane air scour, which is the result of LEAPmbr technology’s more efficient membrane air scour system. Fewer valves, equipment and controls and an overall simpler design drive the lower maintenance requirements. Based on projections by GE, if implemented throughout the entire MBR system at the Marco Island facility, LEAPmbr technology would reduce annual energy use by an amount equivalent to the average annual energy use of 25 to 30 homes, based on U.S. energy consumption data.

“LEAPmbr provides our customers with additional space-saving and water reuse opportunities, as well as the superior effluent water quality that comes from an MBR,” said Jeff Connelly, vice president, engineered systems—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water. “These real-world results demonstrate that the lifecycle cost of wastewater treatment using GE’s LEAPmbr technology is now at parity with that of conventional activated sludge processes, meeting a huge customer need in the current economy.”

MBR systems replace the solids-separation function of secondary clarifiers and sand filters used in conventional activated sludge systems. GE’s MBR technology consists of a suspended-growth biological reactor integrated with GE’s high-performance, rugged ZeeWeed hollow-fiber ultra filtration membranes. The ZeeWeed membranes are immersed in a membrane tank, in direct contact with the water to be treated, which is known as mixed liquor. Through the use of a permeate pump, a vacuum is applied to a header connected to the membranes. The vacuum draws the water through the ZeeWeed membranes, which filter out solids, along with bacteria and viruses. The filtered water, or permeate, then can be further treated, reused or discharged as needed.

ZeeWeed has been proven in more than two decades of wastewater treatment and water reuse. Nearly 1,000 plants worldwide use this technology to meet or exceed stringent wastewater treatment and water reuse standards.

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The Living with Wildlife Pavilion: provides proactive steps to be taken to protect pets and livestock on private property from wildlife. The Pavilion is staffed by panther biologists and includes tools biologists use to monitor panthers, capture videos, demonstration livestock pen, handouts, and the popular Adopt-a-Panther program.

Music: The sounds of bluegrass music enlivens the Festival with live performances by two bands, Frontline Bluegrass and the BugTussle Ramblers.

Presentations: Fascinating presentations by panther biologists and panther research team members take place throughout the day. Presentations include secrets of panther capture techniques, why biologists track panthers, how orchids play a role in panther habitat health, and even what it’s like to hold a Florida panther kitten.

Interactive Walk: Free Panther Tales walks take place throughout the day and are open to everyone first-come, first-serve. Panther Tales are short, leisurely walks along the park’s trails to look for signs of wildlife and learn about Florida panthers.

Kid’s activities: Face painting, educational activities and games. Food Vendors throughout the day.

The Festival is on October 29, 10AM to 4PM at North Collier Regional Park and is free of charge.

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So, I was washing the bow pulpit on my boat. No. I was down on my knees, stiff bristled brush in hand, scrubbing the bow pulpit, and grumbling that I had to do it again. That little green heron had once more left me a generous token of his esteem. Then, I heard it, a chattering that sounded sort-of like the noise a green heron makes when upset or disturbed. I stood up and looked around for that little bugger, prepared to give him a talking to.

I do talk to birds, and other animals, but not inanimate objects. I know they don’t understand my chattering any more than I understand theirs, but it feels good.

Where was he? I couldn’t find him. But, the chattering continued. It sounded low, down on the water near the seawall. I stepped off my boat to look closer. The chattering was a baby raccoon in the water, trying but unable to climb the piling to safety.

Well, OK, he needed rescue. But, I knew better than to reach down and grab him. As weak as he obviously was he was still a wild animal. Wild animals scratch and bite. Raccoons have sharp teeth and claws, and they are a vector for rabies.

So, I went for my leather gloves and old fish net. And, I told my wife, Joan, what I was doing, thinking she might be interested. She was. I dipped the raccoon out of the drink and she took his picture, saying, “This will make a good story.”

If it had been an adult raccoon, I’d have simply released him. Or her. I’m not sure. This was a baby and weak, probably from several hours of struggling to stay afloat and get out of the water. It still needed a parent, but the parent was nowhere to be seen.

I dumped the raccoon, without much ceremony, into an empty 30 gallon bucket and dropped in a large towel. He was shivering. We called a few likely agencies and finally settled on The Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “I’ve just pulled a baby raccoon out of the bay and I don’t know what to do with it.” “Did you touch it?” That was the first question. Wow! Glad to say I know better.

I put the trash can in the back seat of my SUV, drove the critter to The Conservancy on Goodlette Road, followed the Injured Animals signs, and rang the doorbell. A young lady walked out onto the second floor balcony. “Is somebody here waiting for a raccoon?” I asked. “Yes. Did you touch it?” That question again. Same answer.

Very long story shortened somewhat: The Conservancy is permitted to care for injured and orphaned wildlife native to Florida. They have some guidelines for rescue and transport:

• Be sure the animal is injured or orphaned. Call before rescuing the animal. 239-262-2273.

• Don’t touch it; wear gloves.

• Place a towel over the animal; place it in a box, in a warm, dark, quiet place.

• No food or water.

• Transport ASAP.

The Conservancy was already caring for 3 baby raccoons and was happy to add a fourth. And, I was happy … hmmm … to go back and finish cleaning my bow pulpit.

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As fellow coastal and island residents, there aren’t many places one can go along the Florida coast without seeing a Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). There are seven species of pelicans in the world. Two inhabit North America – the White Pelican and the Brown Pelican. Standing two to four feet tall, with wingspans up to six to seven feet, tip to tip, the Brown Pelicans make their presence known on docks, at marinas and the beach in the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida; along the Atlantic Ocean from Virginia to the mouth of the Amazon River and along the Pacific Ocean coast from central California to south Chile out to the Galapagos Islands. They are the only species of pelican that is dark in color and dives for its food. Like fishermen, all they like to do is catch and eat fish!

Life History

Seeing a pelican at just about every marina was not always the case. In the mid 1970’s, this species range was not so vast. In fact, Brown Pelicans almost became extinct. The decrease in population was directly related to the pesticide DDT. When the pelicans ate fish contaminated by DDT, which was used on crops and washed away to the oceans and Gulf, the pelicans laid eggs with shells so thin, they would break during incubation. It was so dire, that Louisiana had no Brown Pelicans left. Florida, Texas and California all listed the pelican as “endangered’. By 1975, DDT was banned and the first Brown Pelican egg to hatch successfully in captivity was the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, Florida. Since then, the overall population rebounded, peaking in the mid 1990’s but decreasing in number of breeding pairs since 1995 until now. There are issues in southwest Florida for this species from habitat loss, food sources and environmental as well as human impacts to the population. The graph depicts data gathered over the past 35 years by Ted Below, noted ornithologist. The population of Brown Pelicans in and around Marco Island, known as the Marco Island Complex, has decreased by approximately half in this period of time.

Habitat

In Florida, Brown Pelicans roost and nest in mangroves, preferably in large groups, or colonies, on small, isolated mangrove islands. Crossing the Jolly Bridge, looking to the south, one can see three mangrove islands or rookeries, known as the ABC Islands that Brown Pelicans have used for decades to roost and nest. The ABC Islands are designated and posted as a Critical Wildlife Area and can not be approached by any boat, including non-motorized boats, such as canoes or kayaks. This ensures no disturbance of the important roosting and nesting site not only for the pelicans but other water birds that use the ABC Islands such as Great White Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Magnificent Frigates, Blue Herons and White Ibis. The pelican nests are built by the female using sticks and grasses. Breeding begins in the late fall or early winter resulting in two to four eggs that are incubated by both the male and female for 30 days. The chicks will be fed fish by both the male and female and by 12 weeks are able to fly and leave the nest. But the “family” will stick together, with the adults teaching the young how to fly and catch the fish. Young pelicans are often seen being fed by the parents even after they can fly on their own. Learning to fish is hard work!

Plumage

The hatched chicks are featherless, but soon covered with white, downy feathers. Bird guano is used on the fair chick to prevent sun burn and heat impacts. By eleven or twelve weeks, the young are ready to fly on their own, but are not sexually mature until they are two and a half to three years in age. At any age, the male and female pelicans are extraordinarily hard to tell apart; the only difference is that the beak of the male is slightly longer. The immature, or 3 years or younger, Brown Pelicans, will be brown with a white belly. In their first year, their neck will be brown with a white belly. In their second year, their neck and upper body will be gray and the belly feathers are still light but will begin to darken. By their third year, the adult plumage will finally show a very dark belly. When you see a group of pelicans flying over – check the bellies! The lighter colored bellies will be the young pelicans.

To complicate plumage identification further, in different locations throughout the Brown Pelicans’ range, plumage changes occur in the adults at different times of the year. Around here, in fall, the neck and head will start to turn white in the pre-breeding season with the head and neck turning dark brown in early winter as the breeding plumage slowly wears through for the rest of the year until it changes white again in the next early fall. If breeding and nesting, both male and female Brown Pelicans will have yellow head feathers. In contrast, just nearby in the Keys, Brown Pelicans breed all year; therefore any kind of plumage can be seen at all times in different birds!

Soaring, Diving and Fishing

With its wingspread of six or seven feet and light body, weighing between five to eight pounds, Brown Pelicans are built to soar and search wide areas of the Gulf of Mexico for fish. They can fly up to 35 miles per hour if the winds are cooperating. The Brown Pelican is the only species of pelican that dives for its food; other species, such as the White Pelican, will swim and “herd” fish, scooping them out of the water. The Brown Pelican, soaring and looking for schools of small fish, will turn downwind and fold its wings, causing the bird to fall straight down to the water’s surface. As it reaches the water, it will fold the wings back further and extend the beak. Once it hits the water, the beak will be open and its pouch will automatically stretch to capacity, filling with water and the small fish it was aiming for – some fish will be in its pouch and others will be stunned, which the pelican quickly scoops up with its long beak and pouch, just like a net. The throat pouch can hold up to three gallons of water and fish, about twice the capacity of its stomach. Water is drained from its bill at the sides of the mouth. If the fish are not eaten on the spot, the fish are never carried in the pouch, rather in the gullet. There is special padding around the head and chest to prevent injury in this repetitive “controlled crash landing”. And contrary to tales of blinded pelicans, the Brown Pelicans’ eyes also have special clear eyelids which protect them like goggles.

Current issues and what can you do?

The decline of the local Brown Pelican population documented from 1974 through today by Ted Below, tells the tale of environmental impacts such as storms and global warming to direct human impacts such as habitat loss, food supply decline, oil spills, feeding pelicans and fishing line and trash in the environment. When roosting and nesting habitats are destroyed or removed by storms, development or pollution, impacts to population are negative. Removing or over trimming mangroves is a double edged sword to a Brown Pelican – roosting and nesting sites disappear as well as the habitat that is needed to produce its diet – fish. Mangroves are vital for south Florida for storm protection, water quality, and habitat for all the wildlife we enjoy and millions of others come to see.

Please don’t kill pelicans with kindness. Pelicans will gather while you fish; please do not give into their persistent begging for bait or small fish that are caught. Pelicans, especially the immature ones, need to hunt and feed by themselves. When cleaning fish, don’t throw the scrap of tail and back bone to a waiting pelican. The fish bones will get caught in the pelican’s throat, scratching or ripping the throat pouch which in turn can get infected and kill the bird. Place fish carcass down a tube so it goes to the bottom for decomposition. It there is no fish deposit tube at the dock, please bag up the fish remains and dispose in the garbage. Please dispose all fishing line properly. Fishing line lost or tossed into the waters end up entangling all marine life and resulting in death. Fishing line, many times with hooks still attached, is found in roosting areas and nests. There are fishing line collection stations located at many marinas and boat launches. If there is not a collection station, please dispose of the line in a garbage receptacle that wildlife can not enter.

If an injured pelican is found, please contact The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Wildlife Rehab Center at 239-262-2273. For more information on pelicans and other shorebirds, go to www.MyFWC.com. To report all wildlife issues please call 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC). 

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Panthers, bobcats and gators, oh my! The residents of Goodland may like to think that they are the dominant population in our tiny island village, yet recent wildlife encounters are beginning to prove otherwise. While many of these sightings are incredibly rare, they are, in my opinion, completely terrifying.

Sighting #1

In a recent endeavor to get more exercise I have attempted, on at least three occasions, to ride my bike to Marco and back. While cruising along the Betty Bruno Path that leads in and out of Goodland, I, unfortunately, became aware of a new population among us. A ray of light shone through the mangroves at such an angle that the web of a banana spider came into my view. I stopped my bike to take a look and began to shake at the mere size of the creature. It was almost the size of my hand! Considering the fact that my old basketball coach told me I had “Michael Jordan hands,” this spider was huge.

I hopped back on my bike to get the heck out of there but as I rode I realized they were everywhere! Never will I ever step foot into the mangroves after seeing these spiders. I will also probably use it as an excuse to no longer ride my bike for exercise.

Sighting #2

While casually sipping a beer at Marker 8, this next sighting encouraged me to never get in the water around Goodland again. As Goodland is part of the 10,000 islands chain it is surrounded by salt water. One would think that we would be safe from the freshwater alligators of the Everglades. Unfortunately, on this particular day, that theory was debunked. Due to the massive rains we receive during the summer months, the water can become brackish enough for these beasts to swim through it.

Everyone at Marker 8 was shocked to see a six to eight foot gator slowly cruising past the restaurant. Encounters such as this are normally few and far between. However, when I tried to take my dog for a swim a few days later I found out the gator was back. She will not be going back in the water until the rainy season is over. I, on the other hand, will never go in it again.

Sighting #3

Thankfully, I was fortunate enough not to have witnessed this next encounter. The story, as unbelievable as it may sound, is absolutely true. After the gator sighting, a friend of mine told me he had recently seen a bobcat in an open field on Goodland. As we were drinking beers at the time I assumed he was exaggerating. Yet, only a few days later the bobcat was spotted again. It apparently made a home in an overgrown lot in the middle of town. Locals became concerned for their safety as well as the safety of their children and pets.

A quick call to The Conservancy in Naples led to some interesting developments. Everyone was hoping The Conservancy would come down and trap the bobcat and release it. Theay informed us that if they were to catch it they would have to euthanize it. Their suggestion: call a trapper.

One would think a “trapper” would be eager to trap a bobcat as their name suggests. However, he gave some rather unusual advice instead. According to this trapper, bobcats hate the smell of male carnivore urine. The best way to get the bobcat to leave would be to have men in the area urinate on the lot where the bobcat was spotted. So that’s exactly what happened and the bobcat hasn’t been seen since!

Other recent sightings include the not-so-frightening rosette spoonbill and a cute, yet dangerous panther cub.

These sightings prove that the wildlife in our town is not only limited to Sundays at Stan’s. So beware the next time you head to Goodland. You never know who or what you might run into.

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland.

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On Saturday the 17^th, Friends of Tigertail hosted a beach cleanup at Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach. Various groups and local Marco Island citizens volunteered along side Friend’s members. A total of fifty one proud volunteers were in attendance, including such groups as the Newcomers, Marco Lutheran Church and the Collier County NAACP.

Steven Fox brought his boys, Steven 5 and Matthew 3, to the tigertail Beach Cleanup, just a dad passing on his values to his sons.

This local event coincided with the International Cleanup Day sponsored by oceanconservancy.org. This is a day when various volunteer groups from around the world clean their local beaches in order to enter the amount of each item collected into the oceanconservancy.org database. These items include, but are not limited to, the collected amounts of cigarette butts, beer bottles and anything else a polluter is willing to litter for a vigilant volunteer to find.  After the data is entered, a poll is developed showing the amount of each item collected. The beauty of International Cleanup Day is that it brings local communities together on an international basis, providing the knowledge that we are all striving for the same goal, to keep our beaches clean and spread the word of pollution and its effects on local eco-systems.

In order to help support this event, the Friends of Tigertail partnered up with Keep Collier Beautiful. They donated plastic garbage bags, gloves and t-shirts.  Kinetico Water Systems also donated cases of water bottles to hydrate volunteers.

Volunteers gathered at the staging area before the cleanup to get instructions, bags, gloves and water. They gathered there afterward to share cleanup stories.

As the event began, in order to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the time allotted the beach was divided into quadrants for volunteers to clean. One group, the Collier County NAACP,  chose to clean the parking lot as well as various quadrants on the beach. Having brought three adult and nine youth volunteers, they were split into two separate groups. One of was led by Haneef Shakur, the youth chair, and the other was led by the president of the Collier County NAACP branch, Harold Weeks. When asked what inspired them to come to this beach cleanup, Haneef replied, “This group has always been in service to those who are in need. When contacted by the Friends of Tigertail we instantly agreed to lend a hand.” Haneef closed with, “The kids and I had a great time and plan on coming back each year to help!”

When asked where she found her inspiration when organizing this event, Susan LeGrotta, the event’s coordinator, expressed it as the hope to “…bring awareness of the pollution at Tigertail and the effect that littering has on its ecosystem.” According to her, she feels as though the “…International Cleanup Day will help personify the arguments that my group is making. Via the data collected during this day, anyone who is ignorant to the harms of pollution towards an ecosystem will seriously have to reconsider with the evidence directly in front of them.”

9 youth and 3 adults of the Youth Council, NAACP Collier County, joined the beach cleanup. Youth chair person Haneef Shakur (blue shirt) noted it is good for both the youth and the commnity for them to be involved in community service projects like the cleanup.

According to Susan, what makes this particular beach cleanup even more important is the fact that Tigertail is a Collier County park. Susan claims, “I want to educate those who are in attendance the effect that pollution has on the South Florida birding trail.” This trail is located near, and is part of Sand Dollar Island. The South Florida birding trail claims a wide variety of avian species, from those that are near extinct, to some that are vary common. Photographers and Audubon Society connoisseur’s come from around the world to trek along this prized trail. Susan also says that, “Due to the pollution of the beaches inhabitants, the natural eco-life is affected and that it may never be the same!” Some of the more common wildlife she is referring to includes such birds as the Snowy Plover, Black Skimmer, Willson’s Plover, Least Tern and such fish as the Butterfly fish, Parrot fish, Wrasse, and Surgeon fish.

Debbie Roddy, the President of Friends of Tigertail, inherently has similar views to Susan’s, but also believes that “It is our responsibility to keep our beaches clean with the hope of maintaining Florida’s largest industry. Any resort town that has accumulated around a beach acquires this task, due to the economic stimulus these beaches provide; which contributes to Florida’s economic cash flow. We must recognize this and begin to take care of our beaches. If not, there is potential for a loss in industry.”  Debbie understands this quite well since she is a resident of Marco Island, which is a resort town itself.  Her views have also been supported by being a member of Friends of Tigertail since 2003 and acting President for five of those years.

The veteran members of Friends of Tigertail, Susan and Ken Kubat, are also full-time residents of Marco. Because of this, they have first hand knowledge of the danger of littering on our beaches. Ken expresses his feelings by saying, “My biggest concern is the lack of respect and knowledge for our beaches and the effect we have on them when littering. Every piece of garbage that is littered will naturally accumulate to a large stock pile of disgusting trash. At first it may not seem like much, but over time it will become a lot.” He urges people to have the same mindset as he does, and hopes this clean up and its outcome via oceanconservancy.org, will help strengthen his goals. This is where he finds his inspiration to take part in this event.

Overall, it appeared as though most of the volunteers in attendance had found their inspiration to attend from the same ideals. “We must keep our beaches clean in order to help save its eco-life as well as preserve economic equilibrium.” As a closing note, according to Ken Kubat, “Tigertail is considered an estuary, which is where sea life of the Gulf of Mexico is born and raised. If this estuary were to be polluted with carcinogenic cigarette butts and endangering fishing line, this ecosystem could be seriously affected.” With this in mind, think twice before throwing that cigarette butt in the sand next time. A trash can is only a few steps away.

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Collier Soil & Water Conservation District Urban Mobile Irrigation Lab Supervisor

As their 2010 project, The Water Symposium of Florida, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in concert with Big Cypress Basin and Collier Soil and Water Conservation District, designed the Marco Island Planting Demonstration project to promote water conservation using waterwise landscaping.

The planting area near Marco Island’s City Hall demonstrates how to use native plants in a natural landscape to provide a beautiful reminder of Florida, and food and shelter for wildlife. They also conserve water as an added bonus to the normal more waterintensive landscape plantings.

So how can native plants improve a landscape? First and foremost, they’re already growing in our climate. They’re surviving on whatever moisture is provided by rain. They can withstand the salt, heat and cold. For the most part, they’ve developed natural mechanisms to thwart bug and disease problems. Sort of a plant version of survival of the fittest! An added benefit is that they provide food and shelter to wildlife of all kinds.

It’s a win-win for the community and the environment.

The Marco Island planting project is considered to be a Coastal Design, i.e., one consisting of plants such as the Sabal Palm and the Saw Palmetto and Coontie, found throughout Southwest Florida. These plants have adapted to a tougher environment that lends itself to survival. The native Saw Palmetto, Sabal and Coontie thrive in natural soils and natural rainfall and look very handsome once established.

Because many native plants don’t jump out at us as we drive or walk past them, we literally don’t see them. We therefore don’t have a point of reference when we go looking for them in the nursery. When you ask people to reduce water in their landscaping, Michael Spencer, of MSA Design remarked, “They say, ‘Yes!’! When you tell them to reduce sod by 70% they get glassy-eyed.”

Natural landscaping enhances City Hall entrance.

However, plant species used in this planting demonstration project were selected for their adaptation to the severe salt environment and also for their form, color and texture. There is a contrast between the shiny, dark green Coontie and the waxy blue Saw Palmetto that is striking. The design is both functional and attractive, and it also saves about 70,000 gallons of irrigation water, as calculated by Nik Nikolich of the Big Cypress Basin Mobil Irrigation Lab. Nik commented: “Using waterwise landscaping goes a long way toward protecting our scarce water resource.”

Jim Hodgdon, City of Marco Island Parks Superintendent, said, “The demonstration planting area avoids about $960 in weekly labor, fertilizing and mulching quarterly, and the installation costs were estimated at $2,340 for a 900-square foot planting area” suggesting that major annual cost savings are possible in a number of areas. This landscape design incorporated shell, a great mulching material for the island with its natural appearance and lack of decomposition like wood chips.

“It looks great and saves dollars,” said Tim Nance of Gro Technics, who acted as project Horticultural Consultant. “We didn’t want to be able to say, ‘Our plantings are just as nice as theirs’, nor did we want to say, ‘See, native plants are not so bad!’ But, this is exactly where the battle of supplemental water is fought. Until agencies and the public get this point, progress will be slow,” said Michael Spencer, of MSA Design.

The issue of appearance is important. So far perception of the Marco Island Planting Demonstration project has been favorable. “Requests for permission to install native plants at residences have increased” said Nancy Richie, City of Marco Island Environmental Specialist. “Without maintenance, the waterwise landscaping has shown vigorous and healthy growth. Plantings are free of pathogens that might adversely affect their growth or normal development; they are without irrigation and yet their growth has met our design criteria,” said Michael Ramsey, President of Ramsey Inc., Environmental Consulting.

All in all, this demonstration project has “demonstrated” that waterwise landscaping can conserve water, minimize costs and present an attractive natural Florida appearance.

Dennis P. “Duke” Vasey, Chairman, Supervisor, Seat 3 Collier Soil and Water Conservation District, also contributed to this article

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