An Anniversary Potpourri of Nature

Congratulations, Marco Island, on 25 years of incorporation here in Southwest Florida! From the Muspa and Calusa Native Americans, to pirates, treasure seekers, early colonists and fishermen to the residents and tourists we see today, Marco Island has undergone tremendous change for hundreds and hundreds of years. But, if there is one thing that has been constant, the wildlife we find in the area today was also seen by the archaic population a thousand years ago!

Marco is one of the few settled islands of the 10,000 Islands chain and is a very close neighbor to Naples, Florida. The 10,000 Islands is part of the largest mangrove forest in the entire western hemisphere and the third largest mangrove forest in the world! This habitat creates an awesome home for marine and land animals here.

The Marco waterways have provided a plethora of marine life as a source of food over time. Early civilizations used nets to catch a variety of fish and that technique is still practiced today to gather bait fish. The range of fish species here is amazing and I smile when I hear one fisherman proclaim that he caught 30 fish while another says he caught 20 different species. To each his own, but anglers here have a paradise for casting their nets and lines.

Contrary to some beliefs, manatees have been here longer than humans. Trash mounds, or Middens, left by early human occupants have revealed manatee bones, suggesting they were a source of food in those days. Today, manatees are protected, and they can be seen regularly during the warmer months of the year in our region. These gentle giant sea cows graze on seagrass. As vegetarians they can still grow to be over 10 feet long and weigh more than 1,000 pounds!

The shallow waters have created a home for a bottlenose dolphin population that feeds primarily on sand bars, mud flats and along the base of the mangrove trees. Since humans have come along, they have created several new restaurants for the dolphins, namely seawalls and dock posts, that now offer more feeding opportunities. Currently, the local dolphin study team on the Dolphin Explorer has noted that the dolphin population here is steady, if not growing, and two new calves have been documented here since late July. Birthing season is right around the corner so keep a lookout for more youngsters over the next few months. And, yes, the dolphins have been here longer than humans!

Sea turtles, primarily Loggerheads and Green Sea turtles, have been gracing our shorelines for generations as well. More than 1,800 nests were recorded this year. As a surprise, Loggerhead hatchlings were seen in south Naples - not too far from Marco - as well. These are the largest species of sea turtles in the world!

On land the Burrowing Owl population on Marco is remarkable. The small but cute birds will actually create underground nests to mate and raise their young. Their big, bright eyes seem to gaze right through you!

Talking about the other bird life here could take a book to describe! Not only do we have a resident population of aviary friends but the migratory birds, both summer and winter guests, are a sight to behold as well! During the warmer months, Least Terns travel here to nest, and they come all the way from Venezuela. Swallow-tailed Kites make the summer journey from southwest South America, crossing the Andes mountains to nest and raise their young. They are gone now, headed back home but making room for the soon to arrive White Pelicans and other migrators as the north turns cold. Locally, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Tri-colored Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Royal Terns and many, many, many more species of birds can be found here all year long!

With the western Everglades as a close neighbor, it is not surprising to see the occasional alligator popping up. But this is, indeed, rather rare. Crocodiles are close by as well but, like the gators, are a rare area sighting. However, a 20-minute car ride will get you a good look at both species! Panthers, bobcats, black bears, coyotes and even more land animals of this type have been seen on Marco.

In addition to all of these native and migratory friends we see, there are some invasive species that have made their way to the island. Not many have been found here but the troublesome Burmese Python has been captured on Marco.

Stay tuned in the near future, in the Coastal Breeze News, as I interview a prominent python hunter of Southwest Florida. And guess what? It’s a female!

Again, congratulations and Happy 25th Anniversary to Marco Island on its incorporation. You have introduced this area to many, many nature lovers, including myself, and there are thousands more each year who discover your magic. Here’s looking forward to another 25 years of good government and conservation!

Bob is the lead naturalist on board the dolphin study vessel Dolphin Explorer.

He is the author of two books and is twice a national award-winning columnist for this paper. He is a regular speaker at area venues and an advocate for proper education about nature and our ecosystems. Bob loves his wife very much!