Rookery Bay Announces New Lectures, Workshops

By Coastal Breeze News Staff

With the new year comes new programming at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The organization recently announced a new lecture series, birding workshops and landscape training schedule.

Rookery Bay’s 2015 Amazing Adventures lecture schedule will be hosted at the Environmental Learning Center January through March with evening presentations narrated by a local naturalist, researcher or explorer providing destination ideas, natural histories, travel tips and insights.

The lecture schedule begins Friday, Jan. 30 at 6 PM with “Westward Found, the American Southwest.” National Park Service Rangers Amy Washuta and Luke Gommerman will take attendees on a journey from the deep, verdant swamps of subtropical Florida to the intricately carved rock wilderness of the American Southwest.

Then on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6 PM, world traveler and biomedical engineer Scott Sherman will present “Getting to the Roof of Africa.” The talk includes the planning, preparation, training, travel and successful completion of the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

On Friday, March 27, “Biologists Ignite!” will be presented by four southwest Florida biologists, using only 20 slides each with a time limit of 30 seconds. This format will result in a night of diverse, innovative and inspirational story-telling. Deborah Jansen, Mike Owen, Ralph Arwood and Mike Duever will provide an evening of inspiring talks.

For each lecture, doors open at 5:30 PM for refreshments. Presentations begin at 6 PM with questions and mingling to follow. Advanced registration is required at www.rookerybay.org. Cost is $10, including lunch, and is free for Friends of Rookery Bay members. For more information on the programs call 239-530-5972.

Rookery Bay also will be hosting several “Wing It!” beginning birders workshops this

winter and spring. The program will introduce participants to the basics of birding, including the use of plumage, flight patterns, behavior, binoculars, field guides and other tools in field identification. The classroom session will be followed by a field trip to a nearby park to practice new skills.

Registration is required, as space is limited to 20 students. The cost for the public to attend is $30 and $25 for Friends of Rookery Bay members. The workshops will begin at 8 AM, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 21 and April 11. They will be held at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center.

Register online at www.rookerybay.org or call 239-530-5972 with questions.

Finally, Rookery has released the Project Greenscape training schedule for winter/spring 2015. Project Greenscape is a partnership program between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Collier County, University of Florida/IFAS Collier County Extension Office, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the cities of Naples and Marco Island. The program promotes sustainable landscaping practices through strategic, science-based education for both English- and Spanish-speaking professionals.

• Feb. 5, 8 AM-3 PM, Feb. 17, 8 AM-3 PM, and June 10, 8 AM-3 PM: “Best Management Practices for the Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries” covers landscape maintenance, including pruning, mulching, fertilizers, irrigation and pesticides, and is required for all landscape professionals who apply fertilizers commercially in Florida. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) provided as follows: 4 FDACS, 4 FNGLA, 4.5 CFE, 4.75 APA and up to 5.75 ISA. Cost is $30, includes materials, light breakfast and lunch. The program will be in Spanish on Feb. 17.
• Feb. 27, 8 AM- 12 PM: “Interacting with Wildlife for Landscape Professionals” is designed to provide Green Industry professionals with “best management practices” while encountering all wildlife interactions. By the end of this workshop, participants will understand the different laws protecting animals and be able to take appropriate measures to ensure human safety during or following an interaction with wildlife. This workshop will cover identification of commonly encountered wildlife in southwest Florida, Integrated Pest Management and Florida Friendly Landscaping. This program provides the following CEU’s: city of Naples refresher requirement, others TBD.
• March 17, 8 AM-12 PM: “Fertilizer Calibration” provides a review of fertilizer handling and spreader calibration, and satisfies the city of Naples’ certification renewal requirement. CEUs provided as follows: 2 FDACS, 4 FNGLA, 3 city of Naples, 2 Category 1 CF and up to 6 ISA. Cost is $15, includes class materials and light breakfast. This training will be done in Spanish.
• March 24, 8 AM-12 PM: “Mangrove Trimming & Regulations” is a half-day course that provides landscape professionals with knowledge and skills related to mangrove maintenance. Upon completion of the course, attendees will understand the role and value of mangroves, understand the rules and laws that govern mangrove trimming, and learn mangrove pruning techniques. Attendees will also learn basic mangrove biology and identification. The course will consist of a combination of demonstrations, hands-on learning, discussion and lecture. Class satisfies the city of Naples certification renewal requirement. CEUs provided as follows: FNGLA 4, ISA up to 13, CFE Cat 1 CF 3.0. Cost is $15, includes class materials and light breakfast.

For more information about landscaper trainings, contact Project Greenscape at 239-530-5953 (English) or 239-530-5951 (Spanish), or visit www.rookerybay.org/greenscape.