Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Scores Another BIG HIT

The entire Rookery Bay name is Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which describes their location and purpose to a “T,” but it is a mouthful. A great mouthful, however, judging by the numbers of excited parents, grandparents, guests, and children that attended the recent Rookery Bay Estuarine Day this month in Naples. Located about 15 minutes north of Marco Island, before you get to Walmart, turn left on Tower Road and you can’t miss the signs. 

Set in a natural environment, surrounded by native trees and lush foliage, the two-story Rookery Bay Center is a priceless gem of ongoing research and education for learners of all ages. It’s a place to see a giant batfish replica…how many of you reading this know what a batfish looks like! There’s also a giant mosquito suspended from the ceiling as you climb the stairs to the displays on the second floor.

Their mission is to practice and promote stewardship of coasts and estuaries through innovative research, education and training using a place-based system of protected areas. Their vision is resilient estuaries and coastal watersheds where human and natural communities thrive. Who can fault their mission and vision; it’s making the environment better for all of us.

If you love to learn, are fascinated by the live aquatic creatures living in the local area and interested in other science related information like, bird feathers, bones and beaks, examining sharks’ teeth, learning about native plants, exploring the butterfly garden, nature related artwork in the gallery, nature trails, and taking a short boat ride into Rookery Bay for a “taste” of the learning opportunities with knowledgeable guides who know the water areas like the back of their hands, this was the place to be.  Plus, the captain guides are hoping that their short tour will entice you to come back for a more comprehensive tour as the weather cools down a bit.

On this special day, we are greeted by Rookery Bay employees and volunteers who are monitoring the special activities on the ground and second floors with all kinds of fascinating opportunities to expand our educational boundaries. For example, there’s a Touch Tank filled with all kinds of fascinating critters such as horse conchs, five arm and nine arm starfish, olives (not the ones in jars), sea anemones, shark-eyed snails, banded tulips, lightning whelks and more. Did you recognize any of these? If not, stop by the Rookery Bay Touch Tank and let the knowledgeable volunteers show you the marine life that you may have not had the opportunity to see or feel and watch them in real action. Watch the whelks and fighting conchs pry open a bivalve (a shell with two halves) to eat the delectable flesh inside. These are unforgettable scenarios to share with your children, grandchildren or enjoy by yourselves.

There were so many opportunities at this Rookery Bay event, it was impossible to leave in under two hours, as defined by the parents/children that attended by the droves. They loved watching their children so engaged by the critters in the saltwater Touch Tank and the mega aquarium to see the redfish, black drum, spadefish, sail catfish, hardhead catfish, and hiding in a corner, the toadfish, which is a bit intimidating, but you’d have to experience it to understand what I’m saying. Check it out.

The representative from the Collier County Recycling Program was a wealth of information about how we can improve our recycling efforts and beautify our community. The information about Florida Wildlife affected by fishing line was astounding. 397 manatees were killed by ingesting monofilament line, for example. Not to mention 723 stranded sea turtles, 128 bottlenose dolphins and 159 birds entangled and rescued from fishing gear between 2005 and 2015.

The experience of visiting a site like Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for a special event is so memorable that you and your children will have positive recollections of the experiences and will want to return again and again. And, if you didn’t attend for National Estuarine Day, you can still visit every weekday and Saturdays and experience dynamic information about beautiful Southwest Florida.

What does a National Estuarine Research Reserve research you ask? Water quality (so vital to a healthy environment for fish, crabs and other species that depend on the water), mangrove health, fire management through controlled burns, shark population research, fisheries research and much more. Thank goodness. We’ll have much more productive and proactive progress.