Coastal Breeze News

By Joan Kelly Shrubs and trees grow faster in south Florida, so the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge trailhead and parking had become surrounded by intrusive vegetation. On May 13th a handful of volunteers and rangers pulled and cut shrubs. The Refuge provided gloves, tools and drinks. Volunteers were asked to wear long sleeves and long pants to protect against any allergic reaction to the invasive plants. Several pickup loads of vegetation were removed. Keeping the Florida Panther Refuge clear of invasive and otherwise unwanted vegetation is an on going project with volunteer opportunities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting ... Read More »

By Nancy Richie Most people know by now that the protected, threatened, Loggerhead sea turtles will be nesting on Florida beaches during the spring months, with hatchlings emerging in late summer. Sea turtles symbolize the health of the oceans and are very charismatic for residents and tourists alike who embrace them with interest and protection. But, there is another turtle that has the same federal and state protection status, threatened, that nests this time of year that populates Marco Island in relatively high numbers which, unlike the Loggerhead Sea Turtles, does not go in the water, but resides in the ... Read More »

The Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus), a species that has existed for hundreds of millions of years and is likely the closest living relative to the ancient trilobite (an extinct marine arthropod,) is unmistakable to identify: chestnut brown in color, with domed, U-shaped head, spiny edged abdomen with eight crab-like legs, and a stiff pointy tail. These crabs can grow up to 24 inches and are found on the coast from Maine to Florida. They may look a bit creepy or a hover-craft to some – related to spiders more than crabs – but they are gentle and safe to handle ... Read More »

By Victoria Wright Just another Wednesday afternoon here on Marco when my 9 year old son, JohnEdward, said “Mommy there is a gator in the bay.” On first glance I thought it was a manatee but then to my surprise I saw wings flapping. Action was needed quickly as I realized it was a Bald Eagle chick drowning in our bay, now a matter of life or death! Trying to stay calm I quickly called my husband Simon who grabbed a fishing net, launched our kayak into the water and went to the aid of this very wet exhausted and ... Read More »

By Nancy Richie As the Gulf of Mexico water temperatures climb to 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the protected Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) will soon return to the Marco Island beaches. Living year round in the open and near shore waters to feed and rest, the adult female sea turtles will begin nesting on our beaches between May and August. Sixty days after the nests are laid, the hatchlings will emerge and begin the trek to the Gulf of Mexico usually between July and October. So, the next six months – May 01 through October 31 – is a ... Read More »

By Joan Kelly April 9th was the designated day to clean the beaches for Bay Day, part of Keep Collier Beautiful, the 21st anniversary of the event. Volunteers were met by Friends of Tigertail Beach, Susan La Grotta and Debbie Roddy with water, gloves and bags and sent on their way. We have done a number of coastal clean ups and we found less stuff this year than most years. We picked up the usual pop cans, clothing, shoes, cigarette butts and paper, but only a half bag of stuff in two hours. This is a good thing. Thirty-eight people ... Read More »

Driving along 951 heading into Naples it is hard to miss the burned out patch of land across from Naples Outlet (formerly Prime Outlet Mall). So what happened? Was this caused by a careless smoker? Lightening maybe? Neither is correct. It is the result of a Controlled Burn by Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Each year a team of specially trained individuals from the Prescribed Fire Training Center and Rookery Bay resource management team burn hundreds of fire-starved acres. The fires are considered  important to the management of these natural areas. Out from the ashes new growth appears. Some ... Read More »

By Nancy Richie It is that time of year to shuffle those feet as you enter the warm Gulf of Mexico waters. If you see beachgoers shuffling along and you wonder if perhaps they need some aid in walking or that they may be doing a funny dance, don’t worry, they are most likely doing the “stingray shuffle”! Frequent beach goers know to shuffle their feet in the sand as they enter the water to warn sting rays of their approach. The vibration of the shuffling sand is usually enough to make a ray move on to avoid getting stepped on. ... Read More »

By Nancy Richie SPEOTYTO CUNICLARA FLORIDANA This familiar Marco Island resident is named from the Greek words, “speo” meaning “cave” and “tyto” meaning owl and “cuniclara” derived from the Latin word cuniclarius meaning “little miner”. As the name suggests the Florida Burrowing Owl digs “caves” or burrows and is the only owl species that nests underground. Background The Burrowing Owl can be found from Canada to South America, mostly prevalent in the western states with an isolated population in Florida. Though migratory in the west, burrowing owls are year round residents in Florida, most commonly observed during the nesting and hatching ... Read More »

By Carol Kinkead In a way, life is visually recorded through the lens of a camera. Just think of all the memories and events we would miss if we were not clicking away. Memories of grandchildren growing up, special family events, vacations, and all the other meaningful occasions that take place in our lifetime. Then there are all the national and world events that make headlines, large and small, every day. We are witnessing history in the making-presidential inaugurations, men on the moon, dictators toppled, war and all its horrors – sometimes more than we want to know. So if you ... Read More »

By Joan Kelly Every year we participate in the Audubon Backyard Bird Count by land and by sea. This year during the February 18- 21 event we did two locations, Port of the Islands and Isles of Capri, with surprising results. On days prior to the count we saw the usual birds that pass our house daily. On the days of the bird count some of these birds just did not show. Maybe they did not want to be counted. A green heron sits on our dock ladder every day, dipping for breakfast. He was a no show. The flock ... Read More »

By Nancy Richie Over the years, one, maybe two, Florida Panther sightings on average per year have been reported on Marco Island.  The excited and surprised observer usually reporting a glimpse of golden fur and a long tail…then an adrenaline rush when the realization just moments later that a panther just dashed through their line of sight!  Stories are told from days past on Marco Island, when houses were sparse and roads were quiet, of panther cubs being raised on Inlet Drive; pairs of cats walking the beaches and panthers seen in the mangrove fringe of Barfield Bay.  Just in ... Read More »

Notwithstanding the current fervor for solar energy in the United States, not much can be accomplished in the next few years under existing law. There’s a very simple explanation. Currently the initial cost of solar energy facilities and equipment is too expensive. In the absence of some form of innovative financing, the projects cannot pay for themselves for decades. The problem is compounded because the United States has no single coherent energy policy at the federal, state or local levels. Almost every effort to develop solar energy projects in the United States is based on a crazy quilt of grants ... Read More »

By Charlette Roman The Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area, commonly referred to as Sand Dollar or Tigertail, depending on whom you ask, hosts a great diversity of winter visitors – the feathered variety! Each fall thousands of shorebirds make their annual migration from distant nesting grounds on the tundra of Canada and Alaska – above the Arctic Circle – to spend the winter months at warmer spots as far away as southern South America. In the spring they repeat the long, arduous journey in reverse. Much like our human snowbirds! Initially a sand bar, Sand Dollar in 1988 was ... Read More »

By Yvette Benarroch Citrus greening has seriously affected citrus crops in the United States, Asia and Africa.  The disease was detected in Florida in 2005 and it is threatening our citrus industry.  This will have environmental, economic and social impacts in our State. What is citrus greening? Citrus greening is bacterial disease that slowly weakens and kills all types of citrus trees and it is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. It just affects citrus plants and it doesn’t represent a threat to humans or animals. What causes citrus greening? Citrus greening disease is caused by ... Read More »

By Capt. Carl Kelly Pollution prevention is a major concern on the water. The River and Harbor Act was enacted in 1899, and is still in effect. It, and many more recent pollution prevention laws deal with major oil and fuel spills from large vessels and marine facilities. But, all persons who operate watercraft of any size or propulsion are subject to these laws. The bottom line is simple. The operator or owner of a vessel is responsible for anything that enters into the water from his/her boat and may be liable to major fines. Some pollution is accidental and ... Read More »

by Carol Kinkead My Husband Jim and I love the coast of Maine and we have vacationed there many times. I had a feeling that we really should go to see the puffins for ourselves, instead of just reading about them, so off we went to Cutler, Maine, which is just about as far north as you can go without going into Canada. To understand the puffins and why I think of them in January one must visit their summertime playground fifteen miles out in the Bay of Fundy, and then contrast it with their winter time haunt – the ... Read More »

Join us for a really unique “Olde Florida” treat. The Friends of Fakahatchee are hosting a Coastal Cruise through the mysterious mangroves of the Ten Thousands Island. On the way, you will probably see dolphins cavorting with the tour boat. When you arrive at Fakahatchee Island, a naturalist will point out unusual plants on the path up to the old cemetery. On the return journey, the boat passes by a famous rookery where the birds will be settling down for the evening. We might think of “Fakahatchee” as a swamp with Ghost Orchids and Florida Panthers but to many local ... Read More »

by Carol Kinkead I am seeing things a little differently these days. View wise. The difference is that we have recently moved from our river front home on the Marco River to a 16th floor condo at Hammock Bay. We look over a panoramic view of mangrove islands, waterways and the blue Gulf of Mexico beyond. As a photographer, I always have my camera close at hand, ready to go, looking for the next shot. Today was a gift, a sparkling clear day, no clouds or humidity just beautiful panoramas of the water all around us, blue as could be, ... Read More »

Nancy Richie, environmental for the City of Marco Island hosted “Owl Prowl” one evening recently. A group of approximately 25 met at Mackle Park. Nancy, was the ‘pied piper’ and led the group to the nearest nest. She then shared a wealth of information regarding proper etiquette in maintaining and viewing owls, as well as the history and behavior of the species. Approximately 90 burrowing owls, Florida’s “species of special concern” inhabit Marco Island. Read More »