This blog is dedicated to the environmental well-being of our Florida coastal habitat.

This blog is
dedicated to the environmental well-being of coastal habitat.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Coming this Winter....

White Pelicans are definitely "snow birds"
(Notice how small the cormorants are in comparison.)

Snowy Egrets face into the wind
(SNOWY?? - look at their snowshoes.)

Photos by Patricia Jones



Drenched great blue heron
Night herons - Male & Female

1988 study of Venice Inlet repair

http://www.oceanscience.net/inletsonline/usa/scan/Venice.pdf
- OceanScience.net

Dolphins can find hidden objects

http://keysnews.com/node/16456
- Keys News

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Venice Jetty - Before Repair

Venice Inlet provides access from the Gulf of Mexico to Roberts Bay and the Inland Waterway. The town of Nokomis lies north of the inlet and Venice to the south.

The Gulf waters north of the jetty are calm enough for people to swim and sunbathe on Nokomis Beach.
Fisherman think the catch is great here.The huge rocks protecting the jetty sides are falling into the inlet and in need of replacement. The work will begin soon in early September 2009.

Wave action upon the jetty from the Gulf has caused much of the erosion.

Boats speeding through the jetty have added to the erosion.

Live Cam for Jetties

Watch Venice Jetties live here:
http://www.beachlive.com/beach-weather-cams/beach/venice-jetties-(north)_24369
Perhaps, we'll be able to see work on bolstering up the jetties this week.

(It appears that other West Coast webcams are planned, but not yet available.)

Travelin' turtle tracked....1125 miles

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/aug/28/travelin-turtle-tracked-transmitter-1125-miles-nap/
- naplesnews.com

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Kayak Outing: Robinson Preserve, Sat., Aug 29

*Aug 29 Robinson Preserve/Manatee Co 9am-1pm $30mem-$35non-mem
Leisurely paddling and observation. Kayak, paddle, life vest, etc, are supplied. If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going.

Call John at (941)966-7308 for reservations. Members who own a kayak and life vests are welcome to go on trips marked with an asterisk(*) for a $5 donation to ALS.


See: http://sealitsoc.blogspot.com/search?q=robinson+preserve
for a previous trip report.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Point of Rocks Kayak Trip: Aug 27

Turtle Beach/Point of Rocks paddle/snorkel 8:30am -11-30am

Kayak, paddle, life vest, etc supplied. If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going. Members who own a kayak and life vests are welcome to go on this trip for a $5 donation to ALS.
Cost is $20 members, $25 non-members.

Call John at (941)966-7308 for reservations.


Here's a nice video of "Point of Rocks". (Turn your sound off before watching)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpq3UeLaFsQ

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Our Environment -- who's in charge

http://www.pnj.com/article/99999999/NEWS10/90821015
- Pensacola News Journal

August 25 : Kayak N. Longboat Key & Sister Keys

Leisurely paddling and observation at a variety of sites difficult to visit by any other means. Kayak, paddle, life vest, etc. are supplied. If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going. Call John at (941)966-7308 for reservations.
Cost is $20 members, $25 non-members
.
Photo: Google Earth

Members who own a kayak and life vests are welcome to go on trips marked with an asterisk(*) for a $5 donation to ALS.

Beach Access: 2825 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key

There are about 4 parking spaces in the lot on the beach side of Gulf of Mexico Drive. Thus, parking signs will direct you to the Longboat Key Town Hall east off Gulf of Mexico. There you can park in the lot on the west side of the building where you will see the "beach access" sign and... another sign at the NW corner of the parking lot directing you through the bushes, north down the sidewalk, and across Gulf of Mexico Dr ...
to the beach access lot and path to the beach.
Looking to the south, is beautiful sand and surf.On a hot Saturday afternoon, there are few people on the beach.
Looking north, there are fewer large condos, even fewer people and a beautiful beach.

Venice: What's in the water? Polluting bacteria....

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090822/OPINION/908221009/2198/OPINION?Title=What-s-in-the-water-Polluting-bacteria-aren-t-welcome-at-the-beach
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Inert bombs to remain in ocean

http://keysnews.com/node/16166
- Keysnews.com

Extreme surfs and high tides...

http://news.staugustine.com/news/2009/08/20/extreme-surfs-and-high-tides-expected-this-weekend-porpoise-point-is-re-opened-to-vehicles/
- St. Augustine Record

Surfs up...so are tides in Jacksonville

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-08-20/story/surf%E2%80%99s_up_so_are_tides_in_jacksonville_this_weekend
- Jacksonville Times Union

Kayak trip Saturday, August 22

Leisurely paddling and observation,
Kayak, paddle, life vest, etc supplied.
If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going.

Call John at (941)966-7308 for reservations.
Cost is $20 members, $25 non-members unless otherwise noted. Trips into State parks require an additional entrance fee.


*Aug 22 Blackburn Pt/Oscar Sherer State Park 8:30am-12noon

Members who own a kayak and life vests are welcome to go on trips marked with an asterisk(*) for a $5 donation to ALS.

Decades of waves take their toll on Venice jetty

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090820/ARTICLE/908201060/2055/NEWS?Title=Decades-of-waves-take-their-toll-on-Venice-jetties
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Monday, August 17, 2009

Quick Point at New Pass

Driving north from Lido Key, go over the large New Pass draw bridge. Immediately on your left, turn into the drive to a park by the bridge. There is a small beach and tiki huts with picnic tables. The Littoral Society often holds seining outings on the beach with catch ID sessions at the tables.You will find signage with the history of New Pass.
Be sure to walk east under the bridge

to the Quick Point Nature Preserve.
There, you will find a wading beach, paths through the woods, walkways over man-made and tidal lagoons, views of downtown Sarasota, and, perhaps, an osprey or two.


Island beach-goers need to butt out

http://islander.org/8-12-09/butt_out_ami.php
- Anna Maria Island News

Friday, August 14, 2009

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Bay Life Search: August 15, Quickpoint (New Pass)

Explore the sea life near our beaches with American Littoral Society biologists. We’ll be searching shallow shorelines and sea grass beds, observing, collecting, and discussing the natural history of some of the many interesting fishes and other animals that inhabit Sarasota Bay. No charge but donations always welcome. Saturday from 9:30-11:30 am. Wading shoes suggested.

Call Bruce at (941) 493-5087 for reservations.

Beach Access: 3495 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key

Lots of parking here, but you have to watch carefully for street numbers for Longboat Key beach access.
Looking south, you will see homes and condos, and more people on the beach. However, the beach is wide and there is room for all.To the north, there are no houses, but lots of birds.Across the street, is a large, grass-dirt parking lot.... and even a kayak launching place.

After nearly a decade, Blind Pass finally open

http://www.captivasanibel.com/page/content.detail/id/503977/After-nearly-a-decade--Blind-Pass-finally-open.html?nav=5051
- captiva-sanibel.com

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Sarasota Scallop Search


Only 50 boats were allowed for the Great Sarasota Scallop Search and 50 boats registered.
Everyone had a great day on the Bay with boating, displays and food. We also hope many scallops showed up for this great event.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Coral spawning plans set

KEY LARGO - KeysNews.com - 08-07-09

Students with SCUBAnauts International, a youth education organization, will be in Key Largo today through Tuesday to document the annual staghorn coral spawning.

The 12- to 18-year-olds will be working with biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

They will make several dives nightly until the spawning occurs, at which point they will document it as well as collect sperm and eggs released by the corals. The students will be on the Florida Keys Dive Center boat for the project from 7:30 to about 11:30 p.m. for the dives.

2008 Coral Spawning Photos - Florida Keys.com

In Venice, coastal worrying

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090807/ARTICLE/908071044/2055/NEWS?Title=In-Venice-coastal-worrying
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Seagrass Volunteer Monitoring Training Session

"The Seagrass Volunteer Monitoring Program is comprised of groups and individuals working to gather information regarding the aerial coverage of seagrass and macroalgae, i.e. seaweed. Volunteers will survey the bays twice a year (February and August) and note the location of seagrass and macroalgae and provide some information regarding their habitats. Data will be used to supply supplemental information to all interested parties, to help inform decision makers and posted be here on the Water Atlas. " - Sarasota Water Atlas

See : http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/

Training



Equipping

Practice