An oyster in the storm

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/opinion/an-oyster-in-the-storm.html

- NY Times

Guided Beach Walks (October - April)

From mid October through April, our naturalist, Bud Doyle, conducts guided beach nature walks at Casperson Beach Park and North Jetty Beach Park. All beach nature walks begin at 9 am and conclude at 11 am. They are open to the general public and free of charge. Learn about the Gulf of Mexico, its tides, currents, and storms. Along the way, identify shells, sharks teeth,birds, fish, and plant life. Casperson Beach is Venice's rural beach while North Jetty Beach is one of Florida's great shelling beaches.

Upcoming Marine Life Explorations

Explore the sea life near our shores with American Littoral Society biologists.  Using hand and seine nets, we will be searching shallow waters 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.  Trips run on Saturdays from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Wading shoes suggested. Call  for reservations.  Call  Chuck at  941-488-8998

Sept 8- Lemon Bay Park
Oct 13- Lemon Bay Park
Dec 8-  Lemon Bay Park
Jan 12- Bird Key
Feb 9- Lemon Bay Park
Mar 9- Blackburn Point Park
Apr 13- Lemon Bay Park

Eco-Tour with Us Aboard the Carefree Learner (January - May)

Get hands-on fun and learn up close about the critters of the Bay with our expert naturalists and educators. Also see amazing nesting bird life. The boat is small and provides a great experience for students of all ages. The Carefree Learner are on Wednesdays at 1 to 3 pm departing from Bayfront Park next to Le Barge, near the Ringling circle. Trips will resume in January 2013.  We will begin taking reservations in December and will post contact information at that time.

Members $15, non-members $20, kids (12 and under) $10.

January 30
February 13 & 27
March 6, 20, 27
April 6*, 17, 24
*Note, our April 6 trip is the only Saturday trip

Quiet Water Kayak Trips, Oct-Dec 2012

Quiet Water Kayak Trips
Call John at 941-966-7308 for reservations.

Enjoy leisurely paddling and observation at a variety of sites difficult to visit by any other means. Kayak, paddles, life vest, etc. supplied. If you haven’t used a kayak before, a short training session before the trip will get you going. Except for trips marked with an asterisk (*), members who bring their own kayak and life vests can participate for a $5 donation to the Society. Otherwise, cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members unless noted. State parks require an additional entrance fee.
Oct 25      Sunset/Moonlight Paddle   5:30 - 8:00 pm

 Nov 10    Myakka Daze - all day down the Myakka River $50 includes kayak - $35 if you have your own. call John for details.
 Nov 12 Myakka River State Park;  1 - 4 pm
 Nov 14 Nokomis Waterways; 1 - 4 pm
 Nov 17 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt; 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
*Nov 18 Myakka State Park; 8:30 - 11:30 am
 Nov 20 Caspersen/Lemon Bay; 10am - 1pm
 Nov 22 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Point Park; 9:30am - 12:30pm
 Nov 24 Little Manatee River; 10am - 2pm ($30mem/$35non-mem)
 Nov 25 South Lido Park/Bird Key; 9am - noon

 Dec 1 Myakka State Park; 8:30 - 11:30am
 Dec 2 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Point Park; 9am - noon
 Dec 5 Robinson Preserve/Manatee Co; 10am - 2pm ($30mem/$35non-mem)
 Dec 9 Blackburn Point/Oscar Shcerer State Park; 10am - 1:30pm
*Dec 12 Myakka State Park; 8:30am-11:30am
 Dec 15 MYAKKA DAZE all day down the Myakka River ($50 includes kayak/$35 with own)
 Dec 19 South Lido/Bird Key; 10am - 1pm
*Dec 22 Myakka State Park; 9:30am - 12:30pm
 Dec 23 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Point Park; 9:30am - 12:30pm
*Dec 24 Myakka River State Park; 8:30 - 11:30am
 Dec 25 Little Sarasota Bay/Palmer Pt. Park; 10am - 1pm

Sarasota Bay Watch Fundraiser

Harry's Continental Kitchens Wine Tasting Fundraiser
November 14, 2012, 4:30-6:30 P.M.
$20

     You are invited you to join us at Harry's Continental Kitchens for a lovely selection of wines from around the globe, scrumptious passed hors d’oeuvres, and live music.  The tasting will take place on the restaurant patio at 525 St Judes Drive on Longboat Key from 4:40 - 6:30.  A portion of the $20    admission (pay at the event) will benefit Sarasota Bay Watch efforts.

     Guests will receive a Harry's coupon and complimentary Go-vino wine glass.  Local art work, raffle items, and Sarasota Bay Watch merchandise will be available.  Still hungry?  The patio bistro menu offered and the restaurant will also be open with happy hour pricing and . For dinner reservations, call the restaurant at 941.383.0777.

Come to the island, relax with friends, and help
Sarasota Bay Watch so we can protect and restore our bay!

Red Tide Monitoring Increases

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120926/ARTICLE/120929688/2416/NEWS?Title=Red-tide-monitoring-increases
- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Wood stork a key character in stormwater drainage project’s delay at Siesta Public Beach

http://sarasotanewsleader.com/wood-stork-a-key-character-in-stormwater-drainage-projects-delay-at-siesta-public-beach/

- Sarasota News Leader

Just one of LOU NEWMAN's photos and his commentary

Hi!  My name is “Willie.”  I am a Least Tern so that is “Willie Least Tern” for your information.  The first image is a picture of me on the beach with my Mom; Well, actually I am just an egg in the picture :>)   It will be 21 days until I hatch.  Mom and Dad are one of 15 pairs of Least Terns in our “colony.”  We started out with 15 scrapes (nests), most of which contained two eggs.  Predators, mainly crows and ghost crabs, got the eggs in three of the scrapes.  The remaining dozen pairs of adults successfully hatched 21 chicks.  To say we were precocious at hatching is an understatement.  Mom and Dad were often at their wits end trying to keep track of us.  At first we would run back to the scrape or Mom would chase us and dig a new scrape so we could huddle under her, but as we became more venturesome they would simply come back with a fish and call and look for us until they found us.  Unfortunately, during the first few days we were very vulnerable to being seized by ghost crabs and gulls.  Some of my “classmates” ventured too close to nearby Black Skimmer scrapes and were driven off or killed by the skimmers.  Now that was scary.  Only ten of us made it to two weeks of age, but we grew fast and were flying by three weeks.  Although we were still being fed by our parents, at four weeks we were flying all over the beach and out over the water.  Learning to hover and dive for fish is next if we are to survive.  I am ready!

Images by Lou Newman, Sarasota, FL, USA.  May & June, 2012.

Web Site:  www.lounewmanphotography.com

Bay Guardians to Plant Natives at North Lido Beach Park

Our group of student and adult volunteers will be planting native plants at North Lido Beach Park on Saturday, July 14. The group will include 20 middle school students from the Duke University Talent Identification Program, a marine biology summer camp focused on estuaries and marshes. Bay Guardian volunteers planted more than 2,000 plants last year at the same site.

The new tidal tributary at North Lido Beach Park was completed in March 2011. The restoration project improved 30 acres on the 70 acre site. The effort removed non-native vegetation, excavated the tidal wetland, contoured the upland area, created dunes, and planted thousands of native plants. The tidal wetland was created to provide essential habitat for estuarine dependent fish species. 

This is the fourth Bay Guardian outing for 2012. Prior volunteer projects occurred at Emerson Point Preserve in Manatee County, North Water Tower Park in Sarasota County and Quick Point Preserve on Longboat Key.

SBEP OVERSEEING HABITAT RESTORATION AT FISH PRESERVE

SARASOTA, FL – The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) is continuing to do habitat restoration at FISH Preserve, a 100-acre parcel adjacent to Sarasota Bay within the Village of Cortez in Manatee County. The latest plan includes the removal of exotic plants later this fall followed by the conversion of two stormwater retention ponds into additional wetland habitat. New creeks, ponds and trails will also be created as part of the plan. The project is expected to take up to two years to complete. Dr. Jay Leverone, the SBEP Staff Scientist, will manage the project.

FISH is an acronym for Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, a non-profit organization that purchased the property in 1999 to help restore, conserve and protect the upland and wetland habitats and adjacent waters. The ongoing restoration at FISH Preserve is supported by major funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).

The first phase of the large-scale restoration project was completed in 2009 and involved the removal of exotic vegetation, creation of a tidal wetland, and mangrove restoration. Last year, two bridges were constructed to connect hiking trails thanks to support from the Bonefish Grill. Volunteers with the SBEP Bay Guardians, including students from Martha B. King Middle School in Bradenton, have completed small projects that support the restoration plan.

The restoration will increase wetland acreage, improve tidal circulation, and reestablish natural water flow. Exotic Brazilian pepper and Australian pine trees that currently dominate the landscape will be cleared and replaced with native trees and shrubs. Trash piles will also be removed.

The Florida Department of Community Affairs designated Cortez a Waterfront Community in 1997. Since that time, the community has worked to preserve their community through policy change, land acquisition, the development of a maritime museum, and other projects. The creation of the FISH Preserve is a cornerstone of the longer term preservation plan.

51st ANNUAL MEETING AMERICAN LITTORAL SOCIETY

51st ANNUAL MEETING AMERICAN LITTORAL SOCIETY Island Beach State Park, Seaside, New Jersey September 20 - 23, 2012

This 51st annual meeting of the Society will be held at Seaside Park, NJ, starting Thursday evening, September 20, and ending Sunday, September 23. As usual, the long weekend is an excuse to get out into littoral territory to see nature in action. Where: Headquarters will be at the Island Beach Motor Lodge, almost directly next to Island Beach State Park.    What: A great deal of our time will be spent on Island Beach State Park exploring beach areas, trails on both the ocean and bay side, looking for migrating birds, shelling, and enjoying a kayak trip (must have kayaked before) along the bay side of the Park. Fishermen bring your rods, swimmers your bathing suits, and birders your binoculars. Trips will run from Friday a.m. through Saturday p.m., with breakfast on Sunday morning. NOTE: The weekend is informal including dress.....Field trips go rain or shine.....  This area has no public transportation - try and carpool or join someone else going from your area. If you are willing to take another member let us know. Cost is based on double occupany. Mail to: American Littoral Society, 18 Hartshorne Dr., Ste 1, Highlands, NJ 07732 If you do not plan on kayaking deduct $20 off the cost of the weekend. Plan A: 3 nights at Island Beach Motor Lodge, all meals-- Fri a.m. to Sun a.m.: $375 per adult - $150 per child under 12.   Total: $________________   Kayaking ___Yes ___No Plan B: 2 nights at Island Beach Motor Lodge, all meals-Fri lunch to Sun a.m.: $325 per adult - $135 per child under 12.   Total: $________________   Kayaking ___Yes ___No Plan C: Commuters....everything except rooms, meals Fri a.m. to Sun a.m.: $255 per adult - $150 per child under 12. Total: $________________   Kayaking ___Yes   ___No Name:_________________________________ Address:________________________________________________ City:____________________, State___________ Zip________ Phone day_______________________________ Email:_____________________________________    Yes____   No____   Check to receive all information by email or enclose  a check for $_________ and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to mail confirmation, directions, and details if not using email. Questions: ask Pat - 732-291-0055 or pat@littoralsociety.org.

Bay Partners Grants

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program has awarded eight local organizations grants through its annual Bay Partners Grant Program. The local recipients include the City of Sarasota, Florida House, Founder’s Garden Club of Sarasota, Nature’s Academy, Sunbow Bay Condominium Association, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Bay Watch, and Keep Manatee Beautiful.

SBEP has awarded more than $213,000 to support 109 local grant requests since 2003. Recipients have included many area schools, non-profit organizations, condominium associations, and other groups. All of the grants have supported projects that focus on Bay Education, Bay Restoration or Bay-Friendly Landscaping.

Southeast American Littoral Society is now on FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLittoralSocietySoutheastChapter?filter=3

Y'all come

Members and friends :  Post your SE shoreline stories and photos for all of us to see.

Southeast Americal Littoral Society is on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLittoralSocietySoutheastChapter?filter=3

Mote Marine joins coral reef restoration effort

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120514/ARTICLE/120519751/2416/NEWS?Title=Mote-Marine-joins-coral-reef-restoration-effort

- Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Caspersen Beach Park adds beautiful boardwalk … and restrooms?

http://ticketsarasota.com/2012-05-10/section/recreation/caspersen-beach-park-adds-beautiful-boardwalk-and-restrooms/

- Sarasota Herald Tribune

Sister Keys Clean Up

Bay Friendly Suggestion from Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

"SBEP reminds residents to use fertilizers with slow-release nitrogen for their lawn or flower beds during the Spring season. Slow-release products feed your lawn and plants gradually and for a longer period of time. They ultimately help reduce the flow of fertilizer chemicals into Sarasota Bay as a result of stormwater runoff. Another important Bay-friendly suggestion is not fertilizing during the summer months from June through September. "

Spring at South Lido

 

Spring is nesting season at South Lido.  Portions of the back beach are roped off

 Castles and multitudes of tourists appear at New Pass beach

Various vehicles park along the beach.