Be a citizen scientist and report sightings
By SCCF - | May 11, 2021
SCCF
SCCF
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation announced a new way for the public to report in-water sightings of healthy sea turtles. It is intended for use by boaters, captains and others who see them in the waters around the region. The data collected from the citizen science project will help researchers identify high-use areas and learn more about seasonal habitat shifts. To participate, download the “ArcGIS Survey123” app from the Apple App Store, GooglePlay or Amazon Appstore. It will need permission to access your phone’s location in order to receive GPS coordinates of your sightings and camera/media to capture and attach pictures. To use the app, click “Continue without signing in.” Once logged in, download the SCCF’s survey by scanning this QR code. To submit a sighting, fill out the required fields in the survey and click the checkmark in the lower right corner.
Environmental groups ask DeSantis to declare state of emergency over Lake O algal blooms
Published: May 10, 2021 11:19 AM EDT
Updated: May 10, 2021 6:54 PM EDT
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Some Florida groups concerned about water quality are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency over algal blooms.
“Harmful algal blooms are again threatening public health, local economies and ecosystems of Florida. Lake Okeechobee has become the Florida epicenter of algal blooms, and discharge of these toxic blooms from the Lake is contaminating the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers and associated waterways,” states a May 8 letter to the governor.
The groups cite recent health alerts warning of blue-green algae in the Okeechobee Waterway, Lake Worth Lagoon and other water bodies in South Florida. There was also a presence of the toxin microcystin, produced by blue-green algae, in Lake Okeechobee, which feeds the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers.
Close to 300 bird species have been observed on Sanibel-Captiva. How many have you seen?
Published: May 8, 2021 8:47 AM EDT
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The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has launched a list of 298 bird species that have been observed on the barrier islands.
The list was launched to mark the passing of World Migratory Bird Day, which is Saturday, May 8.
The list has been developed and vetted by local birders and ornithologists and builds on a list published in 2013 by the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
The list includes full-time bird residents and those that also migrate to the barrier islands seasonally.
To download the list of birds, click here.
Watch: Shark frightens six-year-old out of the water at Hawaii beach
A six-year-old girl got the fright of her life when a blacktip shark appeared out of nowhere, while she splashed in the surf in Hawaii.
What started out as a typical day at Kalama Beach in Hawaii for six-year-old Anela Rezentes and her mother quickly turned scary on Sunday.
The girl was playing in the surf when suddenly out of nowhere a shark appeared behind her. Her mom who was on the beach at the time, caught the whole experience on video.
WATCH: SHARK APPEARS BEHIND GIRL
The young girl told
CROW releases sea turtle admitted for red tide poisoning
By CROW - | May 5, 2021
CROW
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife released an adult, female loggerhead sea turtle on May 4 in front of the West Wind Inn Resort on Sanibel.
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife released an adult, female loggerhead sea turtle the largest of the hard-shelled turtles and frequent nester on Southwest Florida beaches on Sanibel on May 4 after treating the turtle for brevetoxicosis, also known as red tide poisoning.
The turtle was rescued on March 17 after it stranded on the beach on Don Pedro Island in Charlotte County. It was transported to CROW where veterinarians found it to be very weak, thin and covered in barnacles, but showing no other signs of trauma, such as a boat strike. The turtle’s condition led the veterinarians to suspect it was suffering from brevetoxicosis.