Here’s What’s Happening at Rookery Bay
So, did you know The Environmental Learning Center at neighboring Rookery Bay is a 16,500 square-foot facility with four research laboratories, classrooms and 140-seat auditorium, and a two story visitor center? The visitor center offers a variety of hands-on experiences, including a 2,300-gallon aquarium and interactive exhibits addressing research and stewardship efforts ongoing within the Reserve, as well as a nature store, gallery and picnic area. The Environmental Learning Center is also designated as a Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center!
So here’s the latest from Rookery Bay….
Kids Free Friday is underway – This summer education program provides FREE admission for children ages 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult ($5). Educators will present a different topic each week, see schedule in link.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Has Begun! – Remember to keep your distance from caged nests and turn your lights off or keep them shielded if on or near the beach after 9 pm!
Training and Seining – Rookery Bay Reserve staff recently visited Tigertail Lagoon in Marco Island on June 18th with the Florida Master Naturalist Coastal Module students to study the diversity of life within coastal systems. They used a seine net to reveal several different species, such as: gulf killifish, pipefish, and sheepshead minnow. The Master Naturalist Coastal Module, hosted at Rookery Bay, addresses society’s role in coastal areas, develops naturalist interpretation skills, and discusses environmental ethics. This class is one of the many different ways that Reserve staff is continually working to provide a basis for informed stewardship of estuaries through increasing awareness and appreciation for the diverse array of life that resides within Reserve waters.
New Bird Species Discovered Nesting in the Reserve – Reserve staff Dave Graff discovered a new species using the Reserve as nesting habitat during his photography class last month. Sandhill cranes occur in pastures, open prairies and freshwater wetlands in peninsular Florida from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp. While they are often observed feeding on golf courses and in cleared fields associated with neighboring developments such as Fiddler’s Creek, this was the first time nesting activity has been documented in the Reserve’s upland habitats. Learn more about these majestic birds.
Wonders of the Beach and Bay – A colorful exhibit of island-themed watercolors by artist Linda Soderquist will be on display in the gallery at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center from May 29 through August 29, 2014. Soderquist’s “Wonders of the Beach and Bay” exhibit features tropical watercolor paintings features landscapes, seascapes, wildlife portraits, coral reef scenes, and mangrove habitats. More information about Linda and her artwork can be found at www.lindasislandart.com.
