Environment

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That bunch of seaweed on the beach teems with life

Beach wrack full of curiosities When walking the beach this spring break, pause and ponder the virtues of stranded seaweed. Those scattered clumps along the high-tide line actually have a name – beach wrack – and are a pivotal part of the beach ecosystem. “Many might think sand makes a beach, but it’s the wrack that truly brings a beach to life,” said Blair Witherington, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist who studies beach life. “It sponsors...

Beach mouse research volunteers needed Mar. 26 and 27

Learn about the beach mouse as you assist in research Margo Stoddard a University of Florida researcher needs lots of volunteers to help out this Mar. 26 and 27 with her beach mouse project.  The project will consist of planting vegetation (broomsedge) in different spatial configurations.  The objective of this study is to examine the influence of vegetation patch size on beach mouse activity (movement and foraging), and/or installing foraging trays in the field; foraging trays for this study are clear plastic...

Volunteers needed for restoration and preservation at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Mar. 24-25

Join National Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation at Topsail Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteer with the National Wildlife Federation and the Florida Wildlife Federation for two days of volunteering at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Engage in a number of restoration and preservation activities including exotic invasive plant species removal, trail blazing, wildlife blind construction, and beach restoration. Register at www.nwf.org/oilspillvolunteers Contact: Jenna Peters at (703) 438-6003 or email Petersj@nwf.org...

Watch for the super full moon March 19

Perigee moon biggest in almost 20 years On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It’s a super “perigee moon”- the biggest in almost 20 years. “The last full Moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993,” says Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC. “I’d say it’s worth a look.” Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the...

Osprey at work on Lake Powell

Raptor takes flight with fresh catch An osprey takes flight over Lake Powell with a freshly caught mullet. This photo was taken by master naturalist and avid photographer Emily Ellis. Emily is active in the Lake Powell Community Alliance.  The alliance is a community initiative dedicated to preserving the water quality and biodiversity of the globally rare and imperiled Lake Powell ecosystem through education, habitat restoration, watershed-based planning and community partnerships. The Lake Powell Community Alliance is part of LAKEWATCH....