Nature

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Join the Choctawhatchee Audubon for bird walks, field trips and adventures

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society offers a wide variety of events open to the public The Choctawhatchee Audubon Society is dedicated to the protection of bird and wildlife habitat, environmental education, and a greater appreciation of Northwest Florida’s natural beauty. During the year the CAS offers a wide variety of bird walks, bird counts, field trips and Eventures geared for children. Below is a list of ongoing activities CAS will be hosting throughout the year. For more information, go to www.choctawhatcheeaudubon.org. Choctawhatchee...

FWC resolution highlights gopher tortoise conservation

Threatened gopher tortoise may become listed as federally endangered The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) signed a resolution Thursday in Apalachicola urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to recognize Florida’s strong conservation measures and actions to protect the gopher tortoise. The resolution asked the Service to not list the gopher tortoise in Florida as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Because the Service was petitioned to list the gopher tortoise as threatened in the eastern...

Learn about alligators at Topsail Feb. 26

Learn all the facts about the native Florida reptiles Sat., Feb. 26th 2011 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will be having a presentation on alligators. Once they were hunted, then they were protected, now they are farmed. Come and learn the facts and history of the American Alligator. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A. Take a short walk to the clubhouse. Fees: Program included in the park admission fee...

Tracking dolphins for science on Choctawhatchee Bay

Research documents life patterns and health of bottlenose dolphin Steve Shippee knows about dolphins. Studying the mammal’s behavior since he was 17, Shippee, a marine biologist, is currently the marine mammal research and stranding team coordinator for Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, and currently in the University of Central Florida PhD program in Conservation Biology.  Shippee is doing his dissertation on dolphin habitat use and feeding ecology in two connected estuaries, Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay. Shippee has been doing research...

Learn about sharks at Topsail Feb. 19

Learn how to stay safe in the water at presentation hosted by Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Sat. Feb. 19 at 1:30 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will be having a presentation on sharks. Find out more about the sharks that are found in Florida’s coastal waters and how to stay safe at this slide presentation. Meet at the Day-Use parking area on Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. Fees:...

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center partners with TDC for public access

Center will be open to the public on weekends starting this summer The Walton County Board of County Commissioners approved a public-private partnership with E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center. The Center will be open to the public on the weekends starting June 1. The E.O. Wilson Biophilia is an environmental facility serving students, teachers and professional audiences. The Center offers student curriculums that educate a better understanding of the environment; with its focus on the importance of biodiversity, ecosystems, conservation, preservation...