Exceptional Adventures in Paradise
Only once have I seen a bobcat in the wild. Very early in the morning on the south side of Lake Okeechobee, the bobcat was just moseying across a driveway on the far side of the road. It was an encounter just long enough to realize what I was seeing, and for the bobcat, I suppose, there was no encounter at all.
Continue reading “Bobcats – quiet grace on four paws”
Headquartered in Montana, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) provides water education resources and organizes special water education events. Through an international network of local implementing partners, Project WET advocates for the role of water education to solve the world’s most pressing water issues.
Continue reading “Project WET”Forgive me for being a lousy blogger this year, but I’ve been otherwise occupied. For many of us, 2020 has gotten off to a rocky start, but we’re not giving up our plans to have a full and exciting year of Sunshine State adventures. If you’re struggling, too, know that you’re not alone — together we will get through all this flotsam and jetsam and into the good stuff. For now, until I get back to my regular Monday/Wednesday posting schedule, I wanted to let you know what’s happening with us.
Continue reading “Just checking in”
It’s that time of year again! The 120th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is fast approaching. Since 1900, dedicated birders have devoted a day to censusing all the birds in their area. In its first year, 27 birders in 25 locations counted a total of 90 species; in the 2017-18 count, 76,987 participants in 2585 locations counted a whopping 2,673 species. The incredible dataset produced by generations of CBC participants has helped scientists reveal trends in bird populations that have significantly aided conservation efforts.
Continue reading “Christmas Bird Count”
For the past six or seven years, our Thanksgiving tradition has been to take a picnic and head for the Ocala National Forest. Whether it’s Wildcat Lake or another forest site, we’ve enjoyed a lot of good food together on Thanksgiving Day.
This year, we’ll be eating at home, and we won’t be kayaking or hiking before or after our dinner. Instead, we will be very intentionally thankful for the fact that we can celebrate together.
Continue reading “Much for which I’m thankful”
The older I get, and that is happening with terrifying speed, the more I realize that my chosen state, my own exquisite Florida, is not the same today as it was yesterday. And tomorrow will not be the same as today. There are few wayside parks where travelers can stop for a picnic and a lovely stretch before continuing on their journey, natural places are disappearing, our beautiful springs are in peril, and it’s because we’re losing our appreciation of our natural history and the natural beauty of our state. So, working as an individual, I really want to promote an awareness and appreciation for these things. Becoming a Master Naturalist has given me great tools to use in this effort.
Continue reading “Florida Master Naturalist Program”