Kahuna the Rehabilitated Sea Turtle
Kahuna is a large sea turtle that experienced a shark attack rendering her defenseless in her normal habitat, the Atlantic Ocean. 60% of her left front flipper was lost with deep lacerations on her right flipper. She was rescued by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, FL. The Center is a pretty amazing rehabilitations center wequipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and medical professionals. Kahuna has been at the center in treatment since rescued and the Center partnered with the Equine Hyperbaric Center of South Florida at Reid and Associates in Loxahatchee, Florida to provide 18 hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments for Kahuna’s benefit. These were very successful and now Kahuna is healthy enough to reutrn to her home in the Atlantic Ocean. Release is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 7th on Juno Beach right across the road from the Center. A crowd is sure to be there cheering Kahuna and Loggerhead Marinelife Center as Kahuna is freed and disappears into the great blue waters!!...
Read MoreGopher Tortoise of Florida
The Gopher Tortoise is a member of a group of land tortoises that originated in North America over 60 million years ago. It is, therefore, one of the oldest living species. Gopher tortoises can live to be 100 years of age.As I am spending my summer in Florida, I have many opportunities to observe the ancient looking creatures. I was taking an evening walk after dinner one night and decided to walk through a preserve right beside our apartment complex. Florida is full of preserves to protect the wildlife and flora that might otherwise fall by the wayside due to expansion of our commercial and residential contruction. This particular preserve has a handicap-accessible sand trail that was easy to traverse. Keeping my eyes sharply focused on the trail ahead and beside me, I took care to watch for snakes, etc. Happily, I saw NO snakes. They most likely were there, but I didn’t see any. The trail is pretty along a lagoon. I loved the sounds of the birds, crickets, etc. The trees and shrubs were lovely sub-tropical which was easy to enjoy. I turned a corner on the trail and was face-to-face with a large Gopher Tortoise. We both froze in time checking the other out and he could have been a sculpture he was so very still. I decided to inch my way to the edge of the trail opposite from his edge. That worked well without a move from him. Then, I decided one of us had to move, so I very slowly took a couple of steps crossing by him and he remained still. A couple more steps forward and I looked back and he was on his way to wherever! Gopher Tortoises dig big and deep burrows in the land for their home. Some burrows can be as large as 50 ft. long. When they leave their home, other wildlife will move in and make it their own. In Florida, the Gopher Tortoise is on the Endangered Species list due to habitat loss. My son-in-law is a land developer and has come upon gopher tortoises in the development process and the entire development process is halted to re-draw plans to protect the tortoise’s habitat. Hence, one finds many preserves alongside residential and commercial developments. After all, they were there first! ...
Read MoreRehabilitated Sea Turtle Released into Ocean
I have enjoyed a fondness of sea turtles for years and each time I visit my daughter in Florida, we go to visit the Loggerhead Marinelife Center or the “turtle hospital” as we call it. It is a rather amazing not-for-profit organization that rescues injured and sick sea turtles and with their state-of-the-art medical techonolgies, they help to heal and strengthen sea turtles that were facing death. It’s a fun place for kids and adults alike to visit and learn about these ancient species. On a visit, one can see sea turtles in swimming tanks as they are being treated for their ailments…or, one might see hatchlings that did not make it out to sea after being born for one reason or another. Now, those are really a precious sight to behold!! While on my extended stay in Florida this summer, on June 29, 2012, my grandchildren and I were able to observe Tilly, who the center had nurtured back to good health, be released on Juno Beach and to see her instinctively and immediately make her journey back to her home, the Atlantic Ocean. There must have been 200-250 people gathered to witness this great escape back into the wild and all cheered as she disappeared into the blue-green waves of the South Florida sea. So, after Tilly made her way into and under the ocean, the ropes were removed and my grandchildren returned to the waves for play. This time, I liked the thought of them swimming with Tilly in the nearby waves…now what kid wouldn’t want to do that! Jared thought he might have seen her when a big wave came and he saw something brown…or maybe it was seaweed…who knows. But, one thing for certain is this…they all, including Tilly, were swimming in a wonderfully, majestically created expanse of the beautiful ocean created so, so many thousands of years ago. That thought just puts a big, big smile on my face! Visit www.marinelife.org ...
Read MoreHandsome Green Heron
On my drive from NC to FL, I stopped in at Merritt Island, near Titusville, FL to see what birds I might see in the Wildlife Reserve. I was fortunate to come upon a handsome Green Heron resting in a short tree in the marsh. Another bird tried to enter his territory, but with the loud hissing and clacking, that wasn’t going to happen. He settled down quickly and allowed me to quietly get within about 8 ft. of him. I imagine he was protecting a nest in that tree for ’tis the season! The Green Herons are quite stately looking to me with the greenish grey upper feathers, a darker green-black top of the head, and the chocolate brown chest area. Their beak is long and stout and they are one of just a few large water birds that actually use their beak as a tool. The Green Heron will gather a “bait” of some sort in it’s beak and drop it onto the surface of the water…lake or pond, and wait for his “catch” to come up to eat it. His catch may, indeed, eat the bait, but the heron will eat IT!! Herons are smart, intuitive birds and live quietly among a variety of species…unless threatend. At that time, they take control and make it known they claim their spot! Fun and amusing to...
Read MoreBlowing Rock Preserve
Discover the resiliency of nature in a visit to the Blowing Rock Preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, FL. The area lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. Winding trails are under a canopy of native growth rich in vegetation, palms, insects, birds, sea turtles, lizards and snakes. It is a protected area allowing sea turtles to continue to safely nest there. A feature from which it derived its name is the spectacular Anastasia limestone rock formations. At high tide, the cystal blue green ocean waves pound the coast lined with these rocks, blowing high shoots of water up through the holes in the rock formations…enough excitement alone to make the visit worthwhile! Visitors can search for treasures of shells and other sea life along the ocean beach as well as the river lagoon. The Hawley Education Center on the lagoon side offers various FREE programs and exhibits such as Blowing Rocks: From Lagoon to Ocean & Beyond; Reef Revival: Underwater Coral Nurseries and more. Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, the Preserve and Education Center appreciate donations. For more information, visit their website at www.nature.org/blowing...
Read MoreWhite Ibis
One of the things I enjoy about spending time in nature preserves or wildlife sanctuaries is the pure joy I feel as I am studying one of God’s creatures in the wild gaining an awareness of His omniscience in the needs and behaviors of each species. It is, indeed, amazing to me to think that our Creator of the great Universe, focuses on each creature individually and all of us collectively, providing us and programming us for survival. King James Bible Psalm 84:3 says “Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.” The gift of nature is an opportunity to learn, value and experience God’s handiwork bringing peace and enjoyment to me. On this first day of the New Year 2012, I claim for myself more intentional study of God’s handiwork and His Word which always reveals new perspectives for my journey. How about...
Read MoreWhite Ibis
I saw my first White Ibis in Florida as we walked along the banks of the Jupiter Inlet. We were posing for photos and then this lovely, lanky bird walks right toward us as if to say “Hey, you should be photographing me. Am I not graceful?” Of course, I turned my camera to the ibis and just love the graceful stroll he took right by us. The White Ibis are wading birds of the deep South, always looking down to see what they can find for dinner or a snack. They have pink skin on their faces, legs and bills. This pink turns almost scarlet in breeding season. The birds appear totally white but the black edges to the underneath part of their wings is only seen when they are in flight. Their favorite habitat is salt marshes, but they can also be seen walking along lawns probing for insects to...
Read MoreJupiter Lighthouse
I guess my most favorite spot in Jupiter, FL (other than wherever my grandkids are) is Jupiter Inlet. It’s a lovely place rich with beautiful vegetation, lush palm trees, the blue-green water depending on high/low tide and, of course, the picturesque Jupiter Lighthouse. Every visit to Jupiter, I make the short trek to the inlet and reach a peaceful state of mind. Watching the brown pelicans ride the tide in is a treat. And they know they will get a treat as the boats come in for the night. The city of Jupiter owns all the beachfront area and has preserved it for public use with beachfront parks, plenty of parking along the coastline as well as protected areas for the sea turtles to nest and lay their eggs for hatching. Hanging out at the inlet, we’ve seen manatees, white ibis, brown pelicans and various plovers and gulls. Taking the boat up the intra-coastal it’s fun to view the homes on Jupiter Island…the homes where we can see how the other part of our society lives…Celine Dion, Alan Jackson, Tiger Woods, etc.,...
Read MoreRescued Sea Turtle
This Loggerhead sea turtle was rescued and being rehabilitated at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center at Juno Beach, FL. Sea turtles are rescued and treated for a variety of issues. Some are sick with a particular infection while others are injured by passing boats or swallow hooks and trash in the ocean. With the publicity and education outreach of ocean and sea life conservationists, many fishermen will come upon an injured sea turtle and bring them in to the center/hospital for rehabilitation. This center and their staff have diagnostic and surgical training, equipment and supplies needed to save lives. The center cares for sea turtles from hatchlings to old, old, old turtles needing assistance. Check out http://www.marinelife.org/ to learn more about their work and how you can help support their...
Read MoreLoggerhead Marine Life Center of Juno Beach, FL
One of my passions is conservation of our oceans and sea life. I am especially interested in the amazing sea turtles and the challenges they face today in our oceans. Our family visits in Jupiter, FL usually entail a visit to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center of Juno Beach. It’s a very professionally run sea turtle hospital, rehabilitation and education center. It’s never too early for children to start learning about our responsibilities in helping to protect healthy ocean life. Sea turtles have been around since the beginning of time and today are beautiful yet challenged. Florida, of course, is one of the states in the U.S. that has federally protected beach areas for sea turtle nesting and hatching. Sea turtles swim thousands of miles and return to the beach of their own birth to lay their eggs. Hatchlings face many obstacles to survival and places like the Juno Center take the ones that don’t make it all the way out to sea and allow them to grow and get stronger and then release them into the ocean. Stayed tuned for more...
Read MoreWhat's Your Passion?
National Audubon Society
Help support the efforts of our National Audubon Society in conservation of natural bird habitats. Visit: www.birds.audubon.org