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For more than 25 years, the Friends of Canaveral have supported the National Park Service in its mission to preserve, protect and interpret the 57,000 acres of pristine shoreline, dunes and wilderness that are Canaveral National Seashore.
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Dear Friends,
We bid a fond "see ya next year" to our winter friends as they head back to places north, thanks for your time and support, both as Friends of Canaveral and Volunteers-In-Park.
We had a great Run with the Rangers on April 29, thanks to the great support of Friends of Canaveral and Burns Sci-Tech Charter School. Over 100 participants in the Run with the Rangers 5K and the Jr. Ranger Fun Run. Thanks to University of Central Florida for coming and setting up awesome kid's activities. (See photos below)
Sea Turtles have begun the age-old process of nesting on Canaveral's shore. We have at this time several Leatherback nests and Loggerheads are starting to show up too. We expect a big nesting year, but as always it is up to the turtles. Watch for news about a special Friends of Canaveral Turtle Watch coming up this summer.
Friends, thanks for all that you do, we couldn't do what we do without you.
See you at the beach!
Laura Henning
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| TURTLE WATCH RESERVATIONS
BEGIN ON May 15TH
Starting Monday, May 15 at 9:00 a.m., staff at Canaveral National Seashore will begin taking telephone reservations for this year's summer Turtle Watch programs. The number to call is (386) 428-3384 ext. 223.
The programs are open to all persons eight (8) years of age and older. Programs are limited to thirty (30) persons per night with a maximum of six (6) persons per reservation call. The fee for this program is $14.00 per person ages 16 and above, 15 and under are free. Persons with Access or a Senior Pass receive a 50% discount for the cardholder only. Children must be 8 years old to participate. While visitors are not guaranteed a view of a nesting sea turtle, the 2016 success rate exceeded 90%. Fees will not be refunded if a sea turtle is not found; however unfavorable weather conditions may be cause for a refund of fees if the program is canceled. During the summer, programs are scheduled on most Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The programs for 2017 will be provided in both districts of the seashore, the Playalinda District , Titusville and the Apollo district, New Smyrna Beach, programs will run from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight. Available dates for both districts are as follows, June 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30th. Please have several dates in mind when you call and we ask that you keep your calls brief. Further information and instruction will be sent to you within two (2) weeks of your phone call. Turtle Watch programs give park visitors a unique opportunity to learn about sea turtles and the role that the National Park Service plays in their conservation. |
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ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE
The Friends of Canaveral Board of Directors held a public meeting on April 11, 2017 and the following board members were appointed:
- Nancy Malmberg
- Elaine Morin
- Richard Tucker
- Jane Pierson
- Paul Sacks
- Terry Bledsoe
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EARTH DAY - April 22, 2017
To celebrate Earth Day 2017, UCF + Coastal Conservation Association + IRL National Estuary Program + Marine Discovery Center + National Park Service joined forces to help protect our beloved Mosquito Lagoon and Canaveral National Seashore.
Fifty-eight volunteers contributed over 360 hours of help on April 22, 2017. We stabilized approximately 150 meters of shoreline, produced over 100 shell bags, made dozens of oyster restoration mats, and collected 3 large trash bags of marine debris. We are especially grateful to the IRL NEP and CCA for boat support. We could not have done it without you all!
Dr. Linda Walters, Dr. Melinda Donnelly, and Dr. Paul Sacks
UCF Biology's Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab
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| RUN WITH THE RANGERS FUN RUN HELD APRIL 29TH
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SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON
Becoming a Turtle-Friendly Beachgoer!
We are approaching sea turtle nesting season and we would like to pass on tips on being a turtle-friendly beachgoer.
It's not difficult to be a friend to the struggling sea turtle. Simply leave the area as if you weren't there in the first place and turn out the lights at night, particularly if you're a beach resident.
THREATS TO SEA TURTLES
Artificial Lighting:
Nesting turtles depend on dark, quite beaches to reproduce successfully. Today, these turtles are endangered, in part, because they must compete with tourists, businesses and coastal residents to use the beach. This man-made, coastal development results in artificial lighting on the beach that discourages female sea turtles from nesting. Instead, turtles will choose a less-than-optimal nesting spot, which affects the chances of producing a successful nest. Also, near-shore lighting can cause sea turtle hatchlings to become disoriented when they are born. Instead, they will wander inland where they often die of dehydration, predation, or even from being run over on busy coastal streets.
Solutions:
Reducing the amount of artificial light that is visible from nesting beaches is the first step to reducing light pollution that affects sea turtles. Coastal communities around the world have passed ordinances that require residents turn off beachfront lights during turtle nesting season. Unfortunately, these ordinances are not always enforced and don't address the larger problem of sky glow that occurs near cities.
- Turn off lights visible on nesting beaches or use special fixtures to shield the lights from the beach;
- Use low-pressure sodium-vapor lighting (LPS) instead of normal lights;
- Use Turtle Safe Lighting - these red lights emit a very narrow portion of the visible light spectrum, which is less intrusive to nesting sea turtles and hatchlings;
- If disoriented hatchlings are found away from the sea, call local law enforcement;
- Tint windows that face the beach;
- Close opaque curtains or blinds after dark to cover windows visible from the beach.
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Canaveral National Seashore
(click to download event details)
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DID YOU KNOW?
CLIMATE CHANGE IN NATIONAL PARKS
Temperatures are rising at national parks across the country. As a consequence, many areas have seen the disappearance of glaciers and ice sheets. And of those that remain, most are shrinking at an accelerated rate. These changes not only affect what we see on the landscape-they also alter part of Earth's natural water storage system, affecting everything from wildlife to agriculture to human health. Scientists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service (NPS) work together to monitor and measure glacier loss. If these changes continue, we will face a future much different than the present, including a Glacier National Park without glaciers.
READ MORE
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Email Prepared by Elaine Morin, Dale Smith
New Smyrna Beach, FL ~ 386.424.6931
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