A big thank you to Sven Huseby and Barbara Ettinger for coming to Abaco and showcasing their film, A Sea Change, which is about one man's search to learn more about ocean acidification. The couple held a meet and greet session after the film at the Hope Town Inn and Marina where people had the opportunity to ask questions. In addition to showing the movie, Sven and Barbara also took time out to speak to Hope Town Primary School and Forest Heights Academy about ocean acidification.
Sven and Barbara spoke about how the making of the film impacted their lives.
A big thank you to Sven and Barbara for bringing their film to Abaco, the Hope Town Inn and Marina for donating accommodations and Christopher Lightbourne for use of his sound equipment.
Education Program Update
So far in 2014 FRIENDS has reached 490 local Abaco students and 42 teachers. This is through the after school Discovery Club Program, classroom presentations, site visits to the FRIENDS native plant nursery and nature trail and field trips. For more information on upcoming education opportunities please like our Facebook Page.
Students from Change Ministries learn about plants at the FRIENDS Green House and plant a seed of their own.
Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend (GAFFW)
A big thank you to the organizers of the GAFFW for making FRIENDS a beneficiary of the event again this year. GAFFW is a weekend full of events for the whole family in Treasure Cay. The weekend consisted of events like an open water swim, an olympic and sprint triathlon, kids mile fun run, a gymnastics camp, paddle board races and a 5k/10k race.
Participants were as young as six years old and came from islands across The Bahamas as well as abroad. Results from the event can be seen on the event webpage.
Participants line up for the 5k/10 Race
Minister of the Environment Hosts Live Online Forum
Kudos to the Ministry of the Environment for opening up a channel for the public to ask questions and/or express concerns and receive an answer right from the top! Make sure to tune in this Thursday!
Birds of Abaco
Photo By: The Delphi Club
The Delphi Club of Abaco has recently released their book called Birds of Abaco. The book features a photo and description of all birds documented in Abaco. The checklist consists of a total of 264 species! Not only is it a comprehensive collection for the avid birder, but it also serves as a beautiful coffee table book. The book is dedicated "to the organizations that work to protect the wildlife of Abaco and to preserve a balance between the needs of the creatures and the humans of the island and it's cays". For that dedication, FRIENDS thanks you!
For more information please contact the Delphi Club.
Featured Environmental Award Winner 2014
Every year FRIENDS recognizes four people in the community for their contributions to FRIENDS and/or Abaco's environment. These recipients selflessly dedicate their time and energy to our little island in many different ways. Over the next several months FRIENDS will highlight a winner of this year's award.
Dr. Elwood Bracey
Dr. Elwood Bracey, or Woody as he is affectionately known, is one of the best birders you will find on Abaco. He has been leading educational bird walks around Abaco and surveys for the Christmas bird count for years. Woody has collected about 40 years of bird sighting data on Abaco and is advocating for an important bird area to be designated for the extensive flat at Green Turtle Cay.
The Problematic Lionfish!
Photo Credit: Valerie Hudson. Taken at Manjack Cay, Abaco
To help decrease the impacts of lionfish on Abaco's marine environment, FRIENDS is hosting our fourth Central Abaco Lionfish Derby on Saturday May 17th.
Prizes are as follows:
1st Prize $1,500
2nd Prize $1,000
3rd Prize $500
*Additional prizes for largest and smallest lionfish,
Plus $1 per lionfish up to 100 fish for 4th place and below!
Up to 4 people per boat. For registration forms please contact
