Friends of the Environment E-Newsletter
Established in 1988 April  2016
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It's starting to feel like summer in Abaco! The water is getting warmer, boat traffic in the Sea of Abaco is getting busier, our after school programs are coming to an end and summer camp registration is filling up quickly! 

The Kenyon Centre has researchers booked now through September and programs involving local students and community members are in place. 

We are so excited to welcome our campers, interns and researchers for another busy summer! Please stop by anytime to learn more about what's happening and how you can get involved. 

Thank you! Together we are making a difference for Abaco's future! 

Kristin Williams
Executive Director  
The Kenyon Centre: Expanding our solar array!
new solar panels on Kenyon Centre
Thanks to the support of those who supported the Kenyon Centre through this year's reef balls, we recently added 24 panels to our system increasing our generation capacity by 6,000kW. The new panels will increase the efficiency of our solar system and enable us to have more flexibility with the appliances and equipment used at the Kenyon Centre. The new panels are mono-crystalline and roof-mounted, compared to our first installment of poly-crystalline panels on the solar building. Just another way we are able to demonstrate the types of technology that are available to us here in Abaco!

FRIENDS Board and Staff Celebrate National Coastal Awareness Month by Giving Back at Crossing Beach

FRIENDS originally restored native vegetation to Crossing Beach in 2007. Prior to that, the beach profile had been totally eroded due to the presence of some well established Casuarinas. Since 2007, the beach has grown and a diversity of native plants can now be found there. However, because invasive Casuarina and Hawaiian seagrape seeds are still being transported to the beach we have to do occasional maintenance to remove them as they spring up. It is much easier to remove them when they are small, so once you clear invasive plants from your property our tip would be to check back early and often! 

We also took the opportunity to do a beach cleanup, which also happens at Crossing Beach several times a year thanks to partnerships with schools and other groups like Forest Heights Academy, Rollins College, and the Abaco Tourist Office. Local government has installed trash bins near the cabanas all along the beach, so we would encourage everyone to use them! The most common items found at Crossing Beach are food or drink related, and primarily single use, for example - straws, beer bottle caps, and food packaging.


Video Corner: Spotted Dolphins of The Bahamas
 
Our partners at Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization have recently produced a new video in their education series about Spotted Dolphins! Take a look.

Spotted Dolphins of the Bahamas

Spotted Dolphins of the Bahamas
Filmed by Loggerhead Productions and supported by The Lyford Cay Foundation 


April Awareness: Education Update
BAM, mangroves
Last week we and our partners The Khaled Bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation  wrapped up the final phase of our Bahamas Awareness of Mangroves project!   The first cohort of students were from Abaco Central High and Forest Heights Academy. Throughout the project students learned about the importance of mangroves and the animals that depends on this ecosystem for survival. They visited a mangrove ecosystem, collected mangrove propagules (seeds), and grew mangroves in their class as part of a science experiment. The final phase involved a mangrove restoration where the students went out and planted their mangroves.

 


 
Photo credit: Left - Helen Jacobs, Top Right - Salp by  Reddit Pics
Bottom Right - Mangrove tunicates by Michael M. Schofield/ScienceDaily.com

Thanks to some internet sleuthing we found out that the mysterious gelatinous object we showed you last month was most likely a salp! Salps are a type of free-swimming tunicate (you may have seen their cousins attached to dock ladders and pilings or mangrove roots).
Cool Fact: Tunicates are our closest invertebrate relative! Learn more about salps.
National News: Bahamas Coral Reef Report Card Published 
 
Coral reefs are one of The Bahamas' most important marine ecosystems: they protect our shores, support our fisheries, and provide endless entertainment for us and our visitors. 

Volunteer Opportunity with Conservian

Coastal Bird Conservation is a field based program run by Conservian that aims to enhance coastal bird populations and their habitats in the Western Hemisphere. In May they will be working in The Bahamas; please take advantage of the following opportunities to learn more!
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PRESENTATION: Tuesday May 17th at 6:30 PM at FRIENDS' Education Centre in Marsh Harbour

VOLUNTEER FIELD DAY: Saturday May 21st at 8:30AM to 2PM (all ages welcome, those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent)
Possible locations Man-O-War Cay, Elbow Cay (TBD). 
Round trip boat transportation provided for volunteer field day.

Volunteer Activities:
  •    Learn about beach-nesting birds on Abaco.
  •    Learn about invasive Australian pine on Bahamas beaches.
  •    Work with Conservian and help to protect coastal birds, nests, and young.
  •    Observe beach-nesting birds and help conduct a count.
  •    Receive a Coastal Bird Conservation logo patch for participating in the field.
     
     
    This is an excellent opportunity to learn about breeding shorebirds in The Bahamas and invasive Australian pine. Experience is not required, only enthusiasm. All training is provided. Shorebird volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. Binoculars and scopes will be provided. Conservian is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving coastal birds and their habitats throughout the Western Hemisphere. Every volunteer hour contributed provides in-kind grant match for the project. All field volunteers will receive our Coastal Bird Conservation logo patch! 

     
    For more information, contact: Margo Zdravkovic, Director of Conservian

Summer Camp Dates are Out!
...and spaces are quickly filling up!

June 27 - July 1: Junior Camp (ages 6-9, returning campers only)
July 5-8: Camp for ages 10-12, IGFA Fishing Camp (Crossing Rocks, Dundas & Murphy Town)
July 12-15: Junior Camp (ages 6-9, for first time campers only)
July 18-22: Sea Beans Camp (ages 3-5, half day only, *FULL)
July 25-29: Nature Detectives
August 2-5: Grand Cay Camp

Camps are held at the FRIENDS Education Centre in Marsh Harbour unless stated otherwise. Camp positions are first-come, first-served. Application forms are available at the FRIENDS office or on our website.  Click here to learn more and download registration forms.

 

 
Abaco's Environment in Photos :
Rare Sighting of Burrowing Owls in Elbow Cay!

Photo courtesy of Milton Harris
Burrowing Owls are known to eat small rodents and lizards, large insects, and even fruit and seeds. Unlike other owls, burrowing owls may be active during the day. Learn more at the Rolling Harbour blog!