Connecting You to SCCF: 10 Pairs of Bald Eagles Nesting

Oct. 11, 2023

Bald Eagle Nesting Now Underway

All 10 bald eagle pairs that SCCF staff and volunteers monitor are actively building nests! Florida’s bald eagle nesting season runs from Oct. 1 to May 15.

Bald eagles are protected by state and federal law, and property owners should be aware of the 660-foot buffer required around active eagle nests.

Loggerhead Nests Booming Compared to 70s-80s

Sanibel is seeing around five times more loggerhead nests and six times more loggerheads encountered during night surveys in recent years compared to the 1970s and 80s, according to a new analysis from the SCCF sea turtle team.

SCCF has one of the longest-running sea turtle monitoring programs in the country, which means a lot of historical data!

Green Sea Turtle Rescued from Landlocked Pond

A juvenile green sea turtle was recently found surviving in a pond in Fort Myers, where it may have been for an entire year if it washed in with Hurricane Ian. After receiving reports of the turtle, SCCF biologists captured the turtle, confirmed its health, and released it into a much more suitable habitat in the Gulf.

New Oyster Restoration Site Installed in San Carlos Bay

SCCF’s Marine Lab and Coastal Watch partnered with the University of Florida to install a new oyster restoration site last week in San Carlos Bay. They are using a specially designed oyster substrate made of crushed oyster shell and cement, which the team will measure for its effectiveness in growing adult oysters.

Photo by Dennis Church/Flickr

Familiar Grunts of Pig Frog Silenced by Ian

More than a year after Hurricane Ian, the familiar grunt of the pig frog, which many mistake for the sound of an alligator, hasn’t yet been heard. Usually repeated two to three times, its guttural grunt is reminiscent of a pig snort, hence its name. Did “piggies” first arrive on Sanibel in the 1960s? Or have historical storms wiped them out before?

Cape Coral Girl Scouts Earn Badge at Sanibel Sea School

In a heartwarming collaboration, Cape Coral Girl Scouts joined forces with Sanibel Sea School to earn their "Think Like a Citizen Scientist" badge, embarking on a mission to tackle marine debris. With sheer determination, these young conservationists collected a staggering 664 items in just one hour, shedding light on the importance of rethinking our plastic use.

SCCF CEO Featured in Ian Anniversary Coverage

During NBC-2's live coverage of the first anniversary of Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, Anchor Christy Soto sat down with SCCF CEO James Evans to talk about the ongoing recovery on Sanibel and Captiva.

WATCH NOW

Watch Party Raises $75K for Coastal Watch

The inaugural Watch Party hosted by SCCF was a phenomenal success, with over 250 attendees. Thanks to the generosity of the guests and sponsors, around $75,000 was raised, surpassing all expectations. The event featured a thrilling Casting Competition presented by Whitney's Bait & Tackle, which contributed over $1,800, and a 50/50 drawing that brought in an extra $1,900+. This will provide essential support for Coastal Watch, including a new truck and equipment for habitat restoration and environmental cleanup.

Thank you to all of those who attended! Click below for the complete list of truck donors and more information.

TRUCK DONORS & MORE

James Evans Guest Speaker at SanCap Kiwanis

SanCap Kiwanis recently welcomed SCCF CEO James Evans as a guest speaker at their monthly meeting. SanCap Kiwanis has a long-standing history of supporting SCCF through various initiatives, including grants to the Sanibel Sea School.

During the meeting, James provided insights into the rebuilding of SCCF programs and facilities since the storm.

Sixth Graders Plant Tree Donated by SCCF To Commemorate Ian

Sixth graders at the Sanibel School recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian by planting this wild tamarind tree (Lysiloma latisiliquum) donated by SCCF’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center.

Featured in our Post Hurricane Ian Replanting Guide, the wild tamarind tree grows to 40 to 60 feet, enjoys full sun to part shade, and is considered one of the island's most resilient native species of trees.

Volunteers Plant Pollinator Garden at Puschel Preserve!

We are celebrating the beginning of a remarkable transformation at Puschel Preserve. Volunteers joined Coastal Watch and the Native Landscapes & Garden Center for a morning planting native wildflowers in the preserve’s new pollinator garden. This event marks the first step in restoring what was once a Hurricane Ian debris staging site, turning it into a haven for pollinators. Join in the restoration and explore upcoming volunteer opportunities!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Mangrove Restoration with MANG at McGregor Preserve

Join us Saturday, Oct. 14 for a mangrove restoration project at one of SCCF’s preserves! Located on McGregor Blvd. before the Sanibel Causeway, this preserve suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Ian, leaving mangroves dead and decaying. Teaming up with the incredible clothing company, MANG, whose mission is "Buy One. Plant One," we are embarking on a mission to restore this vital mangrove habitat. MANG will generously provide several hundred mangroves, and we need your helping hands to plant them. Spots are filling up fast!

30th Annual SCCF Tennis Tournament: Nov. 11-12

We’re pleased to announce that Barbara Chappell has returned as a Major Sponsor of SCCF’s 30th Annual Tennis Tournament on Nov. 11-12 at Beachview Tennis Club. Barbara joins Grampy’s Charities, which was announced as the Tournament Presenting Sponsor again this year. You can still register for the tournament, which includes singles and doubles at the 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 levels!

To register, call Toni Halski at 239-472-9099. To become a sponsor, call Cheryl Giattini at 239-822-6121 or Lisa Cochrane at 239-246-8875.

MORE INFO

Wines in the Wild: Nov. 17

Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, Oct. 17 for our 14th annual welcome back fall celebration!

We hope to welcome you back to our fully restored Bailey Homestead Preserve at SCCF’s annual Wines in the Wild, 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.

Various stations around the sprawling and lush landscape will feature wines specially selected for the evening to complement small dishes from our favorite local chefs.

Interested in becoming a gold ($1500 or more) or silver ($750) sponsor? Contact Tom Uhler at tom@uhler.com or 239-850-4545.

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Celebrate the Holidays with Winter Camp!

We can't wait to explore the ocean with you this winter! This year, we're offering a 3-day week and a 4-day week for campers ages 6-13 and Counselors in Training (CITs) ages 13-17. Registration for camp will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Camps are the last week of December and the first week of the new year!

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Painting by Nancy Sperte

Calling All WILD Artists!

SCCF is once again partnering with the Sanibel-Captiva Art League on an exhibit at the Bailey Homestead from January to March. Delivery of artwork that fits with the theme "wild" is scheduled for Jan. 18.

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DOWNLOAD LIST

SCCF Member Magazine

Protecting & Caring for our Coastal Ecosystems

Our most recent issue of Connecting You to Nature takes a timely look at protecting our coastal ecosystems against a backdrop of change. And, caring and advocating for our natural systems that protect us. We also feature how SCCF is leading the way in water quality research and explore how our Chance to Sea program led by Sanibel Sea School gives landlocked kids a chance to experience the wonders of our waters. We also highlight the most resilient native plants, some that even thrived post-Ian. Challenges to interior habitats and the rewards of immersive volunteering are also reasons to download or read online.

READ NOW

Meet the Natives: Seaside Goldenrod

Is there really a “fall” in Florida? Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) says yes. This native wildflower produces prolific yellow flower clusters starting in late summer, signaling the advent of autumn.

Click below to read about this plant's connection to Thomas Edison!

SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded

in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida

EIN 59-1205087

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