Tagged Green Sea Turtle "Holly" Nests Again! | | |
We recently documented our sixth green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest on the islands — laid by Holly, a green turtle SCCF tagged in 2019. Holly has a history of nesting in the daylight near the lighthouse! Our team has also documented 443 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests on the islands — 332 on Sanibel and 111 on Captiva.
Please call our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings.
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Sea Turtle Nest Relocation Underway on Captiva
Our sea turtle team is relocating nests on Captiva in preparation for the island’s upcoming beach renourishment. Sea turtle nests are being moved to suitable beach habitat outside the project area within 12 hours of being laid to minimize damage to eggs caused by movement.
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Rare Sighting of Long-Billed Curlew by Shorebird Team
While performing monthly breeding bird surveys, SCCF’s shorebird team was lucky enough to re-sight a long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) — a rare sighting in Southwest Florida, especially in June. The last recorded sighting in Lee County was in 2022!
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| | Photo by Leon van der Noll | | |
Squirrel Latest Species of Note in Wildlife Recovery
SCCF is continuing to monitor wildlife recovery on the island following the storm surge events over the last three years, noting a new abundance of some species and slow recovery of others. The latest species to draw attention to our wildlife team is the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinesis).
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Thanks for Reporting Wildlife Sightings on Our App!
This week, we received a sighting of a southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) on the west end of Sanibel. Prior to Ian, these frogs were widespread, but are less so now. Sightings like this help our wildlife team monitor post-surge populations on the island. Please click below to report your sightings and upload photos!
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SCCF Joins America's Everglades Summit in D.C.
CEO James Evans and Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis joined conservation, business, and government partners in D.C. last week as part of America’s Everglades Summit, hosted by the Everglades Foundation. Teams met with members of Congress, business leaders, and other key stakeholders to explain why funding Everglades restoration is essential for clean water and protecting our ecosystems, economies, and way of life in Florida and beyond.
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Are You a Conscious Consumer of Fast Fashion, Fast Tech, and AI?
On the latest episode of our podcast, SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis and Policy Associate Allie Pecenka share their insights on the increasingly challenging aspects of fast fashion, fast tech, and AI. In advocating for "Conscious Consumption," they discuss ways to offset the environmental impacts of these powerful systems.
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Help Us Protect Least Tern Chicks on Causeway
The least tern colony on the Sanibel Causeway Islands is expected to stay through the summer, and we are seeking volunteers to assist SCCF with education and outreach during peak weekend beach times. Volunteer stewards are stationed at the nesting sites in 2.5-hour shifts, helping minimize disturbances to the nesting colony and posted nest areas.
Over 50 least tern chicks have hatched on the Causeway from 100+ nests since May!
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| | Mangrove Restoration Highlighted in Voluntourism Video | | Adopt-a-Mangrove Program Wraps up for 2024-25 | | |
SCCF’s Coastal Watch recently completed its Adopt-A-Mangrove program for the year. Over 120 mangrove mamas and propagule papas came together to raise hundreds of baby mangroves. By "adopting" mangroves and nurturing them, participants contributed to the restoration of our local ecosystems. Mangroves were returned to SCCF and planted at our shoreline restoration sites, including Woodring Road, Clam Bayou, and York Island.
Watch the video to learn more about our mangrove shoreline restoration efforts and the value of volunteering with Coastal Watch. The video was produced with funding provided by a Lee County Tourist Development Council Attractions Marketing grant. By launching a Voluntourism campaign, we are offering visitors the unique opportunity to engage in restoration projects, cleanups, and native plantings on our islands.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTOURISM
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A Warm Welcome for our New Camp Counselors!
We are thrilled to welcome eight new counselors this summer to teach camps at our Sanibel Sea School flagship campus and the Bailey Homestead. Our summer camp counselors are an integral part of our mission to improve the ocean’s future one person at a time. Throughout their time at Sanibel Sea School, they will teach many children of different age groups and help share their love of the ocean!
MEET THE COUNSELORS
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Summer Camp Kicks off with Whale Shark Week!
This summer marks 20 years of childhood memories, learning, laughter, and, of course, ocean love at SCCF’s Sanibel Sea School. We are bringing back the best camp themes to help us celebrate, kicking off last week with Whale Shark Week: All Shark, No Bite.
Sanibel Sea School offers week-long, day camps for kids, ages 4-13, and for teens, ages 13-17. Some spots are still available this summer!
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Meet the Natives: Cinnamon Bark
A state-endangered tree, the cinnamon bark (Canella winterana), is a resilient and pollinator-friendly plant native to South Florida. Although not related to the well-known spice cinnamon, the inner bark of these trees was historically used as a cinnamon substitute.
Cinnamon bark is evergreen and blooms year-round with small, striking red flowers. Following their blooms, cinnamon bark produces beautiful red berries. Learn more or purchase it at our Native Landscapes & Garden Center during our summer hours, T-Th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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On Island Raises $2.8K for Oyster Restoration!
On Island recently partnered with Coastal Watch to raise funds for SCCF oyster restoration efforts through T-shirt sales and an oyster-themed fundraiser. Through On Island’s “It Takes Grit” T-shirts and “Sip & Slurp” fundraising event, the company raised over $2,800 to help restore vital oyster reefs in Pine Island Sound!
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Thanks to Volunteers for Mind Your Line Cleanup
On June 7, Mind Your Line partners hosted an island-wide monofilament cleanup. With the help of over 50 volunteers across the islands, we removed several thousand feet of fishing line (and many pounds of trash).
A huge thank you to volunteers and The Bait Box for coordinating monofilament recycling efforts!
| | Keep up with ongoing SCCF news by following us on social media or by visiting our Latest News webpage anytime. | | |
SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded
in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida
EIN 59-1205087
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