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Record-Breaking Number of Nighttime
Sea Turtle Encounters
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SCCF staff had 406 nighttime sea turtle encounters this year on Sanibel as part of the sea turtle program’s nighttime tagging project — almost double the number of encounters documented last year and a new record for the island. The team also encountered the highest number of unique sea turtles (222) since the nighttime tagging project began in 2016. | | |
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SCCF Pays Tribute to Carol Strange for her Dedication to Sea Turtle Program
SCCF is saddened to share the news of the Aug. 8 passing of Carol Martin Strange, a long-time volunteer in our Sea Turtle Program whose positive and enthusiastic attitude will be fondly remembered.
To honor her legacy, her family has started a memorial fund for the Sea Turtle Program that will be used to help create an SCCF Sea Turtle Research Center.
Brimming with joy, Carol is pictured here in one of her favorite photos as she set out for morning patrol in search of sea turtle crawls and nests on our team’s ATV.
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Hurricane Impacts on Non-Marine Turtles Spark Interest
SCCF Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz’s research on Hurricane Ian’s effects on terrestrial and freshwater turtles generated high interest from colleagues at an international symposium last week. “There is very little published data on how turtles react to these events,” said Lechowicz.
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Save the Date for The Watch Party on Sept. 29! | |
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Hold your calendars from 5:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 for The Watch Party, supporting SCCF’s Coastal Watch. The event will be held at SCCF’s soon-to-be-reopened headquarters building at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road and will feature:
- Live music from fan-favorite Uproot Hootenanny
- Shrimp boil, other good eats, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Casting competition, 50/50, and more fun ways to give
There are multiple sponsorship levels available that include tickets. If you’re interested, please reach out to SCCF Development Director Cheryl Giattini at cgiattini@sccf.org or 239-822-6121. Individual ticket sales will be announced soon.
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International Coastal Cleanup: Saturday, Sept. 16 | |
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SCCF’s Coastal Watch will hold local beach cleanups on Sanibel and Captiva on Saturday, Sept. 16 as part of the Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup. Volunteers will collect trash across beaches as part of our effort to maintain coastal habitat and promote cleaner, healthier waters.
Group/Company Signups: Please select a point person to contact Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal at kmcneal@sccf.org for more information. Depending on availability and group size, each group will be able to choose a designated section of the beach for the event. The deadline for group signup is Aug. 25.
Individual signups: Stay tuned for an email on Aug. 26 containing the signup link and additional information. Subscribe to The Watch Newsletter here.
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Endangered Piping Plover Sighted on Sanibel
The actual snowbirds are starting to arrive! SCCF shorebird staff recently re-sighted an endangered Great Lakes piping plover on Sanibel. It flew around 1,500 miles to get here for the fall and winter.
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Two Swallow-Tailed Kite Chicks Fledge
Swallow-tailed kite nesting has come to an end on Sanibel, with the raptors now heading south to their wintering grounds in South America. Despite a lack of suitable nesting habitat due to Hurricane Ian, two breeding pairs successfully fledged a chick this year. SCCF monitored the kites in partnership with the Avian Research Conservation Institute, the City of Sanibel’s Natural Resources Department, and a team of dedicated volunteers.
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Volunteers Needed Tomorrow & Next Tuesday! | |
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Sea Turtle Nest Cage Building: 8-10 a.m. (Aug. 10)
SCCF’s Coastal Watch needs volunteers TOMORROW at our Marine Laboratory to help build sea turtle nest cages to help prevent nest predation. With around 1,200 sea turtle nests laid across Sanibel and Captiva Islands this record-breaking season, we are looking to build and install cages as soon as possible!
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CHR Garden Maintenance: 8-10 a.m. (Aug. 15)
Join Coastal Watch in assisting Community Housing and Resources at their Casa Mariposa property next Tuesday. Volunteers will help weed, trim, and manage the gardens.
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Photo credit: Calusa Waterkeeper | |
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SCCF Advocates for Improving Lock in Op-Ed
The Chiquita Lock in Cape Coral was broken during Hurricane Ian and has since been causing issues for boaters and manatees. Instead of removing the lock, the city of Cape Coral should update the lock to serve its original purpose — preventing polluted water from entering the Caloosahatchee estuary, writes SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis in his News-Press op-ed.
“Additional pollution in the estuary will impact already depleted seagrass beds, which are a major food source for manatees. While 19 manatees were killed in boat lifts across Florida in 2022, another 800 died of starvation,” DePaolis says. “Protecting manatees requires protecting seagrass, which means preserving the Chiquita Lock.”
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SCCF Promotes Safety During Heat Advisories
As heat advisories persist, SCCF is encouraging heat safety for volunteers, campers, and staff. At Sanibel Sea School, our marine science educators are keeping it fun by singing songs that encourage hydration and by offering "cheers to the ocean."
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Sanibel Sea School Announces Fall Programs
Summer camps at Sanibel Sea School have been a joy this year for hundreds of campers, even without the school’s flagship campus, which is set to re-open this fall. As camps begin to wind down, Sanibel Sea School is excited to announce a range of programs this fall that cater to different age groups and interests.
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Teens Learn About Social Science During 'A Week in the Field'
Last week, SCCF and Sanibel Sea School staff led teenagers through what it takes to be an environmental scientist. On top of learning about turtle biology, planting mangroves, and monitoring oysters, they were introduced to social science and qualitative data analysis.
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SCCF Receives Coveted 4-Star Charity Navigator Rating
SCCF was recently renewed with a perfect four-star score from Charity Navigator. Less than one-tenth of 1% of the charities rated by Charity Navigator receive this score.
Ratings are based on impact in our cause area, fiscal responsibility and transparency, leadership and adaptability, and culture and community.
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Meet the Natives:
Saltmarsh Mallow
Saltmarsh mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos) is a native wildflower that grows in both salt marsh and freshwater wetland habitats. Its showy pink flowers are most prevalent mid-summer but can be enjoyed from spring through fall.
Each flower is about 2 inches wide and the plant itself can reach up to 5 feet tall. Saltmarsh mallow is winter dormant and will die back in late fall before re-emerging in the spring. Its nectar-rich flowers attract a variety of pollinators including hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a great addition to a pollinator garden or any sunny area in your landscape that stays consistently moist.
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Seeking Conservation Initiative Intern
SCCF's Coastal Watch is hosting a Community Conservation Initiative Intern this fall. This position is an ideal fit for someone seeking experience with conservation, habitat restoration, education, communication, and volunteer engagement.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY
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SCCF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded
in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida
EIN 59-1205087
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