Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles (FOSWST)
Newsletter - July 2023
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WHERE'S THEO?
Theo products include small and giant plush turtles, key chains, books, ornaments, caps, paintings, pillows, and placemats. Here are a few more of the locations where the Theo items can be purchased: The Hidden Lantern, Gigi's, Dippin' Dots, and Retail Therapy. For more information about each location, click on the pictures to connect to their website. Note, links are enables only for locations which have a secured website.
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According to the National Audubon Society, "Widespread and familiar, the great blue heron (often called a crane) is the largest heron in North America." These majestic birds can reach four-and-one-half feet in height with a wingspan that can be up to six-and-one-half feet. Great blues will eat just about everything that moves including fish, small mammals, and reptiles. The average life span of the great blue heron is about 15 years. The great blue heron pictured above has often been seen fishing in Grayton Beach with one of our own VBAs. | | |
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PUBLIC DAY AT THE
E.O. WILSON BIOPHILIA CENTER
Members of the FOSWST Education team participated in the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center Public Day on June 9. Nearly 100 youths heard the educational presentation on Sea Turtles and aced the Jeopardy game afterward. FOSWST volunteers worked with several of the participants in small groups on different projects in the exhibit room. Younger children colored in activity books while older participants assumed the role of marine biologists examining and measuring replica turtles.
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SPOTLIGHT ON VISITORS
Visitors to our beaches in June included large and small groups from the South, Southwest, and South America. The first picture below is of a three-generation family visiting from Tennessee (notice one of the girls in the front row is holding a small plush Theo). The three people in the lower left picture came to Walton County from Brazil as part of the "Visit Florida" campaign. The two ladies from Texas in the picture on the right visited our beaches for the first time in June. VBAs got a chance to answer questions from each of these three groups. One question asked by each group was why the beaches needed to be clean, dark, and flat. Special Thanks to our VBAs for welcoming and educating our visitors.
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VBA OF THE MONTH
Leigh Patterson
Walking the beaches from Santa Rosa to Grayton, this is Leigh's sixth year as a VBA. During her walks, Leigh talks with visitors, county employees, beach workers, and other VBAs and helps keep our beautiful beaches #CleanDarkFlat. In addition, Leigh is an active member of the Education, Awareness-Material Distribution, Community Outreach, and Special Events Committees. Thank you, Leigh, for being a valuable VBA and for the many hours you have dedicated to helping FOSWST!
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HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW
THE GULF OF MEXICO?
- The Gulf of Mexico is the world's largest gulf. Its coastline extends about 3,450 miles.
- The Gulf of Mexico borders five U.S. states. They are Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
- The average water depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,200 feet. However, the Sigsbee Deep, located about two miles southwest of Brownsville, Texas, reaches depths up to 14,383 feet.
Source: National Geographic
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LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST
As of this date, several people have drowned in the beautiful waters of the Emerald Coastline. It is most important that we VBAs do everything we can to help keep our visitors and local residents safe on our beaches. As we talk to people we meet, let's try to bring up the beach flag system as a topic of conversation. Keep in mind that flags do not need to be double red for the water to be dangerous. Drownings can occur when flags are flying green, yellow, purple, red, or double red.
As a reminder, beach flag warnings are:
Purple: Stinging Marine Life. Man O' War, jellyfish, stingrays
Yellow: Medium Hazard. Moderate surf and/or currents
Single Red: High Hazard. High surf and/or strong currents
Double Red: Water Closed to Public. Water activity is prohibited
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REMINDERS
VBAs are no longer allowed to use their Blue whistles on the beach.
Don't forget to turn in your VBA hours. Click here to enter your hours VBA Hours
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2023 TURTLE SEASON IS
MAY 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 31
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Please send your comments and photos of VBAs in action to vba@foswst.com. We would love to hear from you! | | | | |
