FEBRUARY 2025

50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

January 11, 2025

Canaveral National Seashore kicked off its 50th Anniversary with a big celebration on Saturday, January 11th. The park's Superintendent Carmen Thomson & Chief of Interpretation Laura Henning were both onsite for the event. New Smyrna Beach Mayor Fred Cleveland, keynote speaker Clay Henderson & the Daytona Division of U.S. Navy Sea Cadets all shared their time and talents at the celebration.

American Flamingos in Canaveral National Seashore

Florida is the place to be during the winter months if you enjoy watching birds. And Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are the go-to spots for every Sunshine State resident or visiting birder on the east coast of Florida.

The 26th Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival was held in late January, and birders will continue flocking to Merritt Island with binoculars and spotting scopes throughout the winter months to view the plethora of wading, floating, diving, and probing birds scattered throughout the refuge’s 140,000 acres of land and water.

A documented 359 species of birds have been identified on the refuge with tens

of thousands of waterfowl visiting Merritt Island each winter, joining eight species

of resident herons and egrets that may be observed throughout the year.

Nature lovers have plenty to see at this jewel located along the Space Coast -- with more than 1,500 species of plants and animals residing in diverse habitats ranging from coastal dunes, salt marshes, scrub, managed impoundments, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks.

Viewing many species is easier with the six-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive,

a slow-speed, gravel road that winds around natural marshes, impounded managed marsh areas and through pine flatwoods. Bio Lab Road also hugs salt marshes and the Mosquito Lagoon, allowing park guests to view birds, alligators and even marine mammals.

Merritt Island attracts nearly one million guests each year. Since their arrival in 2023 after a hurricane blew them off course and into the national park, American Flamingos have been a top attraction for many guests using long-range viewing optics. At last count, about 14 flamingos are still hanging around the park on distant barrier islands – a true thrill if you get to see them!

Merritt Island was established in 1963 to protect migratory birds and as “an overlay” of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center. The lands and waters of Merritt Island are managed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services and are located within one of the nation’s more diverse and productive estuaries.

If you have not yet made this trip to Merritt Island, pack your binoculars and head that way. You will not be disappointed and chances are good, you will see some amazing birds you have never seen.

Lisa D. Mickey

President, Friends of Canaveral

Lisa D. Mickey is Florida Master Naturalist/ Florida Land Steward

Toni Bell and volunteers, Sleina Loughridge and Jack Cooper man the Canaveral National Seashore booth at the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival.

Laura Henning, Chief Interpretive Ranger at Canaveral National Seashore and Nancy Malmberg, Volunteer at CANA enjoying the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival.

CONSERVATION CORNER

A pair of Wilson’s plovers on the beach in the Apollo District at Canaveral National Seashore. Photo credit: Jayne Gross

Do you see the cryptic Wilson’s plover nest with three eggs? Photo credit: Jayne Gross

Monitoring Wilson’s Plover Nesting in Canaveral

By Jimi Sadle

Biologist, Canaveral National Seashore

Wilson’s plovers begin to arrive at Canaveral National Seashore in early March to find a mate, stake out a claim on the beach to court, nest and rear their young.

Adult birds scratch a little depression in the sand where the female lays two or three eggs. The eggs are light brown with darker speckles and are easily camouflaged in the sand. Both the male and female adult plovers take turns incubating the eggs.

The eggs hatch approximately 30 days after being laid. Wilson’s plover chicks are

considered “precocial,” which means within minutes after hatching, they can walk, run, and feed themselves. They stay close to the protection of their parents as they learn the beach environment and how to evade predators.

VOLUNTEER VOICES

Kevin and Debbie Pihl

Kevin and Debbie Pihl volunteer together at Canaveral National Seashore. Here’s what they had to say about becoming park volunteers:

Q: How did you get involved as volunteers in the park?

A: In 1993, we met Park Ranger Sandra Hines. We both had sailboats at the Titusville Marina. She found out we were sea turtle lovers and said she needed volunteers to help her with the Turtle Watch program.

Q: So, how long have you volunteered in the park, and doing what?

A: It’s been about 30 years that we have been volunteers with Canaveral National Seashore doing Turtle Watches, helping with the Birding Festival booth and the Park Information booth at other events. We have also volunteered with rocket-launch crowd control, beach cleanups and with Beach Education Day for kids.

Q: Has there been a highlight for you as park volunteers?

A: Our greatest highlight of volunteering at the park was when we were working at the Birding Festival booth and a young boy came up and told us he remembered us from a Turtle Watch. He said he remembered how we had told him some students had stayed involved with science in school and ended up with the neat, fun jobs. So, he was entertaining the idea of going to college to get a biology degree.

Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering in the park?

A: It’s great volunteering. We like to help nature because of all the enjoyment nature gives us.

ACTIVITIES AT THE SEASHORE

February 2025

APOLLO BEACH VISITOR CENTER HOURS

Open Daily * 9 am - 5 pm

Tuesday, Feb. 11 – ELDORA HOUSE SPECIAL TALK

11 a.m.

Experience the community of Eldora in the Eldora State House while learning about its history and connection to the Mosquito Lagoon. Meet at the Eldora House. For directions, stop by the Visitor Center. (Activity duration: 1 hour)

For a full list of activities offered this month, click on the buttons below.

APOLLO PROGRAMS

PLAYALINDA PROGRAMS

DID YOU KNOW?

Right Whales

Image by schliff from Pixabay

North Atlantic Right Whales are an endangered species most commonly spotted near Florida's shoreline between November and April. They are often seen off the coast of Florida, especially near the Georgia border. Local fishing piers make a good place to spot them. Try Flagler Beach, Sunglow pier in Daytona Beach Shores, and the Main Street pier in Daytona Beach to see if you can catch a glimpse.

Check the sightings map and learn more by clicking on the button below.

LEARN MORE

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OPPORTUNITIES - Learn about or volunteer for projects supporting sea turtle conservation, plant and sound ecology, environmental education, and endangered species.

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