Happy Independence Day!
Please support Canaveral National Seashore through the Friends of
Canaveral or as a Volunteer-In-Parks.
Friends, thanks for all that you do, we couldn’t do what we do without you.
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Stay safe & see you at the beach!
Laura Henning
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2022 Sea Turtle Nest Counts - June 19, 2022
• Loggerhead (Caretta caretta):
Apollo ( 1,328 ) .......... Playalinda ( 1,401 )
• Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas):
Apollo ( 110 ) .......... Playalinda ( 130 )
• Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea):
Apollo ( 7 ) .......... Playalinda ( 14 )
• Kemps Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii):
Apollo ( 0 ) .......... Playalinda ( 1 )
Total Sea Turtle Nest Counts: 2,991
Wilson's Plover Nest Counts:
Apollo ( 26 )..........Playalinda ( 13 )
Total: 39
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A delightful look at some Wilsons Plover chicks at our beautiful seashore. Did you know that these hatchlings are covered in down, weigh about 0.3 ounces, and are able to walk within 2 hours? There remain only about 8,600 in the U.S
If disturbed by people or pets, the adult birds will abandon their nests and chicks, exposing them to predators and excessive heat from the sun.
- Do disturb their nesting areas
- Always keep dogs leashed
- Remove your food waste and garbage from the beach
- Leave driftwood and algae on the beaches
- Report people or pets disturbing nests
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MANGROVE REEF WALLS DESIGNED TO HELP WITH SHORELINE SUSTAINABILITY
By Lisa Mickey
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Mangrove Reef Walls turn seawalls into living shorelines ...
Tidal habitats throughout Florida have been lost to development to meet the demand of the state's ever-rising population. That result is not only a loss of natural spatial area, but also the loss of historic habitat and breeding grounds for many...
Read more
www.riversideconservancy.org
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Climb to the treetops at Turtle Mound |
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Turtle Mound is a prehistoric archaeological site located 9 miles south of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, in Canaveral National Seashore. On September 29, 1970, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is the most extensive shell midden on the mainland United States, approximately 50 feet high. The mound extends over 600 feet along the Indian River shoreline and contains over 35,000 cubic yards of shells. Turtle Mound was estimated to be 75 feet high before it was reduced by shell rock mining in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The turtle-shaped mound contains oysters and refuse from the prehistoric Timucuan people. Archaeologists believe these people may have used this site as a high-ground refuge during hurricanes. They caught a variety of small mammals and reptiles. It was constructed between 800 and 1400 CE. However, recent radiocarbon dates it around 1000 BCE. Early Spanish explorers and subsequent mariners used the large mound as a landmark. Today, the site is owned and managed by the National Park Service as part of Canaveral National Seashore.
Early sailors were visible seven miles out at sea and used Turtle Mound as a navigational device. The Timucuan experienced greater competitive forces for finite resources such as arable land resulting in increased open conflict. This is apparent in some of the material found in the Turtle Mound, which occupied an important location along the coast. Archaeologists have recently found 1,200year-old pottery on the site.
Photos courtesy of Jayne Gross
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ADOPT A SEA TURTLE NEST is an opportunity for visitors, friends, and nature lovers to participate in and contribute to sea turtle conservation. Your donation of $40 supports the protection efforts of these threatened and endangered species.
SEA TURTLE NESTS will be available for adoption beginning June 1. All adoptable sea turtle nests will be located within 24 miles of undeveloped coastline within the boundaries of the Canaveral National Shore.
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MAIL-IN FORM: Fill out the form and return it with our $40 donation to Friends of Canaveral, PO Box 1526, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170 (Payable to Friends of Canaveral, Inc.
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ONLINE: Fill out the online form and submit it with your $40 donation per credit card.
ONCE WE RECEIVE YOUR ADOPT A SEA TURTLE NEST INFO you will be:
- Assigned a sea turtle nest with an ID number.
- Receive a digital photo of your nest ID stake with your selected name, photo, and information regarding species.
- Receive a custom-designed sea life print buff, a Friends of Canaveral sticker, and a sea turtle ID postcard.
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JR. ANGLER FISHING CLINICS
Tues, Wed, Thu, & Fri, throughout July,
10:00 AM–noon
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Jr. Angler Fishing Clinics
Summer programs are back!
Canaveral National Seashore will host an amazing Jr. Angler program through July. This is an opportunity for youths aged 8-15 to learn the art and skill of surf and lagoon fishing. Youths will learn about knot tying, appropriate tackle, and healthy fish habitats, and gain valuable hands-on fishing experience from a team of local environmental students who are committed to sharing their skills in a fun, outdoor atmosphere. All gear and bait will be provided.
Clinics will be offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in July, from 10am-noon. Reservations are required. Parents/guardians must remain with their youths for the duration of the program. This program is free, but standard entrance fees will apply.
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All participants are responsible for bringing their own sun protection, hats, sunglasses, snacks, & beverages. For more information or to make reservations, please call the Apollo Beach Visitor Center at
386-428-3384 ext 0.
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From Beach Treasure Hunts to a trip on Mosquito Lagoon, check out the activities that our beautiful has to offer.
July “Turtle Watch Reservation schedule in the link below
For more activities at the seashore - click the link below:
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DID YOU KNOW?
FIREWORKS - Cheap Thrills with Toxic Consequences
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We’re not trying to be a party pooper here, we just believe that we always need to evaluate the way we do things and how it has impacted our already fragile environment. Many people enjoy the booming sounds and flashing colors of fireworks, but what are some of the results of shooting them off?
POLLUTION:
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Millions of pounds of fireworks are released every 4th of July, and these create metal-tainted smoke, propellents, colorants, and other heavy metals that lead to air pollution. Moreover, they can even pollute drinking water, soil, and waterways. There are 42% more pollutants in the air on July 5th than average. While fireworks do some of their biggest environmental damage to the atmosphere by polluting the air we breathe, they are also a big problem on land and water. Pyrotechnics set off near a body of water deliver an immediate impact, polluting the water with pieces of the fireworks and even affecting the taste and odor of drinking water.
BIRDS:
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Predatory birds, like bald eagles, see the harsh sounds and lights from fireworks as a threat and may abandon their nests or habitats entirely. Many birds have flown into builds and other obstacles and the explosions may cause other birds to take off en masse for prolonged periods of time and to use up vital energy reserves needed for survival. Fireworks have even frightened birds into flying so far out to sea that they did not have the energy to make the return flight. Wild birds frightened by the noise of fireworks will also fly higher and for longer, which exposes them to the harmful cocktail of ingredients in fireworks like ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitric oxide that have caused cardiovascular and respiratory damage, and even death, in humans.
DOGS & WILDLIFE:
- Many urban dogs suffer negative symptoms from the explosions of firecrackers & fireworks. Common reactions are freezing or paralysis, uncontrolled attempts to escape and hide, and tremors. Other more intense signs may also be present, such as salivation, tachycardia, intense vocalizations, urination or defecation, increased activity, hyper-alertness, and gastrointestinal disorders. All these signs are indicative of great discomfort. It has been pointed out that the reaction of dogs to the sound of fireworks is similar to post-traumatic stress in human animals.
LITTER:
- Litter is a HUGE problem where fireworks are concerned. Many parts of fireworks, firecrackers, and sparklers – you don’t have to be lighting the big stuff to damage the environment – are not biodegradable. Paper is used in a lot of these materials, but so is plastic, creating a dangerous collection of debris that could injure humans, pets, and wildlife.
NOISE:
- Then there is noise pollution. Fireworks and big bangs go together, but these explosions are a health hazard that could damage hearing and trigger people with PTSD. Fireworks also contribute, albeit briefly, to light pollution, an environmental problem that can affect animals’ wake and sleep patterns, migration patterns, and habitat formation, not to mention nesting sea turtles.
Don't set off fireworks in your backyard, go to a public display. Parades and block parties are some obvious alternatives. Additionally, laser light shows can wow a crowd without the negative environmental side effects associated with fireworks.
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BECOME A FRIEND - 2022 Membership |
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Friends of Canaveral consists of a small, but a mighty, group of members and volunteers who participate in the tradition of private philanthropy that is designed to enhance Canaveral’s’ federal support. |
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BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:
- Membership card to Friends of Canaveral to use to receive a discount of 15% at the Canaveral Seashore Park Gift Shop.
- Subscription to the Friends of Canaveral eNewsletter
- Invitation to all fundraising events
- Invitation to our annual membership meeting
- Inclusion in all email announcements
- Volunteer opportunities
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REPORT VIOLATIONS
If you suspect a fish, wildlife, boating, or environmental law violation, report it to the FWC's Wildlife Alert Reward Program: 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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Use Amazon Smile for all your purchases to support the Friends of Canaveral. |
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