January 15, 2019
Right whale #2791 and her less-than-2-week-old calf sighted 10 nautical miles off Fernandina Beach, FL - January 6, 2019.  Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit 20556-01
Bringing in the New Year with the first whale calf in 2 years!
Happy New Year! We are pleased to kick off 2019 with a right whale calf sighting!! The calf of North Atlantic right whale #2791 is the first calf born to the population in two years. Better yet, there are another seven female right whales confirmed in the southeast calving grounds that could also be pregnant. Let's hope for seven more calves! 

A total of twelve individuals have been identified so far: 8 females and 4 males. All sightings have been by the FWC and Sea to Shore Alliance aerial survey teams about 10 to 20 miles offshore. Hopefully they will make their way closer to shore making them easier for MRC's trained right whale volunteers to spot. If you'd like to become an MRC shore-based right whale network volunteer or just learn more about right whales, please join us at one of the following presentations:

Sunday, Feb. 3rd at 2:00p.m.
Full Circle Yoga Studio
320 N. Atlantic Ave, #3A and 3B
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
Note: please bring a chair or be prepared to stand or sit on the floor

Tuesday, Feb. 5th at 12:00p.m.  
Satellite Beach Library
751 Jamaica Blvd.
Satellite Beach, FL 32137
Note: Library opens at 12:00p.m. If you arrive early and the doors are locked, fear not... we're still having the class!

Thursday, Feb. 7th at 7:30p.m. (doors open at 7:00pm)
David R. Schechter Community Center
1089 S. Patrick Dr.
Satellite Beach, FL 32937

We will also have a booth at the Ocean Treasures Festival at the Barrier Island Center in Melbourne Beach on Sat., Feb. 16th. Come see us!

For whale sightings, please call our hotline at 888-979-4253.
Traveling Flamingos for Clean Water
Join us for some flamingo flamboyance at ArtsFest in Martin County on February 9th and 10th! We will have a flock of beautifully decorated flamingos to raise awareness about water pollution. After ArtsFest, the flamboyant flamingos will be traveling around Martin County establishments to help people learn more about how to reduce their fertilizer footprint. Keep an eye out for them at an establishment near you!

Fertilizer Seminar and Rain Barrel Workshop
Sunday, February 10 
Fertilizer Presentation: 1-2 p.m.
Rain Barrel Workshop: 2-3 p.m. 
Rockledge Gardens
2135 U.S. 1
 Rockledge, FL 32955
Come learn with us! Dr. Leesa Souto will discuss the harmful effects of fertilizer on the Lagoon and the local fertilizer ordinances in effect to protect our groundwater & waterways. Learn how you can help the Lagoon through better yard maintenance and fertilizing practices. 

Did you know that a 90 square foot section of roof can fill a single 55-gallon rain barrel within the first inch of rainfall? Learn the benefits of collecting rainwater, the positive impact it has on the Lagoon, and how to construct your own rain barrel. With the purchase of the "build your own barrel" ticket, you will receive the materials necessary to create a 55-gallon rain barrel and assistance in building your own to take home.

Click the button below to register to attend the fertilizer presentation and/or the rain barrel workshop.
Ocean Plastic: Are We Making Progress?
February 5, 2019
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
We’ve all seen the grisly pictures, but what is the solution to plastic in our oceans? Join us for our February Brown Bag presentation with Patty Goffinet, the founder of Blue Tube, as she discusses efforts to fix our plastic waste mess. She will talk about what’s being done, what works, what probably won’t work and what we can do to help. Topics covered include recycling, landfills, garbage collection, bans, incineration, pyrolysis, plastic-eating bacteria, plastic roads, and of course, BlueTubes. One lucky person will go home with a very cool set of reusable utensils. Click the button below to register for February's Brown Bag Lunch.
Become a Citizen Scientist!
The Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch statewide program is expanding! Trained volunteers will assist biologists in surveying, tagging and sighting Florida’s nesting horseshoe crab populations.

At the training, you'll learn why this citizen scientist project is important Florida and the techniques needed to participate in the program. There will be two dates for the training. Both dates are exactly the same but will be held in separate locations to accommodate people traveling from different parts of the area.
 
Training Dates:

Tuesday, January 29 th  from 10:00am-2:30pm at the UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County office located at 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa. Click here to register for this training.
 
Wednesday, January 30 th  from 10:00am-2:30pm at the Environmental Learning Center located at 255 Live Oak Drive, Vero Beach. Click here to register for this training .
 
Please note the training will be during lunchtime and we are asking you to bring your own lunch. Lunch will not be provided. Please email Shannon if you have any questions.
Great Blue Heron Rescue
Last week a sick great blue heron was found on the Lagoon House shoreline. WILD Florida Rescue came out to capture the heron and transport it to the Florida Wildlife Hospital for treatment. We're awaiting an update on it's condition.

WILD Florida Rescue is a small nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emergency response to wildlife in need of urgent medical attention. They are the only organization in our area that will make house visits to rescue and transport ailing wildlife.

Thank you Heather and Jason, at Wild Florida Rescue, for helping our lagoon creatures and all of Florida's wildlife!

Upcoming Events

February 3: North Atlantic Right Whale Presentation at Full Circle Yoga Studio

February 5: North Atlantic Right Whale Presentation at Satellite Beach Library

February 7: North Atlantic Right Whale Presentation at David R Schechter Community Center


February 9-10: ArtsFest in Martin County


Visit us at www.SaveTheIRL.org