Knowing Your Neighbors and Understanding Your Surroundings

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Green Tree Frog

Since I have come to know Corkscrew, one of the best experiences to me is learning about the plants and animals that I see inhabiting this area. I have recently gotten into birding, and this excitement of being able to identify which bird species you are seeing/hearing is a recent passion I have discovered. I expressed interest to my parents about filming/taking photographs of wildlife before I started interning, being inspired by documentaries. Then they got me a camera. I brought my camera here and now I get excited when I see a new animal species I have not photographed yet. Even if I have taken a photo of it, it is still a treat to take a picture of the animal in many different settings doing different activities. Using both my phone and camera, I have definitely shot very pretty things. Here at Corkscrew it is a thrill to get to see wildlife and to be able to understand what you are seeing.

Cottonmouth

At first I did not really know too much about Cypress trees. After reading about their biology, being both fire tolerant and able to withstand being underwater, and seeing how massive they can be, I have grown to appreciate them. It’s not only the large organisms I am proud to be able to identify. I enjoy being able to recognize the small flowers like the Glades Morning Glory. Identifying and learning about bugs is something I did not think would interest me. However, last week I participated in a butterfly survey. After spending a day identifying the butterflies, we saw, I have grown to appreciate the small creatures as well. I now try to identify insects just because it is exciting to associate them with their species name. During the butterfly survey, I was thinking to myself that a dragonfly survey be cool. The dragonflies in Corkscrew - like the butterflies - come in many different colors and should be appreciated as much as the bigger organisms in Corkscrew.

Glades Morning Glory

Phaon Cresent

Barred Owl

Besides using ones eyes, I would encourage using the ears too. It is hard to see animals like birds and frogs. Although you may not be able to see them, you can hear them and if you try to learn the sounds of these animals, even if it is just the common ones, you will find yourself proud of knowing what is that animal you hear. Just a few weeks ago, I heard this bizarre noise while walking the boardwalk. It sounded like a bird, but nothing I had ever come across. After using the Audubon app to listen to bird noises, I found out it was a Barred Owl! Even though I did not see it, I was excited to learn what animal made that noise! Luckily, I saw the barred owl the next day, so I was quite happy. Still, when walking through Corkscrew, I suggest from time to time you stop for a moment and simply listen to the sounds around you. 

I know when I go back to University in Colorado, I will not be able to see all this wildlife that Corkscrew has to offer. One of the things I want to take with me though is this appreciation of what I am experiencing, such as noticing local plants when hiking, listening to what birds are chirping, and looking at the small insects. While I may not see a panther right outside my dorm, I can still take time to understand where I am. Knowing both the history of places and paying attention to what you are seeing is a great way to boost your self-awareness and knowledge of why things are here in the first place. For me, I have grown to admire how Audubon has been able to protect Corkscrew. It is easy to take for granted the wildlife you see here, but it is important to understand the sacrifices people made and the history behind keeping wildlife and natural areas protected here in Florida, like Corkscrew. I am very grateful for those who have made this possible.

Alligator

Weather Contemplations

It's hard to believe I'm already halfway through my time here at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. A lot of the time it still feels as though I just got here, even when I'm helping to train other people on the things we do here at CSS.

There's been so many things to learn and get used to over these past three months. But, coming from central Ohio, I think one of the most difficult things for me to adjust to has been the summer weather. And I don't just mean the heat and humidity!

When I first arrived down here, everything was still dry, and you could still see solid ground. Now, though, water is everywhere, and it rains almost every day. Almost always in the afternoon too, which I find really interesting.

 

This fluctuation between wet and dry forms the basis for many of the ecosystem types seen both here at Corkscrew and throughout Florida, such as wet prairies, or marshes, and cypress domes.

While I do miss having dry feet while I'm working, it is also very satisfying to finally feel like we have the "Swamp" part of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Until next time!
~Amanda

Shorebird Stewarding with Audubon Florida

Working for Audubon has been quite the privilege, and with this privilege there are some perks.
Throughout my time here at Corkscrew I have been able to volunteer for some great research projects through the Corkscrew connections. Through one of these connections I was able to volunteer for Audubon Florida's shorebird stewarding program in the Big Marco Pass Critical Wildlife Area.

Volunteers: Amanda, Melissa, Brittany

Every weekend the Audubon FL shorebird steward Col goes out on two shifts every Saturday and Sunday where she monitors the nesting shorebirds along Tigertail beach. I have had the chance to go out a couple times to assist in monitoring, and thanks to Col and the stewardship program I have learned a lot about shore birds in the process.

Audubon FL Shorebird Steward Col monitoring Black Skimmer colony

Least Tern colony

  This season there have been Least Tern and Black Skimmer colonies, however, both colonies have had a rough nesting season on the beach that Col monitors. Earlier in the season the Least Tern's started to nest on a beach by Key Waydin, however, Tropical Storm Alberto hit SWFL in the end of May and completely wiped out the Least Tern nesting area. Thankfully the Least Tern's showed resilience and attempted to nest once again on Tigertail beach, which was looking to be successful, however, crow's started to predate on their eggs and nestlings. This island has had a huge negative impact caused by the crows coming from Marco Island. The crows will predate on shorebird eggs and nestlings and can easily decimate a nesting colony. Unfortunately once the Least Terns re-nested on Tigertail, their nests were predated by huge numbers of crows, and also burrowing owls, and thus this season was a failure for this Least Tern colony. After all the trials and tribulations that the Least Tern's went through the adults abandoned the colony and left. I was able to see the Least Tern colony in June post Alberto when they decided to give nesting another go, and I was hopeful that they would be able to fledge some young. I hope that the Least Tern's are able to have a better nesting season next year, and I look forward to seeing if they are successful next year.

Black Skimmers

On the same island, there is a decent sized Black Skimmer colony who have been able to produce many nestlings. It has been a treat to see the Black Skimmers sitting over their nestlings, and to also see both parents explore the colony area with their young. Despite the Black Skimmer colony having greater success compared to the Least Tern colony, they are still having their nests predated by crows. Col told me about the times she has seen crows pick off Black Skimmer fledglings one by one in the colony. I was volunteering this past weekend on July 14th and the amount of crows I saw swooping down into the Black Skimmer was beyond nerve wracking. Thankfully during my shift I did not see any crows fly away with a Black Skimmer fledgling, however, they are a threat all day and I do not doubt that the crows were successful in eating some fledglings.

Black Skimmer on fledgling

Two Black Skimmer fledglings in nest

Black Skimmer on nest

Black Skimmer with two fledglings

The crow situation on Tigertail Beach is something that needs to be taken care of before the next shorebird nesting season begins. After talking to Col a bit it really seems like Marco Island has a huge crow problem due to trash cans being left open, and unfortunately many of these crows have learned that if they fly to this nesting beach they can easily get a shorebird nestling meal. There needs to be more exposure about the crow problem to the citizens and businesses of Marco Island.
Besides crows, there are other predators out on the beaches such as burrowing owls, ghost crabs, and humans. I have realized how important it is for humans to leave a nesting area that is roped off alone. People don't realize how important these nesting colonies are for shorebird populations.

I have a little over a month left at Corkscrew and it is a bittersweet feeling. For all future interns that pass through Corkscrew, I highly encourage you to take advantage of the all the connections that Audubon has to offer. There are so many great volunteer opportunities around Corkscrew and SWFL so get out there, and learn some cool things.

-Intern Melissa

New Resource Intern

Hello! I am Kevin! I was born in Cincinnati Ohio, but I grew up in Costa Rica. I am a rising senior at Colorado College majoring in environmental policy. I have been interested in wildlife and conservation as long as I can remember. My favorite activities are running, hiking, and reading. Recently I have become enthusiastic about photography, specifically focusing on wildlife.

Growing up in the rich bio-diversity of Costa Rica has inspired me to want to protect the environment. Previously I volunteered on a forest restoration project with Osa Conservation in Costa Rica during the summer after freshman year. The next summer I went to Kenya for an internship with the Western Organization for People Living with Aids and HIV (WOPLAH). WOPLAH promotes community education in Western Kenya about aids and HIV, working to reduce the stigma towards people with aids and HIV. Most recently, last semester I studied abroad in Thailand at the International Sustainable Development Studies Institute. There I learned about sustainable development, people’s relationship with the environment, and environmental policy. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career with a conservation group or an NGO that helps fulfill the basic needs of people while also working towards protecting the environment.

I am looking forward to working with Audubon and to learn about resource management and to get to know the staff. I have been here for about two weeks already and have learned a lot. I am now able to identify a few invasive plant species, can operate a buggy (for the most part) and learned a lot about the ecosystem here at Corkscrew Sanctuary. I am looking forward to gaining more valuable knowledge and experience and hope to take it with me to the future after contributing here.