C O N S E R V A N C Y O F S O U T H W E S T F L O R I D A

March 31, 2015

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of

life…now and forever.

WILDLIFE SEEN OVER THE PAST

WEEK

Ospreys

Eagles

Roseate

Spoonbills

Black Crowned

Night Herons

Green Heron

Tri-colored

Herons

Great Blue Herons

Great White

Egrets

Snowy Egrets

Cattle Egrets

Reddish Egrets

American

Oystercatcher

Swallow-tailed

kites

Magnificent

Frigatebird

Royal Terns

Laughing Gulls

Chuck-wills-

widow

Dolphins

Please send all future

sightings, reports, and pictures

for the rest of this season to

intern Andy Anger at

CAGS@Conservancy.org

Keep the wildlife photos

coming!

MARCH WEEK 4

Updates and Sightings:

The Conservancy is seeking volunteers interested in joining the Conservancy’s team for the Relay for Life event in Naples on Friday, April 17th from 6-10pm.

On Tuesday March 24th, guests were treated to a phenomenal view at marker 28A of two chicks being fed. Osprey parents have been seen working hard all week delivering fish to their chicks.

Another group was treated to a sighting of the circle of life. A picture taken captured the moment, as an osprey was on a tree near the shore devouring a fish he caught.

CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

GOOD FORTUNE II WEEKLY UPDATE

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

March 31, 2015

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of

life…now and forever.

The Eagle parents were both seen one day in the skag tree, but the juvenile Ealges were nowhere to be found. They were most likely out adventuring. “Once the young eagles have fledged (to acquire the feathers necessary for flight) they remain around the nest for four or five weeks, taking short flights while their primary feathers grow and strengthen. Their parents still provide all of their food.” (http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle4.html)

Ted Below from Rookery Bay was seen out again doing bird counts from the Rookery Bay boat.

Some uncommon sightings occurred on March 25th’s sunset cruise, a Swallow-tailed kite bird was seen flying overhead. Later, there was a mysterious black bird spotted sitting amid all the birds. As it lifted into the air and began to circle, they realized it a Magnificent Frigatebird.

March 28th’s sunset cruise was treated to a Reddish Egret performing his dance. The Reddish Egret performs this

dance when they are hunting fish. This can be difficult to fathom, so “try to imagine a big-bodied bird with pencil-thin legs running around on hot coals, staggering sideways, leaping in the air, flapping its wings and occasionally jabbing its bill downward and grabbing a fish all at the same time. Now imagine the same bird doing all these things and looking beautiful and graceful while doing them. That is the feeding behavior of a Reddish Egret.” (Brian Small, BirdChannel.com).

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

March 31, 2015

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of

life…now and forever.

Last week featured a story on a Pelican being saved from fishing line by our very own Good

Fortune II captain and crew. Although the story featured here today did not occur during the

Good Fortune II boat ride, it shows people’s awareness of the Conservancy and our mission to

protect the land, water and wildlife of Southwest Florida:

While Conservancy guides were doing nature walk at Clam Pass, two concerned guests

reported an injured Pelican. The Pelican was on a sand bar, on the north side (Pelican Bay). The

tide was in making it difficult to access the bird by foot. Some kind kayakers were willing to go

check on the bird and were told to wave like mad if the bird was in trouble. They checked out the

bird and started waving. While the bird could still swim, a paddle boarder willing to help went over

and after several attempts was able to get a towel over its head. While still on his board, he

grabbed the bill, just as the Conservancy instructs people to do, and he brought the Pelican in.

(See pictures below) Similar to last week, this Pelican was another victim of the dreaded fishing

line with a lure and line wrapped tightly around his foot. The bird was brought back to the Von Arx

Wildlife Hospital where he will be treated for his swollen foot and possibly a hole that was in his

wing as well.

Many were involved including those who reported it, the beach staff at Naples Grande,

the beach staff at Pelican Bay, the Conservancy, and the paddle boarder. Like last week, this was

another great example of how educating the public yields results and leaves a lasting memory

and good feeling to those involved. What a great representation for our organization. It goes to

show we can be ambassadors wherever we are for the Conservancy.

a

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

March 31, 2015

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of

life…now and forever.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

March 31, 2015

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of

life…now and forever.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

March 31, 2015

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of

life…now and forever.