Scallop search!

I do enjoy scallops baked in butter and Parmesan cheese, don't get me wrong, but this no-take event was all about counting the number of scallops present in Pine Island Sound.




This shellfishery has been closed in the Sound for about 20 years, due to declining numbers, so this annual event rounds up volunteer boaters and snorkelers to see how many are actually there.




We had about 2 1/2 hours to conduct 4 transects, where 2 snorkelers swam along a 50 meter rope and scanned 3' on each side. Scallops are tricky- they can quickly swim away when they sense danger. But the water was so thick with seagrass that it was very difficult to see the bottom.




Unfortunately, our boat did not see a single live scallop (several shells though). Out of 90 snorkelers, only 24 scallops were found! Last year they found over 400 and in 2011, over 1,000! The reason for declining numbers could have to do with the high incidence of red tide. See coverage in the News Press here. I got these photos from one of the lucky boats! All and all, a fun day on the water with friends!




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Sea turtle night patrol

What an experience! We met at 6:45pm, after I had worked a full day at the office, and headed out to Keewaydin Island. We docked the boat and hopped on ATVs to check out the beach.

The sun was setting quickly, so Megan and one intern went North, and the per intern and I went South to check on a handful of nests that were about due to hatch. We monitored 14 on the North end and 17 on the South end. There are 228 nests on the island, total. The entire island is about 6 miles long.




The nests had been caged when they were first laid, so finding them in the daylight was no problem. But as nightfall set in, we relied on a mark in the sand made by dragging one foot along from the nest to the waters edge. We monitored each nest for a subtle collapse of sand creating a depression which signifies movement of hatchlings below the surface. And also looked for adult turtles coming out of the water to lay new nests.

Then the waiting game began! We switched North and South each time to keep things interesting. In between, we all met up at "the shack" as they called it, and hung out on the screened-in lanai for about 30 minutes, trying to hide from mosquitoes and noseeums (they still found us!)




Then it was back to patrolling... until dawn! At about midnight or so, the other team found a nest that had hatched while no one was watching! They saw tons of tiny little turtle tracks heading to the sea, but no sight of any babies left behind.
This continued to happen twice more and then we finally saw a mama turtle crawl up the sand, spin around, dig a bit, and head back to sea. She was wearing a satellite tag, which was so cool, so we can track her movements online here.

She returned to the water without building a nest (which is common). The interns felt she would be back, around the same location, in a short while. However, the tide had come up so high that we were unable to safely drive the Southern end of the island so we had to abandon monitoring at 4:30am (and head to bed!)




Jeannie, as she was named, did actually come back that night and nest (interns found it in the morning on the beach and compared her GPS track online to verify it was indeed her that built that nest). Amazing technology!

And I also learned that I am too old to stay awake for 24 hours, straight!

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Florida Room Update

Tiling the floor has begun!




Now it's time to choose a color for paint!




The trim really ties it all together. I'm happy with the new window sill and its framing matches the French doors.




The only missing piece is the new 15-lite exterior door (and new blinds, but i'm waiting until those go on sale!) I had to special order the door, so it should arrive in about 2 weeks. Hopefully, I'll have everything painted and furniture back in place by then...

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Manatee Rescue

It's been years since I've been called out to a marine mammal rescue, and this was my first attempt at a manatee reduce, ever! See giant floating shape to the right of the picture.




We went out to Marco Island where this manatee was reported injured. The team quickly discovered that she was still pretty active as she swam over, under, and out of the net, nearly 12 times! It was time to let her rest and come back another day.




I wasn't part of the actual rescue a few days later, but here is a photo of what it looks like to get an 800-pound animal on the boat! She had likely been struck by a boat and the air from her lungs had escaped into her body cavity, thus preventing her from diving (and eating, since sea grass grows on the bottom). She was taken by "mambulance" to Lowry Park Zoo in St. Pete, for rehab. Read more here.
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Florida Room Renovations

I have officially begun another major renovation! Well... the contractor has begun...




First step: move furniture into garage and hope for hurricane-less weather.




Next: have tile removed. And old wood paneling.




Then hide waste in trash can by the shovels-ful! This should take about 3 weeks.




Raise floor 4" to be the same level as inside the house. It took 120 bags, mixed by hand!




Yield to notes written on wall- spray Raid!




Let concrete set and brainstorm wall material. Research Hardiboard.




Marvel at impressive cement wallboard. It is made to be outside so I can just hose it down to keep it clean. Buy pressure washer!




Wrack brain to determine paint color that will go with all the other crazy colors in my house! Stay tuned for the continuation...
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Fitness Friends

I never thought Zumba was for me, but these ladies have changed my mind! Loud dance music, lots of giggles, and unimaginable sweat...



It's been years since I've done a 5k, so why not spend 4th of July sunrise with 1051 others? This is the biggest race in Naples!



Summer isn't summer without kickball! This years World Adult Kickball Association team is called The Balled and the Beautiful. Where else can you bring back the side ponytail?


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