One of the best trips I ever took was to the Dry Tortugas to band birds. These Brown Noddies are now some of my favorite birds of all time. They have such serious, dramatic expressions! Continue reading Brown Noddies on the Dry Tortugas
Destin, Florida is a famous vacation destination. A raised sandbar in the Choctawhatchee Bay (known as Crab Island) attracts hundreds of boaters every summer. The spot is so popular that local business-owners have constructed floating restaurants! Continue reading Mealtimes on Crab Island
Blog first appeared on the Duke Nicholas School website. Aquariums and zoos often describe themselves as educational institutions. For example, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is part of the Audubon Nature Institute, which states … Continue reading Visiting the New Orleans’ Aquarium
First published by the Duke Nicholas School. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, leftover fishing line can be a big problem in coastal communities throughout the United States and the world. Leftover line is nearly invisible to wildlife, who … Continue reading Recyclers and Art: How to Reduce Marine Fishing Line Litter
Originally published by the Duke Nicholas School. We approached the nest slowly, watching where we stepped on the white sand of the Emerald Coast dunes. There had been three eggs the day before, but only one chick and egg remained. … Continue reading Summer Plover Chicks
First published by the Duke Nicholas School. I shielded my eyes against the bright summer sun as I hopped out of the county vehicle. We are in the busy tourist season here on the Florida Panhandle, and I could hear … Continue reading Dune Walkovers along the Emerald Coast
The summer months mean shorebird chicks! Pictured here is a baby Snowy Plover, hatched very recently. I’ve always loved shorebirds, and seeing one up close was amazing! However, I could only do so while accompanied by trained wildlife staff, making … Continue reading Plover Chick along the Florida Panhandle
Blog first published by the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. In 1991, the New York Times ran an article entitled: “Ecotourism: Can it Protect the Planet?” You’ll notice that, fifteen years later, I am asking myself the same question. … Continue reading Can Ecotourism Save the Planet?
I am a huge fan of suburban parks. Though they are usually small, they provide great opportunities for people to enjoy green space, while providing bits of habitat to native creatures. Sound Park in Fort Walton Beach, FL only covers … Continue reading Reptiles of Sound Park
First published by the Duke Nicholas School. Many of my childhood memories are centered around the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My mom has worked there for … Continue reading Long Term Ecological Research Sites: Why I Want to See Them All!
Storms often create amazing conditions for beach photography. On Okaloosa Island, the spray from the waves settled into a dense fog along the sand. I loved how the lone walker’s silhouette added some perspective to the height of the waves … Continue reading A Stormy Day on Okaloosa Island
First published by the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment. I have recently taken it upon myself to sign up for a library card in my local town, frequent used book stores, and peruse the discount shelves of new-title book … Continue reading The Importance of Nature Writing
One World, Two Feet 