Nothing makes you think of Florida like alligators do. Scaly, toothy, and unblinking predators capable of growing to 11 feet in length, the American Alligator seems to be of a completely different era. In fact, the living species dates back in … Continue reading Baby Gator Alert
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
Most people have heard of “farm to table,” a local food movement aimed at delivering high quality, fresh ingredients straight to consumers (often at restaurants). In coastal communities bordering the Gulf of Mexico, a new movement is taking shape: Gulf … Continue reading Gulf to Table along the Florida Coast
There’s nothing that screams vacation more than stopping in for a cold drink at a waterfront Tikibar, after perusing the local farmers market at the Fort Pierce City Marina, Florida. Continue reading Cobb’s Landing in Fort Pierce, FL
In a previous post for the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment, I discussed the downside to ecological awareness, i.e. an enhanced knowledge of environmental destruction and the guilt and frustration that goes with it. However, there’s an equally important … Continue reading Being a Naturalist on Florida’s East River
While last visiting my parents, I found myself heading to Crystal River, Florida. We took a tour to the Three Sisters Springs – a refuge for West Indian Manatees in the winter. The manatees (~500 last winter) come to the … Continue reading Clear Water in Crystal River, Florida
Florida is a popular place for saltwater fishing. Visitors and locals alike take charter boats to deep sea fishing spots, or cruise the bays looking for tell-tale signs of their aquatic targets. Fewer people fly-fish, but the shallow sand flats … Continue reading Surf Fishing in Florida Waves
As the new blogger for the Florida State Parks system, I have been travelling to different state parks to describe what it’s like to visit them for the first time. Usually I’m on the look-out for different bird species, but … Continue reading Lizards of Hillsborough River State Park
It was Sunday afternoon, the sun was shining, and I had a decision to make. I had about three hours of daylight before the winter sun set – where did I want to spend it? The local state parks were … Continue reading Oak Tree Nature Park and the Importance of Suburban Green Space
I’ve read many articles about the plastic floating and/or dumped into oceans around the world. Nat Geo published an article in February about the eight million tons of plastic that ends up in the oceans every year, Forbes reports that … Continue reading A Great Blue Heron Eats a Plastic Shark: Pollution in Our Oceans
The search for the rare and uncommon has driven humans for millennia. We want things we feel are hard to find, like diamonds or truffles. Birders are no different, and rare bird sightings often cause a tizzy in the local, … Continue reading Searching for Rare Birds in Okaloosa County
The creation of artificial reefs has become more and more popular off the coast of the Florida Panhandle, also known as the Emerald Coast. Concrete and metal are placed on the sandy bottom, following a lengthy application process with both … Continue reading Creating an Artificial Reef off the Emerald Coast
