Nature Camps!!

We have planned our 2009 summer camps! Our young explorer camp will be June 15-19 and July 6-10, 8:30am-1pm. It is for children 6-8years old, who will discover local wildlife, explore the beach, learn about the salt marsh, and enjoy nature crafts, games, bike hikes, and much more. Our EcoExplorer camp will be June 22-26 and July 13-17, 8:30am-4pm. Geared towards kids ages 9-11. Activities include field trips, kayaking, swimming, crabbing, fishing, nature crafts, games and more! Each camp will be limited to 12 children, call (904)321-5082 to register soon!

Pixie

Buster the cat is still out of control as office manager (see previous post)! Now, he's hired a beautiful young girl as an office assistant! This is Pixie, a long-haired tortoiseshell, who we actually found under the porch of Marché Burette - (a deli and market here at Amelia Island Plantation). She's about 3-4 months old and is very sweet and soft! She's already been fixed and had her shots.

What Buster didn't think about was the possibility of her stealing attention away from him, even for a minute - which is simply unacceptable under his rule. He ordered me to ask everyone I know if they would take Pixie off of his paws. If you know of anyone interested in giving Pixie or Buster a home, please call the nature center at (904)321-5082...and help us spread the word! (Buster would be happier ruling an entire household of adoring servants...I mean family members...instead of just an office).

Buster the office manager

Buster has appointed himself office manager of the nature center! Here he is making the schedule....and found a use for an extra staff person each day...

I guess this is what happens when a feline is in charge! We are putty in his paws. Much time allotted for petting, playing and napping. He rules with an iron claw, too - recently I was in the middle of feeding him breakfast when the phone rang...I tried to be quick but apparently was not quick enough - Buster hung up on someone!! I had to serve him before I was allowed to answer the phone again! Turns out it was Rosemary, who's the one that provides us with his food and litter - even she is not exempt from the King's rule!

Rescue Update - Andy the Anhinga

Andy the Anhinga, who we rescued on March 7, (see previous post) was nursed back to health, and on Thursday (March 12) we were able to release him! We let him go right by the chapel at AIP, where we found him. He hopped out of the carrier, looked around for a little bit, then went right into the water. After wetting his feathers, he hopped up on a rock filled with turtles, who didn't mind him at all. After some preening, he jumped back in the water and even caught a few fish! It was so great to see him back out and able to feed, especially after we'd almost given up on him! Since then, we've seen him on our bird tours, just as beautiful as ever! A true success story, but unfortunately not all the stories are - this guy was lucky to survive his entanglement with trash, many other animals don't - so make sure you never litter and pick up trash when you see it! And come see Andy soon!

The long awaited rescue

This male anhinga was spotted about two weeks ago, perched on a branch, trying to rub netting off his bill. It was wound around his bill so tight he could not open his bill or eat, however he could still fly. So we waited and waited. Every day the naturalists would go searching for him, checking on his condition. And then the call came, right in the middle of the golf tournament, he was spotted on the 18th hole. Quietly, so quietly, the brave Amanda and stealthy Christina wrangled Andy the anhinga and carefully cut away most of the entanglement. Andy was so thin, we transported him to B.E.A.K.S. a local rehabilitation center, where he will get all the rest and nutrition he needs to get back on his feet.

The long awaited

Water Day at MOSH

Amanda and Romeo the pine snake, one of the residents of the Naturalist Center at M.O.S.H.

Amanda with Drippy, the water drop.

On February 7, Amanda Hardy and I represented the nature center at the Water Education Day at the Museum of Science and History (MOSH). It was a day of free admission to the museum with various community organizations providing interactive displays to teach the importance of water education and conservation. We brought along Trash Turtle, who's made of trash we've found on the beach. He reminds us that litter could end up in the ocean to the detriment of sea animals. Especially harmful are plastic bags and balloons, which look like jellyfish in the water to leatherback sea turtles and can be swallowed. We also had mystery boxes with items from our Beach Bounty tour inside...which had kids and adults puzzled!