The Newest Naturalist Has Arrived!!

Jessica Paarlberg, one of the Naturalist, let us know earlier today - May 12 - Evan was getting excited and antsy. We all got a text earlier tonight to welcome the newest member of the Naturalist family Evan Jeffrey. He was born May 12 @ 7:12pm at 7lb 5oz. The little one has much to learn but he will be well on his way soon enough! Join us as we congratulate Jessica and her husband John on their new healthy baby boy!

Fertile Turtles On the GO!!!!!

It's that time of the year again!! Turtles, Snakes and all animals in between are testing the theory that the grass is greener on the other side of the road. Use caution when driving. Reduce driving speed and look ahead for objects in the road. If you happen upon a turtle, the best thing to do is place it on the side of the road that it was heading toward. If it has been injured, place in a box and call a local nature center, zoo, or vet.

Nature Center Flip Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN7u4wkSLJI

Check out this short video highlighting our nature center!

It's Ky-Yakin' Time Again!!

With the weather getting warmer and most of our summer season birds back, its time to get back on the water. Our two hour guided kayak tour includes a naturalist who can get you to the best locations to spot anything from wading birds to dolphins, sting rays, or even sea turtles! At high tide its very common to see sea life and birds aloft. During low tide, you can get out on a sandbar located at the innercoastal waterway. There we can see crabs, conchs, starfish and much more! Most kayak tours are during the mornings but we do moonrise and new moon kayaks as well. If interested in booking a kayak tour with our naturalists, please call us asap so we can book you, spots are limited!

Rex, Rocky and Rover

Our two newest additions to the nature center are Rocky, the little yellow-bellied slider on the left, and Rover, a red-eared slider who found a nice "rock" to bask on....Rex the red-bellied turtle! This time of year many turtles are found in parking lots and crossing roads. It's best to leave them alone as long they can cross safely. If not, you could take them across the road, in the direction they were heading, and put them down. NEVER put them in water, because some tortoises look like turtles, yet they cannot swim! Water turtles will be fine out of water.

Springtime at Okefenokee Swamp

During spring break we took a couple of trips to Okefenokee Swamp. These water plants are called Golden Club, due to their yellow flower, or Never-wet, due to their waxy leaves that repel water. They painted a beautiful picture out in the swamp, and the water lilies are starting to bloom, as well.

We've never seen a snake at Okefenokee, but while we were stopped in the boat, I spotted this little ribbon snake just floating along on a stem. It was probably waiting for a minnow to swim by and become it's lunch!

After we finished looking at the snake we spotted this big gator swimming along. You can estimate how big an alligator is by judging the distance between its eyes and nose...this one had about 10 inches so was around 10 feet long!

After the boat ride we went to see an old homestead, and saw this fence lizard.

We never know what to expect at the swamp, and can't wait for our next trip there on Tuesday (April 20) Come and join us!

Once a Naturalist, Always a Naturalist!

Clark attended her college class as usual which just happened to be outside today. During this class, her teacher she noticed a baby owl sitting on some bleachers. After talking with some the other UNF employees, found out this baby Great Horned Owl had been there since early this morning with no sign of it's mommy. We called in a little backup from Charles Hubbuch, a Sawmill Slough Preserve Curator, for a second opinion. We concluded this baby was healthy and that mommy should be near. The problem was, little one was perching in a very high traffic area on campus and surly mommy wouldn't come feed him if there were this many people around. So with a towel and a cardboard box, we eased him in. We took the box a little ways away to a patch of woods and released him there. He was very feisty little rascal but when all was said and done, the baby Great Horned Owl was safe in the underbrush. During the fledgling time, mommy birds will test the babies and teach them the essentials to living on their own. We are hoping this is one of those cases and she will raise him to be a fine Great Horned Owl. However, we are monitoring him for the next few days to make sure mommy does come back to feed him and if his condition worsens, I will take him to BEAKS to be cared for.