Growing up in Maine, I often experienced the classic, snow globe-esque Christmas seen in movies and television shows. After opening presents, my siblings and I would pull on our snow pants and coats and headContinue reading
Tag: nature
Birding with the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
It was just past 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, but already a small crowd had gathered at the Blackwater Fisheries Research and Development Center in Okaloosa County, Florida. Based on the proliferation of camerasContinue reading
We Should All Be Like Amanda
My friend Amanda possesses a heart of gold. She has always loved the environment and all the critters native to both her hometown in Virginia and her new home in Destin, Florida. She is alsoContinue reading
Three Species of Rescued Sea Turtles
While at the local Gulfarium to film educational interviews about sea turtle monitoring, I had the opportunity to go “behind the scenes” to meet the rescued turtles currently recuperating in their C.A.R.E. center. As IContinue reading
Releasing Four Sea Turtles on Okaloosa Island
A Gulfarium staff member carefully opened the plastic container, lifting a flapping Green Turtle into the morning sunlight along the Emerald Coast. Walking quickly, but carefully, she made her away across the beach sand andContinue reading
A Moment in Nature to Relax
This summer I have been on the move. From New Orleans to Miami to the mountains of North Carolina to Maine, I drove and flew all over the place. My travels have been both for funContinue reading
Visiting New Orleans’ Aquarium
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 as its mission: WeContinue reading
Summer Plover Chicks
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. The teamContinue reading
Dune Walkovers: Simple Yet Effective Erosion Solutions
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 the beach-goersContinue reading
Is Ecotourism the Natural World’s Silver Bullet?
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. Eric Weiner – author of theContinue reading