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December 2014

Halloween is Coming to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center! October is just around the corner, and with October comes Halloween. Ideas have been flowing and we have LOTS of fun in store! Halloween in the Hammock is back again! This year it will take place on Saturday, October 25. Once again, ghostly guides will lead groups through a haunted Ashley Trail, around the tanks, ending in the Nature

Center. Don’t forget your camera for a photo op with Luna! You asked and we listened - more of the characters will have a Halloween feel (without being too scary or gory), while we will still focus on mixing fun with a bit of environmental education. This year participants will have a new riddle to solve! The logistic team is hard at work planning so we are able to take more people through the trail than last year (which sold out!); however, we still strongly encourage advanced reservations. By reserving your spot before 4:00 PM on October 24, you will not only pay a lower fee, but you will also get to pick your time slot. Time slot, you ask? We accept reservations in half-hour intervals from 6:30-9:00 PM; space in each interval is limited. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee there will be space for walk-ins, so if you decide to come last minute, we suggest you call first (561-544-8605) to see if we are sold out.

The Halloween in the Hammock tour lasts about an hour, and goes through some very dark areas. Please don’t bring flashlights, as your guide will light the way! Once you start, there is no going back. For these reasons, this program is limited to children ages 6 and older (all children under 18 must sign up and attend with a paid adult). This brings us to the next announcement… Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is excited to introduce a BRAND NEW EVENT for younger kids…Halloween in the Garden! Geared for ages 2-6, this event will take place on Sunday, October 26, before we are open to the public. Participants will arrive at 10:30 AM and enjoy Halloween fun in the Butterfly Garden and along the Ashley Trail! Children and their parents can join in crafts, games, face painting, and a trick-or-treat trail. Once again, space is limited, so advanced reserva-tions are highly recommended. Please note that our boardwalk and sea tanks will not be open during this program.

Costumes are encouraged for

both events!

Please see page 13 for details about both

of these programs.

GUMBO LIMBO NATURE CENTER 1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida, 33432, www.gumbolimbo.org

IN THIS ISSUE

Hours of Operation Sunday: Noon - 4 PM

Monday - Saturday: 9 AM - 4 PM

Admission Suggested Donation of $5 per person

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Contact Us General Information: (561) 544-8605

Program Sign-up: (561) 544-8615 Gift Store: (561) 544-8610

Membership: (561) 544-8608 info@gumbolimbo.org

FRIENDS OF GUMBO LIMBO BOARD OF TRUSTEES

President: James D. Miller

Vice President Robyn Morigerato

Secretary Constance Thoms-Mazur

Treasurer Ken Imhoff

Board Members Steve Alley• Ross Appel Carol Borrow• Judith M. Gire Nancy U. Leeds• Karin Marques Susan Walker• Lawrence Weissman

Honorary Board Members Gordon J. Gilbert Michele Kurucz Peel

GUMBO LIMBO NATURE CENTER STAFF

Friends of Gumbo Limbo Employees

Director of Retail & Finance Diane Bilodeau

Executive Assistant to the Board Brandon Canute

Gift Shop Assistant Manager Jean DeLuca

Sales Associates Jan DiPonio Jayne Lloyd Brittany Murphy Marie Parker Delaney Peel

GUMBO LIMBO NATURE CENTER STAFF

City of Boca Raton Employees

Deputy Recreation Services Director John A. “Buddy” Parks, CPRP

Manager Stefanie Ouellette

Secretary: Darlene Rosa

Environmental Program Coordinators Kristin Child • Susan Elliott

Science Educator: Dawn Formica

Program Interpreter: Debra Wilson

Environmental Educators Jessica Bradbury • Heather McCarn

Marine Conservationist Kirt Rusenko, PhD

Marine Turtle Specialist II Melanie Stadler

Marine Turtle Specialists David Anderson • Melissa Love Stephanie Burkhardt Laurie Herrick • Stephanie Kedzuf

Aquarist: Anthony Ceparano

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Coordinator Ryan Butts

Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Assistant Whitney Crowder

Groundskeeper Jean Bernard Edouard

Custodian: Ryan Daniel

Halloween, Gumbo Limbo Style

Tracking Turtles

Tanks Talk

Solar Energy

Program Schedule

The Beach Report Volunteer of the Quarter

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Printed with solar power on

recycled paper using soy ink.

Editor Kristin Child

UPDATE FROM THE MANAGER By Stefanie Ouellette, Manager

Greetings to all! Whew! What a busy summer it has been! Visiting camp groups twice a day, every day, Environmental Summer Camp for seven weeks, Sea Turtle Camp for two weeks, Turtle Walks and Hatchling Release programs 3-4 nights per week from the end of May through the beginning of September, numerous other public programs, PLUS every day visitors has kept us on our toes! It’s easy to see that Gumbo Limbo Nature Center has a lot to offer everyone. We continue to strive to meet the needs of our stakeholders every day and appreciate the support, participation, and feedback that have been provid-ed to allow us to do so. It’s easy to see that Gumbo Limbo is busy EVERY DAY! We were curious to see just how busy we have been. So, we took a look at our attendance from January-July 2013, which was a record year for attendance, and compared it to January-July of this year (2014). The results of that comparison show that attendance in 2014 is already 21% high-er than in 2013. Another fun fact is that in the first 7 months of 2014, we have surpassed the attend-ance for the entire year in 2011 and 2012. Unbelievable! Next time you are at Gumbo Limbo, don’t forget to check out the NEW exhibit inside the Nature Cen-ter: “Terrific Teeth from Under the Sea”.

This exhibit is considered a temporary exhibit, and will be in place until summer 2015 (it has replaced the butterfly exhibit in the small exhibit room). “Terrific Teeth from Under the Sea” features a

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variety of interesting ”toothy” adaptations of ma-rine animals for the purposes of eating, defending, and/or mating. You’ll get to see a shark jaw, the skull of a great barracuda, and even a real narwhal tusk! And of course, the exhibit would not be complete without including “toothy” sea turtle adaptations! You don’t want to miss it! Thanks to everyone who continues to support us, visit us, and bring their friends and family to Gumbo Limbo. YOU are the reason we do what we do and YOU provide us with the resources to do it! We look forward to seeing you around Gumbo Limbo! Sincerely, Stefanie Ouellette Manager

Learn more about Phoenix and our satellite tagging program on page 5.

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ADOPT-A-SEA TURTLE RETURNS - BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE!

This fall, we will debut our NEW Sea Turtle Adoption Program at Gumbo Limbo. This has been a long request-ed program by our guests and members alike, and has been in planning stages for many months. By adopting a sea turtle from Gumbo Limbo, you directly support the care, life support systems, medical and veterinary needs, and feeding of our resident turtles and rehabilitation pa-tients. Your participation in this program also allows Gumbo Limbo to continue invaluable on-going conserva-tion and research programs on Boca Raton’s sea turtle nesting beaches to ensure these endangered reptiles continue to thrive. More details describing the package, the price, and turtles eligible for adoption will be on our website soon, and linked from our Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to stay connected with us for updates!

Stay Tuned! Coming in 2015...

NEW Turtle Walk & Hatchling Release Ticket Sales Policies and Procedures.

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In Florida, there are currently fourteen sea turtle rehabilitation facilities. Most of these facilities tag their rehabilitated sea turtles when they are ready to be released. The turtles usually get flipper tags (numbered metal tags placed on both front flippers) and a PIT tag (a microchip), but only a few are equipped with a satellite tag to enable tracking after release. Due to the lack of information across the state and region about what happens to rehabilitated sea turtles upon release, Gumbo Limbo’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility (STRF) has been approved by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to satellite tag a few rehabilitated sea turtles this year. This satellite tagging project will provide much needed insight on the post-released movements of rehabilitated sea turtles as well as enable us to continue long term monitoring of our rehabilitation efforts.

SATELLITE TRACKING SEA TURTLES AT GUMBO LIMBO By Whitney Crowder, Rehabilitation

How will we select which patients to satellite tag? We will be following the strict guidelines of our FWC permit. Individuals for this project will be selected from the four hard-shelled species (loggerhead, green, hawksbill, and Kemp’s ridley) that most commonly strand in Florida and are most commonly treated by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Rehabilitation Facility. We will target individuals for which there is the least amount of information available and have the most potential to gain useful information from the satellite track-ing data. We are setting up this project as a plat-form in the hopes to begin a long term study of the behaviors of the STRF’s post-rehabilitated sea turtles upon release.

We have partnered with Ms. Dean Bagley from the University of Central Florida’s Marine Turtle Research Group and In-water Research Group. She is training our STRF staff on the proper appli-cation techniques and methods of satellite tag-

ging. Ms. Bagley has many years of satellite tag-ging experience and is very knowledgeable on the subject. Genetic sampling will also be conducted for each satellite tagged individual. These sam-ples will be analyzed by Dr. Brian Shamblin from the University of Georgia. The combination of tracking and genetic information could provide useful information about how rehabilitated sea turtles respond back to their natural environ-ments after release. We have begun our project by satellite tagging a sub-adult loggerhead, Phoenix. Phoenix was a great turtle to begin our study with as this turtle had an extensive stay at STRF. She underwent rehabilitation due to a boat strike injury, ingestion of a stainless steel shark hook, and overall poor body condition. Phoenix’s tag will provide us with her post-release movements and habitat selection

Continued on page 16

A close‐up of the satellite tag.

Photo by Ben Hicks

Whitney Crowder, Ryan Butts, and Dean Bagley attach the satellite transmitter. Photo by Ben Hicks

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TANK TALK: WHAT IS IN THE MANGROVE TANK? By Susan Barham, Volunteer

There is a marine animal in the Mangrove Tank that looks like a guitar (but can’t play a note!). It is the Atlantic Guitarfish, Rhinobatos lentiginosus. This fish has the appearance of both a skate (ray) and a shark. It is definitely a marine creature showing off nature’s sense of humor! The Atlantic Guitarfish has a body that is flattened like a skate or ray and its tail has two dorsal fins similar to most sharks. These fish have pectoral fins fused to the head creating a guitar or triangular-shaped head and body. The Atlantic Guitarfish has no spine on its tail. Coloration of this unique ani-mal varies from gray to olive brown to chocolate brown. One of its common names is “freckled guitar-fish” as it has beautiful white freckles covering its surface. It will reach a total length of only about 30 inches.

The Atlantic Guitarfish inhabits the western Atlan-tic Ocean from North Carolina around the tip of Florida and throughout the Florida Straits, then to the northern Gulf of Mexico and around to the Yucatan. It is found mostly in coastal waters but sometimes ventures into estuaries and freshwa-ter habitats as it can tolerate saltwater, brackish water and freshwater. This fish loves to bury itself in the sand or mud. It is found along beach-es from the shoreline to as far out as 98 feet deep (30 meters). The Atlantic Guitarfish swims very similar to the way sharks swim – it moves its thick tail and cau-dal (tail) fin in side-to-side motions. It uses its unique pectoral fins for acceleration and maneu-vering. Instead of swimming perfectly horizontal, the Atlantic Guitarfish swims with its head slightly above its tail, maintaining a positive swimming angle.

The Atlantic Guitarfish feeds on bottom-dwelling creatures such as crabs, clams, and shellfish. It has 8-10 rows of teeth in its upper jaw (56-80 teeth) and 7-9 rows of teeth in its lower jaw (51-82 teeth). To catch prey, the Atlantic Guitarfish uses its rostrum or snout to hold prey against the sea floor. This maneuver also blocks the prey’s escape route. The Atlantic Guitarfish reproduces via internal ferti-lization. The gestation period is approximately one year. The female gives birth to live young who are born fully developed and are about 8 inches long. The average litter size is 6 pups. The Atlantic Guitarfish is most likely prey for large predatory fish living in the same area. Its narrow inshore habitat is susceptible to human impacts also. It is often taken as bycatch in bottom shrimp trawls, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico. Because

of this and its limiting life-history characteristics (slow growth, delayed maturation, long gestation, production of few young) it has been given a precautionary assessment of Near Threatened. Our Mangrove Tank is the per-fect habitat for this unusual fish. The next time you visit the Mangrove Tank be sure to check out the guitar-shaped (but non-musical) animal, the Atlantic Guitarfish!

An Atlantic Guitarfish in the Mangrove Tank.

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THE SUNNY FUTURE OF SOLAR ENERGY By Jessica Bradbury, Program Interpreter Did you know that the amount of solar energy beamed down from the sun onto the surface of the Earth in just one hour is enough to power the whole world for an entire year? Solar energy is defined as the radiant energy emitted by the sun. At 93 million miles away, it takes solar energy a mere 8 minutes to reach the Earth. Since the sun has been beaming solar energy down on our earth for billions of years, the use of solar energy is by no means a “new” concept. Chances are you have already harnessed the power of the sun without even knowing it. Using a magnifying glass is the world’s oldest known form of the use of solar energy by humans. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, around the 7th century B.C., humans were using a thick piece of glass to concentrate the sun’s rays to start a fire. In the 1st Century A.D. the Romans enlarged the use of glass to concentrate the sun’s rays and created large windows for bathhouses – the model that would later be used for greenhouses. Fast forward to the year 1767, Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure was credited with building the world’s first solar oven. You can still build – and use – his original model. Visit http://solarcooking.org/saussure.htm.

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Nowadays, we are using solar panels that contain photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells. When sunlight falls on the cells, they convert the sun’s energy into DC (direct current) power. That power is then supplied to your home, business, or (someday) car. Solar energy is praised for being an inexhaustible fuel source that is pollution and often noise free, creating an endless and environ-mentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. The technology is also usable in the most remote and extreme circumstances. Due to the incredibly high amount of solar energy our planet receives each day, it would only take a small area of solar panels in a remote and sunny place to provide unlimited power to every human being on earth – all 7 billion of us! According to Solar Energy Facts Blog, it has been estimated that the total surface area required to power the world with solar ener-gy is only around 366,375 square kilometers, or the area of the larger red square as seen in the photo below:

So let me get this straight: using solar energy is inexhaustible, environmentally friendly, and FREE? Why are we not using this everywhere?! Unfortu-nately the biggest drawback is the costs of the so-lar panels themselves. An excerpt taken from Sci-entific American accurately sums up the biggest issues with the use of solar energy:

”Right now, solar energy only accounts for a tiny portion of the U.S.'s total electricity generation, because it is more expensive than alternatives like cheap but highly polluting coal. Solar power is about five times as expensive as what people pay for the current that comes out of the outlets. In order to have a hope of replacing fossil fuels, sci-entists need to develop materials that can be easi-ly mass-produced and convert enough sunlight to electricity to be worth the investment.” Despite the drawbacks, the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is the proud home of 30 solar panels, which grace the roof of our laboratory. The solar panels provide enough energy to power the lights, computers, microscopes, and other equipment. Thousands of children pass through our lab each school year to partake in our marine science themed school field trips and each summer for our various camps. This environmentally friendly prac-tice saves Gumbo Limbo thousands of dollars in electrical bills every year and is just one of the many ways we are committing to reducing our

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SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 PROGRAMS & EVENTS

BEACH TREASURES Jingle shells? Kitten’s paw? Oh, what treasures you may find… sea beans, coral, shells and more; see what the sea has left behind! Meet at the Center to learn about shells and sea life; caravan to Red Reef Beach Park, for beachcombing with the experts! All ages; children under 18 must sign-up and par-

ticipate with an adult. Weds, Sept 10, Oct 22, Nov 26; 3:00-4:30 pm Wednesday, Dec 24, 9:30-11:00 am Cost per person: Member $5, Non-member $8 Prepayment recommended (561) 544-8615 or

online at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.

HAMMOCK TRAILS Join us for a FREE guided walk on our quarter-mile long boardwalk. Explore this rare remnant of coastal hardwood hammock, and get a glimpse of the past. All ages; children under 18 must be accompanied

by an adult. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00-11:30 am No reservations required. Meet at the

boardwalk entrance. INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP Join thousands of people all over the world for this coastal cleanup sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy! Keep Palm Beach County Beauti-ful, Inc. is coordinating county events and will pro-vide supplies. Gumbo Limbo will lead beach and mangrove clean-up efforts in Boca Raton. Community service hours awarded. Groups welcome. Space is limited. All ages, children under 18 must sign-up and par-

ticipate with an adult. No drop-offs! Saturday, Sept 20; 8:00-11:00 am Reservations required. Call (561) 544-8615 to regis-

ter and receive more information (we do not meet at Gumbo Limbo).

LITTLE WONDERS Hikes for little feet, crafts for tiny fingers, and stories for growing minds introduce your novice naturalist to a new animal each month. Gumbo Limbo is a great place to share your love for nature with your little one! Ages 3 & 4 with an adult; No siblings please. Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 am Sept 6, Exploring the Forest Oct 4, Reptiles Nov 1, Fantastic Fossils Dec 6, Wild Ornaments Cost per child: Member $5, Non-member $8 Prepayment recommended (561) 544-8615 or

online at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.

MANGROVE PADDLE Experienced canoers, learn about Florida’s rare mangrove ecosystem on a naturalist guided tour on the boardwalk at Rutherford Park, followed by a paddle through the mangrove trails and along the shoreline of the Intracoastal. You will be delighted as you explore this little slice of wilderness within a city park. Experience is necessary; call for requirements. Ages 7-Adult. One adult required per child. Dec 30, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Cost per person: Member $15, Non-member $22 Reservations and prepayment required at least 48

hours in advance (561) 544-8615.

The following list describes our program offerings. Reservations and prepayment requirements vary per program, so please read each description for details. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Refunds are not given unless a program is cancelled by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather, or if the minimum class size is not met (if required, please read each description for details). Many of our programs are family-oriented; children under 18 must participate with an adult unless otherwise specified. Programs, times, age limitations, and/or fees are subject to change. Please do not bring children to the programs who do not meet the age require-ments. A Member is someone with a paid Membership to Friends of Gumbo Limbo. Please visit gumbolim-bo.org for additional information on programs and Membership opportunities.

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SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 PROGRAMS & EVENTS

ORNAMENTS NATURALLY Create nature ornaments and deco-rations with holiday themes using shells, sea beans, pine cones, and other materials (provided). Bring your imagination! Ages 7-adult, children under 18 must sign-up

and participate with an adult. Saturday, Dec 20, 10:00-11:00 am Cost per person: Member $7, Non-member

$10 Prepayment recommended (561) 544-8615 or

online at gumbolimbo.org; walk-ins welcome based on availability.

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SEA TURTLE CAMP Through games, crafts, and educa-tional activities, our instructors will teach the young conservationist about the importance of caring for and protecting sea turtles and other marine life. Campers will experience close encounters with our resident sea turtles and visit a local nesting beach. Age: 3rd-5th Graders Dates: Dec 29, 30, 31, Jan 2 Time: 8:30 am-Noon Cost per child: Member $125 (Family Member-

ship or higher required) NEW Member $175 (includes 1-year Family Mem-

bership to Friends of Gumbo Limbo) Prepayment required (561) 544-8615.

HALLOWEEN IN THE GARDEN Halloween fun for ages 6 to 2! Treats, crafts, games, and face painting, too! Take your picture with Luna, our sea turtle friend…wear your coolest costume, the fun never ends! Please note this program takes place prior to our regular opening time of noon; the sea tanks and boardwalk trail will not be open. Costumes welcomed! Ages 2-6. Children must participate with an adult (no charge for adult). Sunday, Oct 26. 10:30 am–Noon Advanced reservations by 4:00 pm Oct 25: Member $7 per child, Non-member $10 per child Walks-ins (space not guaranteed): $14 per child Reservations and prepayment strongly recommended (561) 544-8615. Space is limited. We recommend bringing bug spray and a bottle of water.

HALLOWEEN IN THE HAMMOCK They come from another land, they slithered, crawled and grew. Help us find the invasive species and stop the damage that they do. Take a spooky trail walk and see what we can find. Spiders, snakes and lizards on your mind? How about mer-maids, sharks, and a fish or two. Listen to what they have to say, they provide you with a clue! Poisonous and venomous! Dangerous, big and small! But can you figure out which is the most invasive of them all? Join us for an hour-long nighttime

nature walk with ghostly guides and creepy crawly fun for the whole family. Due to the length of this event, children must be at least 6 years old. Costumes welcomed! Ages 6–adult; children under 18 must sign-up and participate with an adult. Saturday, Oct 25. Walks departing every half hour from 6:30-9:00 pm Advanced Reservations by 4:00 pm Oct 24: Member $10 per person, Non-member $15 per person Day-of reservations and walks-ins (space not guaranteed): $20 per person Reservations and prepayment strongly recommended (561) 544-8615. Space is limited. We recommend bringing bug spray and a bottle of water.

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SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings What is the connection between mangrove and coral reef communities? How do fish use these habitats? Learn about the fascinating behaviors of sharks, sting rays, and other marine life during these FREE daily feeding presentations. Meet at the outdoor marine aquariums. No reservations required. All ages. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Monday - Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (Mangrove and Nearshore Reef Tanks) Monday - Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Tropical Coral Reef and Shipwreck/Artificial Reef Aquariums) Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (All outdoor aquariums) Indoor Aquarium Feedings What do eels eat, or better yet, HOW do eels eat? Which fish rule the school? Why are female seahorses the envy of all the girls? Learn about these and other sea creatures during our FREE daily feeding presenta-tion! Meet in the Nature Center. No reservations required. All ages. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Daily at 2:30 p.m.

Free Daily Feeding Programs!

SEINING THE LAGOON Wading in the Intracoastal Waterway just behind Gumbo Limbo, we catch (and release) fish, shrimp, crabs, and more! With hand-held dip nets and large seine nets, get up close and personal with our local marine life. Closed toed shoes required (old sneakers or water shoes; no sandals). Bring a change of clothes and towel. Ages 10-adult; children under 18 must sign-up and participate with an adult. Tuesday, Sept 9, Oct 21, Dec 23; 3:00-4:30 pm Saturdays; Oct 18, Nov 22; 2:00-3:30 pm Saturdays; Nov 29, Dec 13; 9:00-10:30 pm Cost per person: Member $7, Non-member $10 Prepayment recommended (561) 544-8615; walk-ins welcome based on availability. WETLANDS & WILDLIFE Wakodahatchee is a man-made wetland which has become a favorite for birders and photographers. Bring your binoculars and join us for a ¾ mile guided board-walk tour to learn more about Florida’s wetland ecosystems. Meet at the board-walk’s entrance (call for directions). Ages 7-adult; children under 18 must sign-up and participate with an adult. Dates & Time: Friday, Nov 21, Dec 19; 3:00 -5:00 pm Cost: No Fee Reservations required at least 24 hours in advance (561) 544-8615 or online at gumbolimbo.org.

15

THE BEACH REPORT By Kirt Rusenko, PhD, Marine Conservationist

Even though our loggerhead numbers are higher than normal, they have not been showing up for our Turtle Walk Programs very well; apparently this is a late night crowd that starts to party after midnight! The greens are really keeping us guess-ing; last year they surprised everyone by doubling their record high number Statewide! This year they are trickling in; last year at this time we had 98 green nests, this year we have 50 so far. Looks like the greens might have once again syn-chronized their nesting year so we can expect high nesting on odd years and low nesting on even years. Keep track of Boca Raton’s sea turtle nest-ing numbers on the main page of our Gumbo Lim-bo website, www.gumbolimbo.org! Nests have finally begun to hatch with some regu-larity now but already we have recorded 35 hatch-ling disorientation and two adult disorientation events due to lighting issues. Unfortunately, of those disorientation events, 8 hatchlings and the one adult disorientation events oc-curred in City park areas with no beachfront lighting. The cause of these disorientations is most likely sky-glow emanating from the cumulative lighting of our coastal cities. Bad lighting wastes energy, money, and is harmful to our environment; it is increasing-ly being implicated in some human ail-ments. Wasteful night-time light pollution is one of the easiest conditions to fix as once the light is properly directed to where it is needed rather than into the sky, the prob-lem instantly disappears. Learn how to reduce light pollution at Gumbo Limbo or from the International Dark-sky Associa-tion’s website (www.darksky.org).

Finally, a large section of beach from north of Red Reef Park to mid-Spanish River Park was renour-ished earlier this year by pumping sand from off-shore onto the beach to widen it. The project was supposed to go north of Spanish River Park but the contractor stopped activities in late April due to sea turtle nesting season. They plan to return in November to finish Spanish River Park and also will do the area from the inlet to South Beach Park also known as our Central Area. As expected, the Spanish River Project did deter nesting sea turtles from May to mid-June but now activity seems to be returning to the area. From past experience, sea turtles start nesting in renourished areas after 6 to 8 inches of rainfall possibly because the rain washes the saltiness out of the sand. Because of that, the project starting in November should have no impact on nesting sea turtles other than allow-ing the wider beach to expose the nesting sea tur-tles to more sky-glow.

We are now halfway through the 2014 sea turtle nesting season and so far it is turning out to be very interesting. We were expecting more than 20 to 25 leatherback nests based on past years and instead ended up with 18 as of late July. Our last leatherback nest was on July 1 which is the latest leatherback nest we have ever had in Boca Raton. Our loggerheads have been nesting in impressive numbers so far this year. As of late July we are on track for the third highest number of loggerhead nests recorded from 1996 to present. Only the 1996 and 2012 seasons had slightly higher numbers at this time in the sea-son. I am hoping that we finally break the 1000 loggerhead nest number which is very possible this year!

16

Continued….

carbon footprint. Did you know that the majority of our in-house printing is done on a printer that operates on solar power, uses soy ink, and prints on recycled paper? Want to find out more about solar energy, its his-tory and how it can be used? Stop by the Nature Center and check out our new Solar Energy Inter-active Exhibit featuring a touch-screen quiz for all ages, and a make-and-take craft for kids!

Solar Energy, Continued from page 7

Solar panels on Gumbo Limbo’s lab.

and hopefully transmit for a long time! So far, Phoenix’s adventures have been very excit-ing! Our Marine Conservationist, Dr. Kirt Rusenko, has added his humor to her travels: “She seems to be cruising up and down the east coast of Flori-da. After her first week she made it to Melbourne Beach, eluded the security guards at the Patrick Air Force Base, and swam off with top secret gov-ernment information! She was last seen riding on the back of a Harley Davidson in Daytona Beach and slowly cruising south back toward the Boca Raton area!” Since then, Phoenix has returned to South Florida, and as of the end of July, is hanging out just offshore in the Jensen Beach/Stuart area. This project will promote a sense of importance for sea turtle rehabilitation through public aware-ness and education. Further awareness of the connections between sea turtles and southeast Florida could lead to a better understanding of the conservation of our oceans. The information gained from this study goes hand-in-hand with Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Mission and goal to educate the facility’s guests about the importance of sea turtle conservation.

A huge THANK YOU is given to

Friends of Gumbo Limbo (501(c)3 organization) for funding this project!

Satellite Tagging, Continued from page 5

Phoenix’s travels as of 7/21/14

17

Volunteers of the Quarter 2014 By Debbie Wilson, Program Interpreter

Gumbo Limbo’s Volunteer of the Quarter (VOQ) Program is designed to recognize those Volunteers who go “Above and Beyond” their assigned/expected duties on a quarterly basis. These volunteers have made a significant contribution to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center through their dedication and service. They have donated their time, talents, and energy to conserve and protect GLNC; and share a common goal of inspiring generations to learn and experience nature through observation and education.

1ST QUARTER 2014: KIT MAN CHAN Started: Nov. 13, 2013. Total Hours: 692 Works 7 hour shifts 5 days per week Volunteer positions worked: Aquarist Assis-tant and Senior Marine Tank Guide

Kit Man has vast knowledge in the Marine Biology field and she has used that knowledge to improve our Marine Aquarium programs. She dedicates her time to helping us with many of the daily func-tions of running the aquariums. She sets up the food, conducts the daily public feeding presenta-tions 5 days a week, cleans the aquariums, as-sists staff with volunteer assignments, and covers positions when we are short-staffed. Kit Man is a very personable young woman who exudes her passion for all sea life and for people too. She loves to share her knowledge and does so in such a wonderful way that people become inspired. We were sad to say goodbye to Kit Man the end of May as she began an internship in Boston. We wish her all the best!

2ND QUARTER 2014: SABINE ENGLE Started: May 24, 2013. Total Hours: 990 Works 5-7 hour shifts 3 days per week Volunteer positions worked: Animal Husbandry, Crafting Crew, Exhibit Assis-tant, Green Thumb Team, Office Assistant, Senior Ma-

rine Tank Guide, School Program Assistant, Summer Camp Tours Assistant, and Welcome Desk Greeter Sabine actively strives to improve the visitor’s ex-perience at Gumbo Limbo by assisting in many areas. Sabine has been instrumental in develop-ing new Tank Guides and Hammock Guides for visitors to use on self-tours. She was one of the key players in planning and fabricating the new exhibit in the Nature Center “Terrific Teeth from under the Sea,” an exhibit about marine animals and their teeth. She is also involved with mainte-nance of existing exhibits. Any time that we are in need of volunteers for the school groups, summer camps, Welcome Desk and Marine Aquariums, Sabine is always available. Her schedule also in-cludes the care of our resident non-sea turtle ani-mals. Sabine’s computer skills are such that she is able to assist staff with file conversions, Adobe Illustrator, and researching information on future exhibits. Her enthusiastic demeanor and her “Can Do” attitude inspires others around her including fellow volunteers and staff.

As you can see, we have many exceptional volunteers!

This could be YOU!! See page 19 to learn how!

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FALL INTO THE HOLIDAYS: GIFTS FOR ALL SEASONS & REASONS

Fashion with a Social Conscience Wooden bead collection and Africa found objects. Jewelry made with beads and safety pins. Available in multi colors and turquoise. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Handmade Sustainable Fair Trade Jewelry Prices range from 7.00 to 88.00

Hand-crafted Glass Enameled Sculptures: Fired with Imagination Highly skilled artisans have used traditional tools and techniques to create fine glass on metal sculpture. Made in the USA Pictured is our Sea Turtle on Shell $175.00 Also available with a butterfly, dragonfly, hummingbird, blue heron, sand pip-ers and seahorse, shells with starfish. Prices $100.00-$225.00

Pave the Way for the Holidays! Buying a paver is a way to tell your unique and personal story by honoring a loved one, or re-membering a special occasion. There are birth-days, milestones, anniversaries and, of course, the holidays. Consider buying a paver as a per-fect holiday gift! Become part of the story of Gumbo Limbo! A unique, permanent gift that helps support coastal and marine education, research, and conservation! Purchase yours online today at https://www.gumbolimbo.org/pave-the-way

19

GUMBO LIMBO VOLUNTEERS: YOU MAKE THE CENTER & ITS PROGRAMS A SUCCESS!

Do you like RETAIL? Is EDUCATION your passion? Do you like to meet and talk to NEW

PEOPLE every day? If so, then we need you! There are over 20 volunteer positions available at Gumbo Limbo! Our volunteers contribute over 30,000 hours annually. We could not survive without the tireless efforts of our capable, dedicated volunteers… people just like YOU!

A FEW BENEFITS OF BEING A VOLUNTEER AT GUMBO LIMBO:

20% DISCOUNT IN THE GIFT STORE ELIGIBILITY FOR VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER AND YEAR AWARDS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENTS FREE OR DISCOUNTED PROGRAMS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND

LEARN NEW THINGS HAVE FUN!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

Animal Husbandry Marine Tank Guide Aquarist Assistant Gift Store Associate Green Thumb (Gardening) School Program Assistant Welcome Desk Greeter Luna, our Green Sea Turtle Ambassador

(costume) And MANY more!

Visit www.gumbolimbo.org/volunteers for more information, including position descriptions. Volunteers must : Be 16 or older Pass a background check Pay a $35 fee which covers your training

handbook, volunteer shirt, and name badge.

Call or email Debbie Wilson (561-544-8609 or

dwilson@myboca.us) to set up an interview TODAY!

Crafting Crew hard at work on the holiday float.

Volunteers prepare for Sea Turtle Day 2014!

Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage

Paid Boca Raton, FL

PERMIT NO. 759

1801 North Ocean Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33432

Florida Atlantic

University

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10% discount in the Gift Shop Discounts on select programs First opportunity to purchase tickets for the Turtle

Walk and Hatchling Release programs

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centers in the USA and Canada (www.natctr.org)