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Hammock Happenings
January - February 2018
We are excited to announce the return of our
Sea Turtle Day Festival on Saturday, February 24, 2018! Join us and our invited exhibitors for
our day-long environmental festival, filled with family friendly activities and (you guessed it)
sea turtles! This year our staff have chosen to showcase
the importance of the dune ecosystem, not only to sea turtles, but to people. Did you know
that dunes protect the land behind it by absorbing the impacts of the ocean’s waves? The salt-tolerant vegetation that grows on the
dunes is an important part of this ecosystem - it holds the dunes together and catches the salt
spray from the waves. Sea turtles need beach-es to dig their nests and lay their eggs. Dunes
help protect this environment and, in modern times, serve as a barrier against beachside roads, reducing visible light - such as from car
headlights - from the beach.
Sea Turtle Day Festival 2018: Sea Turtles Dig the Dunes by Kristin Child, Environmental Program Coordinator
There will be many opportunities to learn about
sea turtles and other animals while you are here. Visit the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility Stop by Critter Corner Join one of the Outdoor Aquarium Feedings Listen to a talk in the Classroom Check out the FAU Gallery
We’ve got some new activities, and some
returning favorites. Fees/registration may apply; see www.gumbolimbo.org. NEW! Sign up for a short Intracoastal Adven-
tures kayak or stand up paddleboard tour Crafts and games for the kids Face painting And of course, pictures with Luna, our Sea
Turtle Ambassador!
Festival hours are 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Food
trucks will be onsite. Free parking and shuttles from Spanish River Park. Entry is a suggested donation of $5 per person.
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center 1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida, 33432, www.gumbolimbo.org
Nature Center and Aquariums Hours
Monday - Saturday 9 AM - 4 PM, Sunday Noon - 4 PM
Nature Trail Hours
Daily 7 AM - Dusk
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and all property are closed New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
Admission
Suggested Donation of $5 per person
Your donations go to Friends of Gumbo Limbo to support Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, including, but not limited to, feeding the animals, purchasing supplies and services for the Sea Turtle
Rehabilitation Program, and creating exhibits.
CITY OF BOCA RATON EMPLOYEES
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS Manager
Leanne Welch
Environmental Program Coordinator Kristin Child
Exhibits Coordinator Cory Keester-O’Mills
Secretary Darlene Rosa
Visitor Hospitality
Representative Debra Wilson
AQUARIUM
Senior Aquarist Keith Herman
Aquarist
Bryan Danson
EDUCATION Environmental Program
Coordinator Susan Elliott
Science Educators Jeffrey Dobbs
Cole Reintsma
Environmental Educators Melissa Paduani
Alyssa Saldarriaga
SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION & RESEARCH
Marine Conservationist Kirt Rusenko, PhD
Sea Turtle Conservation
Coordinator David Anderson
Marine Turtle Specialists
Noah Cohen, Ali Courtemanche Carlee Jackson, Sydney Jimenez Caidra Rice, Taylor Roe
SEA TURTLE REHABILITATION Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Coordinator Whitney Crowder
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Assistant Caitlin Bovery
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Technicians
Rebecca Mannen Emily Mirowski
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE Maintenance Supervisor III Reed Benardo
Groundskeeper
Jean Bernard Edouard
FRIENDS OF GUMBO LIMBO EMPLOYEES
Director of Retail & Finance Diane Bilodeau
Development Manager Brandon Canute
Administrative Assistant Samantha Griffin
Gift Shop Assistant Manager
Jean DeLuca
Gift Shop Sales Associates Kelly Lattimore, Marie Parker
Deborah Tolton
Contact Us
General Information (561) 544-8605
Program Sign-up (561) 544-8615
Volunteer (561) 544-8609
Gift Store (561) 544-8610
Membership (561) 544-8608
page 2
Hammock Happenings Editor, Design, Layout: Kristin Child
GUMBO LIMBO NATURE CENTER STAFF FRIENDS OF GUMBO LIMBO
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President Michele Kurucz Peel
First Vice President Laura McCurdy
Second Vice President Andrew Winninger
Treasurer Ross Appel
Secretary
Bronwen de Villiers
Board Members Ken Imhoff
James D. Miller Manjunath Pendakur
Susan Walker Darlene Ward
Honorary Board Member Gordon J. Gilbert
Photo by Ben Hicks
Manager’s Corner By Leanne Welch, Manager
Happy New Year and welcome to our newest edition of Hammock Happenings. I am excited to
announce that starting with this issue, we are now publishing our newsletter bi-monthly! By moving from three to six issues per year, we can now bring you more up-to-date information and program
details. You can access Hammock Happenings at any time at www.gumbolimbo.org/HammockHappenings. As always, hardcopies are available in the Nature Center.
One of the biggest changes that you will notice as you flip through the pages, is the addition of sev-eral new programs. Our education team has been hard at work developing new and exciting pro-
grams to share with you (check our listings starting on page seven for more details): We have added to our fleet, and are offering Intracoastal Adventures of three kinds: canoeing,
kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding from our own shore. Join our resident bird expert, Al, twice a month for a morning birdwatching walk around Gumbo
Limbo’s property. Al has been a volunteer with us for over 10 years, and we are thrilled to have
him lead this program. We are taking advantage of the “cool” Florida winter and added a monthly campfire program.
Our Eco-Watch program has been expanded to appeal to all age groups. Join us for weekly Eco-Chats, monthly Eco-Hours, and evening Eco-Watch Lectures, for an opportunity to sneak in some
fun environmental education.
If you have visited recently, you have seen the new exhibit layout inside the Nature Center and in
our gift shop. We have also done some behind-the-scenes renovations of staff offices and gift shop storage, and brightened up the exterior of the Nature Center with fun, colorful window decals. Com-
ing soon is a new look to the Sea Turtle Garden, and new interactive exhibits in the FAU Gallery.
Thank you for your support. See you at Sea Turtle Day!
- Leanne
page 3
Do you like Marine Animals? Is Education your passion? Do you like to meet and talk to
people every day?
If so, then we need you! There are over 20 po-
sitions available. Our volunteers contribute over 36,000 hours annually. We could not survive
without the tireless efforts of our capable, dedi-cated volunteers… people just like you!
A Few Benefits of being a Volunteer: 20% Discount in the Gift Store
Eligibility for Volunteer awards Volunteer appreciation events
Free or discounted programs HAVE FUN!
Volunteer Opportunities Include: Animal Husbandry
Marine Aquarium Guide Aquarist Assistant Green Thumb (Gardening)
School Program Assistant Welcome Desk Greeter
And MANY more!
Volunteer Requirements: Be 16 or older
Pass a background check Pay a $35 fee which covers your hand-
book, volunteer shirt, and name badge.
Call or email Debbie Wilson (561-544-8609 or
[email protected]) to set up an interview!
OUR VOLUNTEERS MAKE GUMBO LIMBO A SUCCESS!
Upcoming Friends of Gumbo Limbo Events
page 4
August, which happen to be the peak of the
season. Because the temperature of the sand in which the eggs incubate determines whether
a hatchling is a boy or girl, the warmer temper-atures are also resulting in far more females
emerging from our nests than males, which is also not good for our sea turtle populations.
We recorded 104 sea turtle disorientations in 2017 which is 9.5% of the nests deposited in
Boca Raton; this is slightly higher than last year which was 9.4% but is less than the 10 year average of 9.8%. As in years past, most of the
disorientations were due to sky glow rather than beachfront lighting. For instance, Spanish
River Park had a disorientation rate of 15.5% and there were no lights or streetlights on in
the park during nesting season. Generally, if a disorientation is caused by bad beachfront lighting, the hatchlings will lead us directly to a
bad lighting source and we can fix it. When a nest disorients due to sky glow, the hatchlings
wander all over the beach and often even pass several condominiums on their way which indi-
cates the condominiums are dark enough. Sad-ly, lighting from the development inland is neg-atively impacting sea turtle activity in Florida.
Finally, Hurricane Irma washed out 98 nests,
but left 150 nests on the beach. Additionally, the winds pushed a lot of sand into the dunes which helped build up the dunes. Very little
erosion was noted in our area; we actually came out of this hurricane better than past
hurricanes! After Hurricane Irma passed, we had an additional three green turtle nests laid
on our beach. The last one was deposited Sep-tember 27, so as I write this in mid-November, the nest is still incubating. We expect it to
hatch at the end of November; until then we will check it daily.
Update: This last nest hatched on 11/27. Of 95
eggs, 92 hatchlings successfully emerged!
The 2017 Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Boca Raton by Kirt Rusenko, PhD, Marine Conservationist
page 5
This past sea turtle nesting season resulted in
767 loggerhead nests, 299 green nests, and 5 leatherback nests on Boca Raton beaches.
These totals were greater than the previous 30-year average for loggerheads and greens,
however the leatherback nesting was nearly half. This does not mean that leatherbacks are in trouble - in 2016, a record high number of
leatherback nests were recorded statewide! Both greens and leatherbacks seem to be
favoring an on one year, off the next cycle, so we are hoping for higher leatherback nesting next season!
Fortunately this season had more rainfall,
which resulted in a better hatch rate than we have seen in a few years. Between 2013-2016,
there has been less rainfall and higher temper-atures than normal which resulted in a decline in hatch success (hatch success is the percent-
age of eggs that actually hatch). Last year, the hatch success of all nests was only 38%. This
means only 38 of every 100 eggs deposited re-sulted in a hatched baby sea turtle. Hatch suc-
cess in years prior to 2013 has been around 85%. During the 2017 season the hatch suc-cess was 61%; still not up to normal but at
least better than the last four years. Unfortu-nately, the rainfall nearly stopped in July and
This is an example of a loggerhead nest with a great
hatch success!
Sea Turtle Enrichment by Rebecca Mannen and Emily Mirowski, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Technicians
Behavioral enrichment, or environmental
enrichment, are tools used to provide stimulus and encourage natural, wild behaviors for ani-
mals in captivity. Enrichment is necessary for captive animals’ mental and physical well-
being. In a rehabilitation situation, enrichment is especially important to help the animal retain their natural instincts so that they can be easily
reintroduced to the wild. Enrichment can be anything from a novel food item, a change or
addition to the animal’s environment, or an item the animal can interact with. In Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation
Facility many forms of enrichment are used to provide positive stimulus for patients and
improve their well-being.
One of the most common forms of enrichment used
at Gumbo Limbo is a lettuce bar to
feed our green sea turtles. In the
ocean, green sea turtles are mostly vegetarian and
enjoy grazing on sea grass beds and algae that grows near
shore. To simulate a sea grass bed, we use PVC pipes to hold a variety of vegetables that will sink to the bottom of a tank and encourage
grazing along the bottom.
In the wild, loggerhead sea turtles enjoy mean-dering within coral reefs, munching on crusta-
ceans, and napping under coral ledges. During rehabilitation, a few different enrichments are provided to mimic and encourage these natural
behaviors. Structures built out of PVC are in-cluded in loggerhead tanks to allow turtles to
rub their carapace against, swim through, and hide under. Large sections of PVC pipe in the
tanks also allow loggerheads to hide their heads to provide a feeling of safety.
Loggerhead sea turtles’ primary food source in
the wild are crustaceans and mollusks, such as crab, lobster, and conch. A loggerhead’s jaw is
so powerful, it can crush a large conch shell with one bite! While in rehab, loggerheads start
off eating soft proteins like squid, fish, and shrimp. As they start recovering, we use frozen ice blocks full of their favorite proteins to
strengthen their jaw muscles.
Another form of enrichment we use for both loggerhead and green sea turtles is the intro-duction of other live animals, such as fish, into
a turtle’s tank. The movement of swimming fish provides the turtle with natural stimuli by mim-
icking the environment they would inhabit in the wild.
Each year Gumbo Limbo rehabilitates hundreds of hatchling and washback sea turtles. One of
the most natural forms of enrichment provided to our young sea turtles for habitat is sargas-
sum seaweed. For the first few years of a sea turtle’s life they live offshore in a sargassum
drift community which floats within the Sargas-so Sea. Luckily for us, sargassum floats inland onto our beaches due to wind and waves, mak-
ing it easy to collect from our shoreline. While in their rehabilitation tanks, these little turtles
enjoy floating in this seaweed. Once healthy, they are released back in to the drift communi-ty to hunt, sleep, and camouflage themselves
within the naturally occurring sargassum sea-weed beds.
Next time you visit
the Sea Turtle Re-habilitation Facili-ty, be sure to
check out the dif-ferent types of
enrichment items provided to the
sea turtle patients and learn how these enrichment designs are uniquely developed for each turtle!
page 6
Nature Program Information
page 7
Program listings continued on page 10
NEW PROGRAMS
EARLY BIRDING WITH AL Pick up some new skills or sharpen the old
ones! Join us twice a month for a free early morning birding adventure at Gumbo Limbo.
Learn about our native and migratory birds from an experienced birder, as we walk the
Ashley Trail and the boardwalk in search of warblers, gnatcatchers, woodpeckers, and oth-er avian species. Binoculars recommended.
Meet on the front porch of the Nature Center. There is no charge for this program.
Ages 10 and up; children under 18 must be ac-companied by an adult.
Thursdays; Jan 4, Jan 18, Feb 1, Feb 15; 8:00–
9:30 am Reservations not required.
ECO-CHAT Join us for short talks about South Florida’s
unique animals and ecosystems every Satur-day. Different topics will be discussed each
week with interesting artifacts and even the occasional live animal. Meet in the classroom
for these FREE presentations. All ages; children under 18 must be accompanied
by an adult.
Saturdays at 1:00 pm Reservations not required.
ECO-HOUR Join us monthly for an hour of family learning
with guest speakers from different venues as they present information about Florida’s wildlife
and ecosystems and delight us with special ex-hibits. These presentations are FREE. Meet in the Amphitheater (by the Butterfly Garden).
All ages; children under 18 must be accompanied
by an adult. Thursdays; Jan 11, Feb 8; 1:00-2:00 pm
Reservations not required.
INTRACOASTAL ADVENTURES -
CANOEING Nature-lovers, discover the magic of the man-
groves with a Gumbo Limbo guide on a canoe paddle along the Intracoastal Waterway. Must be experienced at canoeing and be able to get
into and out of a canoe without assistance. 2-3 people per canoe. Ages 6-adult; children under 18 must sign-up and
participate with an adult.
Saturdays; Jan 20, 11:30 am-1:00 pm; Feb 17, 10:30 am-12:00 pm
Cost per person: Member $15, Non-member $22
Reservations required. May be cancelled due to rainy and/or windy conditions.
INTRACOASTAL ADVENTURES - KAYAKING
Beautiful scenery, fresh air, and exercise! Join us for a kayak tour as we learn about the fasci-
nating wildlife that calls the intracoastal home. Must have kayaking experience and be able to get in and out of a kayak without assistance.
1-2 people per double kayak. Ages 6-adult; children under 18 must sign-up and
participate with an adult. Sundays; Feb 4, 12:30-2:30 pm; Feb 25, 10:00
am-12:00 pm
Cost per person: Member $20, Non-member $30 Reservations required. May be cancelled due to
rainy and/or windy conditions.
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Nature Programs
page 10
INTRACOASTAL ADVENTURES –
STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING A whole new way to see the intracoastal!
Stand up paddling makes it easier to see into the water below. Join us for a fun paddle along
the mangroves as we look for fish, turtles, and manatees! Ages 12-adult; children under 18 must sign-up
and participate with an adult. Sunday, Feb 11, 12:30-2:30 pm
Cost per person: Member $20, Non-member $30 Reservations required. May be cancelled due to
rainy and/or windy conditions.
S’MORE SCIENCE Join us for this fun campfire program in our
garden amphitheater with a yummy treat. Each month will host a different topic: January
- Campfire Stories; February - Crafty Creations. All ages; children under 18 must sign-up and par-
ticipate with an adult. Sundays Jan 28, Feb 25; 5:00-6:00 pm Cost per person: Member $3, Non-member $5
Reservations required. May be cancelled due to rainy and/or windy conditions.
RETURNING FAVORITES
BEACH TREASURES Sand dollars? Sponges? 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; cara-
van to Red Reef Beach Park for beachcombing with the experts! There is no charge for this program. All ages; children under 18 must be accompanied
by an adult.
Wednesdays; Jan 3, Jan 17, Feb 14, Feb 28; 3:00-4:30 pm
Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome based on availability.
CITIZEN SCIENCE SAMPLER Gain hands-on science experience by joining
our science educators every month for a fun morning in the field. Whether you are consider-ing a career in science, or just love to be out-
doors and contributing to conservation, these
programs are for you. Our studies will feature a different topic each month, and will be mostly
outside. There is no charge for this program. Ages 12-17; must be signed in and out by a par-
ent or guardian. Sundays; Jan 21, Feb 18; 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Reservations required.
ECO-WATCH LECTURE SERIES: GET ON
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CUTTING EDGE Are you interested in learning about the natural
world around us? Attend Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s monthly lecture series for a presenta-
tion by a guest scientist, researcher, or other expert. Visit www.gumbolimbo.org for a list of speakers and topics. Ages: Recommended for ages 14 & up. Children
under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tuesdays; Jan 23, Feb 20; 7:00-8:30 pm Cost per person: $5 donation Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome
based on availability.
GUIDED NATURE WALK
Join us for a FREE guided walk along the Ash-ley Trail, a quarter-mile natural trail that winds
through the butterfly garden, coastal ham-mock, and mangroves, to a sandy beach by the
Intracoastal. Observe local flora and fauna as your naturalist guides you on this island explo-ration. Meet on the front porch of the Nature
Center. All ages; children under 18 must be accompanied
by an adult. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:00 am-12:00 pm Reservations not required.
LITTLE WONDERS
Join us for stories, laughter, and fun, as we learn about everything under the sun! Gumbo Limbo, a great place to explore; aquariums,
trails, gardens, and so much more! Make a craft, meet an animal, take in the scene; come
back every month for a brand new theme! Ages 3-4 with an adult (no charge for adult).
Saturdays; Jan 6, Feb 3; 10:00-11:00 am
Cost per child: Member $5, Non-member $8 Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome
based on availability.
NATURE DETECTIVES
"Why’s the sky blue? Why are plants green? What’s inside an egg? What does it all mean?”
There is no end to a child’s questions! Become a nature detective with your novice naturalist as we investigate the mysteries of the world
around us. Ages 5-7 with an adult (no charge for adult).
Saturdays; Jan 6, Feb 3; 11:30 am-12:30 pm Cost per child: Member $5, Non-member $8 Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome
based on availability.
OUTDOOR MARINE AQUARIUM FEEDING What is the connection between mangrove and coral reef communities? How do fish use these
habitats? Learn about the fascinating behaviors of native fish, stingrays, and other marine life
during these free presentations. Meet at the outdoor marine aquariums. All ages; children under 18 must participate with
an adult. Daily at 12:30 pm
Reservations not required.
SEA TURTLE TALK
Get the inside scoop on our Sea Turtle Rehabil-itation Facility. Last year, over 100 sea turtle
patients were treated at Gumbo Limbo. Meet some of our current patients and hear their
stories. Why are they here? What can you do to help? Meet in the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility for this FREE daily program. All ages; children under 18 must participate with
an adult.
Daily at 2:00 pm Reservations not required.
SEINING THE LAGOON Wading in the Intracoastal Waterway just
behind Gumbo Limbo, we catch (and release) fish, shrimp, crabs, and more! With hand-held
page 11
Nature Programs
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. Saturdays; Jan 27, 10:00-11:30 am; Jan 13, Feb
10, 1:30-3:00 pm Cost per person: Member $7, Non-member $10 Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome
based on availability.
WETLANDS & WILDLIFE Wakodahatchee is a man-made wetland which has become a favorite for birders and photog-
raphers. Bring your binoculars and join us for a FREE ¾ mile morning or afternoon guided
boardwalk tour to learn more about Florida’s wetland birds and ecosystems. Meet our Gum-
bo Limbo naturalist at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands boardwalk in Delray Beach. Ages 7-adult; children under 18 must sign-up and
participate with an adult. Fridays; Jan 5, Feb 2, 8:30-10:30 am; Jan 19,
Feb 16, 3:00-5:00 pm Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome
based on availability. Tour may be cancelled due
to bad weather or no sign up.
SEA TURTLE DAY FESTIVAL
Join us at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center for
our annual Sea Turtle Day as we celebrate sea turtles! This fun-filled family day of
environmental education will be packed with exciting things to see and do, includ-ing live animal presentations, face paint-
ing, aquarium feedings, children’s theater, guided boardwalk tours, kid’s crafts, awe-
some booths, and more! Free parking and shuttle in Spanish River Park. All ages. Children under 18 must be
accompanied by an adult. Saturday, Feb 24, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Cost per person: $5 suggested donation
page 12
How to Exhibit: Discussing Dialogue by Cory Keester-O’Mills, Exhibits Coordinator
The beauty of working in this field is that every
day is new, complete with new challenges, new experiences, and new interactions. I like to
believe the same is true for our visitors. Every visit should offer the opportunity to learn, do,
or discuss something new. That last tenet, open dialogue, is actually the key to a great exhibit, and one I want to discuss in this edi-
tion of How to Exhibit.
Just like kitchen cabinets and blue jeans, exhib-its follow the trends of their times. Currently, there is a notable shift away from what I would
call the Author as Authority style, toward a more Universal Design.
The Author as Authority model in exhibits has
been a longstanding tradition. This old label from our Archelon exhibit is a great example (see picture). Exhibit labels were expected to
include all of the information the reader needed to know about a subject or object. This seems
like the obvious option for an educational facili-ty. However, the problem with providing too
much information is twofold. First, to have all of the information laid out
from the start puts the reader in the passive position of the lectured student. While an effi-
cient means for transmitting large amounts of information, this can be mentally exhausting and a bit boring.
The second issue, which feeds off the first, is
that many visitors will simply not read a text-heavy label. Studies have shown that you have
about three seconds to grab a person’s atten-tion, and once you have it, you have at most three minutes to make a point. If a text label
takes more than three minutes to read (or if it looks like it will), many visitors will simply not
invest the time to even try. Universal Design focuses on increased accessi-bility for people of all ability, age and back-ground. While complex theory, one part of this
move involves shifting the intellectual authority
from the author (i.e. me) to the reader (you). By highlighting key facts and leaving room for
discovery, it is up to you to ask questions and try to find answers using context clues and cre-
ative thinking. If this sounds familiar, that is because this is the same model used in most art museums.
Carefully edited snippets of information lead to
discovery while allowing for impactful question-ing. Ask yourself, or your spouse, child, friend, adventure buddy, etc.: What do you see? What
do we know? How do we know? What do you think? And all the other great questions.
After all, you are the authority on the matter.
By quick comparison, it is clear that the information
in the original label (top) has been significantly reduced to form the new rendition (bottom). Six
paragraphs condensed into three sentences! The idea is that we are putting the power of discovery into the hands of the visitor. What do you think?
The aptly named “Dynamic Duo” consists of Ann Langford and
Diana Medeiros, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Husbandry volunteers. They both have volunteered in almost all areas at Gumbo Limbo
since starting in 2013 and have accrued over 2,400 hours between them! Now, most of their time is spent in the rehabilitation facility
so they may not be as visible to visitors, but they are hugely impactful! Every day that they come in, Ann and Diana go above and beyond to ensure that our sea turtles are cared for and our vis-
itors have an enjoyable learning experience. As sea turtle husband-ry volunteers, they have the never ending (and difficult) job of
keeping our sea turtle tanks clean, and our patients fed. They go out of their way to clean areas outside of their husbandry duties and are always the first to volunteer if another area needs help. Their impressive dedication as Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Husbandry volunteers and their constant
willingness to help in other departments make them extremely valuable to us. They truly care about every aspect of the work that is done at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
page 13
Volunteers of the Quarter: July-September 2017 by Debbie Wilson, Visitor Hospitality Representative
My name is Bryan Danson and I am Gumbo Limbo’s new Aquarist.
My mother claims that her greatest mistake was taking me to zoos and aquariums as a kid because it inspired me to become a marine
biologist, something that was difficult to do in Michigan. I started with a freshwater community fish tank my mother helped me keep
(her second biggest mistake) and never looked back. I started my studies at the University of Maine, but after two years
I was done with the cold so I transferred to Texas to finish my bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M. From there, I went down the
fisheries path and attended College of Charleston for my Master of Science in Marine Biology. My research focused on the differences in fish production among artificial and natural reefs off the coast of
South Carolina. With a degree in hand, I was hired as a fisheries biologist for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission in
the spiny lobster fishery. After three years of living on the water, diving and fishing every day, I made the “smart” decision to pur-
sue my doctorate at the University of Florida. My research focused on culturing two species of the freshwater fish family Loricariidae (South American plecos); however, I also assisted in the culture of several species of marine fish including golden trevally and Pacific blue tangs.
In my free time, I am writing my dissertation for my PhD. I also like to play ultimate Frisbee and get
out on the water in my kayak with my girlfriend and our pup whenever possible. I am excited to start this next step in my career and gain all the experience I can in my time here at Gumbo Limbo.
From what I’ve seen so far, the staff and volunteers care deeply about continuing the great Mission of Gumbo Limbo as well as improving it into the future. I look forward to contributing to that future.
New Staff Introduction by Bryan Danson, Aquarist
page 14
Support Sea Turtles - Adopt a Sea Turtle Today!
page 15
Gumbo Limbo Gift Shop and More
Beautifully hand designed and made in the USA.
These wood puzzles are Eco-Friendly. Each puz-
zle has whimsical figural pieces that match the
theme of the puzzle. They are available in 25
pieces up to 126 pieces. Themes include turtles,
bees, seashells, and more. $18.00-$68.00.
Dolphin Discovery: The tale of two very
different dolphins.
Read the story of Dart the baby dolphin that has just been born. She will stay close to her
mother while she grows, learning the skills she needs to survive. Join her as she discovers a mass of newly hatched dolphinfish. What hap-
pens when she gets lost in the vast ocean? Will Rainbow the dolphinfish be her friend?
Book $10.99. Matching plush dolphin $19.00, dolphinfish $10.00.
1801 North Ocean Blvd.
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Florida
Atlantic
University
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First opportunity to make reserva-tions for the Turtle Walk and Hatch-
ling Release programs (limits apply)
Discounts on select programs
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