With summer and various fishing seasons approaching I am reminded to remark on the abundance of monofilament(fishing line) debris I find at nearly all monitored sites on Fishers Island.Walking shorelines I also see large amounts of old frayed and knotted boat line from vessels and torn ropes from lobster traps. I document entangled birds I encounter too – a hook and line protruding from beaks or webbed feet, frayed string necklaces tangled with feathers.

There is a popular fishing site in New Smyrna Beach-a jetty around which I monitored local dolphins, Brown Pelican and Snowy Egret. While attending Coastal Systems at Marine Discovery Center I viewed a video that documented local divers for Volusia County disentangling this same jetty from over 600 pounds of monofilament. Filmed underwater it was an eye opener to see what wasn’t visible to all those fishermen casting their rods topside.  They missed seeing gloved hands spend painstaking moments cutting away snarled nests of line from sea urchin spines and coral communities, synthetic tumbleweeds blocking sunlight where sea grass should grow.

Volusia County also takes forward steps with educational outreach and places receptacles for recycling fishing line especially near popular recreational areas.

For the few weeks I observed people fishing and surfcasting practices here, I took the time to explain to some folks that the living Jetty was once strangled by their “catch” and was now “released”.  Enthusiastically describing aloud the freedom and relief for a tiny urchin was a huge step for me so I smiled and mentioned they too can “get hooked” on conservation and educational outreach….

 

Being in the “now” is also being in the Know.

And that’s what I share with student Sentinels that help me to monitor Fishers Island. It is a perfect fit of ecosystems just waiting to be discovered with young naturalists bound to become very familiar with natural history-in the making.

Living these months side by side with the Indian River Lagoon, bicycling to class I realized I had myself unintentionally acquired an entirely new but now familiar monitoring “route”.

It has grown from a local Gopher Tortoise nesting under steps leading to the beach, a Brown Pelican flock flying frequently in the 3 o’clock shadow, a keen eyed Kestral perched on a telephone wire, River Otter scat “somewhere” near a fishing dock, one Pileated Woodpecker routinely darting across the bike path, Calico scallops in a neighborhood tidal pool….

And this morning’s grand finale-DOLPHINS!

There are between 200-800 Bottlenose dolphins in the Lagoon, like humans they have established different local communities-ocean dolphins differing from the estuary population.

I note the “Fab Five”. Looks like a family, at least one yearling and an “auntie” or two.

Individual animals can be identified by bodily scars along with dorsal fin shape and size (I spy a notch and nicks).

Each day as I pedal across the causeway I have anticipated observing and possibly monitoring local dolphins swimming and fishing below the bridge.

Now, I am in the Know!

I always feel grateful to be ever fascinated with Nature and that for myself it only takes a moment to connect with both the fascination AND gratitude part-after all Nature is all around.

I have stopped wondering if I am “normal”, stopped asking myself if other people naturally (and continually) desire to connect with natural surroundings, always captivated by its wildlife and ecosystems. And perhaps I am learning this an integral part of who a Naturalist is.

I was all prepared to write about ecology and “crypsis” or the ability of live animals to avoid (hide) observation and detection. It is a simple strategy to either find food (predation) or keep from being eaten by adapting to being in an antipredator state.

My desire is to keep it simple though – even recognize that the great Creator’s creatures come equipped with such a fine art as camouflage fascinates me!

A recent trek to area wetlands presented itself as an all together different habitat when compared to coastal and Island ecosystems I am familiar with.

A wide eyed Green Heron, a discreet Sora Rail, and dozing Alligator kin together displayed such fine moments of “crypsis”.

I think any data sheet should have a Moments of Wonder column.

My hope for future Fishers Island Sentinels is that like me, they will always feel and see the logic that Nature presents in moments exploring in the field.

There are great expeditions to be had on a tiny Island-all to be grateful for.

I sat ever so quietly this morning, under the canopy of Live Oak draped with Spanish moss-a protected spot inside the Indian River Preserve Park. Mourning Doves cooed, an Osprey soared overhead and then two tiny lizards scurried back and forth across a dried palm frond at my feet. We watched each other inquisitively.
While my field note was happily intended to describe these 5 inch female Florida scrub lizards (the male is adorned with bright turquoise patches on throat and belly) and how they may very well soon be guarding several clutches of tiny eggs after their spring courtship and mating season…..

There was a change in thought:

The Florida scrub lizard is “near threatened” (NT) which means the species is likely to become “endangered” (EN) in the near future.

And then in time we might have to tag another (EN) to the lizard’s favorite scrub areas which provide dry and sandy ridges of pine and oak, because this habitat is speedily declining with intense development and wildfire suppression.

I read again the color coded indicator, like a mileage key on a map- this is only a hop, skip and a jump away from high risk of “extinction” (EX) for these lizards in the wild!

“Status Symbols” ranging from somewhat safe green to alarming red and depressing black are defining nature in our life time…..

And while different factors such as species population rise and fall, breeding success as well as threats are all considered when assessing conservation status, for me simply the development of such an indicator (in the first place!) that is now so common for every species of flora and fauna?

I can see there must be a change.

I have been thinking a lot about Stewardship and just what principles it takes to effectively oversee and protect the Island we all cherish and value-enough to “preserve, enrich, and enhance our resources and surrounding waters”
 Here,this morning I headed for the beach and trekked through Smyrna Dunes Park, navigating atop its elevated boardwalks. With the sun beating down on sandy slopes of these uplands, short shadows fall behind native Gopher Turtles emerging from burrows.  I can hear the breaking of ocean waves.

At first glance, floating on their boards in glistening wetsuits, surfers remind me of seals rafting together off Alaskan shores I once monitored.

I am struck by the beauty of a pristine beachscape despite the prevalent human element.

As I step off the boardwalk I notice a weathered sign-a bit of rust, a letter or two faded but never the less a message put to GREAT use!

The Smyrna Surfari Club has “adopted” a mile of beach here.

Well known for 35 years, the Club not only historically sponsors competition, but provides scholarships and has awarded over $150,000 to senior high school graduates who love to surf!

Thank you Smyrna Surfari Club for reminding me that sharing the responsibility

in caring for our environment is the essential principle that establishes Stewardship.

Back home on Fishers Island I can envision “Adopt-A Beach” signs perhaps in discreet spots along South, Isabella,  and Chocomount…representing maybe a softball team or two, a store, a family or three, even a graduating class, or sailing team.

Simply put….. Litter is “Bogus” and Stewardship is “Bodacious”!