Tigertales - Friends of Tigertail Beach

Friends of Tigertail Beach, Inc.
Spring 2013
Volume 2, Issue 22
Tigertales
Board of Directors
2012-2013
President’s Message - Debbie Roddy
Debbie Roddy — President
Remember The Byrds, Pete Seger
and Ecclesiastes? “To Everything (Turn,
Turn Turn) There is a season (Turn,
Turn, Turn).” This holds true in life as
well as for the Friends of Tigertail
(FOT) Board. I am stepping down as
President after six years.
As another saying goes “When
one door closes another one opens ...”
This is so true. I will become the President of the Marco Island Woman’s
Club in May.
FOT has grown successfully both in
reputation and membership during
the last six years with the support of
the Board of Directors and you, our
members.
While President, I included FOT’s
yearly accomplishments in the Spring
newsletter. This edition is no exception.
1. FOT maintained a presence on
Marco Island’s Beach Advisory
Committee.
2. Continued to participate in the
Collier County Shorebird Alliance,
a public outreach program that
provides information about the
area’s nesting birds.
3. Monitored replacement of the
current boardwalks and construction of a new one plus a bathroom
at Tigertail Beach.
4. Sponsored four successful beach
cleanups throughout 2012.
Susan Purvis — Secretary
5.
Hosted our second Breakfast & Birds
event on March 24th. The event
was a huge success with about forty
birdwatchers attending.
6. FOT introduced 715 Collier County
Public School fifth graders to the
plethora of life at Tigertail Beach
from April 27th—May 18th.
7. Awarded three scholarships to
Tommie Barfield Elementary School
students on May 18th. Cassandra
Alonso, Grace Roloff and Madison
Beuchler won a week at the
Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s
Absolutely Aquatic Summer Camp.
8. Continued to monitor changes at
Sand Dollar and Tigertail Beach.
9. Hosted our third and fourth
Breakfast & Birds on November 3rd
and January 12th. Both events
were well attended with over forty
people attending the event in
November and more than sixty in
January.
The new FOT board is receiving an
organization that is financially sound,
with membership at a near all time high
(167) and a six year foundation of close
working relationships with both the City
of Marco Island and Collier County. Best
wishes to the new Board of Directors!
Finally, a sincere “THANK YOU” to the
couple who proofread all of my newsletters over the past six years.
Susan Kubat — Vice President
Ken Kubat — Treasurer
Linda Colombo— Hospitality &
Butterfly Garden Chairs
Fran Huxley — Bulletin Boards &
Special Events Chairs
Susan LaGrotta — Stewardship
Chair
Marty Roddy — Membership
Chair
Alert: Membership Renewals were
due Feb. 1, 2013
Households with memberships
due in 2013 should have received
a bright green renewal post card
in November. If the postcard has
been misplaced, you can renew by
printing out a membership application from our website
http://www.friendsoftigertail.com/
FOT_Home_files/Friends%20of%2
0Tigertail%20Membership%20App
lication.pdf and mailing it along
with your payment. Please provide
your current e-mail address so you
can receive FOT’s correspondence
in a timely manner.
Go to: www.friendsoftigertail.com
for the latest information and
news about our upcoming events.
Annual Meeting — New Friends of Tigertail Board of Directors: The slate for the 2013-2014 Board of Directors will be
introduced 9:30 a.m. at the Annual Meeting on March 2nd at Tigertail Beach. The slate is Linda Colombo, President;
Susan Kubat, Vice President; Susan LaGrotta, Secretary; and Ken Kubat, Treasurer. Ray Apy, Barbara and Joe Parisi, Kathy
Rushalk, Dick Stone and Harriett Tax will be joining the Board of Directors. This new slate will become official at the
March Board of Directors meeting. I know you will welcome the entire board and support them in preserving, protecting and educating the public about our natural jewel, Tigertail Beach.
Farewell to Board Members: Many thanks to Fran Huxley, Susan Purvis and Marty Roddy for their tireless efforts and
dedication during their years of service. The success and growth of FOT could not have happened without them.
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 2
Upcoming Event: Discover Tigertail
Due to the success of last year’s event, with more than 75 people in attendance, FOT will be hosting another
Discover Tigertail on March 2nd at Tigertail Beach from 10 a.m. to noon. This educational outreach program is a
unique opportunity to learn and ask questions about the flora and fauna that make Tigertail a special place. Plus
get up close and personal with the wildlife that make Tigertail home.
Join us to browse, at your own pace, through our information stations:
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Everything You Want to Know about Loggerhead Sea Turtles with Marco’s own Turtle Lady, Mary Nelson
Shelling 101 with shell enthusiasts Joan and Burt Robbins
Birds of Tigertail with Beverly Anderson, Research Specialist—Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Meet the Creatures of the Lagoon with Conservancy of Southwest Florida Volunteer Naturalists Marge and
John Tunnel, and Marty Roddy
Coastal Fish with Dave Graff, Educational Specialist—Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Tigertail’s Living Beach: What Is This? with Collier County Park Ranger Carol Buckler
Butterfly Gardening with gardening enthusiast Linda Colombo
Egg Casings with Fran Huxley, Conservancy of Southwest Florida Volunteer Naturalist
Introduction to Plants of Tigertail with Ken Kubat, Volunteer Naturalist
Manatees with Megan Joyce, Education Specialist—Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
A Great White Egret and Snowy
Egret, two of the inhabitants of
Tigertail Beach.
SAVE THE DATE!
Friends of Tigertail
Membership Appreciation Party
March 11th
Rain Date: March 12th
More Details to Follow
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 3
Update on New Boardwalks & Bathroom
Replacement of all five boardwalks and construction of a sixth one at
the south end of the parking lot for quicker access to the Gulf is still
in progress. The right walkover off the main boardwalk opened
December 5th. The issue remains to be a shortage of ipe, a Brazilian
hardwood, for the planking and handrails. As background, the ipe
was selected because it is “hardwearing and very dense.” Ipe is
sustainably harvested so it is considered a “green” project. The
pilings are weather-resistant plastic, reinforced with fiberglass rods.
The Collier County Project Manager estimates this project will be
completed mid-March.
As for the new bathroom at the sixth boardwalk, permitting and
bidding are underway. Collier County expects construction to be
completed by the end of August.
The first boardwalk to open at Tigertail
Beach. (Photo by Marty Roddy)
New Signs at Tigertail Beach
In late December, Collier County and Friends of Tigertail
installed three signs to educate beach goers about the
ramifications of walking through and flushing flocks of
birds. All of the signs were placed in holes at least 18
inches deep. Sad to say, we received a report about one of
the signs being ripped out and thrown in a dune within
one week of the postings. The sign was reinstalled. By
mid-January we received more reports that signs were torn
down and thrown in the dunes. The county’s attempt to
continually reinstall the signs was proving futile. The
decision was made to take all of the signs and put them in
buckets of cement! All three signs, with the buckets buried
in the sand, are now back on the beach.
More Changes at Sand Dollar
All of the breaches reported in past newsletters filled in during the month of December. Sand Dollar is living up to its
description as a “dynamic shoal system”. All that remains are ridges and runnels. The ridge is an exposed offshore
sandbar that has accumulated sand from Sand Dollar, Hideaway and other northern beaches. Runnels are midbeach troughs filled with water at high tide and “beach lagoons” at low tide. These runnels are troughs carved by
water flow after flooding tides. The ridge and runnels indicate Sand Dollar continues to be in transition. Pictures of
changes are shown on the next page.
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 4
More Changes at Sand Dollar (continued)
The mid-beach lagoon and troughs have replaced the original
breach that developed in July 2011.
(Photo taken Dec. 18, 2012 by Marty Roddy)
The new offshore sandbar at Sand Dollar.
(Photo taken Dec. 18, 2012 by Marty Roddy)
Far From Home by Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist — City of Marco Island
Something is going on. Razorbills, an alcid bird or a web-footed, diving seabird, have been seen all over Florida by avid
birders and beach goers. A few have been reported on Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach as well as in Caxambas Pass.
Being a peninsula with one of the longest coastlines in the country, Florida has seabirds, so what is so unusual about
seeing the Razorbills? Historically, there have only been fourteen documented sightings of this species in Florida, but
since early December, there have been over twenty reports from Jacksonville to Marco Island of single and flocks of
Razorbills! This is a bird rarely seen south of North Carolina! So what is going on?
Experts surmise this “invasion” is food driven. There may be a shortage
of food within the Razorbill’s core range that may have driven them
further south to Florida. Their core range is typically over the Continental Shelf from the Atlantic Provinces of Canada south to the mid-Atlantic
United States to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. A food shortage and
weather conditions would drive the foraging seabirds to places south
where conditions could be better.
The Razorbills forage and eat small crustacean (krill) and small fish in
the smelt family. They dive deep, gulping the krill and smelt. If the food
is not there and oceanic conditions disturbed, feeding is impossible.
There are reports, particularly last fall, that an unusually large Sea
Surface Temperature (SST) anomaly off the northeast coast, along the
Continental Shelf, was approaching temperatures of 4 degrees Celsius
An unusual sight for Marco …. a Razorbill!
above normal. This anomaly presumably had significant changes in types and distribution of fish and other food for the
foraging seabirds. It could be an event that changes long range dispersals as NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Center states
that SST for the first half of 2012 were the highest ever on record for the Northeast U.S. Concurrently, the surface waters
off Florida have been cooler than normal, so Atlantic Ocean surface water temperatures have been warm creating a lack
of food sources and the waters off Florida have been relatively more productive. In addition, there is a possibility that the
disruption of Hurricane Sandy may have been the tipping point to drive the wayward Razorbills to Florida to seek food.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida Wildlife Rehab Center has had about twenty birds brought in for care since early
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 5
Far From Home by Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist — City of Marco Island (continued)
December from Marco Island north to Estero beaches; unfortunately not all of them surviving. Biologists report the
birds are emaciated and exhausted. This is due to the long flight down and not enough food to sustain the long
range dispersal from their normal territory. The type of fish also may not be the same as the smelt they eat in their
core range. Smelt tend to be oilier and may not be as nutritious to the Razorbills compared to the Gulf and southern
Atlantic fare.
It is exciting to see the Razorbills in such unusual conditions and locales, but it is concerning that they are so far out of
their home range. Avid birders may enjoy getting a bird on their “list” but reporting is important for population monitoring. So, if you see a Razorbill or other out of range alcids, report your sightings (live or dead) at www.ebird.org
(click the “Submit Observations” tab).
Also, FWC requests that if you find a dead bird, please report it to their Wild Bird Die-off data base at
http://legacy.myfwc.com/bird/default.asp. For more information on Razorbills or other shorebirds, please contact
Nancy Richie, 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com.
Close up of a Razorbill
Razorbill Range Map
Razorbills breed on islands and coasts of eastern North
America, including Maine and the Atlantic provinces of
Canada, as well as isolated locations along the Hudson
Strait. North American Razorbills winter south of their
breeding range in coastal and continental-shelf waters
(typically 20 to 40 meters deep), in large numbers from
the Bay of Fundy to Georges Bank, and more sparsely as
far south as waters off Long Island and New Jersey.
(Source: Florida Shorebird Alliance)
Breakfast & Birds - Identifying Birds by Susan Kubat, Vice President
Friends of Tigertail board members welcomed over sixty people to their fourth “Breakfast & Birds” event at Tigertail
Beach on Saturday, January 12th. The focus of this educational outreach event was to help people learn how to
identify the wintering shorebirds and waders which forage and feed in the lagoon.
Even before the 9 a.m. start time people were arriving to meet and chat with other birders. At 9:30, after everyone
had finished breakfast, the guides, Fran Huxley and Susan Kubat, gave a brief introduction of field marks and
behaviors which aid in identification of the birds they expected to see both on the beach and in the water. A flock
of tree swallows flew overhead as the group headed out to the lagoon. The tide was low, the sky clear, and the
temperature about 80 degrees with some intermittent wind.
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 6
Breakfast & Birds - Identifying Birds by Susan Kubat, Vice President (continued)
Susan explained that the nest atop the osprey platform which was installed through the efforts of Vinnie Locascio, a
founding member of Friends of Tigertail, is not being used this year. The osprey pair which raised four successful
broods in that nest did not return. Susan suspects that one or both of the pair died sometime between May and
December.
Fran and Susan pointed out the special characteristics and behaviors of small brown and white shorebirds which
are so challenging to identify in their drab winter plumage. For example, the black bellied plover is easily identified
in the summer in its breeding plumage when it has a black belly. The black bellied plover is here in the winter and
has a white belly, so it is a bit more difficult to identify. Dunlins, sanderlings, ruddy turnstones, sandpipers, and
plovers were seen feeding on worms and invertebrates both in the sand and shallow water as the tide came in.
Physical characteristics, symbiotic relationships, and special behaviors of wading birds were also described. The
group learned how to differentiate great egrets from snowy egrets and little blue herons from tricolored herons.
The birders also saw and enjoyed ospreys feeding in the lagoon, ibises, pelicans, and lesser yellowlegs.
All of the participants came away with more confidence in identifying the winter birds along our shores.
Participants gathering for Breakfast & Birds.
(Photo by Marty Roddy)
Everyone getting instructions on how to differentiate
between Great and Snowy Egrets. (Photo by Marty Roddy)
Birders observing a Little Blue Heron.
(Photo by Marty Roddy)
Quarterly Beach Cleanup by Susan LaGrotta, Stewardship Chair
Friends of Tigertail (FOT) sponsored their last beach cleanup of 2012 on Saturday, December 8th from 8 a.m. to noon.
Thirty-four volunteers, including FOT members, Marco Island residents, visitors and members of Boy Scout Troop #234
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 7
Quarterly Beach Cleanup by Susan LaGrotta, Stewardship Chair (continued)
collected twelve bags of trash. Two of the bags were collected by Rebecca and David Shopay, FOT members, who
picked up debris along the lagoon’s edge in their kayak. A local fisherman joined in by collecting a bucket full of empty
beer bottles on Sand Dollar Spit’s sandy path from the lagoon to the Gulf.
Cigarette butts were again the most collected item, followed by plastic straws, cups, plastic bags, about 36 plastic borings
drilled from the new boardwalk pilings, four tires, some boat lines and a small plastic buoy.
Debbie and Stephen Barker, FOT members, with
granddaughters Sophie and Caroline.
(Photo by Marty Roddy)
Volunteers Kerri, Daniel and Sarah Yudkovitch with board
member Fran Huxley. (Photo by Marty Roddy)
City of Marco Island Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting &
Hatching Season by Mary Nelson, aka Marco’s Turtle Lady
The Final Count—2012
Total Nests
False Crawls
(“False Crawls” are when the female turtles
emerge from the Gulf but do not create nests.)
Washed out nests by Tropical Storms Debby—
13 & Isaac—8
Inundated nests (Did not hatch) by Tropical
Storms Debby—7 & Isaac—4
(“Inundated” by high tides)
Total Hatched Nests
Disorientations of Nests/Hatchlings
(“Disorientations” are when hatchlings
emerge from the nests but are not drawn to
the Gulf of Mexico naturally due to artificial
lighting or obstructions on the beach.)
Total Hatchlings
From Hideaway Beach
From Sand Dollar Spit
From Main Beach
Interesting Statistics
Most number of eggs in one nest
Most hatchlings from one nest
Highest percentage of eggs hatched in
one nest
51
76
21
11
19
0
1,453
439
220
794
142
129
99%
First nest was laid on April 27th and the last nest was laid on
August 4th.
First nest to hatch was on July 8th and the last nest to hatch
was on September 6th.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle hatchling making its way to the
water. (Photo courtesy of globalanimal.org)
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 8
Manatee Protection Tips
Since manatees are frequent visitors in Marco’s canals this time of year in search for warmer water, here is some helpful
information. Manatees have inhabited the coastal waters of Florida for more than one million years. According to Save
the Manatee Club, today there at least 4,800 manatees in Florida’s waters and the species is currently listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Observing from a distance is the best way to protect manatees and all wildlife. You actually have the most to gain by
remaining at a distance. By quietly observing manatees, you will get a rare opportunity to see the natural behavior of
these unique animals.
If you see manatees while swimming, diving or boating, please follow these suggestions:
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Do not enter designated manatee sanctuaries for any reason.
“Look , but don’t touch” - observe manatees from the surface of the water and at a distance.
Avoid excessive noise and splashing.
Use snorkel gear when attempting to watch manatees—the sound of scuba gear may cause them to leave the area.
Don’t feed manatees or give them water.
Call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone or send a text message to Tip@MyFWC.com.
You can also use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio if you see an injured, dead, tagged or orphaned manatee,
or if you see a manatee being harassed. The following interactions may be considered harassment under the ESA:
 Touching manatees
 Riding them
 Poking them
 Feeding manatees or giving them water
 Any actions that might separate a mother and calf
 Chasing manatees
 Surrounding them
(Source: Save the Manatee Club)
Legal Nets for Recreational Fishermen
Tigertail’s lagoon is a popular spot for collecting bait fish, so here are the following types of nets that may be used for
recreational purposes in Florida saltwater:
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Bully nets (for lobster only) no greater than 3 feet in diameter.
Frame nets and push nets (for shrimp only) no greater than 16 feet in perimeter.
Hand held landing or dip nets no greater than 96 inches in perimeter.
Cast nets measuring 14 feet or less stretched length (stretched length is defined as the distance from the horn at
the center of the net with the net gathered and pulled taut, to the lead line). Cast nets may be used as harvesting
gear for the following species only: black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum,
sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, spotted sea trout, weakfish and unregulated species.
Seines measuring no larger than 500 square feet of mesh area, no larger than 2 inches stretched mesh size, not
constructed of monofilament, and legibly marked at both ends with the harvester’s name and address if a Florida
resident. Non-residents using beach or haul seines for recreational purposes are required to have a commercial
saltwater products license and legibly mark the seine at both ends with the harvester’s saltwater products license
number. Seines may be used as harvesting gear for the following species only: black drum, bluefish, cobia,
flounder, mullet, Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, weakfish and unregulated
species.
For more information go to:
http://myfwc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1168/~/nets---what-types-of-recreational-fishing-nets-may-iuse%3F
Tigertales — Spring 2013: Volume 2, Issue 22
Page 9
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Gwynette & James Goodman
Rita Kusler & Roy Kaplan
Wilma Sanders & Harold Roth
Kathleen & Michael Rushalk
Membership
Friends of Tigertail is always looking for new members. If you know of anyone interested in joining, here is a
Membership Application to pass along. Thanks in advance for helping to get the word out about our organization
and our efforts to preserve, protect and educate!
Friends of Tigertail Membership Application
Date: _______________
Name(s): ____________________________________________________________
Florida Address: _____________________________________________________
City: ________________________________________________________________
Zip: ___________________ Phone: (
)___________________
E-mail address: ______________________________________________________
Alternate address for seasonal members:
From: (date) ___________________ To: (date) __________________
Address: __________________________________________________
City: __________________________________
Zip: _________ Phone: (
State: _____
) _________________________
Membership and annual dues (tax deductible):
__ 1 Year ($20.00)
___ 3 Years ($50.00)
___ Total number in family or household
___
New
___
Renewal
Please remit this form with your check
(payable to Friends of Tigertail) to:
Friends of Tigertail Beach, Inc.
P.O. Box 722, Marco Island, FL 34146