The Tuesday before the Thanksgiving break, a local FWC law enforcement captain, lieutenants and officers joined Charlotte Harbor AP staff for a debris and fishing line clean up on one of the established Critical Wildlife Areas in Pine Island Sound.

CHAP staff, along with the help from regional coordinating offices Estero Bay AP and Cedar Point Environmental Park, hosted the biannual volunteer training. Known as the Quality Assurance (QA) training, it serves as a refresher for samplers as well as offers time to condition instruments, sample for accuracy from the same waterbody and give program updates.  

CHAP staff conducted their monthly Critical Wildlife Area (CWA) monitoring in Pine Island Sound AP and were happy to see the wading and diving bird nesting starting again. Staff observed great blue herons nesting on both CWAs as well as over 1,100 American white pelicans using one of the CWAs as a roosting/resting area!

Charlotte Harbor AP and Estero Bay Aquatic Preserves staff showcased their displays and outreach items at the annual Ft. Myers Boat Show. They teamed up with Clean Boating staff and members of the Friends of Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves and the Estero Bay Buddies to spread awareness of the local aquatic preserves and how to protect them.

The Southwest APs and DEP South District Offices Conduct Cleanups for DEP Stewardship Day 

Last week Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves staff, along with assistance from the Southwest Aquatic Preserve Regional Manager, conducted a multi-purpose day of rookery monitoring, island clean-up (on islands with no nesting) and the six-month mangrove planting survey on the two restored islands. Staff removed 28 lbs. of fishing line, hooks and other small debris from the rookery islands.

One month following the mangrove planting event with the help of the Coastal Conservation Association, Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve staff visited Terrapin Key to see how the new mangrove plantings are faring. While on site, staff mapped the planting area, took photo points and measured the height of randomly selected red, black and white mangroves. Overall, the plantings are doing very well, and no mortalities were noted.

Each of the five aquatic preserves within the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves offers a memorable experience visiting protected submerged state lands, healthy mangrove shorelines, seagrass beds and oyster bars. Southwest Florida’s subtropical climate is home to a variety of animals as well, in addition to migrating birds.