Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Island Days

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.
During the mangrove monitoring, staff took measurements of mangroves to measure growth over the past six months, along with reference point photos in the middle of the island and made note of any mortality. Overall, the mangrove seedlings look really good! Staff documented minor erosion on one of the islands and some of the planted mangroves uprooted. Overall, the new mangrove plantings were doing well. As for the rookery islands activity, staff observed one great blue heron on a nest. This indicates that wading bird nesting season is starting up again.