Nature

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Preventative beach cleaning in preparation of oil spill may harm nesting shorebirds

Remove only man made litter along South Walton’s beaches as natural debris in place provides nesting benefits to shorebirds and other wildlife A well-intentioned recommendation from Volunteer Florida urging eager people to move beach litter above the high water line to make cleaning up oil that may come ashore easier may prove harmful to beach nesting shorebirds. Florida’s beaches and marshes are the nesting sites for many different species of birds—Plovers, Terns, Gulls, Pelicans, Herons, Egrets, Rails, and more. Beach...

Dead birds found along Walton and Okaloosa County beaches

Recent events wreaks havoc for migratory birds Whether recent bird deaths directly related to oil rig disaster is not yet determined There have been several reports of numerous dead birds found along the beaches of the Florida Panhandle. Don Ware, bird count coordinator of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society and Stephanie Torr of Old Florida Village took a walk along South Walton’s Seacrest Beach on April 24 to assess the incident of dead birds washing up on shore. Don and Stephanie...

Wildlife Refuge presents Owls and other Critters at Topsail April 30

Learn about the fascinating critters that live in our area Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach April 30 at 11:30 a.m. Come and join the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge as they present their rehabilitated wildlife for your viewing pleasure.  Learn about the fascinating critters that are right here in the park and in Okaloosa and Walton County as they teach you what they eat, where they live and how they survive in the...

Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival May 1

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park hosts educational day of fun for everyone Date: Saturday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks and the Mattie Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute of Northwest Florida State College will sponsor the Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival. This family event will feature fun, educational activities and displays showcasing our coastal environment. Cheer on the crab races...