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First least tern chick takes flight
Birds, Outdoors

First least tern chick takes flight

Jul 17, 2024 – Leslie Lake
July 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Second sea turtle nests in daytime

Second sea turtle nests in daytime

ANNA MARIA – More than 100 beachgoers saw an uncommon sight when a nesting loggerhead sea turtle laid her eggs during the day on June 26, the second daytime nesting in a week. Anna Maria Island Turt…
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July 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Turtle nesting record broken

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A 42-year record for sea turtle nests was shattered on July 2 when Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers counted 2024’s 546th nest, exceeding the 2019…
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July 1, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis

Resilience Incubator launches

On June 27, I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony in Sarasota for the new offices of Suncoast Waterkeeper and 10 other leading non-profit organizations that are joining forces a…
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July 1, 2024
By Leslie Lake
FWC offers free program to remove at-risk vessels

FWC offers free program to remove at-risk vessels

CORTEZ – Before an unwanted boat reaches the condition of the abandoned, partially-sunken vessels littering the waters south of the Cortez Bridge, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissio…
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July 1, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Growing least tern colony vulnerable to firework

Growing least tern colony vulnerable to fireworks

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Audubon Florida remind beachgoers to avoid disturbing nesting shorebirds with fireworks. Setting off fireworks on AMI…
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June 25, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis
Eyes on seagrass

Eyes on seagrass

Readers of this column know the importance of seagrass to the health of the region’s bays, estuaries, fisheries, fauna and economy. These critical meadows are under threat from overdevelopment, storm…
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June 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Public access project at FISH Preserve begins in July

Public access project at FISH Preserve begins in July

CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board unanimously approved a proposal by Allen Garner to complete a public accessibility project at the FISH Preserve at the eastern edge…
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June 25, 2024
By SUN contributor
FDEP educates officials on mangroves

FDEP educates officials on mangroves

HOLMES BEACH – Representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) want to make sure that city leaders know what they’re getting into if they opt to take over mangrove regu…
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June 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach

Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – Since a colony of least terns began nesting the week of May 6, their numbers have grown to include 45 birds, with 20 of them sitting on eggs, along with five new hatchlings. Rainfa…
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June 24, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle release attracts crowds Monday

Sea turtle release attracts crowds Monday

BRADENTON BEACH – To the delight of hundreds of spectators at Coquina Beach this morning for a publicized turtle release, loggerhead sea turtle Henrietta stopped several times as she made her way dow…
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April 9, 2025
11:45 am

The Off-Stage Ladies of the Island Players, April luncheon meeting