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Growing least tern colony vulnerable to firework
Birds, Outdoors

Growing least tern colony vulnerable to fireworks

Jul 1, 2024 – Leslie Lake
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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June 19, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Nesting loggerhead sea turtle struck, killed by vehicle

Sea turtle struck, killed by vehicle

BRADENTON BEACH – Likely disoriented by streetlights on Gulf Drive, a loggerhead sea turtle that had just nested wandered onto the road and was struck and killed by a vehicle in the early morning of…
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June 19, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis
Volunteers clean up Bowlees Creek

Volunteers clean up Bowlees Creek

This past Saturday, I attended Suncoast Aqua Venture’s large-scale cleanup of Bowlees Creek, a 4.8-mile stream in Manatee County just north of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. This body…
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June 19, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Loggerhead, least tern nests weather heavy rains

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Both loggerhead sea turtle and least tern nests fared well during last week’s heavy rains, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. “The storm was pr…
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June 19, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sea Turtle Conservancy to release turtle

Sea Turtle Conservancy to release turtle

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Sea Turtle Conservancy plans to release a satellite-tagged loggerhead sea turtle after it nests on Anna Maria Island as part of the annual Tour de Turtles event. The release…
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June 17, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Coast Guard investigates tour boat striking bridge

Coast Guard investigates tour boat striking bridge

LONGBOAT PASS – What began as a leisurely sunset boat ride turned into a frightening experience for a family of tourists on June 9. In a lengthy Facebook post, Georgia resident Stephanie Bridges wro…
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June 11, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis
Brigadoon

Brigadoon

The legend of Brigadoon is the story of a mythical village in the Scottish Highlands. It’s a tale of a place that became enchanted long ago and has remained unchanged and invisible to the outside wor…
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June 11, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Least tern numbers increasing

Least tern numbers increasing

BRADENTON BEACH – A colony of least terns is continuing to grow and now has 36 birds with 20 of those sitting on eggs in the sand. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring has been wa…
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June 4, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis
Vote water

Vote water

Readers of this column are well aware of the critical state of our coastal waters in Manatee County and beyond. The Dapis (lyngbya) blooms that have persisted from 2020 to this year have brought the…
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May 28, 2024
By Rusty Chinnis

FWC announces 2024 Lionfish Challenge

If you’re a diver, you’ve seen first-hand how lionfish invade the reefs and threaten the balance that sustains many offshore species. You’ve probably also heard of the Lionfish Challenge, an opportun…
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April 9, 2025
11:45 am

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