DRC, FWC, OTHERS RESCUE 60 STRUGGLING TURKEY VULTURES

or just relax and hang out,” said Austin Gagnon, who also owns Elite Bartending and has likely trained more than half the bartenders in the Keys.

Morning Joint opens early for the commuters on U.S. 1 and is still playing with afternoon and evening hours. But whenever you do stop, don’t miss the back patio, where tables, chairs and swings hanging from trees welcome people, kids — and dogs.

Mary Jane’s Closet — a “provisions and paraphernalia” shop (get it?) shares the building with Morning Joint. The two are accessible to each other inside, and have separate exterior entrances.

Mary Jane’s Closet is part gift shop, part local art gallery and part artisanal food shop, featuring authentic and upscale Vermont cheddar cheese as well as wine by the bottle and glass and charcuterie assemblies that can be eaten on the premises, taken home or packed for a day on the boat.

In addition to the Square Grouper merch, such as hats and shirts, the Closet also features glassware, dishes, jewelry, local artwork, books, photography and more.

“While Morning Joint just opened last Monday, it was important to me to get Mary Jane’s Closet open before Christmas, so we opened two weeks prior in December,” Bell said. “I have a vested interest in the coffee shop, but I really wanted Austin and Miranda to do it and be part of it. They’re great people with a great business sense.”

An official ribbon-cutting and grand opening will take place around 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10.

Check out both places — and the original Square Grouper. You won’t be disappointed.

Birds were rehabbed at Marathon Wild Bird Center

On Jan. 23, Dolphin Research Center staff assisted in the rescue of about 60 waterlogged turkey vultures off the coast of Marathon. While conducting field research in a boat on the gulf side of Marathon, DRC staff came upon a turkey vulture struggling in the water. Turkey vultures do not swim, so staff took her on board and contacted the Marathon Wild Bird Center to evaluate the bird.

Dana Child, a volunteer at the center, advised that when one vulture is found in the water, there are typically many more. Every few years, mass numbers of vultures have been found stranded in water. The reason isn’t clear, but the birds sometimes suffer blunt force trauma from hitting the water or are simply cold and waterlogged without the ability to lift themselves out of the water. These events may be caused by a strong downdraft of air pushing them into the water.

Knowing there may be a large number of birds in need of rescue, Dolphin Research Center staff along with Child and Kirk Linaje, founder of the Marine Order for Research and Action through Environmental Stewardship (MORAES), returned to the location to search for more birds. The DRC boat spent the next four hours searching for and rescuing these birds. Eventually, 27 waterlogged turkey vultures were brought on board.

DRC staff were also joined by an FWC patrol boat, and there were reports of local fishermen and boaters who rescued a number of birds.

In total, about 60 birds were brought to the Marathon Wild Bird Center. Over the following two days, the bird center successfully rehabilitated and released all of the surviving vultures from the event.

As carrion eaters, vultures are a critical part of the ecosystem. They remove pathogens and toxins from the environment, helping keep the ecosystem disease free. Their digestive systems contain a very strong acid that destroys many of the harmful substances found in dead animals.

LET’S PARTY

Just in time for the end of Dry January, Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club will host its fourth Full Moon Party under the stars on Feb. 4 beginning at 4 p.m. Happy Hour will kick off the celebration, with one drink ticket included with admission before 6 p.m. As the sun sets, the beach will come to life with live music, fire dancers, a late night poolside DJ and a Junkanoo parade. Early tickets are $25, with day-of passes sold at $35. In a show of appreciation to locals, Marathon residents with valid IDs can buy tickets for $10 at the door. To purchase tickets, scan the attached QR code. BRYAN SODERLIND/Contributed