Connecting You to Nature Spring 2023

Connecting You to Nature is published by SCCF, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) founded in 1967 on Sanibel Island, Florida. Through stories about how we fulfill our mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems, we hope to deepen your understanding of how our land, water, and wildlife depend on our stewardship.

James Evans, CEO Barbara Linstrom, Editor Doug Cook, Design

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Audrey Albrecht, Denise Blough, Matt DePaolis, Jenny Evans, Cheryl Giattini, Jack Brzoza, Chris Lechowicz, Kealy McNeal, Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D., Leah Reidenbach, Shannon Rivard, Carrie Schuman, Ph.D., Kelly Sloan, Aaron White

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shane Antalick, David Meardon

SPONSORING PARTNERS

Bailey’s General Store

Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners, LLC

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Native Landscapes & Garden Center at Bailey Homestead Preserve

1300 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-1932

Sanibel Sea School info@sanibelseaschool.org (239) 472-8585

Main Office (239) 472-2329

SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline (978) 728-3663

Shorebird Inquiries shorebirds@sccf.org

Post-Ian Wildlife Sightings

With your help, SCCF's resilience is assured!

Like so many of our neighbors, SCCF has suffered significant damage to many of our buildings, vehicles, and boats. In the most crushing example, our intern housing buildings have been completely destroyed. Yet, as we move past Hurricane Ian’s devastation that will define Sept. 28 on our islands for years to come, we are still able to celebrate a great deal of solid, mission-driven work and signs of nature’s resilience in this magazine. After all we have suffered together, we proudly share this good news with our valued members and neighbors.

SCCF is immensely grateful to Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners, LLC, and Bailey’s General Store and its Island Store on Captiva for underwriting this issue of Connecting You to Nature. This publication would not have been possible without their co-sponsorship. For that and so much more, we thank them.

In addition to enjoying these articles that offer an indepth look at the work we do, we hope you will also be inspired to use the enclosed envelope to make your taxdeductible gifts to support our programmatic activities before the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2023. Your philanthropic investment is also needed to advance our substantial hurricane recovery.

www.sccf.org | info@sccf.org

P.O. Box 839, Sanibel, FL 33957

As SCCF’s supporters, you can be assured your donations will be used for our conservation initiatives in many meaningful and cost-effective ways. To that end, we truly hope you can help SCCF reach our funding goal to balance the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 operating budget and tackle our post-Ian needs.

Please call Development Director Cheryl Giattini at (239) 822-6121 with any questions you may have about SCCF’s path forward and how you can help. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this sincere request for your support.

HOWYOU CANHELP

Please become a member or renew your membership by using the enclosed envelope or donating at www.sccf.org

Dear Members and Friends of the SCCF Family,

Welcome to our Spring 2023 edition of Connecting You to Nature. We are excited to update you on the outstanding mission-driven work and community projects that SCCF, Sanibel Sea School, and Coastal Watch have been able to accomplish in the months following Hurricane Ian. The storm continues to present us with many challenges — from resuming essential services and rebuilding infrastructure to restoring wildlife habitat and protecting water quality.

The devastating winds and storm surge that battered our communities on Sept. 28, 2022, were stark reminders of the shear strength of mother nature, and how quickly priorities can shift. Like most, SCCF was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian. Over one-third of our staff was temporarily or permanently displaced by the storm and many of our buildings, vehicles, and equipment were damaged or destroyed.

As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. The storm necessitated an immediate shift from our conservation work to a humanitarian effort to help those most impacted — and a broken Sanibel Causeway didn’t stop us. Despite staff facing significant challenges of their own, they lined up to board the RV Norma Campbell to assist first responders, transport equipment, and support our neighbors and friends in cleaning out their homes and businesses.

Hurricane Ian brought to light that we are a community that stands together in the face of monumental challenges, with various partners working as one. It tested the conservation principles that Sanibel and Captiva were built upon and measured the fortitude of our leaders to push back on development pressure that threatens our existence. It emphasized that climate change is not a concern for the future — the future is here, and we must build back in a way that makes us more resilient to future hurricanes.

It's up to all of us to carry the torch forward and stand up for the special places in Southwest Florida that provide us with pristine beaches, bountiful waters to fish and recreate, a thriving economy, and — perhaps most importantly — essential habitat for our unique flora and fauna.

To our readers near and far, please take some time out from your own troubles and recovery efforts to read the stories of resilience in this issue. There are great examples of the work we hope you will support with a tax-deductible gift this spring.

With sincere gratitude,

James Evans Chief Executive Officer

James Evans, CEO

RESILIENT AND VIGILANT

Our Sanctuary Islands

By SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D.

“If we’ve learned anything from Hurricane Ian, it’s that we must move swiftly to implement projects to make our communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “We need to work with nature, not against her.”

POST HURRICANE IAN

PRE HURRICANE IAN

Since the Calusa Indians first inhabited Sanibel and Captiva, people have had to coexist with the modifying forces of nature. These have ranged from subtle changes imposed by tides, vegetation, and wildlife to the sometimes dramatically potent influences of storms.

For instance, a series of hurricanes in the 1920s cut new channels, including Redfish Pass, through the islands and redirected residents away from agriculture. Hurricane Charley in 2004 forced rebuilds of many homes across the islands, especially Captiva, and the replanting of more resilient native tree species in many areas.

And now, it is certain that September 2022’s Hurricane Ian will have left an especially indelible mark on our recent island history. However, while Ian has revealed some of our most immediate vulnerabilities, it has also illuminated some of our greatest current assets and opportunities.

Intact beaches, healthy dune systems, subtropical interior wetlands, thriving stretches of mangroves, and other natural features undoubtedly decreased the damage that Ian could have imposed. Their persistence into

the future will be key to helping us sustain ourselves and our prized, local wildlife.

Becoming a more resilient island community requires not just thoughtfully re-establishing ourselves post-hurricane, but also examining our needs through a long-term lens.

Rather than being an anomalous event, Ian is part of a trend of intensifying and slowermoving hurricanes that are joining other unfolding climatedriven impacts such as increased sea level rise, heavy rain events, and high-heat-index days.

“If we do nothing, the need to retreat from the islands may soon come knocking at our doors,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “Alternately, we can explore and implement various solutions that — while unlikely to completely eliminate risk — can help to promote better outcomes, including reducing the time it takes to get back to normal.”

Some solutions are aimed at greenhouse gas mitigation to tamp down the warming temperatures that underpin long-term climate trends. For Sanibel and Captiva, that means incorporating money-saving renewable energy and energyefficiency options, adopting

electric vehicles, and relying on the powerful ability of living organisms and ecosystems to “draw down” carbon.

There are also opportunities for the adaptation to or accommodation of hurricanes and flooding across many sectors. “Retrofitting older buildings or rebuilding to stronger codes is crucial for the protection of our homes, businesses, and facilities,” said Evans

Island transportation may need to be re-imagined — not just in response to the continual uptick of traffic, but also in the face of changing climate conditions.

Prioritizing native planting can give local wildlife a boost in their chances of recovering after extreme events. Living shorelines that incorporate both manmade and living components can provide shoreline protection along with other benefits like water filtration.

“SCCF is committed to doing our part in building this resilient future and supporting our community in making this crucial transition,” said Evans. “Our vigilance in protecting and caring for our ecosystem is our greatest hope.”

THE SANIBEL PLAN IN ACTION

“What went right?” is difficult to ask after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. The September 2022 storm created a swath of destruction that left Southwest Florida reeling. As roadside debris piles are dwindling and our islands are seeing hints of normalcy, we can now evaluate how we weathered the storm and what tools allowed us to do so.

There is no doubt we were lucky to have the Sanibel Plan. When visionary founders incorporated Sanibel in the 1970s, they had a natural ethos in mind to protect the island as a sanctuary for humans who would co-exist with native plants and wildlife. Establishing density and land-use restrictions that were unheard of at the time was a hard-fought battle, but the strength of the vision persisted. Decades later, it’s clear that nature repaid the favor.

Without the protection of healthy dunes and mangroves, the storm’s devastating impacts could have been much worse. Native plants have been withstanding hurricanes for millennia, and their deep and intertwined roots have evolved to stay standing, even in the face of Category 4 winds. Wetlands absorbed water, while mangrove fringes slowed surge and winds.

Following Hurricane Charley in 2004, Periwinkle Way was choked

with fallen, invasive Australian pines because their shallow roots proved no match for the storm’s intensity. There was a vocal contingent that demanded that the exotic pines be replanted. Instead, the city pushed back and planted a mix of native species. The results are clear.

After Ian — which was stronger and longer than Charley — Periwinkle remained largely free of whole trees that had filled the road in Charley. Native plantings withstood this storm better than engineered infrastructure. Working with nature made our island more resilient, which allowed us to focus on vital rescue operations.

As we rebuild, resilience and vigilance must be at the forefront. By following the Sanibel Plan’s legendary guidance, we will be better prepared than ever for the next storm.

—Matt DePaolis Environmental Policy Director

EXAMPLES OF HOW SCCF IS LEADING THE WAY:

• SCCF is an engaged member of SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future – a group formed in February that is exploring resilience solutions.

• SCCF co-founded Sanibel Captiva Energy Working Group and has partnered with Solar United Neighbors to offer membership in the Lee and Collier County Solar Co-op through April.

• SCCF’s Native Landscaping & Garden Center issued a timely Post-Hurricane Ian Replanting Guide.

• SCCF created and released Rebuilding for Resilience: A Guide to Incentives which — paired with a companion workshop — highlights ways that residents and business owners can make more resilient choices while also saving money.

• SCCF is hosting Thomas T. Ankersen, emeritus director of the Center for Coastal Solutions Coastal Policy Lab at the University of Florida, as an inaugural Pfeifer fellow. He will be examining how the Sanibel Plan has performed in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

• SCCF works regularly with the Captiva Erosion Prevention District and the Captiva Community Panel to support their resilience efforts.

While we can ride the wave of action and urgency catalyzed by Ian, becoming a more resilient community will require the combination of many solutions and sustained dedication and vigilance.

Water Quality Research Continues With the Help of Partners

SCCF received many offers of assistance to continue our research projects after Hurricane Ian. Director of the University of Florida’s Center for Coastal Solutions, Christine Angelini, Ph.D., and her field assistants drove down in October with a boat to sample monthly sites in the Caloosahatchee estuary and Gulf of Mexico.

SCCF was also invited to join a scientific team to collect samples on the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO)’s R/V Hogarth to better understand ocean conditions and the early formation of red tide blooms after Hurricane Ian. The team, consisting of Florida Gulf Coast University faculty and SCCF staff, sampled water from Tampa Bay to Marco Island in October. A second cruise was conducted in January 2023. The team identified higher levels of nitrogen after Ian and the start of a persistent red tide bloom. The Marine Lab uses several tools to examine the red tide bloom, including a harmful algal bloom scope (HABscope), satellite imagery, microscopy, and nutrient analyses. Much of the work on the water and at the lab on red tide is supported by a gift from the Vince family of Captiva. Their generous contribution, which started in 2018, has provided routine sampling of sites in the Gulf of Mexico and has filled a data gap in Florida statewide databases.

RECON Water Quality Sensor Array

An initial assessment of SCCF’s River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) sensors revealed wind speeds and storm surge caused by Ian, and unfortunately, a few RECON sites were lost in the storm. Staff are working to restore the previous capabilities of RECON while expanding the network to include another location near the Franklin Lock and Dam to monitor for cyanobacterial blooms in real time.

Freshwater Monitoring

Freshwater ponds and lakes on Sanibel were inundated with storm surge during Hurricane Ian, increasing salinities and total nitrogen concentrations islandwide.

“We are working with the City of Sanibel to conduct routine, bimonthly monitoring of the ponds in 2023,” said SCCF Marine Laboratory Director Eric Milbrandt, Ph.D. “Based on early sampling efforts after the storm, it may take longer than next wet season for salinities in the lakes and ponds to return to pre-storm levels.”

SCCF is currently using modeling tools developed by colleagues at the University of South Florida and University of Florida to plan a freshwater cyanobacteria bloom response. The response would study the dilution and decay of a bloom in the Caloosahatchee and the fate of toxins and dissolved organic matter.

KEEP UP WITH WEEKLY WATER CONDITIONS

Every week, SCCF brings you the latest water quality conditions around Sanibel and Captiva, including beach conditions, red tide and blue-green algae updates, aerial imagery, and water management decisions. Updates also include Lake Okeechobee levels and flows, and how this dynamic system affects our water quality.

SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY UPDATES

Knowing up-to-date conditions can inform your decisions on the best times to visit beaches and help you advocate for better water quality. Additionally, the weekly update often contains educational, timely articles that go in-depth to explain a scientific process or water management decision in an easy-tounderstand way. By signing up for the Weekly Water Conditions Update, you can become an informed citizen who knows about local water quality conditions and issues.

SCCF Gears Up for Sea Turtle Season

Sea turtle nesting season begins on April 15 and runs through Oct. 31. Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) — rare on the Gulf Coast — are typically the first sea turtles to venture to Florida’s shores, signaling that it's time to have preparations fully underway for SCCF’s daily monitoring surveys. On Sanibel and Captiva, much more common loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) tend to start laying in late April.

Organizing Personnel

“One very important aspect of prepping for the season has been completing the sea turtle program staff roster,” said Sea Turtle Biologist Jack Brzoza. “Interviews are conducted to hire seasonal positions, including a daytime technician, daytime intern, and two nighttime tagging interns. This year, we’ve also hired a full-time biologist to lead the nighttime tagging program.”

Simultaneously, sea turtle volunteer scheduling occurs. More than 80 volunteers are assigned patrol zones and days, and new participants are introduced to the program through mandatory trainings that cover everything from SCCF's sea turtle monitoring history to how to find and identify new sea turtle crawls. Additionally, staff and permitted individuals have participated in seminars and meetings organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which serve as continuing education and ensure SCCF’s permitted sea turtle activities can continue to occur on Sanibel and Captiva.

“Preseason is also a time for volunteers to catch up with one another, and we’re pleased that the majority of them will be returning this year,” Brzoza said. “Our program owes many of its successes to our volunteers’ continued passion and dedication of their time to protect our islands’ sea turtles. We truly couldn’t undertake this effort without them.”

Equipment & Logistics

The sea turtle team could not complete its monitoring duties without the use of beach vehicles. Preseason preparation includes maintenance, repairs, and protection measures on existing and newly purchased ATVs and UTVs. Tasks also include inventorying, purchasing, and staging nest-monitoring supplies — everything from signs and posts to mark off nesting areas to predator screens to pencils.

SCCF has four survey routes, and each has a staging site equipped with vehicles and the items necessary to document and monitor all nests discovered on morning patrols.

“Once all these preparations are finally completed and everything is double-checked,” Brzoza said, “all that's left to do is wait for the sunrise on April 15!”

BEACH HABITAT VIABILITY AFTER HURRICANE IAN

Barrier islands such as Sanibel and Captiva are dynamic systems that are frequently affected by extreme weather events but sea turtles and shorebirds have many strategies to survive strong storms.

Sea turtles adapt by diving deeper, increasing their range, and shifting habitat use. Birds are sensitive to barometric pressure changes, so when a storm is approaching, they often move inland to seek shelter and reduce activity to conserve energy.

“Storm-induced habitat changes can sometimes be beneficial to imperiled species that rely on sandy beaches to lay their eggs,” said Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan. “For example, Hurricane Ian removed beach vegetation that can obscure approaching predators, creating more favorable habitat for nesting shorebirds.”

Some of the gullies — small valleys created by running water — that formed on beaches are providing ephemeral pools that support foraging birds.

“However, once these run dry, they may create potential holes that trap sea turtles, flightless shorebird chicks, or injured or sick birds,” Sloan explained.

There may be other impacts, too. Population declines in various species, including freshwater turtles, have been linked to degraded seagrass and marsh habitat that is also used by loggerheads (Caretta caretta), Kemp’s ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii), and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas)

More extreme tropical storms linked to climate change have the potential to negatively affect beach habitat, thereby harming the snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus) population, breeding range, and nest abundance.

SCCF staff will continue to monitor Hurricane Ian’s beach impacts and their potential effect on the 2023 sea turtle and shorebird nesting season.

Over 6,000 Birds Observed

In December, SCCF participated in the National Audubon Society’s 123rd Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) with island partners and volunteers.

The CBC is one of the world’s longest-running citizen science efforts. More than 120 years of data allow scientists to assess the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America.

The first CBC was conducted on Dec. 25, 1900, when ornithologist Frank M. Chapman proposed a new holiday census in which birds were counted rather than hunted. The count was conducted by 27 birders who completed 25 counts across northeastern North America and tallied about 90 different species.

available to participate this year.”

Thanks to SCCF staff, wonderful partners from the City of Sanibel, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and dedicated volunteers, SCCF was able to conduct a count in safely accessible areas.

The islands’ 20-year CBC average is 13,375 individuals and 98 bird species, with these Top 5 species: laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla), brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), white ibis (Eudocimus albus), sanderlings (Calidris alba), and sandwich terns (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Some habitats suffered severe impacts from the storm, potentially leading to reduced numbers or total absence of some species, though the reduced number of observers and areas covered could also account for some of the variation, Albrecht explained.

“The higher number of vultures on the beach was likely due to the presence of a red tide fish kill, but the other top species are fairly typical,” she said. “Shorebird and seabird numbers were similar to past years, while songbirds, woodpeckers, and wading bird numbers were lower.”

In 2022, a total of 51 participants counted 6,067 individual birds of 77 species.

The Sanibel Captiva Audubon Society (SCA) has conducted the CBC annually on Sanibel and Captiva since 1961. SCCF has assisted SCA for many years, and in 2021, SCA asked SCCF to officially take over as the compilers the following year.

“No one could have anticipated the catastrophic hurricane that would cause so much devastation on the islands prior to the 2022 count,” said Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht. “The damage to residents’ homes, as well as the restricted access to the island at the time of the count, greatly limited the number of people

Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count at audubon.org.

1 Royal terns (Thalasseus maximus)

2 Laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla)

4 Sanderlings (Calidris alba)

5 Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura)

3 Fish crows (Corvus ossifragus)

HURRICANE-ALTERED HABITATS

Wildlife Adapting to Changes

One of the most unique aspects of Sanibel Island is its freshwater system that supports rich species diversity. Hurricane Ian’s storm surge inundated most, if not all, of the freshwater bodies on the island, which has significantly affected most freshwater species.

“The changes in Sanibel’s uplands, wetlands, and transitional areas after Hurricane Ian will force wildlife to adapt, if possible, to sustain their island existence,” said Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz.

Pre-hurricane, the island’s freshwater bodies had salinities of 0-3 practical salinity units (PSU), which were recorded at 11-33 PSU post-hurricane. For comparison, pure seawater is 35 PSU.

Various species of invertebrates, fish, amphibians, and reptiles that depend upon freshwater will respond to the changes in different

ways, Lechowicz said. Many species can withstand brackish conditions, such as mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and Florida redbellied turtles (Pseudemys nelsoni), for long periods of time. However, some freshwater gamefish — bluegill (Lepomis macrochilus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and pig frogs (Lithobates grylio) — withstand moderate levels of salinity for only a short time.

“The long, dry season and lack of significant rainfall until the summer will put high stress on these species and may cause one or more species to fade from the island,” Lechowicz said.

Much of the island’s uplands also took on saltwater. Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows, except for those in the highest areas, were flooded out. However, many tortoises have either begun to excavate their old burrows or dig new ones. The barrage of saltwater in the hammocks

and grasslands either killed or weakened shrubs and hardwood trees with low salt tolerances. Fortunately, many native grasses have a saltwater tolerance, which is apparent now as many grasses have started to grow back.

Cabbage palms (Sabal palmetto) appear to be one of the most resilient plant species to the storm surge, despite several areas where these palms didn’t make it due to prolonged saltwater.

The quantity of dead vegetation, primarily from trees and shrubs, is unprecedented on Sanibel because the island hadn’t hosted such quantities of high canopy coverage in its known history.

“Historically, Sanibel was primarily an open-canopy grassland that dried out seasonally and burned in wildfires, and native wildlife adapted to this habitat,” Lechowicz said. “Now, wildlife are trying to acclimate to habitat created by an immense biomass of dead vegetation.”

SEEKING WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS

The public has greatly helped SCCF inventory wildlife species that survived Hurricane Ian by using an online questionnaire created by staff after the storm. Hundreds of entries suggest that there are more than a few species that are still absent, including commonly seen mammals like the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris) were previously abundant on the island but have only been documented twice since the hurricane. Most frog species are still unaccounted for, and the woodland-dwelling Florida brownsnake (Storeria victa) — is still missing.

Have you seen me?

To

report sightings of wildlife on the islands, please use this QR code.

Volunteers Remove Thousands of Pounds of Trash from Islands

Like many Floridians, the beach is Lisa Whalen’s happy place. But living on Sanibel, Whalen wasn’t able to enjoy that happy place for months after Hurricane Ian roared ashore in September 2022.

Instead, she spent a few months going to the beach almost weekly with a different mission in mind — to help get the beaches back to normal. Along with hundreds of other volunteers, Whalen has been assisting SCCF Coastal Watch’s post-hurricane beach cleanups, which began in December and continued through February in partnership with the City of Sanibel.

“At the start of the cleanups, recent red tide blooms had caused thousands of dead fish to wash up on Sanibel, so the (somewhat

smelly) effort included removing both hurricane trash and decaying fish from Lighthouse Beach Park to Tarpon Bay Beach,” said SCCF Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal. “We never knew what we were going to find — we uncovered lamps, dolls, ornaments, even a mini fridge!”

The cleanups continued weekly at the start of the New Year to re-address areas that were initially cleaned.

“We continue to find little things in the sand that you don’t want the wildlife to ingest,” Whalen said. “It makes me feel good going over it with a fine-tooth comb.”

Since January, there have also been 196 volunteer signups for the Conservation Cleanup Crew, a weekly endeavor to clean up SCCF conservation lands.

“We’re so grateful to all the individuals and partners who have reached out to help SCCF and our community recover from the storm,” McNeal said.

MANGROVES:

A Symbol and Tool of Resilience

After Hurricane Ian, many were reminded of the importance of mangroves, which help stabilize shorelines and provide a buffer against storm damage.

“Mangroves are also a vital source of energy that provide nursery habitat for juvenile fish and nesting habitat for wading birds,” said Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal.

To help the island continue to recover from the hurricane, McNeal recently re-launched Coastal Watch’s Adopt-aMangrove program, which invites local community members to nurture mangrove propagules at their homes. The adopted plants are returned to SCCF and planted at one of SCCF’s many shoreline restoration sites. More than 200 mangrove saplings were adopted in late January during the re-opening of the Native Landscapes & Garden Center.

“Our goal for our participants and the community is to instill a deeper understanding and appreciation of mangroves in Southwest Florida, and of course to keep our island ecosystems thriving and protected,” McNeal said.

Never a Better Time to

Go Native!

Native Landscapes & Garden Center staff were thrilled to welcome members and friends back to Bailey Homestead Preserve in late January. Since Hurricane Ian, staff have received many inquiries for advice on replanting, appropriate species to use, and how to bring wildlife back to yards.

In response, the Post-Hurricane Ian Replanting Guide was created to answer commonly asked questions and highlight plant species that fared well through the storm and its associated surge. Upon reopening, an assortment of more than 50 of those species were available for purchase, with staff available to assist residents in choosing plants most appropriate for their yards.

“It has been tremendous to reconnect with members, residents, and friends during our reopening,” Native Landscapes & Garden Center Manager Becca Grotrian said. “Planting in support of wildlife and revegetating our island is rewarding, and helping people navigate the process is a pleasure.”

Garden Center staff also resumed offering customized yard consultations through the popular “Landscaping for Wildlife” house call program. Demand has been high this spring as residents plan for replanting during the summer rainy season.

Within the Bailey Homestead’s once-lush demonstration gardens, staff have been actively planning for replanting as well. Countless volunteers, including a group of over 20 staff members from the Naples Botanical Garden, have assisted in the cleanup and removal of debris and downed vegetation.

SCCF’s “Tree-Build” campaign, launched in December, continues to raise funds for replanting the grounds this summer. To support these efforts, you can sponsor a plant for us to grow or purchase a gift card to the garden center at tinyurl.com/TreebuildSCCF.

“In contrast to the destruction we have faced, seeing the resilience of our native plant species has been both surprising and delightful,” Grotrian said. “Every day, I notice new leaves sprouting or persisting despite the odds, and that’s why our conservation efforts are so important.”

McCARTHY MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES FEATURES

JEFF

CORWIN

The fifth annual Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture featured the host of Wildlife Nation and renowned conservationist Jeff Corwin and delighted over 200 guests in February. Corwin’s entertaining tales from the field featured stories of snakes, elephants, and other wildlife encounters, and he previewed his upcoming production focused on conservation in Florida.

Adapting & Educating

Despite several challenges during the past three years, Sanibel Sea School staff have boldly charged forward with one goal in mind: to continue providing educational experiences with nature to children and families in Southwest Florida.

In November, less than two months after Hurricane Ian devastated the Sanibel Sea School’s flagship campus on east Sanibel, staff were already providing classes to groups of homeschooled children through its “Homeschool at Sea” program. The courses had already been scheduled and paid for, but with facilities non-useable and natural habitats unsafe, the decision was made to hold classes off-island at parks and preserves. Kids ranging from ages 4-13 explored topics including shark biology, bird anatomy, and the history of the Calusa. They took hikes at Three Oaks Park and mastered binoculars at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve.

“We wanted to meet the needs of our homeschool groups despite not being able to enjoy the beach as we normally do in these courses,” said Sanibel Sea School Director Shannon Rivard. “Getting back out there and doing our jobs as marine science educators was a great stress reliever for our staff.”

Staff also pivoted to offer its 2022-23 Winter Camps offcampus, engaging with 128 children. Their adventures included taking a full-day charter to North Captiva and exploring marine life at IMAG History & Science Center in Fort Myers.

“I’ve learned that Sanibel Sea School isn’t always about the place — it’s about the people,” said Joe Uhlir, a returning camp counselor.

The next big adaptation? With renovations continuing at the main sea school campus, summer camps will be held at SCCF’s Bailey Homestead Preserve.

“We couldn’t let a summer go by without camp,” Rivard said. “We are beyond grateful to have this special second location, where the historic Bailey home sits on a lush swath of SCCF land that features freshwater wetlands and interior ridges.”

At the end of the day, Rivard noted, you truly can teach nature and conservation from anywhere. “Each day since the hurricane has been proof that we are resilient, better together, and exemplary of the beauty behind collaboration,” she said.

REMEMBERING

Gretchen C. Valade

While her hometown of Detroit mourned the passing of Gretchen C. Valade as the city’s “Angel of Jazz” for her leadership philanthropy, the SCCF Family remembers her fondly as an astounding angel of conservation as well.

A seasonal island resident since 1980, Valade died at the age of 97 on Dec. 30, 2022, surrounded by family at her Grosse Pointe Farms home.

“She enabled so many musicians and conservation professionals to realize their dreams, driven by their own passions and her support,” said Erick Lindblad, SCCF CEO from 1986 to 2018.

With her first donation to SCCF in 1998, Valade established herself as a donor deeply dedicated to

ensuring that conservation would endure on Sanibel.

Her million-dollar gift to help SCCF acquire the 167-acre Frannie’s Preserve on the east side of Tarpon Bay Road also established an endowment fund for the preservation of more critical parcels. Her generosity went on to help define SCCF’s progression into the 21st century.

“SCCF’s Wildlife & Habitat Management, Environmental Policy, and Marine Laboratory

programs all had their beginnings as a result of Gretchen’s significant support for staffing and facilities,” said Lindblad. “SCCF’s effectiveness as an organization benefitted greatly as a result of her generosity and caring.”

The Gretchen C. Valade Preserve off of Sanibel-Captiva Road is far from the only way she will be remembered on our islands.

SPORT YOUR LOVE FOR CONSERVATION WITH SCCF GARDEN CENTER SHIRTS

Our new-and-improved Native Landscapes & Garden Center shirts are the perfect way to show your support for SCCF and our mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. Made of 100% organic cotton with waterbased inks, the avocado-green T-shirts feature a customdesigned sea grape on the back. Unisex and women’s styles are available for $34.99 at the Native Landscapes & Garden Center, open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

“Gretchen’s commitment to our islands sets a very high bar.”

“Her contributions will have an enduring impact on our environment and quality of life on Sanibel and Captiva. We will miss her and will be inspired by her example.”

Don Rice, immediate past president of the SCCF Board of Trustees

Calli, Mead, Richard, Dane, and Bailie Johnson