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December 3, 2015December 2, 2015

Swamp Heritage Festival this Weekend!

Join Big Cypress on December 5, 2015, from 10:30 to 4:00 pm, at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center (33000 Tamiami Trail East Ochopee, Florida 34141) as we celebrate the history and culture of South Florida for the FIFTH annual Swamp Heritage Festival!

Learn about the history of this rugged, yet beautiful environment through park rangers, volunteers, local experts and residents that will share their love of the swamp through programs, activities, and thought-provoking presentations.

This FREE family-friendly event shines a spotlight upon the inhabitants of early South Florida, whose rugged strength and pioneering spirit contributed to the shaping of today’s unique and diverse culture. Through living history demonstrations, informative presentations, and exhibits everyone can learn what daily life was like in such a remote, and at times, inhospitable place. These unique chapters in American history add to the rich and colorful tableau that comprises our shared past and present.

To learn more about the event, or see the full article visit: http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/swampheritagefestival.htm

November 29, 2015November 20, 2015

Join the CREW Team!

Are you a new CREW volunteer? Or, have you fallen in love with the CREW trails and want to share your excitement with others? Maybe you just want to join the best group of volunteers in Southwest Florida? Here’s your chance and …….it’s easy!

The CREW Trust is proud to announce the 2015 Volunteer Orientation Training on December 18th. All new CREW volunteers and prospective volunteers will spend an interesting morning learning about CREW, its operations, and its many volunteer opportunities. The training is FREE and required for CREW volunteers who have joined the CREW volunteer ranks since May 1, 2015.

Volunteer opportunities at the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) include trail steward, interpretive naturalist, educational outreach programs, and trail maintenance, just to name a few.

If you have a skill, or a desire to help Southwest Florida’s premiere environmental education program, CREW has a volunteer position for you.

If you are a CREW volunteer, or you know someone who wants to be, join us on the morning of December 18th. We look forward to seeing you.

Call 239-657-2253 or email education@crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com for additional information. In the meantime, check out our website (CREWTrust.org) and what folks say about us on TripAdvisor (search for “CREW Land and Water Trust”).

November 21, 2015November 16, 2015

Save the date- Wiggins Pass Nature Festival

Join the CREW Trust at the annual Wiggins Pass Nature Festival sponsored by the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park December 12th, 2015.

The event will be held on Saturday,December 12, 2015 at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park from 10:00am to 3:00pm. A day of fun has been planned for the entire family in Area 3 of the Park!

The festival offers fun interactive and educational activities for adults and kids of all ages. Visitors will learn about the plants and wildlife of Southwest Florida while participating in a variety of activities and crafts such as palm boots painting, shell necklaces, fishing clinic, paddleboard demonstrations and much more.

The CREW Trust along with many other local environmental organizations will have educational exhibits. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park for support of the State Park.

For more information call 239-657-2253.

We hope to see you there!

November 18, 2015November 16, 2015

Wildfile Q & A: What makes the holes in Alligator Flag Leaves?

Q: What makes the orderly slits and holes in Alligator Flag leaves?

A: The culprits are caterpillars.

When new leaves of the Alligator Flag (Thalia geniculata) first emerge, the leaflets are tightly rolled.

Once the leaves approach their mature length, they begin to unfurl. That’s why there are rarely small and large leaves on the same Alligator Flag plant.

Brazilian Skipper butterflies use Alligator Flag as their larval host plant, which means eggs are laid and caterpillars hatch. When the caterpillar feeds on a new, still-rolled leaf, it bores through the leaf. Then the leaf unfurls and … voilá! There is a neat pattern of orderly little geometric holes in the leaf.

To make a comparison that’s easy to relate to, think back to making a chain of paper dolls or making snowflakes from a sheet of paper by folding the paper several times and making a few cuts with a scissors.

Unfold the paper and a nice chain of dolls or snowflake-like symmetrical pattern magically appears.

Nature just uses leaves and caterpillars instead of paper and scissors.

By Dick Brewer

http://www.dickbrewer.org/CREW.html

November 16, 2015November 16, 2015

A View of Bird Rookery Swamp: Surprises on the tram

Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Saturday, November 14
6:25 am-1:05 pm
“There were all sorts of surprises on the tram. The first was a small flock of Robins that flew into the trees to the west of the gravel path; it was good to see them back. Later, a visitor said he saw another larger flock near marker 5.

Another surprise was the huge number of White Ibis that flew into the trees around the parking lot pond a little before sunrise. They just
kept coming, wave after wave. The total number of individual ibis for the day was 261, and all but nine of those were in that pre-dawn arrival.

One more surprise was how few gators were present, even into the early afternoon. Ida was in her pond in the afternoon, resting in the water by the culvert (left photo).

Water levels have dropped along the tram — there are only two spots between markers 6 and 3 where walking through the water is still necessary.

Nineteen species of butterflies was also a bit unusual considering the wind. Nine of those species were the little grass skippers who stayed very close to the ground or on Alligator Flag leaves when the sun hit them. One new butterfly species for me was a Fulvous Hairstreak.

The biggest surprise was when I almost stepped on a 3-12 to 4 foot
Water Moccasin in the thigh-high grasses. Each of us was startled and
retreated a bit. A photo of the snake showing his displeasure at being
disturbed is attached.

BIRDS
Pied-billed Grebe – 3
Anhinga – 15
Great Blue Heron – 7
Great Egret – 10
Little Blue Heron – 22
Tri-colored Heron – 3
Green Heron – 4
Black-crowned Night Heron – 8
White Ibis – 261
Wood Stork – 3
Black Vulture – 14
Turkey Vulture – 39
Red-shouldered Hawk – 14
American Kestrel – 1
Limpkin – 1
Belted Kingfisher – 12
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 16
Downy Woodpecker – 1
Pileated Woodpecker – 4
Eastern Phoebe – 10
Blue Jay – 2
American Crow – 5
Tufted Titmouse – 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 32
American Robin – 8
Gray Catbird – 13
Loggerhead Shrike – 1
Black-and-white Warbler – 1
Yellow-throated Warbler – 1
Palm Warbler – 8
Common Yellowthroat – 2
Northern Cardinal – 3
Common Grackle – 65

BUTTERFLIES
Palamedes Swallowtail – 2
Tiger Swallowtail – 7
Spicebush Swallowtail – 1
Ruddy Daggerwing – 2
Gulf Fritillary – 1
White Peacock – 153
Red Admiral – 1
Viceroy – 2
Phaon Crescent – 4
Fulvous Hairstreak – 1
Barred Yellow – 74
Dorantes Longtail – 2
Brazilian Skipper – 23
Eufala Skipper – 3
Least Skipper – 1
Three-spotted Skipper – 3
Twin Spot Skipper – 5
Tropical Checker – 5
unknown skipper – 1

DRAGONFLIES/DAMSELFLIES
Eastern Pondhawk – 12
Needham’s Skimmer – 1
Blue Dasher – 2
Regal Darner – 1

MAMMALS
Gray Squirrel – 1
Raccoon – 1

REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS
Alligator – 21
Brown Anole – 2
Green Anole – 1
Water Moccasin – 1
Green Treefrog – 1

By Dick Brewer

http://www.dickbrewer.org/CREW.html

November 15, 2015November 4, 2015

Wildfile Q& A: What do butterflies and other insects do when it rains, and where do they go?

Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly resting under a leaf

Q: What do butterflies and other insects do when it rains, and where do they go?

Where insects go when it rains depends on how much rain falls and on the species of insect.

If the rain is light enough, many insects stay out and are unaffected.

If the rain is moderate, most insects adapt and seek shelter. Butterflies and many other insects find spots under flowers, leaves, branches, or other vegetation, cling to the spot, and use it like an umbrella. If they are small enough, they may take shelter in a bark crevice.

If the rain is heavy, insects that are more accustomed to dry land will cling to whatever shelter they can find. The heavier the rain, the more substantial shelter they seek so they are not knocked into the water. Even if they are dislodged, it is uncommon for insects to
drown because of heavy rain. Most are just displaced and then find themselves in new surroundings.

Small burrowing insects such as ants find air pockets in underground burrows, even during flooding and flowing water. They require very little oxygen and can survive for weeks using air pockets that are always available even in densely flooded areas.

Insects that frequent water more often, like water beetles and mosquitoes, can negotiate rising, flooding and flowing water with more ease and they simply go with the flow.

-Dick Brewer

November 5, 2015November 4, 2015

A View of Bird Rookery Swamp: Water is slowly receding….

Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Saturday, October 31
7:25 am-1:00 pm

“The water is slowly receding, but there are still wet areas and muddy spots between markers 6 and 3. Heading out early in the morning, I could only find 11 gators, but on my way back in the late morning and early afternoon, 38 more had appeared. I think Ida moved from her pond to the ditch beside the gravel path, close to the kiosk. She was in
the water there right around sunrise and was basking on the far bank in the early afternoon. Baby gators were chirping close to her vicinity.

An interesting sighting around 1 o’clock in the afternoon was an immature Common Gallinule foraging in the southeast corner of the parking lot pond near Shady Hollow. It had the adult call and size, but its shield and bill hadn’t turned adult colors.”

BIRDS
Anhinga – 14
Great Blue Heron – 6
Great Egret – 7
Little Blue Heron – 17
Tri-colored Heron – 3
Green Heron – 12
Black-crowned Night Heron – 11
Yellow-crowned Night Heron – 1
White Ibis – 54
Black Vulture – 24
Turkey Vulture – 10
Osprey – 1
Red-shouldered Hawk – 18
Common Gallinule – 1
Limpkin – 1
Belted Kingfisher – 8
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 20
Pileated Woodpecker – 1
Great-crested Flycatcher – 7
Eastern Phoebe – 13
Blue Jay – 1
American Crow – 4
Tufted Titmouse – 9
Carolina Wren – 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 19
Northern Mockingbird – 2
Loggerhead Shrike – 1
Gray Catbird – 39
White-eyed Vireo – 1
Palm Warbler – 8
Common Yellowthroat – 5
Northern Cardinal – 5
Common Grackle – 20

BUTTERFLIES
Palamedes Swallowtail – 9
Tiger Swallowtail – 9
Ruddy Daggerwing – 3
White Peacock – 106
Viceroy – 2
Phaon Crescent – 7
Pearl Crescent – 3
Cloudless Sulphur – 1
Barred Yellow – 13
Brazilian Skipper – 32
Dorantes Longtail – 2
Tropical Checker – 2

DRAGONFLIES/DAMSELFLIES
Eastern Pondhawk – 27
Needham’s Skimmer – 16
Blue Dasher – 5

MAMMALS
Gray Squirrel – 2

REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS

Alligator – 49
Brown Anole – 14
Green Anole – 3
Yellow Rat Snake – 1
Red-bellied Turtle – 3
Green Treefrog – 11

By Dick Brewer

http://www.dickbrewer.org/CREW.html

September 29, 2015September 28, 2015

Wildfile Q & A: What left that scat?

Q: What left that scat?

A: The six larger mammals plus the alligators that inhabit CREW lands may not always be seen, but evidence of their presence is common. Distinguishing the scat (excrement, droppings) of those animals is relatively easy based on shape and size.

Three of the mammals consume plant material and leave scat that usually contains seeds or berries: raccoons, black bears, and white-tailed deer.

The three other mammals are carnivores, so their scat will contain fur, bones, and/or bits of shell, but no seeds.

Alligators are primarily carnivores, too, but their digestive systems are so strong that there is rarely any recognizable material in their scat.

Below are identifying characteristics for each of the seven animals, first by shape and then by size.

1. PILE

small– Raccoon

Scat can either be a small pile or small and tubular. If tubular, both ends are rounded; usually full of seeds; color will vary depending on what was recently eaten. For example, purple-tinted scat can come from a diet of elderberries, beautyberries, or cabbage palm fruit.

large– Black Bear

Scat is a humongous pile, usually full of seeds which the bears don’t digest. Color can vary depending on what the bear has recently eaten. Oval, almond-size seeds are from saw palmetto.

2. TUBULAR

small– Bobcat

Frequently segmented; can be up to 3 inches in length and around 3/4 inch in diameter; one end rounded while the other usually tapers to a point; contains visible fur and possibly bones

large– Panther

Frequently segmented; can be up to 5 inches in length and over 1 inch in diameter; one end rounded while the other end tapers to a point; contains bits of fur and bone. Panthers, like many cats, often scratch dirt or leaves over their scat. The bare patch where they scratched is called a “scrape.”

gigantic– Alligator

Can be up to 5 or 6 inches in length and over 2 inches in diameter; rounded at both ends; light gray when fresh and drying to almost white. Scat really stinks, even after drying up.

3. MUSHY BLOB

River Otter

Found near water; scat may have no recognizable shape but contains fish bones and scales and pieces of shell; oily, tar-like appearance. Otters mark their territories by leaving scented scat on the highest ground they can find, which is usually a trail. Fresh scat really stinks.

4. PELLETS

White-tailed Deer

Small, round, individual scat shows deer has been browsing on things such as leaves twigs, and acorns. Lumpy scat is more indicative of a meal of easier to digest grasses, clover, and other forbs.

By Dick Brewer

http://www.dickbrewer.org/CREW.html

September 8, 2015

A View of Bird Rookery Swamp- Water on the Trails

Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Saturday, September 5 ~ 7:15 am–1:15 pm

“Below are my observations from today at Bird Rookery Swamp (BRS). Not a bad day for birding, especially with more Barn Swallows over the meadow opposite the start of the boardwalk and a small “flock” of Eastern Kingbirds between markers 6 & 3. Attached is a photo of a Black-and-white Warbler that was prying little insects from bark crevices in a cypress near Ida’s Pond; it has one in its bill. Ida wasn’t visible while either going out or coming back. Several pairs of hikers armed with cameras were on the trails plus two bicyclers; the bikers turned back a little past marker 3 toward marker 6 when the mud got slippery and the water was flowing over the trail. Other than that, a nice day!

BIRDS
Anhinga – 1
Great Blue Heron – 2
Great Egret – 4
Snowy Egret – 9
Little Blue Heron – 11
Tri-colored Heron – 10
Green Heron – 8
White Ibis – 6
Black Vulture – 71
Turkey Vulture – 12
Red-shouldered Hawk – 7
Mourning Dove – 2
Common Ground Dove – 1
Belted Kingfisher – 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 13
Pileated Woodpecker – 5
Great-crested Flycatcher – 2
Eastern Kingbird – 7
Barn Swallow – 46
Blue Jay – 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – 3
Tufted Titmouse – 10
Carolina Wren – 12
Northern Mockingbird – 1
White-eyed Vireo – 13
Prothonotary Warbler – 1
Northern Parula – 1
Black-and-white Warbler – 1
Ovenbird – 1
Louisiana Waterthrush – 1
Northern Cardinal – 12
Common Grackle – 7

BUTTERFLIES
Palamedes Swallowtail – 11
Spicebush Swallowtail – 4
Ruddy Daggerwing – 8
Zebra Longwing – 1
White Peacock – 15
Gulf Fritillary – 1
Viceroy – 1
Common Buckeye – 1
Pearl Crescent – 1
Cloudless Sulphur – 3
Brazilian Skipper – 7
Silver-spotted Skipper – 1
Tropical Checker – 2

DRAGONFLIES
Eastern Pondhawk – 34
Eastern Amberwing – 2
Blue Dasher – 3

MAMMALS
Raccoon – 2
Cottontail Rabbit – 1

REPTILES/AMPHIBIANS
Alligator – 39
Brown Anole – 13
Red-bellied Turtle – 1
Pig Frog – 17
Greenhouse Frog – 2
Green Treefrog – 1
Cuban Treefrog – 1 “

By Dick Brewer

http://www.dickbrewer.org/CREW.html

A View of Bird Rookery Swamp- Belted Kingfishers are Back

July 27, 2015July 16, 2015

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Game Cameras at CREW

Wildlife at CREW

Tom Mortenson, CREW Volunteer

June 30, 2015

I operate five game cameras on trails, roads and edges at Cypress Dome and Caracara Prairie Preserve. You may have seen one or more of them when hiking trails there. They are tied to trees, often cabbage palms, or posts where they get a clear view of whatever walks past.

These cameras photograph anything that walks past them, day or night. Since these cameras were installed, they have photographed raccoons, deer, bobcats, wild hogs, panthers, raccoons, turkeys, sandhills, hikers, their dogs, horses, hawks, cows, raccoons, possums, vultures, and more raccoons. Most of these pictures—at least for animals– were taken at night because that is when wildlife are most active and least likely to encounter humans.

Here are a very few of the many thousands of pictures. I also share these with FWC and Collier County Conservation Collier in effort to help enhance the monitoring program they established years ago. These are mostly daylight pictures to capture colors. Remember that you share the hiking trails of Cypress Dome and Caracara Prairie Preserve with wildlife who call this home.

If you happen to see my game cameras while you are out enjoying the CREW trails please respect the ongoing research by not tampering with them. You can get involved with the CREW volunteer program, or report any suspicious activity by emailing crewtrust@crewtrus.mystagingwebsite.com or calling 239-657-2253.

Category: Volunteer

Swamp Heritage Festival this Weekend!

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Join the CREW Team!

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Save the date- Wiggins Pass Nature Festival

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Wildfile Q & A: What makes the holes in Alligator Flag Leaves?

Q: What makes the orderly slits and holes in Alligator Flag leaves?

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A View of Bird Rookery Swamp: Surprises on the tram

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Wildfile Q& A: What do butterflies and other insects do when it rains, and where do they go?

Q: What do butterflies and other insects do when it rains, and where do they go?

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A View of Bird Rookery Swamp: Water is slowly receding….

Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Saturday, October 31
7:25 am-1:00 pm

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Wildfile Q & A: What left that scat?

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Game Cameras at CREW

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Q: What makes the orderly slits and holes in Alligator Flag leaves?

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Q: What do butterflies and other insects do when it rains, and where do they go?

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Bird Rookery Swamp observations Saturday, October 31 7:25 am-1:00 pm

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Q: What left that scat?

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Bird Rookery Swamp observations
Saturday, October 31
7:25 am-1:00 pm