Did you know that in addition to being writers we work as environmental scientists? It is the influence behind our in-depth knowledge of local environmental news, our penchant for posting photos of native wildlife, and our occassional use of technical jargon. But, beyond these subtle hints, you probably never noticed because we rarely share our environmental knowledge. As of today, that will no longer be the case. At your request we are launching a new monthly series #ThankYouMiami for Our Natural Resources where we will educate you on the wealth of natural capital we have in Miami and give you easy-to-follow tips for protecting these resources. Think environmental education that is customized for you, that is geared toward your interests, and that answers your questions.
We are kicking off the series by talking sea turtles - the seasonal neighbors that nest and hatch on our beaches from April through October. The
inspiration for the topic came to us last week when we joined the Marjory Stoneman Douglas BiscayneNature Center for a Members Only Sea Turtle Watch event. The
nature center’s sea turtle program, which is executed in collaboration with Miami-Dade
County, is one of their most popular initiatives. On the night we visited,
there were 40+ people in attendance including students from UM’s marine science
school (Go ‘Canes!) and young professionals like us from the local
environmental community.
The program’s success is well deserved. The night’s keynote
speaker, a naturalist from Miami-Dade County who runs the sea turtle program at
Crandon Park, was a knowledgeable, charismatic, and accomplished presenter.
Unlike most PowerPoint presentations, his had the perfect mix of information
and captivating images, of basic information and cool factoids. We know others agreed because the students mobbed him and fan girl-ed over him when his presentation was over. Here are 7 key points we picked up during his presentation:
