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The weekend of Feb 5-8 the Friends of Cedar Keys & Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuges will have an outing at the other end of our great Suwannee River, at Georgia's Stephen Foster State park. Various levels of camp sites are available as are cabins inside the park and an Eco Lodge run by the park is a short distance outside the park.
This state park is located in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. It is the start of the Suwannee River and offers wonderful kayaking, canoeing, fishing, trails, horseback riding, birding, etc. All activities have not been firmed up yet but will include a cookout, boat ride with a naturalist, and we are working on getting a bit of special attention from the Refuge staff. While you don't have to be a member of the Friends group to make reservations at the park, Friends members will have preference for joining the group activities. So, an extra incentive to join or renew now. The Park entrance at Fargo is only about 2.5 hours away and we can arrange carpooling or convoying. You may make reservations at www.gastateparks.org or 1-800-864-7275 for campsites or other lodging. After you make your reservations please email [email protected] so we will have your address to pass on further info. ![]() In spite of the cool and overcast day, thirteen people showed up for a 3 mile walk on the Barnett Creek Trail. Because of the distance, it was meant to be a walk in nature, rather than a walk to identify plants and animals. This trail is one of my favorites because it passes through a number of habitats and wildlife sightings are common. Part of the trail is along the Barnett Creek Road, through mixed woodland, some freshwater swamp and alongside a salt marsh. The trail continues on an old logging road behind one of the Refuge gates and continues for another two miles through the mixed deciduous woods and swamp. Because of the weather, I did not have high hopes of wildlife sightings, but the trail surprised me. We saw over a dozen different kinds of birds, including warblers, kinglets, woodpeckers, a sapsucker, wrens, and a hawk. The biggest surprise, especially because of the very cool and gray weather, was a Pygmy Rattlesnake lying in the middle of the trail. It was thin but definitely alive and alert! We had a good look (mostly through binoculars!!) and all who desired to were able to get plenty of pictures of this beautiful snake. Thanks to Ed DeHaan for this fabulous picture! Ed was able to get a good close-up with his special camera lens. It was another great walk in the woods! Please join me for our next nature walk in the Cedar Key Scrub on January 28. Because of ongoing controlled burns in the Scrub adjacent to SR 24, we will walk in the Scrub section along CR 347. Those who wish to carpool from Cedar Key, meet me, Donna Thalacker, at the Cedar Key Park parking lot near the beach at 8:30. Or meet at the Cedar Key Scrub along CR347 entrance parking lot around 8:45. If you wish additional information, call 352-543-6738. The Cedar Key State Parks’ staff will be at the Cedar Key Library on January 14, 2016 to give an update on the Cedar Key Parks. Tommy Pavao, the new parks manager will be there for give a park update and introduce the 2016 Burn Plan for the Cedar Key Scrub State Preserve. The Cedar Key State Parks include the Cedar Key State Museum, The Cedar Key Scrub State Preserve and the Wacasassa State Preserve.
Come and meet the new parks manager and staff at 5pm on January 14 in the upstairs library meeting room. Light refreshments will be served. ![]() l There were fifteen of us that met to take a New Year’s Eve Day walk at Shell Mound and Dennis Creek Trail. We started the walk out on the observation platform and to observe and identify the dozen or so different types of wading birds that were foraging on nearby oyster bars. Oystercatchers, Marbled Godwit, Skimmers, Wilson’s Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderlings and Dunlins we were some of the birds we were able to identify. The biting sand midges prevented us from lingering too long and we moved on to Shell Mound and Dennis Creek trails. These are wonderful trails to explore as they lead alongside the salt marsh, across a salt panne, then onto an island in the marsh, then back to the base of the shell mound. A lot can be seen in just a relatively short walk. This trail is always a favorite because of the varied habitats that we walk through. In a short distance, we were able to see the effect of just inches of elevation on the plant growth along the trail. Our next nature walk will be on January 14 and will be a longer walk, about 4-5 miles, and will be behind the gates of the Refuge. We will meet at the Cedar Key Park parking lot at 8:30am. Wear long pants, bring a bottle of water, hat and bug spray and maybe a snack. I am hopeful the weather will be cooler for this walk than it has been lately! We should see a nesting pair of Bald Eagles, and evidence of sea level change. If you wish to join us on this walk but would like to meet at the trail head, please call me, Donna Thalacker, at 352-543-6738 for more information. ![]() Each time I think about a nature walk, I am undecided about which trail to pick! They are each great! So I have made a list and marked the best time of the year to visit each trail. Hopefully, this will make it easier! This next walk on Thursday, Dec 31 will be at Shell Mound and Dennis Creek Trail. It is a great place for a little history, some bird watching, and some great views of salt marsh, and a view over a fresh water pond where we may see some ducks and heron. The tide will be mostly out, so we may even get a good look at wading birds. In the past, I have seen a wide variety of wildlife here, including feral hogs. I hope you will be able to join me on this last nature walk in 2015! Those wishing to car pool from Cedar Key, meet at the town park parking lot at 8:30am. My home number is 352-543-6738 and I will have my cell phone with me 515-227-0683. If you would prefer to meet at Shell Mound, we will meet you in the car park around 8:45. Shell Mound can be reached from Hwy 347, south of the refuge and a few miles north of the turnoff from Hwy 24. Donna Thalacker, Nature Walk Leader ![]() Ten nature loving ladies took a walk in the Lower Suwannee NWR on Thursday, December 03, 2015. Sally Beveridge, Vicki Crumpley, Cindy Leiner, Joyce DeHaan, Kit Lane, Patti Jett, Debi Dorn, Katherine Dunlop, Wynne Simpson joined me, Donna Thalacker, for a 3 mile walk behind the gates at the end of Cabin Road. As far as I am concerned, it was a perfect day for a walk through the woods, with cooler temperatures and zero bugs. We started out by startling a flock of Wood Storks, and along the way managed to see a few other birds and a number of flowers still in bloom. Our walk took us over swamp, across hardwood hammocks, and out to the salt marsh, where we saw some evidence of sea level rise out over the marsh. It was a fun walk and a great chance to visit, which could be related to the fact that the only birds we saw were birds we startled! Thanks to Vicki Crumpley for her photographs! Our next nature walk will be December 17. If you are around and would like to join me, meet at the Cedar Key Town Park parking lot at 9am. Or give me a call at 543-6738 for directions to the start point. I hope to see you then!
There is a new reason to explore the Salt Creek spur road off the Dixie Mainline, a 1/3 mile loop trail has recently been cut and sign posted. The loop offers three vistas across the salt marsh, a fresh water marsh pond and several stately grand-daddy live oak trees. Furrows are apparent when you walk the trail. Daniel Barrand, Refuge Forester, says they are evidence of past timber planting. He also points out a higher windrow about half way around the trail that was made by raking and piling logging debris into a long row. He says the refuge once experimented by knocking down a windrow and found that many of the long-dormant native seeds sprouted. What was once an unwanted plant is welcome again. Daniel Barrand is pleased to see so much plant diversity as we walk the Salt Creek loop trail including native blueberry, persimmon, cedar and wire grass. While you are parked, visit the Salt Creek fishing/observation platform. Bald eagles often nest on the island across the creek from the platform.
Despite the stormy forecast on November 19, the Suwannee Waterways Cleanup only had light sprinkles- great weather to gather garbage. Folks often overlook trash while pleasure boating but when 18 kayak, canoe and power boat volunteers searched... they found 429 pounds! It is tricky to find a spot to disembark near Suwannee due to slippery mud banks but the litter payoff is huge when you walk the high-water line. The most unusual find was a message in a bottle. The Suwannee Community Center was filled with 34 guests who enjoyed a pot-luck meal featuring smoked chicken by Jerry Everett, owner of the Waterfront Market. After lunch, Tom McLaulin, from the Florida Paddling Trails Association, talked about Suwannee’s role as a Blueway Community. It is also a stop on the FPTA’s Circumnavigation Trail. The Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Refuges ended the afternoon with their monthly board meeting. Four non-profit groups joined together during this event in one effort: The Suwannee Chamber of Commerce, The Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Refuges, Florida Paddling Trails Association and Paddle Florida. For those interested in the Brazilian Pepper Control Program on the Refuge and in the Cedar Key area, on Dec. 8th at 9:00 a.m. we will meet at the CKLS Wildlife Refuge Headquarters off of CR347 for an informational presentation.
Following the presentation we will meet at 10:00 a.m. just North of #4 Bridge by the Andrews/Lukens Tract for the field demonstration and work for a couple hours. All safety, tools, and applications equipment will be provided including boots, gloves, and goggles. All interested parties are welcome to attend either or both activities. All help is greatly appreciated. For more information, contact Roger McDaniels at [email protected] This post was written by Jay Bushnell, former president of Friends.
Fall has always been a special time of year on the river for me. This year is different. The climbing asters with the unbelievable fragrance and the blankets of yellow flower nestled among the bonnets are still there to enjoy. However, notice the dark reddish brown leaves in these two pictures. These are dead Red Bay trees. It has been estimated that the Red Bay ambrosia beetle arrived in 2002 on pallets at ports near Savannah from somewhere in Asia. The beetle lays its eggs in the tree causing laurel wilt fungus which kills the tree. Do a web search and you will find ‘extinction’ associated with the Red Bay trees. If so, we are witnessing extinction first hand. This would be just another casualty of the globalization of world economies. As would be expected, other life forms are also affected. For example, the paradises swallow tail, Schaus and spicebush butterflies are dependent on the Red Bay. It would be an understatement to say that the beetle is spreading fast across the Southeastern US. It is not known what affect the beetle will have on other species. Nor does there seem to be a plan to combat the beetle. As part of an expansion of our advocacy mission, former Friends president, Peg Hall, has posted an essay telling why she believes the Refuges are at risk of losing their ability to protect the wilderness and wildlife that are the foundation of our natural-resource based economy and our cherished way of life.
Rest in Peace, Bill KilbornBill died peacefully in his sleep at home in Trenton FL on Friday October 16 after a short illness. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of Friends for several years. All of the Friends will miss his wry humor and savvy counsel. The Communications Team particularly will miss him, and his consistent dislike for all things "Apple" or "Mac". . . unusual for a graphics kinda guy, but who wouldn't want to work with a talented free-thinker.
Here are some of the comments from board members about losing him much too soon.
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![]() Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532 Cedar Key, FL 32625 [email protected] We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. |
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