1. C O N S E R V A N C Y O F S O U T H W E S T F L O R I D A
March 31, 2015
Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of
life…now and forever.
WILDLIFE SEEN
OVER THE PAST
WEEK
 Ospreys
 Eagles
 Roseate
Spoonbills
 Black Crowned
Night Herons
 Green Heron
 Tri-colored
Herons
 Great Blue Herons
 Great White
Egrets
 Snowy Egrets
 Cattle Egrets
 Reddish Egrets
 American
Oystercatcher
 Swallow-tailed
kites
 Magnificent
Frigatebird
 Royal Terns
 Laughing Gulls
 Chuck-wills-
widow
 Dolphins
Please send all future
sightings, reports, and pictures
for the rest of this season to
intern Andy Anger at
CAGS@Conservancy.org
Keep the wildlife photos
coming!
MARCH WEEK 4
Updates and Sightings:
 The Conservancy is
seeking volunteers
interested in joining the
Conservancy’s team for
the Relay for Life event
in Naples on Friday,
April 17th from 6-10pm.
 On Tuesday March 24th, guests were treated to a phenomenal
view at marker 28A of two chicks being fed. Osprey parents
have been seen working hard all week delivering fish to their
chicks.
 Another group was
treated to a sighting of
the circle of life. A
picture taken captured
the moment, as an
osprey was on a tree
near the shore
devouring a fish he
caught.
CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
GOOD FORTUNE II WEEKLY UPDATE

2. Conservancy of Southwest Florida
March 31, 2015
Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of
life…now and forever.
 The Eagle parents were both seen one day in the skag tree,
but the juvenile Ealges were nowhere to be found. They
were most likely out adventuring. “Once the young eagles
have fledged (to acquire the feathers necessary for flight)
they remain around the nest for four or five weeks, taking
short flights while their primary feathers grow and
strengthen. Their parents still provide all of their food.”
(http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle4.html)
 Ted Below from Rookery Bay was seen out again doing bird counts from the Rookery Bay boat.
 Some uncommon sightings occurred on March 25th’s sunset
cruise, a Swallow-tailed kite bird was seen flying overhead.
Later, there was a mysterious black bird spotted sitting amid
all the birds. As it lifted into the air and began to circle, they
realized it a Magnificent Frigatebird.
 March 28th’s sunset cruise was treated to a Reddish Egret
performing his dance. The Reddish Egret performs this
dance when they are hunting fish. This can be difficult to
fathom, so “try to imagine a big-bodied bird with pencil-thin
legs running around on hot coals, staggering sideways,
leaping in the air, flapping its wings and occasionally
jabbing its bill downward and grabbing a fish all at the same
time. Now imagine the same bird doing all these things and
looking beautiful and graceful while doing them. That is the
feeding behavior of a Reddish Egret.” (Brian Small,
BirdChannel.com).

3. Conservancy of Southwest Florida
March 31, 2015
Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of
life…now and forever.
Last week featured a story on a Pelican being saved from fishing line by our very own Good
Fortune II captain and crew. Although the story featured here today did not occur during the
Good Fortune II boat ride, it shows people’s awareness of the Conservancy and our mission to
protect the land, water and wildlife of Southwest Florida:
While Conservancy guides were doing nature walk at Clam Pass, two concerned guests
reported an injured Pelican. The Pelican was on a sand bar, on the north side (Pelican Bay). The
tide was in making it difficult to access the bird by foot. Some kind kayakers were willing to go
check on the bird and were told to wave like mad if the bird was in trouble. They checked out the
bird and started waving. While the bird could still swim, a paddle boarder willing to help went over
and after several attempts was able to get a towel over its head. While still on his board, he
grabbed the bill, just as the Conservancy instructs people to do, and he brought the Pelican in.
(See pictures below) Similar to last week, this Pelican was another victim of the dreaded fishing
line with a lure and line wrapped tightly around his foot. The bird was brought back to the Von Arx
Wildlife Hospital where he will be treated for his swollen foot and possibly a hole that was in his
wing as well.
Many were involved including those who reported it, the beach staff at Naples Grande,
the beach staff at Pelican Bay, the Conservancy, and the paddle boarder. Like last week, this was
another great example of how educating the public yields results and leaves a lasting memory
and good feeling to those involved. What a great representation for our organization. It goes to
show we can be ambassadors wherever we are for the Conservancy.
a

4. Conservancy of Southwest Florida
March 31, 2015
Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of
life…now and forever.

5. Conservancy of Southwest Florida
March 31, 2015
Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of
life…now and forever.

6. Conservancy of Southwest Florida
March 31, 2015
Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of
life…now and forever.