Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 6 The Maritime Forest
For some the forest is a scary place; for some it is a magical one; and for others it is spiritual. For wildlife it is a popular place. There are many places to shelter and plenty of food. Though the forest of our barrier islands is not as dense and...
How to Plant a Tree for the Future
January is Tree Planting Time The colder part of the year is the best time to install hardy trees and shrubs. All their energy is in the root zone. They will establish much faster than if you wait until they are actively growing leaves. The shaved rootball...
Sawtooth Oak: A Good, Not Perfect Tree for Wildlife Enthusiasts
Since entering the U.S. from Eastern Asia in the 1920s and especially since its promotion as the ultimate wildlife tree in the last few decades, I doubt there has been a more widely planted tree by outdoor enthusiasts than Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima). It...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 5 The Dunes
The dune fields of the panhandle barrier islands closely mimic those in the deserts of the American southwest. With rolling hills of sand (less the rock), small, spaced shrubs, and high temperatures, hiking through the dunes reminds me a lot of hiking the...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 4 On the Beach
The open sandy beach is one of the hardest habitats to live in on a barrier island. There is no where to hide and almost nothing to eat. Add to this the direct wind and waves from the Gulf of Mexico and you have a barren landscape with continuous climate...
Are Our Bays Becoming Less Salty? 2022 Annual Report
Introduction Historically the average rainfall in the Pensacola Bay is around 60 inches per year. However, over the past 10 years that has increased to slightly more than 75 inches per year (see Table 1). The frequency of those levels over the past decade...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 3 Here They Come
The classic model of ecological succession begins with new land. This could be new land formed by a sand bar, or a new landscape formed after a volcanic eruption, but new land none the less. Then the pioneer community begins. Based on the model, the...
Barrier Island Wildlife in the Florida Panhandle; Part 2 The Habitats
The habitats of a barrier island are defined and driven by the plant communities there. Seeds from the mainland must first reach the new island and they can do so using a variety of different methods. Some come by wind, some by water, some by birds and...
Can We Eradicate the Cuban Treefrog from the Florida Panhandle?
This one will be harder. I say this for a couple of reasons. First, the invasion seems to be silently spreading. A just a couple of years ago we had very few records, one off individuals that were removed by those reporting. But they have...
This Holiday Season Enjoy a Fresh Florida Grown Christmas Tree
This Holiday season stay real and go local with a fresh locally grown tree. It may come as a surprise to many, but Florida has thriving local Christmas tree farms around the state. Just because Florida is a warm climate in the deep south does not mean Christmas trees...