St. Vincents nwr

We had an amazing day exploring the island with Shelly and Brad, the refuge biologists. St. Vincents nwr is one of the only barrier islands to contain rain-fed freshwater lakes. Because of its diversity in ecosystems, we explored beautiful beaches and dune systems, pine flat woods, hardwood hammocks,fresh water swamps and wetlands, and salt marshes, all on a 13,000 square acre island. It really is a beautiful and unique place that deserves the amazing people that work so hard to preserve it.

The beach!

Wandering around at the beach.

On St. Vincent Island

The tour wagon

In the vans again...

Off to St. Vincent Island...

After 11 hours of travel...

We're here!

On the road again...

Can't forget the field scope! Don't want to miss any exciting bacteria ;)

That's all he needs!

Departure...

Well, not yet.  Just getting set up for mobile posts.

Florida cooters on the Wakulla River near St. Marks

On Saturday, the group (all 20 of them) will be canoing the Wakulla River, leaving from the Hwy 98 Bridge and going upriver toward Wakulla Springs.  Reports indicate that there are lots of manatees in the river, although the water is still a little stained from all the rain dumped by Debbie and Isaac in recent months. 

It's Subtropical Ecology time again, and tomorrow we'll point the White Dogs south toward St. Marks, Florida.  A weekend there, giving us an opportunity to visit some Panhandle systems, before the big trip to the peninsula over Thanksgiving week.  This blog will be a project for my three graduate students in the class, as they chronicle our journeys.

The look of this will no doubt change as my guys weigh in with their suggestions.  Still, check this space for updates.