The Sawgrass Nature Center Is Home To An Aviary Of Recovering And Permanent Winged Residents. This Blue

Today the SNC donated dish and appliance sets to FLITE Center. FLITE’s mission is to “guide those aging out of foster care and other vulnerable youth for a successful transition to independence.” 

The SNC is very happy we got the opportunity to give back to our community this way. Kids that have grown up through the foster care system are more vulnerable as they start their adult life and many of them do not have support systems to help them get started on the right foot.

Remember, as a community, there is no issue we can’t tackle together. 

Women In STEM

To all the women out there that need some inspiration today: here is a page on historical women in STEM. Starting with Puerto Rican Scientist and Educator, Ana Roqué de Duprey

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/women-in-stem

A downy woodpecker in our front wetland

The Big Stump Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado is centered around an Eocene aged lake in Colorado – making it 34 million years old. Because CO2 contents in the atmosphere were higher in the Eocene, the climate was warmer globally and the plants at this site record the difference.

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This ultra-black fish has evolved to be practically invisible in the darkest depths of the ocean, and the way it sucks in light could be useful for engineers.

Spike, the Burrowing Owl, has sparse feathers on his feet unlike many other owls who look like they are wearing leg warmers!

This wild red shouldered hawk that visits our nature center had a brief cleaning session after breakfast

This little guy is an Eastern Screech Owl. Although small, he is considered fully grown. An eye injury sustained from a car collision keeps him from thriving in the wild on his own, so he will remain with the SNC as a permanent resident and educational ambassador. 

The Eastern Screech Owl is considered a bird of prey. So its sharp talons and curved beak have adapted to ripping and tearing prey as opposed to the straight and long beak of something like a heron that has been adapted for fishing. 

Caterpillars are juvenile butterflies and they are awfully hungry. These little guys are going to one day turn into Monarch Butterflies. Until then, they'll be in the SNC's caterpillar home before being released into our butterfly gardens.

As of September, the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital has treated over 800 wild animals. This is a 20% increase from last year’s total intakes. While we can’t be completely sure, we assume the increase is due to other local nature centers and wildlife hospitals closing down and redirecting traffic to us, as well as COVID-19 causing more people to stay close to home. 

The more time people spend at home, the more time they have to notice all the native wildlife running around their backyards.