In this issue
Calendar at a Glance
February 9: Shrimp Boil
Join the Friends
If you haven't become a member of the Friends, now is a great time. Come to the Shrimp Boil on February 9 and receive a FREE T-Shirt when you sign up for an annual membership! (Quantities limited.).
Best Wishes to Jo Gann
The Buffer Preserve was so lucky to have Jo Gann work here for the past four months. Jo was able to accomplish so much in such a short time, from moving forward in a major way on Preserve Center renovations, to re-energizing the Friends of the Preserve.
Unfortunately for the Preserves, Jo had to leave her position here to attend to unexpected personal business.
It was a pleasure and an inspiration to have her here and it is great to still have her as a good Friend of the Preserves!
Pass it on!
If you know someone who may be interested in receiving information about St. Joseph Bay Preserves, please forward this email. For more information about The Preserves, please call (850)229-1787 or visit www.stjosephbaypreserves.org.
Membership Info
- Student: $10.00
- Senior: $10.00
- Individual: $15.00
- Family: $25.00
- Sponsor: $100.00 and $250.00
- Gold: $1000.00
- Corporate: $1000.00
Please make checks payable to: Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves, Inc., and mail to 3915 Hwy C-30, Port St. Joe, FL, 32456. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and email
You may also user our membership form at our website.
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Shrimp Boil Fundraiser
February 9 11:00 - 2:00 EST
Don't forget to mark your calendars for Saturday February 9 when our traditional shrimp boil will be held. For $10.00 per person, you receive shrimp, sausages, potatoes, corn on the cob, garlic bread, and beverages. The event will run from 11:00 to 2:00 EST or until food runs out. Come early!
In addition to food, there will be musical entertainment and free guided field trips at the Preserves.Remember that all proceeds benefit The Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves. And if you sign up for a new membership at the Shrimp Boil, you will also receive a FREE T-Shirt.
For the latest details, please visit the website at http://www.StJosephBayPreserves.org or call (850)229-1787.
Board Members Elected
Elections for the Friends' Board of Directors were held at the December annual meeting. Newly elected Board members are Bill and Marcia Boothe of Bristol; Nick Baldwin of Tallahassee; Sandra Chafin, Gulf Co. Chamber of Commerce; and Tim Croft (not pictured) from St. Joe's The Star.
Ann Anderson and Anne Marie Daly continue as President and Treasurer. Tim Croft will be our new Secretary.
Back row, left to right: Neil Jones, ANERR staff member and former board member; Jean Huffman, Manager, Buffer Preserves; Bill Boothe; Ann Anderson, President; Anne Marie Daly, Treasurer; Nick Baldwin.
Front row, left to right: Jo Gann, former board member, Volunteer Co-ordinator and Educational Specialist; Marcia Boothe; Sandra Chafin.
St. Joseph Bay Sea Turtles
Cold Stun Event January 2008
Kim Wren – Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserve Manager
Photos: Nick Baldwin and Aquatic Preserve
Turtles prior to release AP
The waters of St. Joseph Bay provide optimal foraging grounds for several species of sea turtles including juvenile endangered green turtles. These young turtles visit the bay to feed on the extensive seagrass habitat. Sea turtles depend on ambient temperature to regulate their body’s core temperature. Like other reptiles, sea turtles respond to seasonal changes in temperatures by hibernating or migrating. Decreases in temperature however may occur rapidly leaving little time for foraging juvenile turtles to escape the shallow cold waters of the bay and migrate to warmer water.
Endangered green turtle NB
"Cold-stunning" is a process that causes sea turtles to become immobile due to the dramatic decrease in water temperature. When the water temperature drops below 50 degrees, sea turtles are at risk of becoming cold stunned. Their bodies cannot withstand such cold conditions and they become paralyzed, helplessly floating near the surface where they are vulnerable to scavengers and illness. A cold-stunned turtle may appear to be dead, but may actually be alive. In January 2001, northern Florida experienced a prolonged period of unusually cold temperatures. Water temperatures in St. Joseph Bay dropped to approximately 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 403 (10 Kemp’s ridley, 5 loggerhead and 388 green turtles) marine turtles were found stranded and cold-stunned in the southwestern corner of the bay. This was the largest cold-stunning event ever recorded in the United States. In January 2003, 42 stranded turtles were collected in St. Joseph Bay after water temperatures once again dropped below normal. Thirty turtles were found alive and 12 were found dead. Recently the water temperatures of St. Joseph Bay dropped to approximately 39.2 degrees and another cold stun event occurred. Ninety-five green turtles were collected from the bay of which 32 did not survive, a one-third mortaility rate.
Releasing turtle NB
Through the collaborative work of agencies, volunteers, Gulf World, and others, many of these stranded turtles are rescued, rehabilitated and released. Collected turtles are taken to Gulf World in Panama City where they were placed in large, swimming areas that are gradually heated to allow for recovery. All turtles were weighed, measured, photographed and tagged. Tissues samples were also collected for genetic analysis. If the turtles need further rehabilitation after the event, they may be transferred to other facilities in the state.
According to recent research, the presence of these juvenile turtles in the bay at this time of year suggests that these turtles overwinter in this area and are in the bay year round. Turtles may remain in a torpid state on the bottom of the bay once water temperatures begin to decrease but once water temperatures drop below the critical point they are unable to respond and left stranded.
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Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves