Category Archives: Nature
Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Skies
By Pat Foster-Turley One of my main motivations for visiting southern Arizona with my brother [...]
Mar
Titanium Mine Hearing Finds Not a Single Supporter
By Paula Alford Not one supportive comment was heard on March 5, when more than [...]
4 Comments
It’s Time for Wildflowers — and Magic
By Lauri deGaris This time of year, there is no surer sign of spring [...]
1 Comment
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Underground
By Pat Foster-Turley There’s a lot going on underground in southern Arizona, the location of [...]
Mar
St. Marys Mine Hearing Available Via Zoom
By Paula Alford The quality of life for all of us living near the St. [...]
4 Comments
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Talking Turkey
By Pat Foster-Turley There is an avian mystery happening on Amelia Island, and maybe someone [...]
Mar
Commentary: The Riverstone Battle is Far From Over
By Lyn Panone On April 23, 2023, Nassau County Commissioners Martin, Huppman, Gray and Farmer [...]
8 Comments
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: The ‘Dying’ Art of Taxidermy
By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever I visit my friends in Gainesville I ask them for new [...]
2 Comments
Feb
On World Whale Day, Consider the Unnecessary Deaths
By Lauri deGaris February 18, 2024, is World Whale Day. And I am heartbroken to [...]
3 Comments
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Sundown Shows
By Pat Foster-Turley Every evening around some retention ponds there is a show that is [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Road Trip to Sebastian
By Pat Foster-Turley I am always on the lookout for new things to see in [...]
Feb
Want to Help Our Environment? You Need to Know This
By Candis Whitney Did you know that there are more than 25 environmental/conservation organizations in [...]
Feb
When Whale History is Lost, So is Ours
Editor’s note: In celebration of right whale calving season on our shores, we are posting [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Bald Eagle Nests
By Pat Foster-Turley I love it when one of my columns spawns another one. This [...]
Feb
A Fertile Year for Whales, Offset by Tragedies
By Lauri deGaris Seventeen — that is the number of North Atlantic right whale calves [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Healing Power of Nature
By Pat Foster-Turley This was a week I didn’t have a column in mind. My [...]
Jan
Andre The Seal: Rockport and Boston’s Most Popular Resident
By Lauri deGaris Seals are also known as sea dogs, and they can entertain us [...]
Jan
Up Close and Personal: A Rush to Watch Whales Near Shore
By Lauri deGaris In my mind, few things are more exciting than receiving news about [...]
Jan
Amelia’s Last Great Grove of Sabal Palms Hangs in the Balance
By Lauri deGaris Recently, I walked along the south end of Amelia Island’s beach with [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Treats at the ARK
By Pat Foster-Turley Anyone who knows me by now knows that I love animals, especially [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Deer Mortalities
By Pat Foster-Turley Here on Amelia Island, deer cannot be legally hunted, and for the [...]
Jan
New Right Whale Calf, Hit by a Boat, Likely Will Die
By Lauri deGaris The first North Atlantic right whale calf born this season has been [...]
Jan
Memories of Last Year’s Magical Whale Visitor (and Dolphin Friends)
By Lauri deGaris Last January, many Amelia Island residents, and visitors too, were thrilled to [...]
Jan
Whale Calves 7, 8 and 9 Grace Our Waters
By Lauri deGaris Whale blessings keep right on coming … right whale calves nos. 7, [...]
Jan
Stories From Ancient Times Unite Whales and People
Editor’s note: In celebration of right whale calving season on our shores, we are posting [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Manatee Watching
By Pat Foster-Turley Bucko and I finally made it to Crystal River, long heralded as [...]
Jan
Sixth Right Whale Calf is Sighted
By Lauri deGaris Right whale calf number No. 6 was born off Cumberland Island on [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Old Florida
By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever Bucko and I feel like getting away from the hubbub that [...]
Dec
Two More Whale Calves Born Nearby During the Solstice
By Lauri deGaris Newborn right whale calves No. 4 and No. 5 emerged from the [...]
Dec
Pelorus Jack: Part Two of a Whale of a Story
This article is part of a series of 10 appearing every other Monday in the [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: 12 Days of Christmas on Amelia Island
By Pat Foster-Turley 12 Days of Christmas on Amelia Island On the first day [...]
Dec
Winter Solstice: a Universal Celebration
By Lauri deGaris December 21, 2023, marks the astronomical beginning of winter. Mother Earth’s north [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Invaders in Simmons Park
By Pat Foster-Turley For years there has been controversy about what to do with the [...]
Dec
Another Right Whale Gives Birth to a Calf
By Lauri deGaris Right Whale #3360 – Horton – has given birth to her third [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Adventures on the Cumberland Ferry
By Pat Foster-Turley It seemed simple. Buy advance tickets to both the ferry and the [...]
Dec
First Right Whale Calf of the Season Has Been Born
By Lauri deGaris The full moon of November presided over the birth of this season’s [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Possum Painter
By Pat Foster-Turley I must admit I have very interesting friends here on Amelia Island. [...]
Dec
The Buffalo, the Cod and the Whale: Going, Going …
Editor’s note: During our right whale calving season, this is one of a series of [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: Stings and Thrills in Belize
By Pat Foster-TurleyI was underwater, snorkeling at last in good mangroves in Belize. It took [...]
Nov
Lessons in Life from a Biting Turkey
By Lauri deGarisThe other day, I was at the barn sharing time with a herd [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: Rain and Shine in Belize
By Pat Foster-TurleyBucko and I have found a place in the world that we keep [...]
Nov
How Whales — and People! — Use Songs to Navigate
By Lauri deGarisEditor’s note: This is the second in a series of 10 articles about [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: A Walk on the Greenway
By Pat Foster-TurleyNow that I am happily able to walk distances again after my successful [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: Finally, a Walk on the Beach!
By Pat Foster-TurleyRecently I walked for more than an hour on the beach, something I [...]
Nov
Can You See the Way a Whale Sees? Yes You Can!
Editor’s note: Among other accomplishments, Lauri deGaris is a marine biologist. As the right whale [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: New England Roots
By Pat Foster-TurleyOne purpose of my recent road trip to New Hampshire with my brother [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: New England Serendipity
By Pat Foster-TurleyThere are some travel plans that turn out perfectly and others that fall [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: Tows and Tails
By Pat Foster-TurleyI am always impressed by the devoted animal caretakers in our midst. For [...]
Oct
Baskets: Nature’s Gift to Hold Nature’s Harvest
By Lauri deGaris It is time to gather the gifts of summer, it is time [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: Ducks of Long Island
By Pat Foster-TurleyThe ducks of Long Island, New York were famous back in the day [...]
Oct
Many Questions About a Dune Walkover for Two Hotels
By Mike Lednovich Two hotels are seeking to connect access with each other by constructing [...]
Oct
The Language of Trees Gladdens Human Hearts
By Linda Hart Green I grew up with “sand between my toes,” as my parents [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: The Origins of Heckscher Drive
By Pat Foster-TurleyFrom Amelia Island down to Heckscher Drive is a favorite drive for Bucko [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Out in the Country
By Pat Foster-Turley Most weeks these days I drive out to the ARK off Highway [...]
Sep
A Low Country Wonder: the World of Salt Marshes
By Lauri deGaris The fall equinox is fast approaching, it arrives Sept. 23, 2023. Days [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Blackwater Swimming
By Pat Foster-TurleyI guess I’m like a Florida Gator after all, not the sports type [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: New Sights, Old Memories
By Pat Foster-Turley On our Big Bend road trip a couple of weeks ago Bucko [...]
Sep
Tokitae: A Captive Orca Who Never Forgot Her Mother’s Song
By Lauri deGaris I wept when I learned Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut or Tokitae, resident Orca from the [...]
Sep
Seaweed: Call It Not a Weed, But a Flower of the Sea
By Lauri deGaris There are many types of seaweed, and their color and grace are [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Big Bend Road Trip
By Pat Foster-TurleyBucko and I have lived in north Florida for decades now, but it [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Otter Ice Capades
By Pat Foster-TurleyLike everyone else these days, I’ve been complaining about the heat, and even [...]
Aug
Commentary: Sidewalks vs. Trees Need Not Be a Conflict
This is an open letter from the Nassau County Sierra Executive Board to fellow stakeholders [...]
Aug
Pat’s Wildways: Beating the Heat
By Pat Foster-Turley It’s hot out there! Everyone I pass on the street is sweating [...]
Aug
Pat’s Wildways: Blue Crab Saga
By Pat Foster-TurleyIt’s no surprise to my friends and family, and even to my loyal [...]
Aug
An Update on The Cumberland Horses Suit
By Lauri deGaris On April 12, 2023, the horses of Cumberland Island — in their [...]
Aug
Pat’s Wildways: Mountain Road Trip
By Pat Foster-TurleyPlanning a trip is always fun for me, and always full of unique [...]
Aug
The Story of Horses and People
A Meditation by Lauri deGaris Horses have grazed the plains and pastures of [...]
Jul
Pat’s Wildways: Fishing the Pond
By Pat Foster-TurleyI am by no means a fisherperson. Bucko has tried to get me [...]
Jul
Pat’s Wildways: A Way with Bunnies
By Pat Foster-TurleyAny regular reader of my columns knows I am hounded by rabbits in [...]
Jul
Pat’s Wildways: A Visit to the Cummer Museum
By Pat Foster-TurleyA couple of weeks ago some friends and I decided to visit the [...]
Jul
Pat’s Wildways: Beach Days
By Pat Foster-TurleyIt’s summertime again and time to head to the beach. But these days [...]
Jul
Pat’s Wildways: Crow ‘Funerals’ and ‘Murders’
By Pat Foster-TurleyI am always alert to the possibilities of new columns and sometimes my [...]
Jun
A Pioneer in Whale Acoustics Leaves a Lasting Legacy
By Lauri deGarisDr. Roger S. Payne, biologist, born January 29, 1935, passed away this month. [...]
Jun
Pat’s Wildways: Mink in our Midst
By Pat Foster-TurleyThere’s a small otter-like critter roaming our saltmarshes and beach shores, but few [...]
Jun
Pat’s Wildways: Armadillos
By Pat Foster-TurleyThese days it seems like armadillos are everywhere, in all-natural areas on this [...]
Jun