Oct. 18, 6pm at the North Port Library, located at 13800 Tamiami Trail, North Port, FL, North Port Friends of Wildlife will sponsor a talk by Kelly O'Connor, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gopher tortoise biologist.
O’Connor will present the history of the gopher tortoise, their greatest conservation needs, and how we all can help protect this unique species.
Gopher tortoises are unique to the southeastern United States and provide crucial habitat to hundreds of other species of wildlife. Found in all 67 counties throughout Florida, they’re often a common sight in open, grassy areas found in residential neighborhoods and parks.
In addition to working with gopher tortoises, Kelly has spent time assisting in conservation efforts for Eastern Indigo Snakes, Gopher Frogs, and many other reptiles and amphibians in Florida and the southeast United States.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 6pm – 7:30pm North Port Friends of Wildlife will sponsor a talk by Matt Miller and Danielle Clooney about a North Port Canal study performed by the use of drones.
In southwest Florida, there’s an ongoing conflict between population growth and environmental protection. This pressure results in an emphasis on environmental policies to protect, restore and enhance high functioning aquatic resources (wetlands/surface waters) within the landscape. The City of Northport (Sarasota County, Florida) contains 80+ miles of a linear canal system with banks consisting of either vertical seawalls or shrubby vegetation such as mangroves, buttonwood or Brazilian pepper which provide nesting habitat for tree nesting wading birds. The most recent published wading bird nest survey was performed in the 1990s using fixed wing aircraft. WRA surveyed this canal system to identify active nesting wading birds during the 2017 nesting season using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). WRA worked to develop a survey methodology to navigate numerous technical and logistical concerns. One FAA licensed pilot was responsible for tracking the UAV flight path and another observer utilized the UAV camera to identify nesting wading birds. Georeferenced pictures were taken to determine species type and abundance and the nesting tree species. This study found that wading bird species type and abundance and vegetation type were observable using a UAV flying approximately 200 feet overhead.
Matthew P. Miller, P.W.S. is a Florida native and an experienced Environmental Manager having worked in both the public and private sectors in Central and Southwest Florida. He has managed a variety of natural resource projects including the regional approval of a 3,500 acre master planned development which included 1,100 acres of regionally, ecologically significant wetland mitigation and the local, state and federal approvals of a 300 acre wetland mitigation project which will enhance an established ecological corridor in Pasco County. Mr. Miller is a Professional Wetland Scientist (P.W.S.) with the Society of Wetland Scientists and is authorized to survey and relocate gopher tortoises through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Mr. Miller serves on the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) – Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and his topic is a project funded by the CHNEP.
Danielle Clooney is a University of South Florida (USF) graduate, an Environmental Scientist at Water Resource Associates (WRA) and a FAA UAV Pilot. Danielle is the lead GIS analyst with WRA and has experience with wetland delineations, wetland functional assessments, alternatives analysis, wetland sequencing, wetland mitigation design and planning, wetland monitoring, water/consumptive use permitting, spatial analysis and listed species surveying. She has conducted a variety of species specific wildlife surveys throughout south and southwest Florida including bald eagle, gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay, southeastern American kestrel and burrowing owls. Danielle is an active member of the Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals (TBAEP) and is currently working toward receiving her Global Information Systems (GIS) Master’s certification at USF.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 6pm – 7:30pm
Birds of our area, the effects of hurricanes, etc. by Ken Meyer, Executive Director of Avian Research Conservation Institute
Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Sea Turtle Update on turtles that nest on our FL west coast by Carol Leonard of the Coastal Wildlife Club
Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Scrub Jays, Today and Tomorrow by Elizabeth Landrum of the US Fish & Wildlife Service
Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Introduction to our conservation lands like the Carlton Reserve to include their history, wildlife, plant life, etc. by Debbie Blanco, Environmental Specialist at Sarasota County Government
Wednesday, April 25, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Ocean Acidification, What is it? What do we do about it? By Drew Martin of Lake Worth, he serves as conservation chair for the Loxahatchee Group, Sierra Club.
O’Connor will present the history of the gopher tortoise, their greatest conservation needs, and how we all can help protect this unique species.
Gopher tortoises are unique to the southeastern United States and provide crucial habitat to hundreds of other species of wildlife. Found in all 67 counties throughout Florida, they’re often a common sight in open, grassy areas found in residential neighborhoods and parks.
In addition to working with gopher tortoises, Kelly has spent time assisting in conservation efforts for Eastern Indigo Snakes, Gopher Frogs, and many other reptiles and amphibians in Florida and the southeast United States.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 6pm – 7:30pm North Port Friends of Wildlife will sponsor a talk by Matt Miller and Danielle Clooney about a North Port Canal study performed by the use of drones.
In southwest Florida, there’s an ongoing conflict between population growth and environmental protection. This pressure results in an emphasis on environmental policies to protect, restore and enhance high functioning aquatic resources (wetlands/surface waters) within the landscape. The City of Northport (Sarasota County, Florida) contains 80+ miles of a linear canal system with banks consisting of either vertical seawalls or shrubby vegetation such as mangroves, buttonwood or Brazilian pepper which provide nesting habitat for tree nesting wading birds. The most recent published wading bird nest survey was performed in the 1990s using fixed wing aircraft. WRA surveyed this canal system to identify active nesting wading birds during the 2017 nesting season using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). WRA worked to develop a survey methodology to navigate numerous technical and logistical concerns. One FAA licensed pilot was responsible for tracking the UAV flight path and another observer utilized the UAV camera to identify nesting wading birds. Georeferenced pictures were taken to determine species type and abundance and the nesting tree species. This study found that wading bird species type and abundance and vegetation type were observable using a UAV flying approximately 200 feet overhead.
Matthew P. Miller, P.W.S. is a Florida native and an experienced Environmental Manager having worked in both the public and private sectors in Central and Southwest Florida. He has managed a variety of natural resource projects including the regional approval of a 3,500 acre master planned development which included 1,100 acres of regionally, ecologically significant wetland mitigation and the local, state and federal approvals of a 300 acre wetland mitigation project which will enhance an established ecological corridor in Pasco County. Mr. Miller is a Professional Wetland Scientist (P.W.S.) with the Society of Wetland Scientists and is authorized to survey and relocate gopher tortoises through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Mr. Miller serves on the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) – Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and his topic is a project funded by the CHNEP.
Danielle Clooney is a University of South Florida (USF) graduate, an Environmental Scientist at Water Resource Associates (WRA) and a FAA UAV Pilot. Danielle is the lead GIS analyst with WRA and has experience with wetland delineations, wetland functional assessments, alternatives analysis, wetland sequencing, wetland mitigation design and planning, wetland monitoring, water/consumptive use permitting, spatial analysis and listed species surveying. She has conducted a variety of species specific wildlife surveys throughout south and southwest Florida including bald eagle, gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay, southeastern American kestrel and burrowing owls. Danielle is an active member of the Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals (TBAEP) and is currently working toward receiving her Global Information Systems (GIS) Master’s certification at USF.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017, 6pm – 7:30pm
Birds of our area, the effects of hurricanes, etc. by Ken Meyer, Executive Director of Avian Research Conservation Institute
Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Sea Turtle Update on turtles that nest on our FL west coast by Carol Leonard of the Coastal Wildlife Club
Wednesday, February 21, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Scrub Jays, Today and Tomorrow by Elizabeth Landrum of the US Fish & Wildlife Service
Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Introduction to our conservation lands like the Carlton Reserve to include their history, wildlife, plant life, etc. by Debbie Blanco, Environmental Specialist at Sarasota County Government
Wednesday, April 25, 2018, 6pm – 7:30pm
Ocean Acidification, What is it? What do we do about it? By Drew Martin of Lake Worth, he serves as conservation chair for the Loxahatchee Group, Sierra Club.
Below shares some fun where a gopher tortoise burrow is being inspected by a young visitor. The City of North Port Public Works department has been great environmental stewards which has been demonstrated by their care to protect the city's tortoises.
