Hey guys,

Yes, it’s that time of year again when we all need to be alert and aware of the incoming loggerhead mother turtles making their way to our beaches to lay their precious eggs.

Our Turtle Nesting Season begins May 1st and runs through October 31st…

I know I write about this every year, but it’s because it’s so very important and so very integral to everything that we are, here on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

Eve Haverfield started “Turtle Time” in 1989 to protect loggerhead sea turtles from becoming an endangered species… Kudos to her!

You can visit her website at www.TurtleTime.org and see videos, as well as read about the different laws and regulations associated with the protection of sea turtles and their nesting habits.

I’ve also tracked down a news video clip showing a little bit of her work…

* Video deleted by creator, sorry *

We all need to participate and help educate our island tourist visitors about this very important topic…

Here’s another link to the Sanibel Conservation Group and the Sanibel City Manager’s Office which also outline the guidelines to be followed during this summer nesting season.

So, there you go… Be careful where you step over the next few months!

Hope your spring is going well and be sure to stop by and see us, ok?

Have a great weekend,

Sandy and Rob

p.s.  SanCap One Source  - Sanibel Island Real Estate

Ok, I am bursting at the seams to tell you about a great new book by Charles Sobczak, that’s just come out called “Living Sanibel”.

It is the only book of its kind that comprehensively takes you through the environmental history of Sanibel and Captiva, all the way to awesome updated maps of the island’s kayak and biking trails, as well as all of the hiking paths.

It’s a true field guide for both Sanibel and Captiva and also gives us detailed infomation about the J.N. “Ding” Darling Education Center, the new CROW Visitor Information Center, the SCCF Nature Center, the Bailey-Mathews Shell Museum, the Sanibel Historical Museum, the new Sanibel Recreation Center and the Tarpon Bay Explorers Center.

Oh, and with more than 600 full color photos with descriptions in between, this is one book that is a must-buy if you live or play on Sanibel or Captiva!

(Pssst… they even feature 3 of my very own photos on pages 197 and 204, which is the bobcat and panther section… Pretty cool!)

Every species of bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish, shell, insect, and plant found on Sanibel and Captiva Islands is accounted for… all 291 of them!

You can read more about it here:  Living Sanibel

And you can actually purchase the book right here:  Indigo Press – Buy Living Sanibel

Enjoy your weekend and we’ll see you next week,

Sandy and Rob

p.s.  SanCap One Source Realty

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Klinkenberg and TampaBay.com

Update to the post below:

It is with great sadness to inform you, that on Sunday, Feb 28th, Ted Cross passed away at the age of 86 in Ft. Myers, FL.   The post below written just one week ago is a timely reminder of a great man and just how much Sanibel will miss him.  Our condolences go out to Ted’s family and friends and we thank you, Ted, for all of your great contributions to our islands and to the world!   You can read the NY Times article about Ted right here.

Hey all,

Today I thought we should put the spotlight on a very special winter resident on Sanibel Island – Theodore (Ted) Cross!

An amazing photographer that has a great story to tell and even better photos to show… a true genius behind the lens!

There is a beautifully written story about him on TampaBay.com by Jeff Klinkenberg detailing his life and quite profound thoughts on birds, photography and travel.  I think everyone can glean something from reading about Ted and his life.

I know it’s cliche to say that “Everyone has a story to tell”… but some stories truly need to be told.

Ted Cross is one of those people and we thank Jeff Klinkenberg for doing such a great job in telling it!   Thanks Jeff!

So, head over to read the entire article and get ready to be inspired!

Make it a great week,

Sandy and Rob

p.s.  Check out the entire article about Theodore Cross’ interesting life and thoughts right here... and check out all the great properties that we have available over at our site:  SanCap One Source Realty

Well this has been quite a month for weather, wouldn’t you say?

I don’t ever remember it being this cold down here… and one group that is not liking these frigid temps at all are the fish, particularly snook!

We are seeing huge numbers of dead fish floating onto shore, and even floating dead in some of the canals, which our marine biologists tell us is due to the fish becoming “dormant” when their water turns so cold and then forgetting to eat and therefore, they die… well, that doesn’t happen to me, I eat more when I get cold! 

But, one positive note in the “circle of life” is that the birds are having a feast on the dead fish, which is also thought to be keeping them alive in these chilly temps by eating more.  And so life goes…

It turns out that this is happening all over Southwest Florida, but it’s particularly disturbing when it starts affecting local “treasures” such as the probable death due to freezing temps of our 30+ year old female American Crocodile.  Really sad!  At 12-ft long and 300 pounds, she was found dead on a trail along the Sanibel River.

Well, I’m just glad that things are starting to warm up again and getting somewhat “back to normal”… this truly has been a strange winter “weather-wise” for everyone it seems…

What are your thoughts?  How are you staying warm?

Have a great weekend,

Sandy and Rob

p.s.  Got some great deals over at SanCap One Source Realty… no, seriously, some really great deals! 

What is Red Tide

It’s fairly predictable that we here on Sanibel and Captiva Islands are sure to get “red tide” warnings at least a couple of times per year and it seems that now is one of those times.

Today’s post I simply wanted to dedicate to learning about “red tide“ (or more appropriately called, “harmful algal bloom”).

Below is a great list of FAQs from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, that also sees a lot of “red tide” by being located in the Gulf of Mexico just as we are.  The Gulf of Mexico has historically been one of the more concentrated areas for harmful algal blooms in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is red tide?
• What causes red tide?
• How, when and where do red tide blooms start?
• Where is the red tide on the Texas coast right now?
• How can I get the latest information on the current red tide?
• Should I consider postponing a trip to the coast right now?
• Is it safe to eat fish that I catch in or near the red tide?
• Why doesn’t the state post signs on the beach warning the public about red tide?
• Is it safe to eat oysters during a red tide?
• Where can I get more information on red tide?

I also found a video that provides some simple facts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LdLWPwdwVs

Bottom line:

You can still swim, you can still eat seafood (apart from open shellfish like oysters, clams, mussels and scallops, which should be avoided during a red tide flare-up) and you can still walk and play on the beach…

Here’s this week’s beach report:  SanibelIsland Beach Report – Nov 3

Red tide is nothing to be afraid of, but it is important to understand a little more about it, if nothing other than to calm your nerves!

Have a great weekend,

Sandy and Rob

p.s.  You won’t believe the deals Rob and I have for you over at our main website:  SanCap One Source Realty

It seems like common sense, right?

Yet, it only takes one time for an alligator to mentally register that receiving food from a human then means that humans are now “food” and then that very alligator becomes a potential risk and will probably end up being killed after either harming, or even attempting to harm, a child, pet or adult in the future.

What a shame, especially when they are only acting on what they instinctually were taught via someone feeding them.

Therefore, please please never feed an alligator on Sanibel or Captiva Islands.  Oh yes, and I forgot to mention the little $500 fine for those who are caught doing so…  Yikes!

There are plenty of websites out there describing the differences between southern Floridian alligators and crocodiles, so I won’t go into too much detail here, but you can read below the wonderful safety tips from our very own Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation:

Take the ALLIGATOR QUIZ and see how much you already know!

Click the link above and it will pop you over to the quiz… I’m sure you know more than you think you do!  ;)

Have a great weekend!!

p.s.   Sanibel Island Real Estate is still rockin’ at SanCap One Source!