Today, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River. It contains approximately 407,000 acres and that number is about to increase. …

I am a big fan of swamps -- freshwater swamps in particular. One of my favorite places is the bayous of southern Louisiana. Or should I say “was” one of my favorite places. It has …

Recently, a friend returned from her dream trip to South Africa. Excited for her, I shared memories of my two trips to Africa years ago. The trips were with my fellow adventurer, my sister Betsy. The …

By now, almost everyone has heard that frogs are becoming scarcer in the wild these days. Combined effects of habitat loss, diseases, introduced species, and changing climate have affected frog …

You’ve all heard about the Northern Lights, right? Well, I’m here to tell you that we have Southern Lights, too, especially this time of year when the sun is low in the sky. It’s …

The St. Marys Riverkeeper invites Fernandina residents to the next “Lunch and Learn” webinar ​ series on Jan. 15, 2025, from 12-1 p.m. This free webinar ​ will explore the federally …

Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors invites you to help our community create a shell mosaic on the beach. On Jan. 25, 2025, we will gather at Main Beach to create a life-size whale out of shells to raise …

If you are looking for another interesting day trip from Amelia Island, it’s worth a drive to St. Marys, just to our north. Although Bucko and I have been up this way many times before, …

Wreath is an old English word meaning “to twist.” We weave evergreens, flowers, tree branches, herbs, fruit, berries, and more into a continuous loop, creating an everlasting symbol of …

It’s that time again. The weather is chilling and the shorebirds are sheltering on our beaches in huddled groups, trying to conserve energy and stay warm and out of the wind by hunkering down …

The Thornton Family of Amelia Island has donated almost 400 acres of wetlands to The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), the organization said in an announcement Thursday. The property is located just …

It’s been a while since I’ve walked the trails around Willow Pond in Fort Clinch State Park. With all the rain we have had in the past couple of months, much of the bike trails through …

A Yulee surf fisherman bagged a great white shark Tuesday on the shores of Fernandina Beach and videoed releasing it back into the ocean.

Barry Bockian of Fernandina Beach caught the alligator dubbed "Big Mama" ferrying one of her young ones along Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway this past week.

For the second year in a row, the first new moon of December brings the first right whale calf of the 2024-2025 season.  Right whale catalog #2413 “Nauset” and her calf were sighted …

Recently, I mentioned to a friend that I was preparing to write an article about pecans. My friend told me, “You surely are the only person I know who can turn the lowly pecan into an …

I always seem to get mixed up in things that go beyond my scope of work and this recent USAID Serbia biodiversity assessment was no exception. I had a capable team working with me, and we split into …

The Cumberland Island Museum is pleased to announce the transfer of its natural history collection to the National Park Service. The Cumberland Island Museum collection …

I’m here in Serbia now doing a biodiversity assessment for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and as usual, the field trip portions of this study are revealing …

Recently, I was strolling along the marina, admiring the yachts docked there, and I stopped by the Amelia River Cruises ticket office to say hello. Kevin McCarthy’s granddaughter was minding …