Get Shelling! Amelia Island Needs Your Help for Whale Mosaic Project
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 awareness and provide education about the highly endangered right whale.
Over the years, I have created many shell mosaics on beaches along the east coast. The practice of walking along the beach and collecting shells is something I have loved to do all my life. Just about everyone loves to collect shells on the beach. And, having a creative and educational use for all those collected shells is even better.
Recently, I was reminded that it has been at least 6 years since our community has gathered to create a shell mosaic on Amelia Island beaches. My friend Robyn helped create many shell mosaics with Wild Amelia Jr. Naturalists over the years with me. Robyn shared, “This is a wonderful memory, and I’m thinking about all those Junior Naturalist kiddos who worked to create seashell sculptures on Amelia Island’s beaches with Lauri over the years.” Thanks for reminder, Robyn, I wish you were here to help us create another mosaic honoring all female right whales giving birth this year.
To help us create another life-size whale out of shells, we are asking the community for help. We will need thousands of shells to complete this public art project. We would like for you to collect only grey oyster shells from local beaches. We will not accept any “fresh shucked” oyster shells for this project as the edges of the shells are too sharp. Grey oyster shells found on local beaches have been tumbled in the sand, and the edges are nice and smooth.
I have completed several projects on the beach in the month of January. If there is a stiff northeast wind blowing or rainy conditions are present, we will reschedule the project for the next day - Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. I have checked the lunar calendar and the tides. There is plenty of beach at Main Beach for the mosaic on this weekend.
I am hoping for a day of "apricity." Apricity is the warmth of the sun on a clear winter day. A cold, clear day with little to no wind and the bright sun shining is perfect. Dress warm and enjoy a winter day creating beach art and having fun.
Where are the North Atlantic right whales now you may ask? Well, they are scattered along the East Coast of North America. A quick look at Whalemap this week showed right whales from the Gulf of Maine south to Central Florida. Three mother/calf pairs have been identified between the Chesapeake Bay and North Florida. Just one week ago, two right whales were spotted off Palm Coast, just south of St. Augustine. No calves were spotted with these two adults … yet!
Expecting mothers will give birth and bond with their newborn calves, sometimes very close to shore. Over the years, many mother and calf pairs have been sighted just off the beaches of Amelia Island. One quick and easy way to see if North Atlantic right whales are near our shores is to use the interactive map found at Whalemap. If a whale is listed close to Amelia Island, grab your binoculars and head to the beach. My favorite Amelia Island whale observation locations are Burney Park at American Beach, Main Beach, and North Beach.
There are several signs that a whale and calf might be nearby. Look for many seabirds diving in the same location. And look for dark spots on the surface of the water. Right whales do not have a dorsal fin on the top of their back. And they tend to rest just below the surface of the water. This makes them difficult to spot when resting. However, when mother and calf are active, we see the tail and fins break the water’s surface, often. Another indicator that a right whale is present is the signature “V” shaped blow that shoots into the air with every breath they take.
Whalemap.org was designed to communicate whale survey results for effective management practices. Data collected from acoustic buoys, aerial surveillance, and boat observations are uploaded daily and made public for all to use. Research teams from the United States and Canada collaborate to share data and strategies designed to protect the estimated 370 remaining North Atlantic right whales.
If you are lucky enough to spot a whale, call 877-WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343) or call the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Ch. 16. Please have the following information ready: location of whale(s); city, lat/long, nearby landmark; number of whales; direction traveling; are dolphins and birds present; your name and a call back number. Remember to remain at least 500 yards from right whales.
As part of your New Year’s resolution, I challenge you to get outside and collect oyster shells from the beach. Plan time to breathe in some salty fresh air, get a little exercise and collect those oyster shells between now and Jan. 25. Bring all collected oyster shells and family members of all ages to Main Beach at 10 a.m. and help us form a life-size right whale and create some fun memories. This public art project will remain on the beach until the tide takes it out to sea. Start collecting those shells now!
The Observer published two stories about the last shell mosaic whale art project here in Nov. 2018, which are linked below.
Public art display on Amelia Island during Right Whale Month
