What’s Happening at Rookery Bay
Don’t Let the Flock Pass You By
The Friends of Rookery Bay is pleased to announce that support for this year’s Batfish Bash for the Bay is off to a fabulous start. The Bash committee has reported many auction items are already in hand. A number of supporters have matched or trumped their gifts from previous years, and several new sponsors are being welcomed to the family. The list of cash donors to date includes Minto, Arthrex, Pulte Homes, and J.R. Evans Engineering. In-kind sponsors include Marco Marriott, Naples Daily News, Lennar Homes, Southern Wines & Spirits, Tito’s Vodka, the Aggressor Fleet, Artistic Science, and StoreSmart Self-Storage. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to support a great local cause: donate an auction item, be a sponsor, or take advantage of the wonderful auction by attending the event.
Preview auction items and find more info here: www.rookerybay.org/bash.
Save The Date!
Saturday, March 15, 2014 from
6 to 10 p.m.
“Batfish Bash for the Bay.”
Enjoy a casual cocktail hour at Rookery Bay
Environmental Learning Center, with sunset
on the bridge overlooking Henderson
Creek, silent auction, and live entertainment
with dinner and dancing under the
stars. Call: 239.530.5971239.530.5971 for tickets, donations, and more information. www.rookerybay.org.
March Events
Registration required at www.rookerybay.org or call 239.540.5940
March 4 (1:30 – 4:30 p.m.) High Points boat tour
Take a three-hour, naturalist-led small boat tour through the back bays and
winding creeks of the Rookery Bay Reserve to visit one of the most unique areas
of Southwest Florida. After disembarking, take a short hike to one of the highest
points in Collier County, an ancient sand dune relic that is 25 feet above sea
level. Participants must have the physical ability to get into and out of a boat tied
up to the shore. Cost is $75 for non-members, $70 for Friends of Rookery Bay
members. Register at rookerybay.org. Also offered March 19 and 28.
March 4 (Noon to 1 p.m.)
Lunch & Learn Lecture
“Goliath Grouper- Giant of the Reef”
Management of the goliath grouper, the largest member of the sea bass family
in our region, has become an intensely debated issue in recent years. Once
severely overfished, they have made a substantial comeback, but there is still
much to be learned about the reef giants. Join Bryan Fluech, the UF/IFAS Florida
Sea Grant Extension Agent in Collier County as he will share insights into the life
history and management issues surrounding goliath grouper. Lunch and dessert
provided by Carrabba’s and Costco. Lectures are free for members and $10 for
non-members Reservations are required at www.rookerybay.org.
March 5 (1:30 – 4:30 p.m.)
Treasure Island boat tour
The treasure on this remarkable island isn’t gold, silver or pirate’s booty. It is
the amazing ecological treasure of a very rare tropical hardwood hammock.
This tour lasts approximately 3 hours and requires the physical ability to get
into and out of a boat tied up to the shore and to walk 1/2 mile on uneven
terrain. Closed-toed shoes are required. Cost is $75 for non-members, $70 for
Friends of Rookery Bay members and includes admission to the Rookery Bay
Environmental Learning Center. Register at rookerybay.org. Also offered March
13, 18 and 27.
March 6 (1:30 – 4:30 p.m.)
History Mystery boat tour
Explore Rookery Bay Reserve’s human and natural history during this 3-hour
small boat trip. From early Native Americans to mullet millionaires, and from
mud crabs to manatees, this tour is about exploring the mystery of history.
Participants must have the physical ability to step on and off of the boat at a
dock. Cost is $75 for non-members, $70 for Friends of Rookery Bay members
and includes admission to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center.
Register at rookerybay.org. Also offered March 11, 20 and 26.
March 7 (1:30 – 4:30 p.m.)
Life is a Beach boat tour
Take a naturalist-led small boat tour and explore Keewaydin Island,
a natural, living barrier island with an incredible diversity of life and
some of the best shelling in Florida. The 3-hour trip includes time to
stroll the beach with the naturalist and a cruise through the Rookery
Bay mangrove estuary. Participants must have the physical ability to
step on and off of the boat at a dock. Cost is $75 for non-members,
$70 for Friends of Rookery Bay members and includes admission
to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center. Register at
rookerybay.org. Also offered March 12, 21 and 25.
March 8 (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
WING IT: A Beginning Birder Workshop
Learn basics of birding, including how to use field guides, plumage,
flight patterns, behavior and field marks in bird identification. This
class also provides an overview of binocular styles and functions,
including adjusting the diopter and other “tricks of the trade.” The
classroom session will be followed by a field trip to a nearby park
to practice new skills. Cost is $30 for non-members and $25 for
members. The class is limited to 20 people and pre-registration is
required online at rookerybay.org.
March 22 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
World Water Day
In celebration of World Water Day, the Rookery Bay Environmental
Learning Center offers “buy one, get one free admission.” Higher
price prevails. Cannot be combined with other offers.
March 24-28 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Art Class: Acrylic Landscape & Seascape
Learn how to paint favorite scenes and landscapes and to create
fantastic skies, gorgeous ocean scenes, trees, mountains and
more during this five-day class. Using her book “Landscapes in
Acrylic” as a guide, Lee Hammond will demonstrate easy methods
for students at all ability levels; no experience required. During
Hammond’s class last year, students went home with four paintings
ready for framing. Hammond has been a professional artist and art
instructor for more than 30 years. She has published more than
35 art instruction books. Supplies are not included. Cost is $375.
Maximum class size is nine people.
March 27 (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.) and March 28 (7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
Nature Photography Workshop
This two-day workshop is designed as a skill building session for
relative newcomers to digital SLR photography. These classes are not
intended to teach you the basic functions of your individual camera,
as participants are expected to know how to operate their cameras; instead it will
address nature photography techniques in the classroom and in the field. The classroom
session will address a variety of photography techniques including; spot metering,
composition, depth of field, etc. Additionally, there will be a discussion on ethics
of nature photography and the practices photographers sometimes use to get the
“perfect shot.” There will also be three hours of one class dedicated to practicing new skills in
the field. Required equipment: digital SLR camera with detachable
lenses. This class is not designed for point-and-shoot camera users.
Maximum number of participants: 7. Cost: $150 for two-day class.
Registration required.
March 28 (5:30 to 7 p.m.)
Amazing Adventures
“Exploring wild tropical China” given by: Hong Liu, Department
of Earth and Environment at Florida International University and
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Assistant Professor. Over the past
six years, Liu has had many opportunities to explore and study many
remote, but biologically rich parts of tropical China. She will share
some of her experiences, and discuss the conservation challenges
that many rare Chinese plants are facing. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
for refreshments, the speaker’s presentation is 6 to 7 p.m. followed
by questions and mingling. Admission is free for members and $10
for non-members and includes refreshments.
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