I’ve Said It Before, And I’ll Say It Again: WILDLIFE REHABBERS ROCK! This Nestling Hawk Was Found

A Eurasian Collared Dove built a nest in our yard

Someone got a bath today! The rainy weather in Florida is not always a bad thing. Florida’s climate is vital for restoring our water system, supporting lush tropical growth, and great for keeping things clean. 

Importance of Volunteering

If you are a high school student, volunteering is probably a requirement for graduation. Finding an organization to volunteer with can be challenging, especially during a global pandemic. There are a couple of resources that can help you find opportunities. Before we get to those, I want to encourage you to think about your interests and what you hope to get out of your volunteer experience. I also want to encourage you to look beyond fulfilling a graduation requirement. Volunteering provides you with experience that you can list on your resume and if you stay with an organization for a while, it can lead to references and letters of recommendation. I always remind my volunteers to treat their volunteer position like a job. Just because you are not getting paid does not mean you’re not acquiring work experience.

Where to look

Hands on Broward is a database of volunteer opportunities in Broward County and it allows users to search for opportunities based on their interests and location. Volunteer Connect is Volunteer Florida’s opportunity portal. It runs on the same software as Hands on Broward and is another resource I recommend to anyone interested in volunteering.

Different organizations use these platforms in different ways. At the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital we use Hands on Broward to recruit episodic volunteers. This means that volunteers that sign up for these opportunities are not making a long-term commitment to us. You can volunteer once or multiple times, but you are limited to the dates and times posted.

If there is a specific organization, you are interested in start by visiting their website. Often, organizations will have volunteering information online. Be sure to read the requirements carefully and follow the instructions provided. If you have questions give them a call or send an e-mail if one is provided. Depending on the organization some volunteer opportunities will have age requirements. For example, our volunteer program has two different tracks based on age: Junior Volunteers are aged 13-17 and Adult Volunteers are 18 and older.

How to be a great volunteer

I am fortunate to work with amazing volunteers daily. They show up and do great work every single day. Our most successful volunteers understand our mission and how it relates to their assigned position. It is for this reason that I encourage volunteers to find something that aligns with their interests and goals. Please start your search early so that you are not scrambling to complete your hours with only months left to spare. Due to Covid-19 a lot of volunteer programs are operating at a limited capacity if they are operating at all.

Lastly, use volunteering as an opportunity to practice important skills such as speaking on the phone and writing professional e-mails. If you need to excuse yourself from a shift or need to ask a question it is a good idea to do it yourself rather than rely on an adult to do it for you. I love hearing from my volunteers and I especially like to see students taking an active role in the management of their volunteer role.

Learn more here: https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/2020/11/17/finding-volunteer-opportunities-for-high-schoolers/

This juvenile red tailed hawk was brought to the SNC a few weeks ago after being found injured on a golf course. On Sep. 27 the hawk was successfully released back into the wild!

Red tailed hawks are native to Florida and, like all hawks, considered a bird of prey. Their large talons and sharp beaks are perfect for ripping and tearing their prey. It also makes them difficult patients. Luckily, our experienced rehabber was able to get the hawk all patched up and back into the wild in record time! 

Ewok, the eastern screech owl, is a permanent resident at the SNC due to an eye injury that would prevent him from thriving in the wild. He is a fully grown eastern screech owl, even though their small size leads many to believe that they are juveniles. 

The interesting coloring of their feathers is camouflage adapted to blend in with the base of trees. 

And yes, we name all of the Eastern Screech Owls we care for after Star Wars. 

What is Baby Season?

Here at the Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital, we see babies year-round. Part of this is due to Florida’s subtropical climate, another part is that some animals (such as raccoons) have babies all year long. 

So what is so special about the Spring at the SNC? 

Regardless of what specific time of year animal species have babies, a majority of them seem to coincide with the Spring. That means many animal species are having babies all at once in the Springtime. Nature Centers just like ours are flooded with baby birds, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and more. 

For the most part, these are all animals that have many babies at once. The reason they do this is to increase the chances that at least one of those babies will survive to adulthood. For the many of us that have seen abandoned baby animals, we know that the trials of infancy in the animal kingdom can be quite challenging indeed. 

This season reminds us why it is so important that we have community resources like wildlife rehabilitators to ensure that these animals are given the highest chance of success possible. 

With that in mind, there are some very important things to remember as we March into baby season. If you see a potentially abandoned baby animal, please do not touch it. Rescue is not always the best first step for these animals. Many baby animals are mistaken for being orphaned, when in reality, mom is usually close by watching. 

For example, baby birds experience a natural part of their life cycle on the ground by a tree as they develop necessary skills for independence and flight. While mom might not be immediately identifiable, most times, these baby birds are doing exactly what they should be doing. 

The best thing to keep in mind is that before you intervene with nature, always call your local nature center first for advice. What may seem like an emergency situation, may actually just be a natural part of an animal’s life cycle. 

Are you feeling increased stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 related issues? Lavender is one of the best ways to naturally reduce stress and anxiety. Burn a lavender candle, use a few drops of lavender essential oils in a bath, or even use some to mix with lemonade! 

Check out what other people are using lavender for here: https://www.ausnaturalcare.com.au/health/life-style/10-benefits-of-lavender-essential-oil-and-how-to-use-it/

This is Molly, our loggerhead musk turtle, receiving her first Valentine’s Day worm! Her incredibly strong beak is perfectly adapted to crushing through the tough exoskeletons of her prey. If you are interested in sending Molly a box of worms this Valentine’s Day, consider donating here: https://www.facebook.com/sncwild/posts/4168465543165140

Art and nature go hand-in-hand more often than people think. Previous artist in residence, Jan Kolenda, came out to touch up our tortoise statue. This statue highlights some important tortoise features such as their leathery skin that is adapted to crawling across land, their dome shaped shells, and the scutes that make up their shell. 

Those of you that follow us on social media may already be familiar with Bumper and the reason he got his name. Bumper likes to bump shoes with the front of his shell. This is a territorial display that is meant to inform the keeper of the day that they are in his home and they are only welcome as long as there is food.

Bumper is with the Sawgrass Nature Center because he is considered an exotic species. That means his species is not native to Florida.

What is Bumper?

Greek Tortoise

The Greek tortoise is one of five of the Mediterranean species of tortoises. They can grow to an average size of 5-8 inches in length, making them one of the smaller species of tortoise. Even though they have an average lifespan of about 50 years, they have been recorded to live up to 125 years in captivity with proper care and treatment.

Want to see Bumper?

Even though these guys are small in size, they require a pretty big habitat space to be kept happy and healthy. This includes lots of dirt and vegetation. That’s why if you come by the SNC to visit Bumper, you may have a hard time spotting him in such a large exhibit area. The best time to see Bumper is feeding time Tuesdays-Sundays around 11am-12pm. You might even get to see him do his famous “Bumper” display.