Nature Center

Visit Our Website: www.tgonaturecenter.org

8AM - 5PM Daily

COMING UP AT A GLANCE

March 2022

05 5:15 pm Watson Trail Saturday Sunset Hike @ Trailhead 07 9:00 am Betty Salter Trail Maintenance @ Trailhead 09 9:00 am Betty Salter Trail Hike @ Trailhead 09 3:00 pm Nature Center Members-Only Annual Meeting PM

09 BOD Meeting-After Annual Meeting PM 11 1:00 pm Eagle Walk @ Watson Trail Trailhead 13 Daylight Savings Time Begins-Spring Forward 14 9:00 am Addison Trail Maintenance @ Trailhead 16 9:00 am Addison Trail Hike @ Trailhead 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

LIB– Library NC—Nature Center PM—Plantation Manor PV—Pavilion

A GOOD READ AND A GREAT IDEA

On February 1, Jane Dotson posted the following on the Nature Center Facebook Group: “Read the best book from Nature Center library, A Land Remembered by Patrick Smith. Loved this book. Even though it's fiction, there is so much truth to the pioneer life in FL and the history of the land. Loved the characters and even the animals. One of the best books I've ever read. Also, I love checking out a kid's book about once a week to FaceTime my g-kids reading them a book before bed. They love it!” Editor’s Note: Thank you, Jane, for allowing us to share this post! Today’s technology makes it easier to connect with grandkids who live far away and what young kiddo doesn’t like a good bedtime story. The Nature Center has a nice selection of children’s nature themed fiction and non-fiction books for all ages. Check them out!

NATURE TRIVIA QUESTION

What is the largest freshwater turtle in North America? The nature trivia answer can be found under “Contacts.”

32

TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND GUIDED NATURE HIKES

Trail maintenances and guided nature hikes are listed below with meeting locations. Long pants, long sleeves, hiking shoes/boots, insect repellant, sunscreen and water are recommended. For trail maintenance, please bring gloves, a rake or loppers and for hikes, you may want binoculars and/or a camera. To volunteer for trail maintenance or for any questions, please text Betty Salter at 321-223-8073 or you may send her an email at bettysalter@hotmail.com. Unless otherwise

noted, meet at each respective trail’s trailhead on the golf cart nature trail. TRAIL MAINTENANCES

Mondays, March 07, 14 and 21 at 9:00 am

03/07—Betty Salter Trail @ Trailhead 03/14—Addison Trail @ Trailhead 03/21—Mattila Trail @ Nature Center Trailhead

GUIDED NATURE HIKES March 05 Sunset Hike at 5:15 pm Wednesdays, March 09, 16 and 23 at 9:00 am Saturday, March 26 at 5:30 pm

03/05—Watson Trail Saturday Sunset Hike @ Trailhead 03/09—Betty Salter Trail @ Trailhead 03/16—Addison Trail @ Trailhead 03/23—Mattila Trail @ Nature Center Trailhead 03/26—Watson Trail Saturday Sunset Hike @ Trailhead For guided hikes on other days, contact Betty Salter.

EAGLE WALK Friday March 11 and 25 at 1:00 pm

Eagle Walk with EagleWatch volunteer Brian Grande. Meet at the Watson Trail trailhead. If you have any questions, please call Brian Grande at 407-766-7867. Brian’s Eagle Nest Update 4: On February 15, Brian provided the following update: We have three eaglets in the Watson Trail nest again this year! They're getting large enough that an adult is no longer closely guarding them but still flying nearby. We saw the biggest eaglet stretching wings on Fridays walk to the nest viewing area. In the next couple weeks they'll be taking hop flights above the nest, playing games, and then short flights to nearby branches. A month from now they could be flying and ready to leave the nest a couple weeks after that, still depending on their parents for food while working on their skills.

TGO Residents—Join Our TGO Nature Center Facebook Group

8AM - 5PM Daily

The Nature Center Website Visit the Nature Center website at www.tgonaturecenter.org. It is a resource for TGO nature information.

The Photo Albums help with plant and wildlife identification.

Editor/Lead Writer Sightings Around TGO Nature Center Website Nature Shows/Slideshows Nature Center Facebook Group Darlene Durham 321-268-0199/321-747-5874 darlenedurham@yahoo.com

Injured Animals Nature Center Membership Activities & Volunteering Assist in Selling Large Items Used Recycled Ink Cartridges

Sandy Juba-321-543-0502

sjubatgo@gmail.com Schedule Meeting Room M/W/F am and T/TH pm

North America. Cory Lucas-321-264-2393 the largest freshwater turtle in Other Meeting Room Days and The Alligator Snapping Turtle is Times and Enclosed Porch

Nature Trivia Answer Loretta Anne’ -321-385-9667

The Gathering Swarms, a PBS NATURE video, will be shown on the Nature Center television for the next two weeks. This nature show is approximately 60 minutes long. Dedicated viewing times are Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, Saturdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and Sundays from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Nature show description and TV/DVD operation instructions are posted under the TV. For any questions or assistance, call Darlene Durham at 321-268-0199 or 321-747-5874.

CONTACTS

NATURE CENTER MEMBERS-ONLY ANNUAL MEETING NATURE CENTER GOLF CART TOUR Wednesday, March 09 at 3:00 pm Saturday, March 19 at 9:00 am

The annual meeting of the Nature Center will be Naturalist Betty Salter will be leading a Golf held in the Plantation Manor. This is a Nature Cart Tour of the Blue Heron Water Reclamation Center members-only meeting. Facility. This special tour is by reservation

Wednesday, March 09 after Annual Meeting only. Please contact Betty Salter by text at A short meeting of the Board of Directors will 321-223-8073 or email bettysalter@hotmail.com. be held in the Plantation Manor directly after the annual meeting.

NATURE PROGRAMS Wednesday, March 09 at 7:00 pm

Join us in the Plantation Manor for our nature program. Our upcoming program is listed below. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted to help offset the speaker fee.

Chairs will be spaced for social distancing and we strongly recommend wearing masks.

Edward Gonzalez Tennant, Ph.D. "Unearthing Rosewood. An Archaeology of Violence and Hope."

SPRING FESTIVAL

Saturday, March 12 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Join us at the Nature Center for our 2022 Spring Festival which will be NATURE SHOW held outdoors. One of our featured exhibitors, Elaine Williams, will be representing the Indian River Anthropological Society (IRAS), the local chapter of the Florida Anthropological Society. She is a board member and past president. She has a BA in anthropology (archaeology) from UCF and an MA in archaeology from Northwestern University where she attended under a National Science Foundation fellowship. Her specialty is prehistoric archaeology of North America and she has participated in excavations in Illinois, Virginia, and Florida. If people want, she can try to ID things they have found. Her exhibit will be about the prehistory of Brevard County. Other exhibitors and food vendors include:  Susan Boorse, the “Owl Lady,” will have her owls with her  Bill’s Bees will have sweet honey for sale  Shari Clark, the Bat Lady, will have bats  Nancy Clark, Squirrel Girl, will have baby squirrels  Firewise will be selling their delicious hotdogs

THANK YOU CHARLES AND PAMELA MCMAHON!

Thank you, Charles and Pamela McMahon, for the donation of The

Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About

That! Ocean Commotion! DVD from our “Wish List Tree.” According to Amazon, this DVD was a National Parenting Publication Award (NAPPA): Gold Winner 2012. “Swim with baby seahorses; cool down with some ice, learn tricks from sea creatures, Photo By Darlene Durham now won't that be nice? And go deep deep down in the ocean so blue, Where the Cat and his friends are waiting for you! “ Kids love learning from The Cat In The Hat. Thank you Charles and Pamela!