SCCF

How many times have you walked past this without noticing? What looks like an empty stretch of beach actually contains a state-threatened #snowyplover on top of a new nest scrape! One of our volunteers noticed this scrape and associated nesting behaviors over the weekend, on the first official day of shorebird nesting season in Southwest Florida. Please give nesting shorebirds space to thrive this season: watch your step, pick up your trash, leash your pets, and avoid disturbing birds. 📷: Joe Foster

A rare bird surprise at SCCF’s Pick Preserve! ✨ Several excited birders recently alerted us of a surprising visitor to our preserve: A scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)! Known for its elegant gray and yellow-orange coloring and unmistakably long, forked tail, this striking bird is usually found in the south-central United States but occasionally wanders far beyond its typical range during migration. At one point, there were two at the preserve! Scissor-tailed flycatchers typically favor open landscapes with scattered trees and shrubs, habitats much like those found at SCCF’s preserves, where they can hunt insects and rest during migration. Sightings like this are a reminder of how important protected habitats are for migratory birds traveling through Southwest Florida. *Note* SCCF’s Pick Preserve does not have public parking. 📷: Photos 1 & 3 by Susan Griffith Berthelot, Photo 2 by Debi Griffith #scissortailedflycatcher #bird #migration #sanibel #sanibelisland

Three takeaways from the Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture Series 👇 Jean-Michel Cousteau left us with powerful reminders:
• Ocean conservation has never been more urgent
• Our community’s commitment to conservation is inspiring
• Exploration and science can drive meaningful change 💙 Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special event. #SCCF #McCarthyLecture #OceanConservation #Sanibel #Conservation #MarineScience #ProtectOurOceans

How can you see all this and not want to protect it? 🌎 
Every shoreline, trail, and habitat needs people who care enough to show up. Volunteering with SCCF is more than giving time, it’s helping preserve the places that make Southwest Florida so special. Join us in protecting what we love. Comment “PROTECT” for more information on how to get involved #SCCF #ProtectOurLand #VolunteerForNature #Sanibel #Conservation #SWFL #GiveBack #LoveWhereYouLive

Bald eagle update from Sanibel’s ‘Dairy Queen nest’ 🦅💙 SCCF staff and volunteers have been closely monitoring bald eagle nests across Sanibel and Captiva, and the 2025 nesting season is off to a strong start. On Sanibel, four of five known nests have hatched, including the locally beloved “Dairy Queen nest” (pictured), where two eaglets have hatched. On Captiva, our three monitored nests have hatched a total of five chicks. Unfortunately, the North Captiva nest was less successful and failed following a territorial dispute between other adult eagles. “It can be difficult to confirm the exact number of chicks in the early weeks after hatching, as eaglets are small and tend to remain low in the nest,” said SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht. “Once they grow bigger and more adventurous, they are easier to spot.” In Florida, bald eagle nesting season runs from Oct. 1 to May 15. #baldeagles #baldeagle #sanibel #captiva #eagle

What an incredible day at Point Ybel Brewery! 🍻 Thank you to everyone who came out to support SCCF’s wildlife research and habitat management of the Sanibel Slough.  From live music by PIT Tag to ambassador animals, lightning talks, and family-friendly fun — this community truly showed up for conservation. Every drink, every conversation, every moment made a difference. 🌿

Love is in the air, and tomorrow it’s in the sand, too, with Feb. 15 marking the beginning of shorebird nesting season in Southwest Florida. 🐦 Sanibel provides critical habitat for several shorebird species, including state-threatened snowy plovers (Anarhynchus nivosus), pictured here. Perfectly camouflaged against the sand, their nests, eggs, and chicks are easy to miss, which means a little care from beachgoers goes a long way. You can help by leashing pets, watching where you step, and giving posted nesting areas plenty of space (especially when taking photos). Our shorebird team will be out every day through August monitoring and protecting these vulnerable beach nesters. Learn more about how to share the shore: sccf.org/sharing-the-sh… #shorebirds #snowyplover #sharetheshore #sanibel #ValentinesDay

Meet the striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii)! 🐢 Native to Florida, these aquatic turtles can be found in ponds, ditches, and seasonal wetlands throughout the state. Look for their dark shells with three vertical stripes, and two bright yellow stripes along each side of their heads. During the dry season, striped mud turtles go into estivation, which is like a mini hibernation, by burrowing underground to survive when water is scarce. Their habitats rely on healthy freshwater systems, which can be affected by human water use and hurricane events. 🛑 On Sanibel, one of the biggest threats to this species is road mortality. If you see a turtle crossing the road, slow down and help move it safely in the direction it was going. It can save their life! At SCCF, we are following the movements of several striped mud turtles so our biologists can better understand their ecology and movement on a barrier island. #stripedmudturtle #turtles #sanibel #mudturtle #turtle

Because nothing says ‘I love you’ like a nature pun. 🌿💙 Send these SCCF-inspired Valentine’s cards to that special someone. :) #sanibel #captiva #valentinescards #conservation #wildlife

#BeerintheBushes 2026 is coming soon. 🍺✨ We’re excited to welcome @snzippers to the stage on April 4 at our biggest SCCF event, which will include craft beer and a food truck alley! Sponsorships are available now, and tickets go on sale Feb. 25. sccf.org/beer-in-the-bu…

Freshwater flows to the Caloosahatchee have been below the optimum for 100+ days, and our estuary and fisheries will pay the price. Seagrass and oyster reefs support water quality and juvenile habitat for many species, but low flows raise salinity, stressing these critical ecosystems. Prolonged low flows can weaken fisheries for years, impacting biodiversity, water quality, and coastal economies. Stay informed by subscribing to SCCF’s Weekly Water Conditions Report: lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/ZnN4cMK #waterquality #caloosahatchee #habitat #fisheries #sanibel

3rd graders conducted research on loggerhead sea turtles to start the #EvergladesWeek, as PSE is organizing a fundraising to purchase turtle tracking devices for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. @SCCF_SWFL @ParksideProud @collierschools @EvergladesNPS

2nd grade students have been coming to the STEM Lab to monitor the water quality of the water near Parkside and our 5th grade students have been helping to raise funds for the @SCCF_SWFL and teaching younger students about sea turtles! @TeachEverglades @collierschools

Happy #WorldWetlandsDay. 💙 Today and every day, we recognize the importance of the interior wetlands that protect #Sanibel from flooding, filter our water, and support an incredible web of life. At SCCF, we are actively working to conserve and restore these vital ecosystems, protecting the biodiversity of our marshes and the natural uniqueness of our island.

At a moment that matters deeply for the future of the Everglades, SCCF joined our fellow scientists, advocates, and partners for the 41st annual Everglades Coalition Conference this week. This year’s conference arrives at a pivotal time for Everglades restoration, making it all the more important to unite around science, collaboration, and our shared responsibility to protect this extraordinary ecosystem. SCCF has been here participating in panels, connecting with partners, and continuing the conversations that move restoration forward for Florida’s water quality, wildlife, communities, and future. #evco2026 #evco #Everglades #evergladesnationalpark #restoration

Sound on. 💙 #Osprey nesting season is underway, meaning this high-pitched call can be heard more and more often as adults return to and tend to their nesting sites. For the first time in our history, SCCF will be leading monitoring efforts for nearly 200 osprey nests across our region. This work is made possible with the help of dozens of dedicated volunteers. SCCF officially took on the mission of The International Osprey Foundation earlier this month, and we’re excited to steward and build this program into our broader conservation efforts across Southwest Florida.

An unforgettable evening at The Cause 💙 As the sun set over the Bailey Homestead Preserve, the music played, glasses clinked, and a shared love for Sanibel and Captiva filled the tent. Thank you to everyone who showed up with open hearts and generous spirits. Your support fuels the work that protects these extraordinary islands and the coastal ecosystems that make them so special. This is what community-powered conservation looks like. #sanibel #captiva #sanibelisland #sccf #conservationinaction

#ChristmasBirdCount results are in. ✨ 8,720 birds from 95 different species were recorded on Sanibel and Captiva last month as part of our local contribution to the @audubonsociety's 126th Christmas Bird Count! Thanks to our 100+ volunteers and partners who helped us contribute to this important citizen science effort. ❤️ Our data will be combined with other Christmas Bird Counts throughout the western hemisphere, contributing to scientists’ understanding of the long-term health and status of bird populations. 📷: Common grackle photo by Ryan Hornet Read more: sccf.org/2026/01/21/8-7…

This brown pelican was banded in Louisiana in 2010, after being coated in oil and successfully rehabilitated during the Deepwater Horizon disaster. An estimated 27,000 other brown pelicans, and countless other animals, did not survive the spill. As the deadline approaches to oppose plans to expand offshore oil drilling, this bird is a living reminder of what oil drilling puts at risk. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposed plan would open previously protected waters in the Gulf and off the coasts of California and Alaska to oil and gas development, increasing the chance history repeats itself. ⚠️ TAKE ACTION: Public comments close at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 23. Click the link below to make your voice heard. 🔗: regulations.gov/document/BOEM-… About the pelican: SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht re-sighted banded brown pelican “78Z” in Southwest Florida in 2018 — the first confirmed sighting since the oil spill. The bird was seen again in our region in 2020 and 2023.

3 flowering native plants to add to your garden this season 🌼 🌿 Sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana)– Fragrant blooms that attract pollinators and thrive in coastal conditions
🌿 Tea bush (Melochia tomentosa) – A hardy native with delicate white flowers loved by bees and butterflies
🌿 Bushy aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) – A late-season bloomer that provides vital nectar when other flowers fade Want to see these plants in person? 🌱 
As the only retail garden center on Sanibel and Captiva to carry 100% native plants, SCCF’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center is your go-to resource for native and sustainable landscaping. Stroll through our demonstration gardens for inspiration or chat with our expert staff to get your plant questions answered. 📍 Visit us Tuesday–Friday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL