Monthly eNewsletter

Displaced Ducklings Find New Homes in Restoration Area Nine ducklings were rescued from a parking area near the Fort Myers airport in late September and taken to the Center for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island. Shortly thereafter, as Hurricane Ian approached, they were evacuated to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s von Arx Wildlife Hospital in Naples. They were released in October at these beautiful wetlands that are part of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s ongoing marsh and wet prairie restoration effort. Watch a short video from their release.  Read the entire story.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducklings in flight.

Corkscrew Sanctuary's Jacob Zetzer Recognized Audubon could not accomplish a fraction of what it does without the dedication, talents, and hard work of staff. Audubon Florida has nearly 100 full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff working in resource management, research, education, policy, and operations. Because of this abundance of talent, two deserving team members are recognized with Staff of Distinction awards each year. Please help us congratulate our own Jacob Zetzer, Restoration Technician, for being recognized with one of those awards in 2022.  Read more about Jacob.

Jacob Zetzer accepts the award from his supervisor Shawn Clem, PhD. Photo: Donald Sawin

Welcome, Cecilia Benalcazar! We are excited to have Cecilia Benalcazar join our team as the new Retail Sales Manager, overseeing admissions, the café, and Nature Store. She comes to us with a degree in Marketing & Fashion Design and has worked in retail, tourism, and hospitality, having owned several of her own retail and food establishments. Cecilia migrated south (from Maryland) to Florida in 2021 with her husband, son, and black lab. Being connected to nature is a high priority for her, and she and her family are excited to enjoy Florida’s outdoors all year long. She is eager to absorb the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary environment while providing an exceptional visitor experience.

Cecilia Benalcazar, Retail Sales Manager

Discoveries After Dusk is TOMORROW! Discover the magic of the swamp after dusk! This special event invites visitors of all ages to learn about the nighttime activities of wildlife, including raccoons, bats, moths, owls, and more. From 5 to 7 p.m. enjoy live music with Tad and the Tadpoles (bluegrass/folk music) in the visitor center, as well as bat and moth interpretive stations on the boardwalk, spotting scopes, stargazing, and holiday shopping! Discounted admission is $8 for adults, $3 for kids 6-14, and free for members. Read more and register.

Tad and the Tadpoles band performing at the Sanctuary.

Member Corner: Lectures and Holiday Store Discount Did you know? Members can double their discount this holiday season with 20% off purchases at the Nature Store through December 11.  We are also excited to announce a new series of lectures for members on the second Friday of every month. Through April 2023, these free, hour-long lectures invite members to network and learn about environmental topics from Audubon staff. Topics include South Florida wetlands, reptiles, climate change solutions, and more! Join us this Friday, Dec. 9, when Senior Resource Manager Allyson Webb will present her lecture on prescribed fire. Members register here. Not a member? Join today! View the entire lecture line-up.

Great Egret. Photo: Canva

Scroll past the news for more information and events!

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in the News Restoring a Treasure: Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Passes Hard-fought Habitat Milestone https://www.news-press.com/story/tech/science/environment/2022/12/04/war-willows-restoring-treasure-audubon-corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary-hard-fought-habitat-milestone/10791265002/ One of the chief menaces to Audubon's beloved Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an unexpected foe. In this case, the sanctuary has spent five years and some $2.5 million fighting a Florida native: coastal plain willow, Salix caroliniana. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Completes Phase One of Wetland Restoration https://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/articles/corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary-completes-phase-one-of-wetland-restoration/ “As development continues to creep closer to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, we need healthy wetlands to protect water quality, recharge aquifers, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and hold water during big rainfall events,” says Marshall Olson, director of conservation and interim sanctuary director. Over 1,000 Acres Mulched of Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Wetland Restoration Has Been Finished (video) https://www.fox4now.com/collier-county/over-1-000-acres-mulched-of-audubons-corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary-wetland-restoration-has-been-finished After five years, The Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has been working to restore important wetlands, the project, called Restoring Corkscrew's Marshes and Prairies has just reached a milestone of 1,000 acre’s mulched which is key to restoration of the wetlands. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Announces More than 1,000 Acres of Land Restoration (video) https://nbc-2.com/news/2022/11/23/corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary-announces-more-than-1000-acres-of-land-restoration/ For the last five years, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has been restoring its land to protect wildlife from invasive plants. “You just lost all access to the water if you’re a wading bird. Certainly, all those fish are unavailable to you. It’s not an easy place to hike through,” said Marshall Olsen, the Director of Conservation at the Corkscrew Swamp Nature Sanctuary. Audubon Clears Naples' Corkscrew Swamp of 1,000 Acres of Invasive Willow https://wgcu.prod.npr.psdops.com/section/environment/2022-11-28/audubon-clears-corkscrew-swamp-of-1-000-acres-of-invasive-willow Fifteen years ago, there was no noticeable problem with invasive Carolina willows at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. “We’re not going to ever remove all of the willow,” said Renee Wilson, senior communications coordinator for Audubon Florida. “It is a native species; however, once we get the acreage into restoration we’re much better able to manage it and keep the willow at bay.” Corkscrew SIGHTINGS: Screech-owls are masters of camouflage https://www.swspotlight.com/articles/community/corkscrew-sightings-screech-owls-are-masters-of-camouflage/ As night falls across Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, imagine that a mysterious trill pierces the silence followed by another in response. Along the boardwalk, visitors who are participating in a special guided night walk sense they are being watched. Suddenly, out of an old-growth bald cypress cavity, a small bird drops on quiet wings, streaking through patchy moonlight, and snatches a small mouse scurrying along the boardwalk railing.  FPL helps to renovate Corkscrew Swamp Discovery Center https://naples.floridaweekly.com/articles/giving-156/ Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s Blair Visitor Center acts as a gateway into the 13,450-acre Sanctuary — the heart of the Western Everglades. Thanks in part to a generous gift from Florida Power & Light Company the new exhibits and a discovery center redesign will illustrate the history and ecology of the Sanctuary like never before.

Mark Your Calendar for School’s Out and Summer Camp! Mark your calendar! This January we will be opening registration for Wild Florida Summer Camp. Due to demand, we’ve expanded our camp size and increased camper ages to 6 to 12 years. Last summer’s campers had a blast! These photos and testimonials will make you smile.  Students can also look forward to our School’s Out Day Programs, coming up on January 13 (Swamp Survivor: Uh Oh, Which Way Do I Go?) and March 27 (Corkscrew Carnivores: Canines, Claws, and Mighty Big Paws.) These daylong programs are perfect for students ages 6 to 12.  Read more about School's Out Day Programs.

Summer camp memories from 2022.

"Flight of the Woodstork" accepted into Wildlife Conservation Film Festival “Flight of the Wood Stork," a short film produced by National Audubon Society’s Senior Producer, Visual Storytelling, Christine Lin, was accepted into the 2022 Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (WCFF). Set at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and featuring several staff members, the seven-minute-long film centers around the largest nesting colony of Wood Storks in the country, which has seen a decline in population over recent years due to habitat changes. Watch the short film here. View the festival web page.

Flight of the Wood Stork promo.

Holiday Hours and Shopping The Nature Store is full of merchandise, ready for your holiday shopping! Stop in anytime from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to take a look around for that unique gift. Members enjoy 10% off (except now through Dec. 11 it is 20%!) and volunteers enjoy 20% off year-round. From jewelry to stocking stuffers, all purchases support our mission. Visit the online store. Find ornaments and other holiday items in the Nature Store. Upcoming Events Check out these upcoming tours and events! Dec. 8 Discoveries After Dusk Dec. 12 Night Walk Dec. 14 Early Birding Walk The Sanctuary and boardwalk are open every day, including Christmas and New Year’s Day. Make a new holiday tradition of enjoying nature with your friends and family!   View our calendar of events. People enjoying the boardwalk. Photo: David Korte

DONATE

Donations and memberships provide crucial support for conservation work at the Sanctuary. The Blair Audubon Center and boardwalk are open daily with timed admissions from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Online tickets are required at www.corkscrew.audubon.org/visit.

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Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary 375 Sanctuary Rd., Naples, FL 34120 USA (239) 348-9151 | corkscrew.audubon.org © 2024 National Audubon Society, Inc. Unsubscribe