Hydrologic Update The swamp is full! Water levels remained high through October, which is good for growing populations of aquatic prey. On this graph, the red line shows the water levels at the Sanctuary during the current “water year,” which runs June 1 through May 31. The gray shaded area is the average range of water levels recorded since 2000. We are currently slightly above the recent average water level for early November. How quickly will it dry down? We expect water levels will begin falling more quickly in November and December, which are typically our least rainy months of the year. We’ve begun to see a few Wood Storks in the area and hope these sightings will become more frequent in November. As always, we are hopeful that hydrologic conditions will encourage Wood Storks to begin nesting in the Sanctuary in December.Read more from our October Conservation Update.

Water Year 2021 vs. current (00-present)

Great News: Conservation Collier Referendum Passes! Great news! The Conservation Collier referendum passed. It's a huge win for our wetlands, our wildlife, and for residents and visitors to our region who depend on clean drinking water and healthy estuaries. Find more information about it in this news article.

Wet Prairie.

Lunch and Learn: Climate Messaging on December 8 Join our Lunch and Learn series on December 8. In this webinar, Audubon Florida staff will explain how infrastructure and policies can strengthen all of the interconnected and critical components of our vibrant communities, including our natural environment. To cap off the conversation, we’ll dig into the emerging Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Compact – a collaborative effort between cities and counties to prepare for, adapt to, and prevent climate impacts.  Register for Lunch and Learn and find recordings from previous webinars.

A landscape view of Southwest Florida.

Fish Sampling Resumes The pandemic has affected all aspects of Sanctuary operations – it even suspended our internship programs. The conservation intern, who is typically hired for a six-month assignment, assists with a variety of monitoring projects that help drive management decisions. The data they collect contribute to our understanding of how the habitats within the Sanctuary and the Western Everglades are changing. This year, we are fortunate to have some Florida Gulf Coast University students to the rescue! These students have provided valuable assistance with the fish sampling program and will soon assist with trail camera monitoring and maintenance.

Fish Monitoring at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

Thanksgiving Sale Let our online store be your place to shop for the holidays! During the week of Nov. 23 – 28, take advantage of our ten percent online shopping discount and check-out with promo code “Thanksgiving.” Decorate your garden, your home, or your Christmas tree with our merchandise selection or surprise your loved ones with a gift from the Nature Store. We carry merchandise made in America, items made by artists, and Fair Trade items from around the world. Be sure to visit the online store periodically to see all of the new items that are uploaded each week. Proceeds from every purchase help support our mission. Thank you! Shop online now!

Nature Store items: (clockwise) Bee Bracelet, String Art Owl, Turtle Teething Toy, Zebra and Sandalwood Watch.

Saying Goodbye... We couldn't capture or say this any more eloquently than our friend, photographer Mac Stone. A special cohort of people have this special place embedded deep within their souls, and Jack and Thelma were two such people. Jack was a boardwalk naturalist, having donated more than 11,000 hours to the Sanctuary over 25 years, and Thelma was always at his side. They will both be greatly missed.  Read Mac's tribute on Facebook.

Thelma and Jack Wheeler. Photo by Mac Stone.

Year-end Giving for Conservation As we approach the end of the calendar year, we hope you’ll consider supporting the Sanctuary with a year-end gift. 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us in so many ways, however, it is clear now more than ever how much we all rely on wild places like Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Year-end gifts will help us recover from the financial impacts of COVID-19 and further our work to protect, restore, and enhance the Sanctuary for wildlife and people. For more information on gifting vehicles or ways to give, please contact development manager Sarah Lathrop. Thank you for joining us to sustain the Sanctuary.

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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