Sunset Flight
(Bahamas AI Image - ©A. Derek Catalano)
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Showing posts with label Fauna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fauna. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Friends of the Environment September E-News
Dear Friend,
September is a time of transition... Days of summer fun turn into classroom engagement, field trips, and community events. We sure have a lot going on! As we stay busy with our programs, FRIENDS wants to make sure we remain accountable to you, our supporters, so we continue publishing this monthly newsletter and sharing our activities on our social media pages. We also publish an annual report, and I am glad to say that the 2025 Annual Report is now available! Please click on the image of the report below and spend a few minutes reviewing our collective accomplishments from the last year.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term. We have a full Board of 13 members from across Abaco, and I am excited about working with them in the coming years as we continue to grow and move FRIENDS forward.
Sincerely,
Olivia Patterson Maura
Executive Director
September is a time of transition... Days of summer fun turn into classroom engagement, field trips, and community events. We sure have a lot going on! As we stay busy with our programs, FRIENDS wants to make sure we remain accountable to you, our supporters, so we continue publishing this monthly newsletter and sharing our activities on our social media pages. We also publish an annual report, and I am glad to say that the 2025 Annual Report is now available! Please click on the image of the report below and spend a few minutes reviewing our collective accomplishments from the last year.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term. We have a full Board of 13 members from across Abaco, and I am excited about working with them in the coming years as we continue to grow and move FRIENDS forward.
Sincerely,
Olivia Patterson Maura
Executive Director
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Mangrove Creek Egrets - PC Wallpaper
Mangrove Creek Egrets
(Bahamas AI Image - ©A. Derek Catalano)
Download full size: 5376x3072
Related article: The Mangrove Forests of The Bahamas
Monday, September 21, 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
The Fat Sea Biscuit
A Sea Biscuit I found on Jaws Beach, New Providence, Bahamas. It was stained and discolored so I soaked it overnight in bleachy water. This type is called a Fat Sea Biscuit.
Fat Sea Biscuit
©A. Derek Catalano - Download full size
The Fat Sea Biscuit
The fat sea biscuit (Clypeaster rosaceus) is a heavy-bodied species of irregular sea urchin within the family Clypeasteridae. Inhabiting the tropical shallow-water marine environments of the western Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico, it represents a remarkable evolutionary divergence from typical radial urchins.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Guardians of the Archipelago: The Mangrove Forests of The Bahamas
Mangrove Creek with White Egrets and Fish
Guardians of the Archipelago: The Mangrove Forests of The Bahamas
At the interface of terrestrial stability and oceanic fluid dynamic lies one of the planet's most resilient yet fragile ecosystems: the mangrove forest. Known colloquially as the "blue forests," these halophytic (salt-tolerant) trees occupy the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coastlines across the globe.
Nowhere is the dynamic relationship between land, sea, and community more pronounced than in The Bahamas. Comprising an archipelago of over 700 islands, cays, and islets spread across nearly 100,000 square miles of ocean, the Bahamian landscape is defined by low-lying limestone platforms and ultra-shallow marine waters. Within this fragile geographic framework, over 600,000 acres of mangroves form a biological shield. They serve as vital nurseries for the nation's marine life, a primary barrier against cataclysmic storm surges, and a key frontier in the global effort toward carbon sequestration.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: The View From My Window (A Tale of Two Doves)
Doves at Feeder
𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: The View From My Window (A Tale of Two Doves)
By Winston D. Munnings
I respect the title of an Ornithologist and certainly don't claim those skills. Neither am I an Avian Veterinarian, a Birder | Bird Watcher, nor am I an Aviculturist. I'm simply a passionate photographer captivated by the beauty of birds in their natural habitat.
This is a promo for my upcoming book (a pictorial essay), 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝕄𝕪 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕠𝕨 (𝔸 𝕋𝕒𝕝𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕋𝕨𝕠 𝔻𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕤), releasing in early 2027. It features two of my Florida favorites: the 𝕄𝕠𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔻𝕠𝕧𝕖 and the 𝔼𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕟 ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕕-𝔻𝕠𝕧𝕖.
To view my first publication (2020) on the subject matter, please visit Bit.ly/3l5UPyR.
Questions? Email me at 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐃𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲@𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦, and I will set aside a personally autographed copy for you.
Winston's Caribbean Chronicle
Monday, August 31, 2026
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Under the Paradise Surface: Addressing the Rodent Epidemic in Nassau, The Bahamas
Rattus Rattus
Under the Paradise Surface: Addressing the Rodent Epidemic in Nassau, The Bahamas
Introduction
Nassau, the vibrant capital of The Bahamas located on the island of New Providence, faces an ongoing urban challenge: a severe, widespread rat infestation. While renowned globally for its turquoise waters and pristine resorts, beneath the surface and across the island's urban fabric, rodents—primarily the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the roof rat (Rattus rattus)—have established a firm foothold.
The problem is not isolated to overgrown lots or remote dump sites; pests have penetrated public tourist spaces like Bay Street and Downtown Nassau, government facilities, residential neighborhoods, and commercial centers. Understanding the convergence of human, environmental, and infrastructural factors that enabled this population explosion—as well as the grave public health and ecological risks involved—is essential to evaluating how Nassau can execute a large-scale mitigation strategy.
Monday, August 3, 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Echoes of Iron Wheels: The Story of Nassau’s Horse-Drawn Surreys
Corner of Charlotte St. and Bay St.
Echoes of Iron Wheels: The Story of Nassau’s Horse-Drawn Surreys
If you’ve ever walked down Bay Street in Downtown Nassau, chances are you’ve heard the rhythmic clack-clack-clack of hooves before seeing the source: a brightly painted wooden carriage topped with a fringed, canvas canopy, trotting gently past pastel colonial buildings.
For over a century, the horse-drawn surrey served as one of the most iconic symbols of Bahamian tourism. More than just a ride, it stood as a living link to Nassau’s pre-industrial past—a slow-paced, atmospheric way for visitors to soak in the island’s history. But how did a 19th-century utility vehicle become a quintessential Bahamian postcard image?
Monday, July 20, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Shadows on the Limestone: The Ecology, Evolution, and Impact of the Bahamian Giant Centipede
Centipede on Wall - ©A. Derek Catalano
Download full size: 4032x3024
Shadows on the Limestone: The Ecology, Evolution, and Impact of the Bahamian Giant Centipede
Centipedes are among the oldest and most successful terrestrial predators on Earth, having stalked the undergrowth for over 400 million years. In the tropical and subtropical climate of The Bahamas, these multi-legged arthropods find an ideal environment.
While the archipelago is home to several smaller, inconspicuous species, it is the giant scolopendrid centipedes that capture local attention. Whether found under a limestone rock in the pine barrens or startling a homeowner in Nassau, the Bahamian centipede is a creature of remarkable evolutionary design, ecological importance, and formidable defensive capability.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026
Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre in Nassau, Bahamas
Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre
Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre in Nassau, Bahamas
When most people think of Nassau, they picture massive cruise ships, white-sand beaches, and the sprawling luxury resorts of Paradise Island. But tucked away just minutes from downtown is a completely different kind of sanctuary.
Entrance
Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre is a four-acre tropical oasis that feels a world away from the busy cruise ports. As the only zoo and conservation center in The Bahamas, Ardastra isn't just a place to see animals—it is a living piece of Bahamian history, a rescue sanctuary, and home to a world-famous flock of marching birds.
Here is everything you need to know about visiting this iconic Nassau destination.
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