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Field Trips - Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Field Trip 1 Shelling and wildlife observation on isolated Cayo Costa aboard the R/V Playtime (Captiva Cruises). Cayo Costa, accessible only by boat, is an uninhabited island located approximately 12 miles west of Cape Coral, Florida. Cayo Costa State Park occupies most of the island, which lies in a chain of barrier islands that shelter Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound from the storms of the Gulf of Mexico. The island offers a number of habitats for shell collecting and nature watching (no collecting of live mollusks). The 5-hour excursion will be guided by AMS president and Shell Museum director Dr. José H. Leal. Bring your own lunch and plenty of liquids; remember, it will be summer in Florida. Carpool from Sundial Resort to Captiva. Capacity 48 people; first come, first serve.
Field Trip 2 J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service); trip organized and led by Dr. Jon Greenlaw, professional ornithologist and Shell Museum volunteer. A carpool excursion around "Wildlife Drive" on one of the best-known, most heavily visited units in the National Wildlife Refuge system. The 2-hour trip will include frequent stops, exploration of mangrove and hardwood hammock habitats. This is an opportunity to observe birds and other wildlife, including the few species of mollusks that inhabit the refuge. The focus will be on ecological relationships, vertebrates, invertebrates, and native plants typical of the area.
Field Trip 3 Visit a Southwest Florida Pliocene fossil outcrop in Sarasota County with invertebrate paleontologist Roger Portell from the Florida Museum of Natural History. Participants must be age 18 or older. All-day trip includes four hours at the site, with a box lunch and water and soda provided. Minimum required, 12 people; Maximum limit, 30 people. First come, first serve. Wear sunscreen and a hat; remember it's summer in Florida!