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  • A cold windy visit to an observation tower -watching Turkey Vultures

    Season 1 : Episode 5

    Location: Lettuce Lake Part, Tampa, Florida

    Date: 1-4-2025

    Join your host, Jamie Robe, as he braves the cold (…it’s Florida, so yes, 48F feels very cold to us here) to climb the observation tower at Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa Florida. 

    It is a clear blue sky, sunny. Take a few minutes to watch the Hillsborough River as it flows on its ancient quest from its source (tropical rain drops and ancient aquifer springs) … all the way to its destination in the sea.  There are hundreds of black Turkey Vultures sitting on the cypress trees across the river. Some are sunning themselves, before lifting off to glide all day on thermals.

    Thenlet’s talk about what the river ecosystem looks like now, and what it was like in prehistoric times.

    Is there a spiritual dimension to walking in nature? 

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth

  • New Years Peacock Walk – Urban Nature

    Season 1 : Episode 4

    Location: Urban area in Tampa Florida

    Date: 1-1-2025

    Brenna Robe, Podcast Cohost and Bird Artist (https://blazingstar.design/) takes us on a short walk in her neighborhood, which happens to be home to wild peacocks.  Obviously a non-native species to Florida, these impressive birds have take up residence in many parts of the state. 

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth

  • Visiting the rescued birds at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary

    Season 1 : Episode 3

    Location: Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, West Coast of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico

    Date: 1-1-2025

    My cohost today is Brenna Robe, a wildlife and bird artist. She does a lot of hiking in Florida, as well as visits to special places like the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, to find inspirations for her paintings. https://blazingstar.design

    Join us as we walk and talk about birds!

    This episode is a visit to one of the largets bird rescue operations in the world. Since 1970, this property on the Gulf of Mexico, has housed and rehabilitated thousands of birds. These include brown Pelicans, vultures, eagles, gulls, owls, and many more. The Avian Rehabilitation Hospital & Sanctuary is dedicated to the care of sick, injured, & orphaned native wild birds.

    Located in Indian Shores Florida, about an hour from Tampa, there is free parking (for a dozen cars) and free admission.  They need donations to operate.

    seasideseabirdsanctuary.org

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth

    Path leads to the Gulf beach
    Path leads to the Gulf beach
    Brown Pelicans
    Brown Pelicans
    Your podcast hosts today, Jamie Robe and daughter/artist Brenna Robe
    Your podcast hosts today, Jamie Robe and daughter/artist Brenna Robe
    Egrets hanging out in the safe place here
    Egrets hanging out in the safe place here
    The Gulf of Mexico right outside the Sanctuary
    The Gulf of Mexico right outside the Sanctuary
    Rescued Turkey Vultures
    Rescued Turkey Vultures
    An Eagle
    A rescued, injured Eagle
    Lots of informational signs to learn about the protected , rescued birds
    Lots of informational signs to learn about the protected , rescued birds
    Enclosures have pools for water birds
    Enclosures have pools for water birds
    Wild birds are attracted and hang around the owl houses
    Wild birds are attracted and hang around the owl houses
    Entrance - come for free but please donate
    Entrance – come for free but please donate
    Visitors get close to wild birds here
    Visitors get close to wild birds here
    Heron, wild but loving the sanctuary
    Heron, wild but loving the sanctuary
    The bird hospital has saved thousands of birds
    The bird hospital has saved thousands of birds
    Rows of enclosures and aviaries house hundreds of injured birds
    Rows of enclosures and aviaries house hundreds of injured birds
    Wild Egrets nesting in the trees above the facilities
    Wild Egrets nesting in the trees above the facilities
    Inside the aviaries are pelicans and other birds missing wings and so on
    Inside the aviaries are pelicans and other birds missing wings and so on

  • Short hike thru an upland habitat

    Season 1 : Episode 2

    Location: Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa, Florida

    Date: 12-27-2024

    We are on a pine needle covered path thru an upland habitat. An overcast day morning, you can feel the freshness in the air. It is a a sea of Saw palmetto plants, with small oak trees and tall pine trees poking up into the sky.

    Lots of what we would call “damage” in human terms, from the recent hurricane Milton. Some examples of very tall (estimated 90 ft+) pine trees.

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth

    Splinters of a fallen pine
    Pine estimated at 30 meters or over 90 feet
    Palmetto and trees
    Fallen and snagged
    Pine ripped by hurricane Milton
    Rings
    Sketch by Jamie of fallen pine

  • Visiting a Cypress Dome

    Season 1 : Episode 1

    Location: Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa, Florida

    Date: 12-22-2024

    When you are standing in Florida, most likely there is stone sponge under your feet, called an aquifer. Sometimes a part of this structure weakens and collapses into itself. In an urban area, this is called a sinkhole, and it can result in a road or house being swallowed into the earth.  Sounds frightening.

    In nature, the result is often a new wetland, pond, lake, or swamp. Today, Today, I am taking you with me into the heart of a just such a wetland. This one is called a Cypress Dome. You will find out why.

    Audio: Use the player below to listen, but remember to subscribe in your podcast player app by searching for Bits Of Nature . Earth

    Cypress dome
    Cypress dome
    Cypress dome
    Cypress dome
    Cypress dome
    Cypress dome – looking up
    Cypress dome – looking into the water
    A cypress knee