Duke Nicholas School – Dune Walkovers

I shielded my eyes against the bright summer sun as I hopped out of the county vehicle. We are in the busy tourist season here on the Florida Panhandle, and I could hear the beach-goers before I saw them. I was on the shoreline to check out the recently completed “dune walkovers,” five new structures…

10000 Birds – Snowy Plover Chicks on Okaloosa Island

I have seen dozens of Snowy Plovers and other shorebirds along the Emerald Coast of Florida, but until last week I had never seen their chicks! Nesting season has been underway for weeks here, and I was becoming worried I would never catch a glimpse of their tiny forms. Luckily, I met with wildlife staff…

Emerald Coasting – Learning to Scuba Dive on the Emerald Coast

I had always wanted to learn to dive. I knew from photographs, from documentaries, from my friends and family that the underwater world boasted gorgeous landscapes complete with rainbow-colored fish, intricately shaped corals, and larger marine life like sea turtles and dolphins. I had brushed the surfaces of these aquatic environments through snorkeling, but I…