May Manatee Madness

We were recently treated to a rare sight on the east end of Sanibel Island. A group of manatees came very close to the beach to mate. They stayed there all day just witihn 10 or 15 feet of shore. When manatees mate, a single female emits a chemical cue that she is receptive to males and they come from miles aroud.

This mating group consisted of one female and 15-17 males. The males jockeyed to get access to the female. What a wonderful chance to observe this endangered species congregate and mate. The gestation period of female manatees is about one year, so if all goes well, we will have one more next year.

Pretty good day for a field trip! Come explore the ocean with us.

The 7th Octifest Clue Has Been Found

Better Luck Next Week

Octifest # 6 Has Been Found

Jenny Evans has found clue #6 under the causeway. Congratulations!

This Week's Octifest Clue

Now the game is on a roll
There are so many places that could be the goal.

An osprey tree or a water-filled hole, it really could be anywhere.

But we wanted to find someplace really new.
On an island this small it’s not easy to do.

But we succeeded and think you’ll find it too.

Shade above and sand below
Trip trap, who goes there?

Do you know? Find it if you can.

Happy Octifest Hunting!

The Octifest #5 Clue Has Been Found

Judy and Buck Kirkpatrick braved the circle of clues to snag the fifth Octifest Clue! Congratulations you two. And in keeping with the Octifest traditions, Judy penned a poem for the event.

Down and defeated, four weeks had passed.
No sign of the Octipus, I’d been outclassed.
Luc’s work is a favorite, a pure delight.
But none for me was to be my plight.

‘Twas on April third, the tide did turn.
So did my luck, I’ve a lot to learn.
Out in the bay, a double buoy bounced.
Too close and too clean, hubby announced.

A little white card was floating attached.
I checked to see that my sandals were latched
Splashing and sputtering, I grabbed on the fly
An Octifest Octipus sailing by.

From start to finish, we went full round.
Picking up clues ‘til the treasure was found.
And learning that cordgrass is spartina bakeri.
That would ensure there’d be no fakery.

So now in my cottage by the sea,
A Century Octipus just for me.
This whole idea is just way cool.
Thank you Luc and Sanibel Seaschool.


Judi and Buck Kirkpatrick

Octimaniacs - Here Ya Go

Five easy pieces, so the saying goes.
If it’s really that easy, only the winner knows

For this great adventure, a tool you must take forth.
In the 9th century it’s how Chinese explorers found North.

(At Sanibel Sea School fairness dictates thus:
If you don’t have one of these you can borrow it from us.)

So you take your mystery tool and head to the spot
Where the very first provisions from our island store were got.

Sounds simple you think and it might be for you.
But you’ll need to a pen and paper before you’re through.

So pack a little rucksack with all that you’ve been told
You’re going on an adventure – be bright and be bold.

Happy Octifest and good luck!

Octifest Clue # 4 Has Been Found !

Congragulations to Peyton Smith who found the Octifest Clue Number 4! He scrambled ampongst the chaos to find the clue nested in an Australian Pine on a Causeway Island.


Bruce and Ev, they ponder and stew,
Over each word placed in the Ocitfest clue.

Octifest Fever is running wild,
Parents are searching disguised as their child.

Average explorers wait with great joy,
While Octi-fanitics tackle the paper boy.

They load up their cars and speed to the place,
Surprised to find past winners engaged in the race.

They scatter about and panic sets in,
Only to find they can’t count to ten!

After counting and digging under each branch and log,
The treasure was found by one cleaver P-Dog!

So the waiting begins for the next Octi-clue,
For the next 168 hours, what will we do?!



Good Times!

Octifest Clue # 4

Between B and C lies a small piece of land

Not always here it was constructed by man

On its shores are some local renegades

Not from here, They hang out, make shade.

But the song of this foreigner is a real local treat

Makes a cool lulling haven in the hot summer heat Between B & C, on the western shore

Find the tenth one from us, no less, no more

Stop a minute, relax and listen to the sound

Then take a good look around and the octifest octopus will be found

Good luck
Happy Octifest hunting!

Clues, Cousins and Octopi

Four cousins together we read the clue,
Word by word and through and through.

Sunset found us on Wildlife Drive
With a satellite image of power pole lines.

Where does it land? We just saw it by sea,
Fishermen will tell you it’s the place to be.

Are we all nuts to start out here this late?
Let’s hope that we find it, wouldn’t that be great!

Four of us dashing down Wulfert Trail,
When a cyclist blew past us – OH NO we can’t fail!

Garrett and John were first by a measure
Followed by Ali and Darby – Where’s the TREASURE?

Power pole rising from rocks soaring tall,
Aunt Jennifer found it, we all had a ball!

Thanks to the Sanibel Sea School and Luc Century for all the Fun!

Mary Ellen Pfeifer

Mass Mortality – A Natural Part of Life in the Oceans.

The ocean and its living inhabitants form a complex system which is really very poorly understood.

Recently, we have had large collections of dead and dying scallops, pen shells, sea urchins and parchment worms. One would immediately assume that some form of water quality issue is responsible, and it probably is – just not the types of water-quality issues to which we have become accustomed.

It appears that perhaps this die-off is best attributed to a sudden influx of cold water from out in the deeper regions of the Gulf. Prior to a couple of weeks ago, the water temperature was in the lower 70s (F), then we experienced a large upwelling event that brought cold water from deeper regions of the Gulf resulting in water temperatures of 63 ° F around our island.
The density of water is inversely related to temperature (at least above freezing.) Water that is colder is more dense. The very deep portions of most ocean basins hold very cold water. For some reason, some event likely happened that caused some of this cold water to upwell – that is travel towards the surface. The triggering mechanism causing the upwelling was probably a series of strong winds. These winds push surface water away and pull up bottom water to replace it.

This cold water then rushes past many of our bottom-dwelling invertebrates – known in biological circles as benthic invertebrates. These creatures do not readily thrive in the face of rapid temperature changes and become ‘cold-shocked’ or at times just die from the rapid temperature change. Once weakened, they are unable to maintain their hold on the bottom and become tossed and carried about by the currents. Many of which are then washed ashore on our beaches.

Some parts of this explanation are based on conjecture, but what we do know is that we experienced an upwelling event offshore (we can track surface ocean temperatures by satellite) and we had a rapid decrease in ocean water temperature around Sanibel. We also know that many of the invertebrates we have seen recently on our beaches are vulnerable to rapid temperature change. With this information it seems plausible that our recent die-offs are a result of temperature-shock; not red tide nor pollution, but just another interesting wrinkle of the dynamics of the ocean and its inhabitants.

There is an old adage in medicine that says when you hear hoof-beats don’t assume zebras (in North America) – sometimes what appears to be a result of some horrific pollution event is just the natural oscillation of life and death in the sea. Something we don’t know very much about.
We need to systematically monitor the life (and death) that washes onto our beaches. Along with other conservation organizations and the State of Florida, we are creating a network of beach-combing volunteers to do just that. Together we can truly contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of our oceans; if you are interested in joining this effort email me at bruce@sanibelseaschool.org

Perhaps together, we will get better at distinguishing the horses from the zebras.

Octifest Clue # 3 Has Been Found !

The Third Clue has been found! Congragulations to Darby Pfeifer who found the Third Octifest Clue. She and her cousins figured out that the Octifest Clue was hidden at the spot where the power lines come to shore along Wildlife Drive in the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. So, they RAN along the path at sunset to find the clue attached to the very first electrical pole on Sanibel Island. What a nice way to enjoy a sunset, with your cousins on our little Sanctuary Island

Congragulations to the cousins crew.

And better luck next time to all our happy hunters!