SIP Editor, Author at SPOIL ISLAND PROJECT https://www.fosifl.org/author/sip_irene/ and Friends of Spoil Islands Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:57:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.fosifl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/SIP-Full-Transparent-258x300-1-48x48.png SIP Editor, Author at SPOIL ISLAND PROJECT https://www.fosifl.org/author/sip_irene/ 32 32 New Interpretative Sign on the Indian River Lagoon! https://www.fosifl.org/2025/10/02/new-interpretative-sign-on-the-indian-river-lagoon/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:55:43 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2646   In collaboration with the Florida Oceanographic Society’s mission to educate visitors about the Indian River Lagoon, FOSI donated this new informative map for their observation platform. Next time you visit #floridaoceanographicsociety make sure to walk out to their dock and see the new sign!

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In collaboration with the Florida Oceanographic Society’s mission to educate visitors about the Indian River Lagoon, FOSI donated this new informative map for their observation platform. Next time you visit #floridaoceanographicsociety make sure to walk out to their dock and see the new sign!

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]]> Welcome Dre Bain! https://www.fosifl.org/2025/06/18/welcome-dre-bain/ Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:56:06 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2628 IRLAP and FOSI are excited to welcome to Dre Bain as our 2025 summer intern! Dre will be working on IRLAP’s oyster research project in the Indian River Lagoon and helping with all manner of field work such as banding American oystercatchers. “My name is Dre Bain, and I am a Biology major currently attending […]

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IRLAP and FOSI are excited to welcome to Dre Bain as our 2025 summer intern! Dre will be working on IRLAP’s oyster research project in the Indian River Lagoon and helping with all manner of field work such as banding American oystercatchers.
“My name is Dre Bain, and I am a Biology major currently attending IRSC. I have always been into all the sciences, but I believe I’ve found my true passion in Research Ecology/Conservation Biology. I feel most at home in nature, tending to animals, plants, and all sorts of nature. I hope to continue to learn and grow while standing on the shoulders of the great researchers that precede me.”

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]]> Fall Garden Workday! https://www.fosifl.org/2023/09/12/fall-garden-workday/ Tue, 12 Sep 2023 20:41:18 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2542 Volunteers needed for the Fall Garden Workday at the DEP Native Plant Pollinator Garden in Titusville! Learn and have fun while you help us plant native plants, remove invasive and non-native plants, and edge and mulch. The DEP Native Plant Pollinator Garden is a roadside public demonstration and community garden designed to support native bees […]

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]]> Volunteers needed for the Fall Garden Workday at the DEP Native Plant Pollinator Garden in Titusville! Learn and have fun while you help us plant native plants, remove invasive and non-native plants, and edge and mulch. The DEP Native Plant Pollinator Garden is a roadside public demonstration and community garden designed to support native bees and butterflies, while providing an example of Florida Friendly Landscaping for all. Join us to help bees & butterflies, win prizes, enjoy refreshments, learn about local ecosystems, experience pollinators up close!

Details: Refreshments and gardening equipment provided. Please be prepared for exposure to full sun, wear closed-toed shoes, and bring a re-fillable waterbottle. Participants under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Minors must have volunteer waiver signed by parent/guardian.

For more information, contact Emily Surmont: Emily.Surmont@FloridaDEP.gov o at 772-429-2995

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-garden-workday-tickets-717410452977?aff=oddtdtcreator

This event is brought to you by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves and Friends of the Spoil Islands.

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]]> FOSI Feline! https://www.fosifl.org/2023/07/05/fosi-feline/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 17:47:52 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2442 Last week we had a boater reach out to us about a cat on  spoil island BC-47 in Brevard County. Apparently the boater saw what she thought was a cat darting by a few weeks ago, but wasn’t sure. Last week they were back out at BC-47 and she saw it again, so she reached […]

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]]> Last week we had a boater reach out to us about a cat on  spoil island BC-47 in Brevard County. Apparently the boater saw what she thought was a cat darting by a few weeks ago, but wasn’t sure. Last week they were back out at BC-47 and she saw it again, so she reached out to us. IRLAP staff went out with their camp host volunteer, Pearl, and a cat trap but didn’t see it. FOSI posted a call for help on our social media for visitors to be on the look out. The post was shared many times, with many folks generously offering to help. Finally two locals (Ken and Melissa) picked up a trap from another local resident and they were able to catch the cat. The cat was taken to the Humane Society where we hope it will find a home. This was an example of great coordination, and how our locals folks care about our islands and the animals on them.  Despite evidence of some animals such as racoons swimming to islands, this cat did not arrive on its own, someone left it. There is no freshwater or food on these islands, and were it not for all of the people that mobilized to help it, the poor cat would have died.

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]]> Bird Banding day in Mosquito Lagoon! https://www.fosifl.org/2023/06/07/bird-banding-day-in-mosquito-lagoon/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 14:47:59 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2435 IRLAP staff and Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve staff banded three American oystercatcher chicks in Mosquito Lagoon. The bands will allow us to track these birds and learn where they disperse to. If you spot a banded bird, please report them, and if possible take a picture. All work is done under authorization from the Florida […]

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]]> IRLAP staff and Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve staff banded three American oystercatcher chicks in Mosquito Lagoon. The bands will allow us to track these birds and learn where they disperse to. If you spot a banded bird, please report them, and if possible take a picture. All work is done under authorization from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

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]]> B.A.R.K. Ranger Ambassador Training https://www.fosifl.org/2023/05/16/b-a-r-k-ranger-ambassador-training/ Tue, 16 May 2023 20:51:31 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2397 Make your pet a B.A.R.K. Ranger Ambassador for our local parks and preserves! FDEP Environmental Specialist Kaitlyn Britton presents a class on the responsible use of our natural and public lands with our furry friends! The event is a 1.5-hour workshop geared toward pet owners who are passionate about the outdoors! Upon completion, pet owners […]

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]]> Make your pet a B.A.R.K. Ranger Ambassador for our local parks and preserves! FDEP Environmental Specialist Kaitlyn Britton presents a class on the responsible use of our natural and public lands with our furry friends! The event is a 1.5-hour workshop geared toward pet owners who are passionate about the outdoors! Upon completion, pet owners will be equipped to practice and share the B.A.R.K. principles and recruit new B.A.R.K. Rangers to the program. An official B.A.R.K. bandana and collar tag will be given to our newest Ambassadors to help them represent responsible pet ownership in our natural areas!

 

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]]> Celebrate Pollinator Month with the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves! https://www.fosifl.org/2023/05/15/celebrate-pollinator-month-with-the-indian-river-lagoon-aquatic-preserves/ Mon, 15 May 2023 18:35:16 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2394 Join us for 3 webinars and 1 outdoor event in June focused on the importance of lagoon friendly landscaping and the pollinators it can bring! The DEP Titusville Native Plant Pollinator Garden is looking for bee and butterfly citizen scientists! Participation in Pollinator Month events completes bee and butterfly citizen science training requirements. If you […]

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]]> Join us for 3 webinars and 1 outdoor event in June focused on the importance of lagoon friendly landscaping and the pollinators it can bring!

The DEP Titusville Native Plant Pollinator Garden is looking for bee and butterfly citizen scientists! Participation in Pollinator Month events completes bee and butterfly citizen science training requirements.

If you are interested in joining our citizen science team or just want to learn more about the IRL, bees, and butterflies, join us for our Pollinator Month events!

Pollinator Month Events

Thurs June 1st 6-7pm: Buzz About Lagoon Friendly Landscaping webinar

Thurs June 8th 6-7pm: Beauty of Butterflies: Butterfly Identification webinar

Thurs June 22nd 6-7pm: Bountiful Bees: Bee Identification webinar

Sat June 24th 9:30am-12pm: Pollinator Palooza: Butterfly & Bee ID at the garden

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]]> Newly hatched American oystercatchers in Mosquito Lagoon! https://www.fosifl.org/2023/05/08/newly-hatched-american-oystercatchers-in-mosquito-lagoon/ Mon, 08 May 2023 14:41:15 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2390 FOSI and IRLAP are excited to announce the arrival of two American oystercatcher chicks in Mosquito Lagoon! This chicks hatched over the weekend. Thanks to the camera funded by FOSI, IRLAP is able to follow this little family. Please stay off of posted islands. These chicks are very vulnerable to crows, and flushing the parents […]

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]]> FOSI and IRLAP are excited to announce the arrival of two American oystercatcher chicks in Mosquito Lagoon! This chicks hatched over the weekend. Thanks to the camera funded by FOSI, IRLAP is able to follow this little family. Please stay off of posted islands. These chicks are very vulnerable to crows, and flushing the parents exposes them. In a few weeks the chicks will be banded so we can follow them after they have fledged.

 

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]]> Least terns on BC-48! https://www.fosifl.org/2023/05/01/least-terns-on-bc-48/ Mon, 01 May 2023 17:18:01 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2385 BC-48– Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves staff posted a least tern (Sternula antillarum) nesting area that was active last season from May to July 2022. This year, the terns came back and started nesting in April. So far, there are 26 active least tern ground nests on the BC48 spoil island sand spit. The nesting […]

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]]> BC-48– Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves staff posted a least tern (Sternula antillarum) nesting area that was active last season from May to July 2022. This year, the terns came back and started nesting in April. So far, there are 26 active least tern ground nests on the BC48 spoil island sand spit. The nesting area has been posted with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission nesting area signage for protection of the least tern colony. Please enjoy the rest of the island but stay off of the sand spit, do not land vessels near it, and especially keep dogs out of the area!

 

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]]> IR-25 gets a new picnic area! https://www.fosifl.org/2022/05/03/__trashed/ Tue, 03 May 2022 20:02:17 +0000 https://www.fosifl.org/?p=2365 FOSI and IRLAP would like to thank the Vero Beach Yacht Club Chapter (VBYC) of the International Order of the Blue Gavel(IOBG) for their generous donation of a new picnic table on IR-25. A few weeks ago, Frank Bilotta, president of VBYC chapter of IOBG and Kristin Rohr, Commodore, Vero Beach Yacht Club presented a […]

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]]> FOSI and IRLAP would like to thank the Vero Beach Yacht Club Chapter (VBYC) of the International Order of the Blue Gavel(IOBG) for their generous donation of a new picnic table on IR-25.
A few weeks ago, Frank Bilotta, president of VBYC chapter of IOBG and Kristin Rohr, Commodore, Vero Beach Yacht Club presented a check to John Bacon, FOSI president to cover the costs of the table. The table was assembled by IRLAP volunteers and installed by the Boys and Girls Club of Indian River County. The young adults not only installed the table, they also installed a new fire ring, cleared the campsite of exotic vegetation and cleared the overgrowth from around one of the docks. We hope everyone enjoys the new amenities on IR-25!

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