Hello friends of the Wekiva River,
I hope everyone reading this newsletter finds time to enjoy the fall season in the natural habitats of the Wekiva basin. Ours may be a subtle fall season, but there are drastic changes in our environment this time of the year, and I hope you will slow down and notice the changes. Our deciduous trees and shrubs have shown their version of fall colors, and they are entering a period of dormancy, even if only for a few short months. Fall wildflowers have peaked, but the fruit from these plants and the mast from oaks, hickories, pines, and other trees are critical foods for bears, deer, and turkeys. Some of the birds that breed here in the spring and summer have flown south, but our bird diversity increases dramatically in the fall with the dozens of species of migratory birds that come to Florida for the nonbreeding season.
The weather has cooled and the bugs have abated (mostly), so get out on the water or on the trail and enjoy the unique experiences that the natural lands of the Wekiva River basin have to offer! In fact, come join us on some of the trips we have planned for the next few months – see the newsletter for details.
Also, I want to apologize to those of you who have been members of the Friends of the Wekiva River in the past. We have not done a good job of communicating with you about your membership status, the benefits of joining FOWR, and what you can do to get involved. But we are working on that. Michelle Jamesson has agreed to work part time for FOWR and, among many other things, update our membership database and help us do a better job of engaging you in our advocacy, field trips, and special events. She has already begun this work, and you will hear from her soon about ways to get involved.
Thank you all for caring about the natural resources of the Wekiva! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments.
Jay Exum, Ph.D., President
Friends of the Wekiva River
