Columns
Spotted eagle rays still listed as endangered; whip-like tail
September 11, 2025
BY THE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY
Editor’s Note: This is one of six weekly wildlife articles submitted by the Barrier Island Parks Society to raise awareness about the issues facing our island…
EcoWatch: Eco news to ponder and reflect upon
September 11, 2025
“All magic comes with a price, dearie”
Rumpelstiltskin, a character on ABC’s Once Upon a Time
On Aug. 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a white paper and supporting materia…
Nesting activity showing stronger results compared to 2024
September 4, 2025
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY
Wow, the 2025 sea turtle nesting season is sure winding down quickly now! If you’ve been tracking the weekly statistics in the Boca Beacon, you may have noticed th…
Virtual training for your dog as first step
September 4, 2025
Virtual dog training allows owners to access real-time video sessions with professional trainers. It’s fun and it works without having to leave your house, and your dog will be in a comfortable envi…
The manatee, a critical keystone species of Florida
September 4, 2025
BY THE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY
Editor’s Note: This is one of six weekly wildlife articles submitted by the Barrier Island Parks Society to raise awareness about the issues facing our island…
EcoWatch: Bird migration is here – watch them while you can
September 4, 2025
“The Skies Belong to the Birds and we must safeguard their migratory routes.”
Attributed to Rachel Carson, American marine biologist and conservationist, and writer of the 1960 book, “Silent Spri…
Say hello to Denise, the BGSTA permit holder for Boca Grande
August 28, 2025
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY
Since May 1st, a hearty group of BGSTA volunteers have been out in the early morning patrolling Gasparilla Island beaches to document and monitor sea turtle nestin…
History What Ifs: Boca Grande with no bridge, with an airport, port
August 28, 2025
BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTOR BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER
“In order to understand the difference between the Boca Grande of 1949 and today, you have to realize that in 1949, Gasparilla Island, of ne…
Sea turtle nesting season calls for special care along coastal beaches
August 28, 2025
Editor’s Note: This is one of six weekly wildlife articles submitted by the Barrier Island Parks Society to raise awareness about the issues facing our island communities.
BY THE BARRIER ISLAND P…
EcoWatch: Labor Day: A time for new policies – good and bad
August 28, 2025
“Accepting that one day your role might be handled by a robot is a hard pill to swallow. But if you can learn anything from history, it’s that when machines take over, workers must learn to adapt an…