general beach and coastal information
Florida’s Living Beaches – A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber - by Blair and Dawn Witherington
If you only get one book – this is it. It covers everything you’ll find in, around, and on the beaches - from shells and birds to plants and animals...and everything else! - with hundreds of photos.
Shop local and get a copy at: The Florida Shell Shop, 9901 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island, FL 33706. Website: thefloridashellshop.com Phone: (727) 367-9599
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Shells
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel Island, Florida
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is a must-see if you love shelling. The website has great information, excellent articles and a comprehensive online shell identification section. They are expanding and are closed until early 2020 so check their site before visiting.
Shells of Florida - Gulf of Mexico ID Guide - by Jeanne L. Murphy and Brian W. Lane
A handy pocket guide that's portable and informative. You can get a copy at Merry Pier located at 801 Pass-a-Grille Way, St Pete Beach, 33706. They also offer a shuttle to Shell Key Island, which is a great spot for shells. For more information go to their website shellkeyshuttle.com or call 727-360-1348.
Sea turtles
Sea Turtle Trackers of St Pete Beach
Sea Turtle Trackers monitors the sea turtle nests on the local beaches. Their website has lots of sea turtle information and a place to donate to support them. You can even adopt a nest.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is more than just an aquarium - their mission is Rescue, Rehab and Release. They also patrol miles of North Pinellas county beaches during sea turtle nesting season to monitor and mark sea turtle nests. Their website has information and videos on how to help keep sea turtles safe during nesting season.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, FL
The Loggerhead Marinelife Center helps preserve, protect and rehabilitate injured sea turtles on Florida's east coast. The home page has a cool video of hatchlings racing toward the ocean.
Sea and Shorebirds
National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society has been protecting birds and their habitats since 1905. The website is a fantastic resource for information on birds and conservation. Free mobile bird guide app for your phone.
St Petersburg, FL Audubon Chapter - our local Audubon chapter has an excellent website with regional birding information.
Florida Shorebird Alliance
The Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA) is a coalition of various groups involved in shorebird and seabird conservation across Florida. Shorebirds and seabirds face many challenges in Florida. Learn more on the website about FSA, their partners, the birds, and how you can get involved.
If you live locally, you can become a Bird Steward and help our beach nesting birds.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a comprehensive online guide to birds and birdwatching. Free mobile bird guide app for your phone available. Live bird cams showing unique birds from all over the world.
Plastics and the Ocean
National Geographic 'Planet or Plastic' articles:
- Planet or Plastic?
- National Geographic’s multiyear effort to raise awareness about the global plastic trash crisis. Come to this page often to learn more, and find out what you can do to reduce your own consumption of single-use plastics.
- We made it. We depend on it. Now we're drowning in it.
- The miracle material has made modern life possible. But more than 40 percent of it is used just once, and it’s choking our waterways. This comprehensive article chronicles the beginnings of plastic to the problems today.
BBC Earth
Informative 2 minute video: How does plastic actually enter our oceans?
Suncoast Rise Above Plastics
Suncoast RAP is "a coalition of 17 organizations who envision a future without coastal and marine debris, a world where we ditch single-use plastics in our daily lives, and a time where we protect the coastlines and oceans we love. We pursue our vision through research, education and engaging citizens, local businesses, and community leaders."
Check out their Ocean Friendly Restaurant program and patronize these establishments that have pledged to protect our oceans and coasts by reducing their plastic waste impact.
"How rich will we be....
"How rich will we be when we have converted all our forests, our soil, our water resources, and our minerals into cash?"
J.N. "Ding" Darling - a strong advocate for conservation from the early 1900's until his death in 1962. He believed people and nature could live side by side without damaging the environment. The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System and located on Sanibel Island, Florida.