March 7: Summerland Key
Arrived at Mote Marine Lab on Summerland Key at 1730. Not much time for field work, so we unloaded the vans, moved into the dorms, lathered up with sunscreen and ran our “swim tests” and emergency kayak drills. Everyone passed…
Then with a little pizza, everyone basically passed out! Some spring break, they’re thinking, as they slowly plod off to bed at 830 p.m., exhausted from a LONG travel day. Tomorrow brings tide pools, mangrove swamp, pine/palmetto scrub, and the first real day in the field.
Probably the highlight for most students today was the birds. Many species of tall wading birds were encountered in the roadside canals all through the ‘Glades and into the Keys. Much more to come when we return to the deeper Everglades Tuesday.
