This morning, I stepped onto the dock and was immediately greeted by nature’s symphony. A massive heron squawked “Grrrakk!” as a young lemon shark gracefully swam by. Small fish darted playfully through the water, splashing against the lowest steps. On the beach, a little heron hunted for worms, while a pelican observed from above. Not […]
Category: News
Land crab molts
Today we were exploring high ground about 60 feet from the water’s edge and came upon a fresh molt from a land crab. As with all crustaceans, land crabs must molt as they grow, so they shed their old shell. While their new shell hardens, they are very vulnerable. This molt was still pliable, and […]
Nurturing our mangrove
We’ve been nurturing some red mangrove propagules, intending to transplant them in front. Mangrove, sea grass and reefs together create the incredible marine nursery that is Lighthouse Reef and this trifecta can be seen all across Caribbean reef areas. Maintaining healthy mangrove along the shoreline is essential for both a healthy ecosystem and for preventing […]
Hunting box jellies
This morning we watched dozens of Atlantic box jellies hunting with the small bait fish in the shallows next to the dock. About 3cm by 5cm each, they gently floated around trying to catch something in their trailing tentacles. In my junior year of college, I heard a student tell a story about being stung […]
Fabien Cousteau Visit
Every few years, Lighthouse Reef and Long Caye gets a visit from renowned conservationist Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau. During this visit, he helped clean-up ocean trash, including a discarded battery from the ocean floor. Wendy had the opportunity to speak with him regarding the health of the reef and continuing conservation efforts for […]