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Fulvous Whistling-Duck by Joyce Stefancic on the North Shore Birding Festival Facebook page.
North Shore Birding Festival returns with five days of trips, workshops, and conservation programming
The North Shore Birding Festival will run December 11–15, offering five days of birding trips, photography outings, art workshops, and conservation-focused programs. With 70 total trips and a growing national reputation, the festival continues to draw participants from across Florida and the country. more
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Florida Black Bear.
Florida pushes ahead with controversial bear hunt as critics say science is being ignored
Florida wildlife officials are moving forward with a bear hunt critics say is driven by politics, not science, sparking renewed concern about declining bear populations and agency transparency. Former biologists, conservation leaders, and advocacy groups argue that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manipulated data to enable the hunt in regions that should be off-limits. more
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The Apopka-Beauclair Lock
Apopka–Beauclair Lock to close temporarily for maintenance
The St. Johns River Water Management District will temporarily close the Apopka–Beauclair Lock from Dec. 8–12 for scheduled maintenance. The lock is expected to reopen on Dec. 12, pending successful completion of the work. more
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Rough surf rolls toward Panama City Beach, Fla., with high-rise condos along the shoreline under dark storm clouds, in 2021.
Atlantic hurricane season is 8th this century with no landfalls
The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season ended Sunday with no U.S. landfalls, a welcome contrast to last year’s devastating trio of storms, including Hurricane Helene. Officials say the quiet season offered a “much-needed break,” even as distant systems caused rough surf, ferry closures, and isolated damage along the East Coast. more
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New UF/IFAS tool detects deadly palm trunk rot before trees collapse
A new UF/IFAS testing method can identify palm species at risk for a lethal trunk-rot fungus long before symptoms appear. The breakthrough gives Florida homeowners, landscapers, and developers a critical tool for building more resilient palm landscapes. more
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This Thanksgiving weekend, everyone in Florida should be thankful for alligators
Florida’s long, quirky relationship with alligators reveals why these resilient creatures deserve more gratitude than fear. Their remarkable comeback — and the benefits they provide — show what’s at stake as key environmental protections face rollback. more
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum tours an offshore oil rig during a visit to the Gulf of America to discuss energy policy, May 1, 2025.
Oil drilling off Florida gets pushback from state leaders
Federal plans to expand offshore oil and gas leasing into waters long protected off Florida’s coast are drawing swift opposition from state leaders. Critics warn that the proposal threatens Florida’s environment, military operations, and tourism-dependent economy. more
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FL State Representative Jennifer Canady watches as Audubon Center for Birds of Prey Director Katie Gill Warner releases the 800th Bald Eagle in Sorrento.
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey releases 800th Bald Eagle since 1979
The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey has released its 800th rehabilitated Bald Eagle back into the wild, marking a major milestone in Florida conservation. The eagle, recovered from injuries and lead poisoning, represents decades of rehabilitation work supported by science-based advocacy and community volunteers. more
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A toxic algae bloom taints the St. Johns River thanks to its excessive pollution.
Ask the gaggle of gubernatorial candidates what they’ll do for Florida’s environment
Florida’s 2026 gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a political hurricane, with seven candidates preparing to replace Ron DeSantis. With Florida’s environment in crisis and public trust eroding, voters must demand real answers before the winds of campaign season pick up. more
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October delivers uneven rainfall as La Niña sets in
The St. Johns River Water Management District reported unusually wide rainfall disparities in October, with some areas experiencing extreme downpours while others remained nearly dry. With La Niña expected to bring a cooler, drier fall and winter, officials urge residents to conserve water as drought indicators remain mixed across the region. more
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Seagrass meadows are an essential part of Florida’s coastal ecosystem.
Seashells from centuries ago show that seagrass meadows on Florida’s Nature Coast are thriving
Scientists are turning beach shells into powerful tools for conservation, using them to reconstruct centuries of ecological history in Florida’s seagrass meadows. Their work on the state’s Nature Coast reveals that these habitats and their mollusk communities have remained remarkably stable for hundreds of years, offering a rare success story—and a model—for protecting seagrass systems under pressure worldwide. more
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Audubon Florida and Orange County History Center celebrate 125 years of conservation in a new exhibit
Audubon Florida and the Orange County Regional History Center have launched a new exhibit tracing 125 years of bird conservation in Florida. The colorful display, open through February 2026, highlights Florida’s role in saving wading birds, restoring the Everglades, and expanding public lands. more
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Sarasota County intended the Celery Fields to manage stormwater runoff, but it’s turned into a popular bird sanctuary that draws 130,000 visitors a year.
Bird-defending Audubon chapter defeats Florida development planned by nation’s largest homebuilder
The Sarasota Audubon Society outlasted homebuilding giant D.R. Horton in a three-round battle to protect the Celery Fields bird sanctuary from development. The unanimous votes against rezoning mark a rare and inspiring environmental victory in Florida’s fast-growing landscape. more
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Florida-Friendly landscape professionals are good for the environment, your wallet
Autumn is the perfect time to evaluate your landscaping needs, and choosing a Florida-Friendly Landscaping professional can save money while protecting the environment. These certified experts follow sustainable practices that support plant health, wildlife, and water conservation across Florida landscapes. more
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A rare Rice’s whale swims just under the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.
Expanding offshore oil drilling will imperil rare whales who live near Florida
  Once thought to be a type of Bryde’s whale, the newly identified Rice’s whale is one of the rarest mammals on Earth — and it’s found only in the Gulf of Mexico. With fewer than 100 remaining, a new proposal to expand offshore oil drilling could push this fragile species to extinction.   A rare Rice’s whale swims just under the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo via NOAA/Ocean Alliance)   … more
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End of daylight saving time signals once‑a‑week watering across Apopka, Orange County, and the district
With daylight saving time ending Nov. 2, central and northeast Florida shifts to once‑a‑week watering to conserve groundwater and protect springs. Residents and businesses are encouraged to follow the seasonal schedule and adopt efficient irrigation practices for healthier lawns and a sustainable water supply. more
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The Apalachicola National Forest land that Wakulla County wants is full of cypress swamps and sinkholes — not the best place to build recreational fields and playgrounds.
Florida county considers unpopular land swap with national forest
Wakulla County residents are pushing back against a proposed land swap with the Apalachicola National Forest that would allow the county to build a multi-sport recreational center on federal forest land. Community activists and longtime locals argue the swap threatens the peace, natural beauty, and ecological health of one of Florida’s most treasured forests. more
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Healthy staghorn coral were crucial builders of Florida’s coral reef. Today, few survive there.
2 iconic coral species are now functionally extinct off Florida, study finds – we witnessed the reef’s bleaching and devastation
A year-long marine heat wave has decimated Florida’s coral reefs, pushing staghorn and elkhorn corals to functional extinction. Scientists say restoration is possible—but only if climate change is urgently addressed. Healthy staghorn coral were crucial … more
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This Burmese python got caught, but plenty of others are evading the state’s python hunting competitions.
Florida triples python removals from Everglades through new leather industry partnership
Florida has tripled the number of invasive Burmese pythons removed from the Everglades in just one year through a partnership with Miami-based Inversa Leathers, which transforms the snakes into wallets, shoes, and belts. Officials say the collaboration has eased the workload for state biologists and accelerated the removal of one of Florida’s most destructive predators. more
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September rainfall in the district showed a sharp east-west divide
The St. Johns River Water Management District reported an uneven September rainfall pattern, with heavy precipitation in Volusia and Flagler counties but much drier conditions inland. Despite the rainfall gaps, groundwater and spring flows in areas like Wekiwa Springs and Rock Springs remained within normal ranges. more
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Canaveral National Seashore offers the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic beach in Florida. Space X wants to close it for at least two months a year and maybe more.
SpaceX has big, destructive plans for its big rocket in Florida
SpaceX’s push to expand its Starship launch operations at Kennedy Space Center has drawn fierce opposition from environmental groups, residents, and local officials worried about the impact on Cape Canaveral’s protected lands and communities. Critics say increased launches, water use, pollution, and access restrictions — including at Playalinda Beach — could irreversibly damage one of Florida’s most ecologically sensitive regions. more
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Peaches, who was blown into Florida by Hurricane Idalia in 2023, was sighted in Mexico in June 2025.
Flamingos are making a home in Florida again after 100 years – an ecologist explains why they may be returning for good
When Hurricane Idalia blew hundreds of American flamingos off course in 2023, it sparked an unexpected resurgence of the species in Florida. Now, thanks to decades of Everglades restoration, scientists believe these iconic birds may be making a long-awaited comeback to their native home. more
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Pollinators in Peril: Floridians interested in helping, but not enough to act
A new UF/IFAS study finds that while many Floridians support pollinators in principle, only a portion are actively helping roadside habitats thrive. Researchers say targeted messaging and hands-on opportunities could turn “pollinator advocates in waiting” into volunteers, supporting Florida’s ecosystems and agriculture. more
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Bald Eagle, adult and nestling, Sarasota, Florida
October marks the beginning of Bald Eagle nesting season in Florida
October signals the start of nesting season for Bald Eagles in Florida, with birds already returning to prepare their nests. Through EagleWatch, volunteers and scientists monitor nearly 40% of the state’s nesting pairs, protecting habitats and helping ensure the continued success of one of America’s most iconic raptors. more
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Brownfields seminar aims to turn blighted properties into opportunities
Brownfields — long-neglected contaminated properties like gas stations, dry cleaners, and nurseries — can be transformed into productive assets through available state and federal grants. A new seminar series will give stakeholders the tools to remediate soil, reduce blight, and boost Orange County’s property values. more
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