Translucent Geckos Rule at Night

Introduced geckos of the genus Hemidactylus are common at the Caples Carriage House where they wait near lights to snag insects. These are not the Cuban or Carolina anoles (AKA inaccurately as 'chameleons') we see during the day but pale, slightly translucent geckos with black pupils that have no trouble running across ceilings. There are several species of Hemidactylus in Florida and there may actually be several species on campus.  

One species, H. garnotii, has the advantage of reproducing parthenogetically - one female is all it takes to establish a new population.

If any herp people can determine precisely which species are at the Carriage House, please leave a comment.

low tide, brown pelicans

The tide is very low this morning, with mud flats exposed. Four brown pelicans are feeding, with great success, between the seawall and the exposed mud flat west of Cook Hall. Two laughing gulls are following the pelicans, waiting to snatch anything the pelicans miss.

Osprey Monitors Situation While Eagles Check Out Caples Pines

One mature and one immature Bald Eagle (Haliaeeteus leucocephalus) perched in a live Slash Pine south of Caples Hall while an Osprey (possibly one associated with the nest about 200 feet to the north?) soared overhead calling. When the immature Eagle took off to the north the Osprey tried a diving attack. It takes five years for Bald Eagles to attain the classic patriotic adult plumage with white head and tail. Until then they are darker looking with patchy light-colored streaks, more like a Golden Eagle, a species rarely seen in Florida.

Ospreys usually nest in dead trees while Bald Eagles usually nest in live trees. Ospreys routinely nest on campus and while Eagle sightings are common on campus during winter months they are not known to have nested on campus in recent times. 

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 44 Eagle nests were found last year within 15 miles of our 34243 zip code.

Osprey Pair Reclaims Caples Nest Site

A pair of Ospreys Pandion haliaetus have returned to the nest site near the Caples Bayfront. The nest formerly east of Cook Hall is missing and the large nest southwest of Pritzker that was built by ospreys has been used by Great Horned Owls the past two years. The owls have been seen and heard recently at Caples. 

The two blurry white spots on the nest are the pair of Ospreys as seen by an iPhone. Although the image is very poor, it reflects a commitment to use photographs taken on campus rather than retreating to readily available stock images from other websites.

Please comment if you have seen other recent Osprey, Great Horned Owl or Bald Eagle activity on campus.

Golden Trumpet Tree Brightens Former Zinn's Triangle

The former Zinn's Triangle west of the Shell station has been landscaped primarily with native plants. One exception is the Golden Trumpet Tree, Tabebuia chrysotricha, from Brazil, which is blooming now. This is the second year these trees have bloomed here and their intense paint-box yellow blossoms may be seen by anyone driving North of General Spaatz. The display does not last long, so enjoy it now. 

N.B. Golden Trumpet Tree is a close relative of (but not the same as) the Gold Tree, the official tree of the City of Sarasota,  Tabebuia argentea, which is also an early spring bloomer and is distinguished by soft, corky, light grey bark, a fact that may recollect its specific name, which means silver.  A large Gold Tree (AKA Silver Trumpet Tree) may be seen on the north side of the former entrance to the Ringling Museum. Gold Trees also line the median on the approach to St. Armands Key, and perhaps the most beautiful one locally is the one growing at the former Burger King just north of the Hospital on 41. Gold Trees bloom slightly later than Golden Trumpet trees. 

Flame Vine on 41 Overpass is Blooming

The Flame Vine Pyrostegia venusta is blooming on the pedestrian overpass over US 41. This orange flowered vine is one of the first ornamentals that marks Spring in Sarasota. Of course, we have many flowers that can be blooming almost any time of year -- plants like oleander, ixora, bougainvilleas can sport flowers throughout the year. The plants that better mark the passage of time bloom only once. It starts with Florida Privet, but that has inconspicuous flowers (that nectar-starved bees seem to love). Privet is followed by plants like Black Haw, Flame Vine, and Golden Trumpet Tree. 

The original concept was to have the walkway covered in dense, shade-producing vines, but a lack of irrigation made it challenging for plants to grow up there. Now that Grounds Coordinator Michael Williams upgraded the soil, the flame vine is doing better. It looks pretty good from 41. We still need a way to get some water up there. 

New for 2009! New College Natural History Notes

I'm starting this blog for all members of the New College community to record and learn about the campus environment. If you see something noteworthy, let's get it on the blog for people to share. This will be the place to record wildlife sightings, plant phenology, and any changes in the campus landscape. 

Once this gets rolling, we'll move to having multiple authors.