Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VIII

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Welcome to Turtle Island! No, probably not a fair name, and certainly not democratically selected, but I like it. As I approached the edge of Lake Paloma today, I counted at least 8 turtles sunning themselves. Not bad. In addition, I have seen as many as 4 long legged wading birds out there at one time. Cool. The turtles seem to be of maybe three species that I can see. I think there are Snappers, Eastern Sliders (or something like them), and Soft Shelled. Some of them are BIG!

I promised to list the sponsors of Jim Garrison's Eagle Project, so here we go, in no particular order: Angelo's Pizza, Vision Ace, Signs Now, Collman-Karsky, Joseph E. Garrison CPA, Thornton Donoghue & Assoc., Eddie's Bar & Grill, Danny's Food & Spirits, Sweetbay Supermarket, Einstein Brothers Bagels, and of course, The City of Dunedin. I applaud their involvement in this very worthwhile project. Bravo.

It seemed like one picture just wasn't enough today, so here is a second, from a different angle. It seems like these photos just don't do it justice, so look for more pictures of Turtle Island at some point in the future.

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Hey! Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! Are you going to a party? Or will you celebrate at home? Either way, have fun, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Check out slow cars and fast food onClearwater Daily Photo, and happy sailing on Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. Today, I try my hand at flight photography on my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VII

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There's no denying it. These boys were having fun. And hey, this is Dunedin, Florida, so it just wasn't cold that day... at all! So this is what I like to call Turtle Island. They have strapped down the coconut fiber landscape material, and they are planting it with more aquatic plants now. Shortly after this, it will be towed out to its new home.

If all goes well, tomorrow I will post a picture taken today, of the wildlife enjoying this new Turtle Island. So far I have seen a max of about 8 turtles on the island, and today I saw several turtles sharing it with some egrets and herons. We will see who is about tomorrow when I point the big lens at them!

Sunday's posting will wrap up the series on the Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project. I hope you have enjoyed it. I appreciate the comments from those of you who found it heartening to see this type of community spirit in these young men, and women. And I also appreciate those of you who got bored with the series, but still came back to see what was happening next. :D

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt VI

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This may be my favorite photograph of the series. Here we have two 'chosen' boys heading out into the Lake with the two floating plant rafts in tow. In the boat with them are the anchors (cinder blocks) that will anchor the plant rafts in place. It's a good thing that Lake Paloma is not very large, and that they were not going far... because I can't really say that they had the best paddling gear in there! :D

Tomorrow and Sunday, I will post the last of this conservation photography / Eagle Scout Project series. Tomorrow will be the final preparations of what I like to call Turtle Island. With luck, I will have a decent picture of a 'be-turtled' island for you on Sunday. I have gotten some nice feedback on this series, and what these fine young people are doing here. I want to thank you all for your comments, and thank you for visiting, whether you leave a comment or not. :)

HEY! Monday is New Year's Eve! What are you doing? Will you be partying at some wild and crazy New Year's Eve celebration? Or will you have a quiet countdown party at home? Either way, crazy or quiet, let's make it a good one, and welcome a New Year to make things happen! :D

If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt V

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Ah-hah! Now we know what the heck they were saving the rest of the plants for! A totally different kind of floating island. Very cool! As you can make out from the picture, these floating mats have holes in them for these specially potted water plants. In this picture, they are preparing the first of two such rafts. This was taken just before the alligator grabbed one of the boys. NO! Just kidding. I have never seen a gator in this lake.

In the picture below, they are making final preparations to plant the other island, which was to be more of a wildlife island, as opposed to a plant life raft. This island, in the picture, is the one you saw Mrs. Garrison checking on in my Christmas Eve post. And in the meantime, if you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!

Dunedin, Florida: Lake Paloma Eagle Scout Wildlife Project Pt IV

I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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You may remember in the previous posts about the Eagle Scout project at Lake Paloma, that they were planting lots and lots of plants all around the edges of the lake. Cool. But these plants were all left back at the staging area. Why would that be? Do you really want to know? Good! Then come back tomorrow and see what happens to these plants.

And in the meantime, if you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Daily Photo, and Clearwater Beach Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography for the sake of photography, check out my photo blog. Thanks for coming today!