With their already meager federal and state funding once more on the chopping block, roughly 40 ecological-, environmental- and conservation-oriented nonprofit exhibitors at the 25th annual Pelican Island Wildlife Festival last Saturday were glad to be able to share their messages with the populace. Large crowds visited throughout the day at Riverview Park in Sebastian, eager to learn how they can help in the effort to protect our natural resources.
The event was hosted by the Pelican Island Preservation Society, which provides support to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
“It’s very confusing sometimes, the difference between Pelican Island and Pelican Island Refuge,” said Steve Massey, PIPS president. “It’s basically a support group for the refuge and Pelican Island. We have this festival every year to raise awareness. It’s a great thing; we’re educating the kids and the adults get educated, too.”
He explained that the original five-acre Pelican Island is now three acres due to erosion, adding, “Our group paid to have oyster shells flown in and put around the island to protect it.”
The refuge, off A1A north of Windsor, is roughly 5,000 acres, some submerged. Centennial Trail, leading to a Pelican Island overlook, is lined with boardwalks with names of each of the more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges.
“We’re open for business every day, 7:30 a.m. till sundown. People can come and walk on our trails,” said refuge volunteer Sandee Dawdy, noting that funding for the whole National Wildlife system is under threat of elimination.
A very convincing President Theodore Roosevelt (aka Joe Wiegand) shared with the crowd that on March 14, 1903, he established Pelican Island as the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge, appointing Paul Kroegel, who had lobbied on behalf of birds being slaughtered for their plumage, as the first National Wildlife Warden.
And while the wholesale slaying of birds for their feathers is no longer a threat, birds, marine life and other wildlife are still in danger, making the festival’s educational aspects even more important.
A Kids’ Activities area offered a variety of crafts, including Gyotaku Fish Painting. “It’s a tradition with this festival,” said PIPs volunteer Suzanne Valencia, explaining that children paint Jacks and other bait-fish and press them onto T-shirts, schoolbags and aprons.
Across the pathway, the Pelican Island Audubon Society was teaching about various bird species by means of a ring toss.
“We are the advocacy group in Indian River County,” said Richard Baker, PIAS president. “We fight for environmental and conservation issues in the county. We’ve really moved into the education realm with our after-schools program and we’re collaborating with the new environmental horticultural agent, Nickie Munroe. She’s offering a class on Florida Friendly Plants at our new facility.”
Youngsters at Brevard’s Riverwalk Park booth could get a feel for the life of a sea-turtle as they worked their way through a creative sea-turtle obstacle course.
Magnificent hawks, owls and a stately bald eagle drew interested visitors to the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center display, where permanently impaired birds, thanks to human-related injuries such as from guns and cars, are now educational ambassadors.
Several sea-turtle groups highlighted that nesting season began March 1, meaning that no lights should be visible from the beach after 9 p.m. each night.
“Federal funding will not be available in 2017 for nest monitoring,” said Jill Uttridge, a volunteer with Friends of the Carr Refuge. “And this is one of the most important nesting beaches in the world!”
For more information visit firstrefuge.org.
