Last weekend, a series of impressive king tides, swelled by the full moon, rose our Gulf waters a foot or more higher above normal. In south Florida, sea water ran deep in the streets. But along our lightly populated coast, I noticed only submerged docks, from Lanark to Eastpoint. On St. Vincent Island, the king tides carved two long swales and filled them with salt Gulf water. The pool closer to the dunes was deeper, and had apparently entrapped an … Continue
June 23, 2016 Yesterday I spent 9 hours witnessing a public hearing held in Eastpoint, regarding a second hunt of Florida black bears. While it was in many ways a very anxious day for me, I was absorbed and impressed with the speakers (I was Speaker # 66 and there were several dozen more behind me). I didn’t anticipate our collective courage and brilliance. When I first made a pitch to this Commission, in 1984, regarding a nongame wildlife program … Continue
St. Vincent Island: An Anthem Last May, New Mexico composer and singer Becky Reardon and Florida’s beloved songwriter and performer Velma Frye joined me for a week to explore St. Vincent Island, on the northwest Florida coast. The island, a National Wildlife Refuge, became both inspiration and subject of an anthem written by the two musicians. I was the privileged observer of their creative process—the only observer, besides the dolphins and the wild birds. My contribution was to introduce the … Continue
I wish I could juggle a camera with a good close-up lens along with my binoculars, spotting scope, bird book and lists, so I could share with you the beautiful beings I was amongst, these last two days. But I’m not that good. Instead I’ll paint you a picture with my words. Imagine standing on the lip of Tahiti Beach, with the West Pass, a warm gale and the rising sun at your back, and miles of … Continue
Today, I offer you a guest post from Rev. Candace McKibben, my beloved friend and partner in all things ritual. The photos are by the always amazing David Moynahan. There’s more to come on bears, and restoring them to their deserved sacred status, but we feel satisfied with this start. This column appeared in the Tallahassee Democrat, Saturday, November 28, page 1C. The Sacredness of Life November 26, 2015 Rev. Candace McKibben About a month ago now, I was … Continue
“I keep vigil…. For those who suffer, and for those who keep vigil.”* This was my unexpected assignment on Saturday, as Jeff and I walked a remote outer stretch of St. Vincent Island. I came upon a red knot hunkered down at the water’s edge, a bundle of feathers pressed against the sand. We’d been admiring the knots as they moved through north Florida on their migration, 5 to 10 at a time, mostly. They feed voraciously, plunging their bills over … Continue
When worldly events are too hard, or sad–especially then–we need to take time to realign ourselves with life rebuilding the world all around us. Life and death happen all the time, everywhere, in the natural world, and never is one creature cruel to another, even as they must eat. I saw a ruddy turnstone down the beach, stamping around in an intriguing fashion, so I quietly sat nearby, interested in what she was up to. Here in the sand is … Continue
I stood in the Suwannee River this afternoon, trying to reground myself after the tragic, state-sanctioned bear slaughter in Florida this weekend. What is this shadow we humans must cast, on every other living thing? Share On: … Continue
Dear Friends: Many, many people are deeply disturbed by the hunt planned for the day after tomorrow. Many wonder what they can do, tell me they feel powerless. Sometimes I do, too. All I know is to stay engaged and keep talking. Don’t go numb. Call your local radio stations, TV stations, use your social networking skills. Call your legislators, yet again. Call your minister, pastor, rabbi. Ask them to speak from the pulpit. Send a letter to the editor. Go to … Continue
On a Sunday evening I went for a brief walk in some coastal woods with my friends Jean and Neil. And what did we come upon? So many people are seeing mothers with young cubs, 2,3,4 young cubs. Have each of us found some way to speak for the bears? Is there another phone call you might make, to someone who might know someone with power to affect this tragic unfolding? Here is what the writer Alice Walker says: “The … Continue