Week #14

April 19^th, 2013

I had a great time on this field trip, it was my favorite one by far. There were so many places to choose from along the coast of Sarasota but I found this one to be most applicable.

Although it was very windy today (which kept the high 80’s heat down!) it was so beautiful. The water is that crystal clear turquoise color that looks hyper-saturated, no clouds in the sky, birds soaring around. It was an interesting walk over to it. I thought the park would be labeled on a sign right off the Ringling Bridge but I stumbled across it accidentally after I parked by a lagoon and walked over to the bridge to find the sign for the trail which begins by walking underneath the Ringling Bridge! It was so cool as I rounded the corner to have the busy traffic getting into Long Boat Key (which was sooo beautiful) on my left, the calm Sarasota Bay on my right, and then the preserve off on its own island amidst everything. Immediately upon walking into the preserve were two Ospreys playing together, screeching, and looking for food. (Their nest was on the other side of the island which I find by walking through a quite precarious mangrove area!). I loved that to my left was beautiful flora and fauna and a step to my right was the bay. As I walked further into the island I saw there were estuaries and lagoons (man-made and natural) as well as tons of mangroves (red, black, etc.).

The preserve was in pristine condition (aside from the bag of trash I collected of some beer bottles and chip bags) with healthy plant life (there is a sign I included in my power point stating they allow two invasive species on the uplands), cranes enjoying the shallow bay waters for fish, and the Ospreys gathering food.

Quick Point seems to be a well preserved and protected area that the local community has deemed to be worth the effort in sustaining. Perhaps one thing that comes to mind as a potential risk factor is it is very easy to get to by boat, therefore making it a place for trash from folks who walk around the island or fish from it instead. In all honesty, I saw very little trash, even as I walked the shoreline.

I am so glad to have found this place (I’ve lived here 5 years and go the Mote constantly and have never been over here which is right across the water!) that I want to bring my husband and son there to enjoy as well.