At Ringling College of Art and Design observation

If you are wondering why this weeks nature journal is not at Lido Beach or Indian Beach like my previous journals. The reason is because of two things, the first is that with this being my senior year and having a lot to do for my senior thesis and show. I am doing what I can that is close by. Along with that comes the second and the main reason of this weeks journal entry. I don't have a car on campus and how I have been able to get around to these places is I had a friend that would bring me to where I needed to go. But recently we had a big fight (I am NOT the type of person that likes being in fights with any of my friend. But this friend of my was not being respectful to me in not taking about a certain topic) and lets just I WILL NOT be getting into a car with her any time soon. So this might be a set back to my trips to Lido Beach, but I do have my legs and walking is better for me, and a great way to take a break from working in my room all day. After all that, lets get into my Nature Journal for this week. But don't be surprised that from now till the end of the semester, that the remaining of my nature journals will be very local, meaning they will be on campus only.

 

This spot looks familiar, this is by the painting studios were the water is known for being dirty, really bad smelling and not friendly water for anyone to be in. Which makes me wonder how did this water look like this, was it always like this. Or could it be the runoff from the 3D labs and the houses near it be to blame. I have heard stories that before this waterway was used by Ringling for the 3D boat project, where teams would build boats and sail in them to test them out. But soon after that project many students got really sick from being in the water. If this school (as well as most of Florida) is all about their image, then what is keeping them from fixing this problem. 

What bothers me about this is, if our school has enough money to spend freely to replant bushes, and trees when ever someone important comes to visit or just for the sake of spending. Then can we use the money we give them to fix the problems first then worry about those little none important details. I mean if I am giving A LOT of money to this school, at least let me know that it is going to something worth while. If my money went into planting those news trees on the student center deck, then I want my money back NOW.  

I have had classes in these studios and walking to them, I would always smell that terrible smell that would make me feel sick and dizzy and it would alway lead to the water. Can we get people to clean the water and make that area ACTUALLY a nice place to relax and have breaks. 

 

Though I do not know what is in this water to make it look as dirty as New York's Hudson River, but I did see some things floating in it that caught my eye. Like this for example, a rip plastic cup. 

 

I am not sure what this is, but it looks like it has been here a while because it looks like it is growing stuff on it. If anyone can tell me what it is, that would be great. If i had to guess it might have some off one of the boats that are docked near by.

 

More plastic garbage.

 

Another item that looks like it has been here a while. To me it looks like part of a ladder that goes with the boats. 

 

Lastly a dead fish floating in the water. Don't know the cause of death, but one thing can be sure that the next animal that eats this fish will get sick from the bacteria and germs of what this water probably contains and that this fish has been floating in. Then who ever might eat that animal might get sick too and so on and so on. There have been many dead animals left here, and no is is doing anything about it. There have been dead raccoons and other wild life, and no one is saying or doing anything. This water is not a dumping ground for the dead.   

Bird Key Park Observation

Today I decided to take a walk on the bridge that leads to Saint Armand Circle, and heading to Bird Key Park. Along the way I notice that there were some plastic soda bottles and plastic water bottles scattered on the ground. There was not a lot of it, but just enough to get my attention. They were mostly on the grass, not on the bridge but I was looking around on the bridge and at the view of the water to see if anything like those plastic bottles made it there as well. On the bridge there was no garbage of any kind, which is good considering how many people walk, run and ride their bikes on the bridge, got to keep the road ahead of them clear. I know that there is not much space for a recycling bin, but the nearest garbage and recycling bin is all the way at Bird Key Park, and all the way at the circle. I think what would be a good idea is at the beginning and end of the bridge, have these recycling and garbage bins so that after walking on the bridge, they have a place to get rid of their drink.

When I got to the park, it was pretty quiet, not many people out at the park today. I continue walking along the park, as I usually do and what I came across next is something sad. This bird dead on the sand. It reminded me of that bird that I found dead at Indian Beach, and by the looks of this bird, it looks like it had the similar cause of death. From what I can see, it was not attacked by another animal, the body looks wet. If I had to guess it probably eat something that he should not have, say a plastic bottle cap or something similar to that. I hope someone comes by quickly to take care of this poor bird, before some other animal decides to eat this bird and might eat the same thing that cause this birds death. This is why people need to see what happens when they don't take care of the garbage. It's things like not disposing your garbage that will cause some animals to go extinction. 

 

After finding these new plants at this park a couple of weeks ago, I like making my visits to see them and look at the progress of their growth. So far everything looks good, the plants look green and healthy, the water is low enough so it is not over watering them and the plants are getting enough sun. Of course these plants are just starting to grow, it is not like i was expecting to see a full grown plant by my next visit. but It is nice to see more plants growing.

This looks like a glass bottle. Even though glass bottles won't be as harmful to animals unlike anything plastic. but it this glass bottle breaks, then the worry will be the sharp broken pieces, and if that gets inside the animals stomach.

Plastic bottle, maybe a pepsi bottle

Another plastic water bottle, this one was close to the park.

At Lido Beach Red Sea Sponge

Today I went to Lido Beach, it is a nice day today so I thought it would be nice to walk along the beach and let the wave touch my feet. Again I did not bring a swim suit but it would have been a waste anyway because the water is too cold for me. I think it is because of all that cool wind we got over the break and looking at the clouds in the sky today, their is not much sun hitting the ocean and making it slightly warm.

Today I found something very interesting that I have never seen before. It was washed up on the shore but in a little puddle of ocean water. It was really bright red and it looks soft. I got close to it, it was a sea sponge. I have never ever seen a sea sponge like that before. It also had a baby crab living inside it. I carefully took it and placed it back in the ocean, don't want it to get dried out or taken by someone. I don't know if it is the same with the Sand Dollars that it is against law to take them. But it is better for it and the little crab to be back in its environment. Other than that and seeing a dolphin jumping out of the water, nothing really bad was seen on the beach. Again it is still Spring break for some people, so most beached are making sure that everything is clean for the guest.

Spring Break Journal observation

I decided to stay on campus for spring break this year, because I have my big senior thesis to work on. My mom flew down for a couple of days to it was nice having her hear with me and to have someone with a car that can help me get around. During the spring break week, the weather was very nice. The sun was out and just some wind blew our way. It did get annoying when we went to Lido Beach everyday and instead of feeling the warm sun on us, we feeling the sand being blown on us. Now I know what it is like to be a fossil, the whole process of sand covering you. So this weeks observation journal is going to be about the days I went to Lido Beach and things I saw along the way. 

This was on March 5, 2012

 

While walking along the water on Lido Beach, I saw something floating in the water. It was this beer can and it was full. Probably a mix of the ocean and the beer itself. I went and put it in the nearest recycling bin I could find. Which I think there should be more of those than regular garbage bins. 

What I think is the problem with people not recycling enough is because it is not shown to us enough. What I mean by that is and this refers to my last visit to Bird Key Park. Not only was there only ONE recycling bin but it look identical to the garbage can right next to it. Anyone that could be walking or on their morning run could throw their plastic water bottle in the wrong bin. I think we should not only have more of the recycling bins like the ones we have at Ringling College of Art and Design with all the labels on the front. But also make them stand out, add color, make it bigger something to get people's attention to look over and notice. 

 This was before I got to the Lido Beach, after just driving over the bridge, my mom and I saw this boat that looked like it had crashed on shore. We pulled up to get a closer look and I saw no damage that I could see. My guess as to how this boat got here is from the strong wind we have been getting the past couple of days. The Next day this boat was gone.

For the past couple of weeks that I have been coming to this park I never see a boat like this so close. There is not really any place to place your boat. The most I see at this park is people wind sailing, fishing and bringing their dogs to swim and play fetch. 

March 6, 2012

 After breakfast, my Mom and I decided to talk a walk over the bridge around Saint Armand Circle and back over the bridge. It was a good walk, a nice break from sitting in my room for longs hours everyday. 

So as our walk continues I keep my eye out for anything like plastic or anything else that would be environment damage. For as long as I have been in Sarasota and coming to Florida i general, this place always seemed like they are clean. After all they do have a reputation. Got to keep one of the hottest tourist spot for vacation clean and pretty. So a few floating pieces of garbage is noting compared to the filth on New York City.  When I was looking at how blue and clear the water is, I saw another thing floating in the waves. I think it is a plastic bag and i wish I could have gone in to get it and put it in the nearest recycling bin. But it was too far out for me to swim and I did not want to get in trouble for swimming in a no swim zone. 

 

This was on Bird Key Park, pretty close to where I saw the floating plastic bag and the crashed boat. I saw what looks like a donut box on the sand and pretty close to the water. 

More plastic bottles.

So it is like I said earlier, for the most part of all my journal entries, Florida is not completely dirty, but I think people are just COMPLETELY LAZY. How hard is it to bring your self to the nearest recycling bin or to do your part and help clean up beaches or parks. I think that unless there is something of value to them in return. No one will really get their hands dirty and be a good person and help our environment. 

Bird Key Park observation

On wednesday Feb 29, 2012 I was pressed for time so I was not able to go to both Indian Beach along with Bird Key Park. But there is another reason why I did not go to Indian Beach, which was the company it brought. Lets just say that as I was done making my rounds on Indian beach, a group of characters (to be polite) that would stop talking to my friend Jenny Cherry and I. Long story short, we are both fine, but this brought me to thinking of danger to the environment. unlike most areas I have been to in Sarasota, I always find a cop car or some kind of security and I feel safe. But if and especially if you are a girl, being in a open place, quiet  area like Indian Beach. Then either make sure you are protected with pepper spray or with a group. Otherwise, anything can happen to you and no cop will be there to save you.

I have a feeling this will be the last time I go to that beach for my journals. I don't want to take the risk of bumping into those people and offering me certain items (need I say more). What I also notice about these group of characters was that they brought beer cans with them, and using the empty one on the beach, they placed it on top of some rocks. I left before I saw if they left it there or threw it away. But those are the types of people that would bring their trash to the beach and leave it out in the open.

At Bird Key Park,
There was not much of anything that was an environmental problem, besides just seeing dog owners forgetting to pick up after their dog. But I did not see any garbage or clothes floating around. I might have said this before, but the difference between Indian Beach and Bird Key Park and even Lido Beach is their location and surroundings. Around Indian beach you have run down houses, people with little money to them or renting the house and in my definition a bunch of shady characters that deal with stealing, drugs and from what I heard having one of those old house be a house where they put woman in to have sex (either on their own will or most often BY FORCE). Basically you have an area that is not safe, but is getting less attention than it should and there for, not many people care about the damage they are causing to the environment and how it looks to other people.

Then when you go to a more open and PUBLIC places like Bird Key Park, and Lido Beach. It knows that this is an area that locals and most often tourist come to, to either shop or go to the beach to swim. So it has an image to keep and make sure it meets what tourist expect to see. White sand beaches and clear water. Sure we will sometimes find plastic bottles and potato chip bags on the ground, but it is not enough to ruin the image of a public beach.

Here are some photos I took of my visit to this park

 The water was starting to get high. It once again is pass the rocks and getting to the concrete wall.

 You can see where the water was on the concrete wall, by seeing how dark it looks on the bottom compared to the dryer bricks up above.

 If you go back to my last journal, I mentioned these twigs growing from the ground. This one looks like a creepy hand coming out of the water.

 Again going back to my last journal, I wanted to check up on the new plants I saw growing. Well they are getting enough sun and water, but maybe this is too much water for them. Or maybe there are some plants that need heavy amounts of water to survive.

 Same new plants from last photo, close up

 A  view of Bird Key Park. It was a nice day on Wednesday.

 On some of the concrete wall, I saw some Seagrass (I think that is what these plants are called) growing on it. I bet in another year or so, that this wall (the parts that are under water) will be cover in green Seagrass.

 There were a lot of people with their dogs at this park. Some were having fun in the water.