The Treasure Coast

 Port St. Lucie is part of "The Treasure Coast" and we're finding a treasure trove of good birds (like this Little Blue Heron) and wildlife.  On a historical note it is called the Treasure Coast because the Spanish Treasure Fleet laden with Golden Cob (coins) was lost in a hurricane in 1715.  Its recovery in 1961 gave international attention to this area.

The ocean waters still continue to yield other treasures like a recent Manatee rescue that we were a part of.  (Look for Ty helping in the picture to the right.)  We drove up to Ft. Peirce State Park for a day at the beach.  An injured 500+ pound female Manatee (possibly a victim of recent shark attack and ship collision) had been washed up on the beach.

 It took a "team" of Florida DNR, Whale Rescue, Manatee Rescue, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife to drag the animal up the beach out of the rising tide, plus keeping her shielded from the sun and wet.  Two hours later the wildlife ambulance arrived with a stretcher (pictured).  Many volunteers were needed to lift her unto the stretcher.

  A huge tractor with forks was brought in to transport the Manatee from the beach to the vehicle to be delivered to the wildlife rehabilitation center.


Later we saw a Loggerhead Sea Turtle, a Razorbill, Parasitic Jaeger and 4 Frigatebirds actively feeding out from the Ft. Pierce inlet.

We have been taking daily walks on the "Wood Stork Trail" a wetlands about a mile from our RV Park.  Some of the wildlife highlights include Great Egrets (pictured), Wood Storks, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Anhingas, Alligators, Raccoons, Stinkpot & Cooter Turtles, and a tiny Ring-necked Snake.  Some of the 'snow birds' over wintering are hundreds of Yellow-rumped & Palm Warblers, with a few Pine, Yellow-throated, Prairie, Black & White Warblers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Blue-headed Vireos, and Baltimore Oriole.

This last month we have spent great family time with Daryl (Ty's brother) and Vicki, joining them for church including great Christmas programs, Bible Studies and meals together.  We also have visited local parks and wildlife areas along Hutchinson's Island together.

For January 1st we took the "Polar Bear Plunge" (in the Lake Michigan tradition) in the solar heated pool of the RV Park.  No one else joined us as they say the pool is "too cold" at 75 degrees.

Happy New Year & God's Blessing
Ty & Ida Baumann