https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre.atomFriends of Padre Inc - Friends of Padre2023-06-16T14:06:06-05:00Friends of Padre Inchttps://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/the-friends-of-padre-kids-art-contest-going-on-now2023-06-16T14:06:06-05:002023-06-16T14:30:47-05:00The Friends of Padre Kids Art Contest Going on Now!Tyler ThorsenFriends of Padre's 2nd Annual Kids Art Contest begins today. See Information below. The contest is open to kids between 3 and 14. If you have any questions contact us at info@friendsofpadre.com
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-at-earth-day-bay-day-this-saturday2023-04-20T14:02:03-05:002023-04-20T14:05:13-05:00Friends of Padre at Earth Day Bay Day this Saturday!Tyler Thorsenhttps://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/28th-annual-cleanup-sets-new-records2023-03-14T11:48:46-05:002023-03-14T11:53:28-05:0028th Annual Cleanup Sets New Records!Tyler Thorsen
Thanks to all of you who made this possible - the sponsors, the volunteers, the National Park Service personnel, and our Friends of Padre team. We had to wait until all of the roll off dumpsters were weighed before calling it official so here are the numbers!
A record 2500 volunteers cleaned a record 32 miles of beach from the 18 mile mark all the way to the 50 mile mark removing 40 tons of trash from the Big Shell area and south on our beloved Padre Island National Seashore!
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/dr-jen-browns-gulf-podcast-episode-3-a-sense-of-place2020-05-12T16:52:00-05:002020-05-12T16:53:17-05:00Dr. Jen Brown's Gulf Podcast episode 3 "A Sense of Place"Tyler Thorsen
Dr. Jen Brown highlights the history of the Friends of Padre and the 25th Annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup. There's classic audio of Captain Billy that sure is nice to hear. Thank you, Dr. Brown!
Dr. Jen Brown covers the Big Shell Cleanup in Part 3 of the Gulf Podcast: A Sense of Place
On 23 April, 1 Kemp's ridley nest was located on the Texas coast, on San Jose Island.
Total numbers of nests found in Texas this year, by species and area, have been updated below.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE
So far this year, 28 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
0 Galveston Island
0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
0 Surfside Beach
0 Quintana Beach
0 Bryan Beach
0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
0 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
1 San Jose Island
1 Mustang Island
18 North Padre Island, including 16 at Padre Island National Seashore
7 South Padre Island
1 Boca Chica Beach
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver (donna_shaver@nps.gov) for further information or if you wish to be removed from this email distribution list. Updates regarding nesting will be posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais.
Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D.
Chief, Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery, National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore
Texas Coordinator, Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/dad-is-home-for-fathers-day-6-14-20192019-06-15T15:03:00-05:002019-06-16T10:10:03-05:00Dad is home for Father's Day 6/14/2019Tyler Thorsen
For years the joke around most of Billy's younger friends and minions was that we always called him "Dad". Though he never had any kids of his own, Billy had many sons and daughters that loved him like a father, yours truly included. The joke between Captain David Rowsey and I was that when Billy passed that I would get his collection of 51M mirrolures and Rowsey would get his cherished Corky collection. I'd say "Dad always liked me best!".
So one year after his passing and just after what would have been his 72nd birthday, Joy Sandifer was kind enough to let Friends of Padre Board Members, Jeff Wolda, Troy Adler, and I take his ashes back to what he called "Home" - the Padre Island National Seashore.
We met up in the parking lot at 6:15am on Friday June 14th. Jeff and I had Billy on board with us with Troy Adler following behind. Several years ago on a trip down the beach, Billy showed Troy the exact spot he wanted his ashes to be. Troy asked if he wanted them spread on the wind or buried? Billy thought about it and said "If you toss them in the wind and my "ear" itches ( only he didn't say ear) but my hand is fifteen feet that way, how am I going to scratch it?" So he decided he wanted them put into a hole but not buried.
We laughed and told Billy stories and fished for his beloved surf trout on the way down to our secret undisclosed location. The trout fishing was good and the weather and water was beautiful.
Once we reached our location, Jeff wanted to do something to honor Billy and that was to toss the lure which he had used to catch the biggest trout he has ever caught on the Padre Island National Seashore. Billy was there and said "Call it 30" but it was just 29.999 so that's what Jeff called it.
We gathered Billy's ashes and the items he asked that we place with his remains including a rattlesnake rattle, to connect him to the beings that live on the ground and feathers to connect him with those that can fly and two spear points found on the island.
Our final destination up on the top of the dune.
Billy picked a wonderful resting place. The view from the surf to the bay is incredible. Billy asked that we not do any prayers or words but to get it done and walk away. We almost did that but each of us were fighting back tears saying goodbye.
And now Captain Billy Sandifer is home. We miss you, Dad!
Love,
Tyler
Captain Billy Sandifer 6/11/1947 - 3/31/2018 "Life's a hoot. Get you some of it!"
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-padre-adopt-a-highway-cleanup-3-28-20192019-04-05T13:25:00-05:002019-04-05T13:43:56-05:00Friends of Padre Adopt-a- Highway Cleanup 3/28/2019Tyler Thorsen
The Friends of Padre Adopted that section of Park Rd 22 between Commodores Dr. and Whitecap. We pick up trash there at least two times annually and Thursday evening March 28th was the first cleanup this year. Thanks to all of the motorists who drove by us carefully or waved hello.
Pictured left to right Friends of Padre board members, Kevin Eager, Troy Adler, Steve Gregory, and Jeff Wolda, Cody Moravits and Tyler Thorsen were also present. This stretch contains about 4 miles of actual surface given both sides of the highway and both sides of the median.
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-beach-report-3-30-2019-remembering-billy2019-03-31T13:52:00-05:002019-04-01T07:45:05-05:00Friends of Padre Beach Report 3/30/2019 "Remembering Billy"Tyler ThorsenWater Temp: 71
Water clarity: Poor on the north end better south of the 30 mile mark to beautiful from the 50 mile mark to Port Mansfield Jetty
Surf: 4 rows to 2 - 3 feet better south of the 30
Driving: Poor. The worst was at high tide and it was brutal. 4x4 only in the afternoon from the 45 mile mark to the 18 mile mark.
Debris: Lots especially on the north end with Water Hyacinth from the recent Midwest flooding comprising most of it along with wood. Some sargassum but not enough to hamper fishing.
Fishing Report: Jack Crevalle, whiting, pompano, spanish mackerel, bonnetnosed and blacktip sharks. Some trout on the rocks at Port Mansfield Jetty.
Birds Observed: Cattle egrets, willets, royal, sandwich and Caspian terns, long billed curlews, sanderlings, laughing gulls, herring gulls, grackles, great blue heron, cormorants, brown pelicans, Cara Cara, and white tailed hawks.
We started the day early to catch low tide as we had reports of a 4hr journey off of the beach late Friday due to high tides and soft sand. We spent half of the time telling Billy Sandifer stories throughout the day not realizing that this day was the actual one year anniversary of his passing.
Here is Sunrise at the 20 mile mark
We observed birds on our way south looking for jack crevalle to be wreaking havoc on the local bait during the start of their big migration only to find a few working bait well offshore. The water clarity improved south of the 30 mile mark and the conditions were beautiful south of the 50 mile mark. We stopped at the jetty and observed the erosion and spoke with fishermen camped down there.
While waiting on our quarry to appear we looked for bait and found a stretch near the 55 mile mark that contained many By-the-wind sailors, a form of small jellyfish harmless to humans.
It was at the 55 mile mark we asked Billy to tell us where the jacks were. We imagined him laughing at us for being skunked on fish with half of the drive completed. Suddenly the word 42 popped into my head so, at least I thought I might be getting some heavenly guidance from our late friend and mentor. Heading back north we still did not observe any frenzied activity near shore that would indicate the presence of jacks however there was some bait and excellent structure south of the 40 mile mark. We did stop at the 42 mile mark when FOP treasurer, Jeff Wolda, said "Here it is". We paused and looked hoping Billy had shown us to the "promised land" only to find more beautiful water but no jacks body surfing the waves into the wade gut. So we ventured on.
Then we stopped at a hole near the 40 mile mark and started blind casting when Jeff Wolda hollered "Jacks" when he saw two coming in from the first gut just into the wade gut and back into the first gut.
We hauled out sans waders into the large wade gut in the 71 degree waters and began casting our large silver spoons into the first gut. It wasn't long before Josh Kea was hooked up.
About 15 minutes had gone by and we were wondering if he was going to land this jack. Then suddenly we caught a glimpse of a five foot shark in the curl from the first gut into the wade gut and our hearts sunk thinking all of this fuss was over a shark and not our targeted jack.
Time wore on and we were wondering if this shark was foul hooked as it was acting like a stingray sort of dead weight-like. Then this happened!
As it turned out this 20lb class jack had been the victim of a bite from the shark we saw in the wave.
Success! Note the shark bite just above and behind the pectoral find and down by the belly.
The tide was rising quickly so we headed back north in the horrible soft driving hoping to avoid those skinny beach areas in the 30's and find more jacks. No more jacks or birds were observed this day and we headed home thankful that Josh had just gotten his personal best fish from the surf. It would only be later that evening when we realized this was in fact the day Billy passed last year. We were actually glad knowing that Billy would have rather seen us having fun fishing and telling "Billy stories" than mourning his passing.
"Life is a hoot! Go and get you some!"
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-donates-to-texas-marine-mammal-stranding-network-3-03-20192019-03-04T10:46:00-06:002019-03-04T13:53:11-06:00Friends of Padre Donates to Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network 3/01/2019Tyler Thorsen
Friends of Padre presented a $5000 donation to the Regional Director of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Lea Walker, and volunteer Elani Morgan Friday. Left to right Friends of Padre Treasurer, Jeff Wolda, Lea Walker, FOP President, Aaron Baxter, and Elani Morgan
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-pre-cleanup-scouting-report-2-13-20192019-02-14T12:52:00-06:002019-02-14T12:52:33-06:00Friends of Padre Pre Cleanup Scouting Report 2/13/2019Tyler ThorsenCounty and Federal Government are working together along with concerned citizens and Friends of Padre preparing to clean 20 plus miles of beach on Feb 23rd. Come join us! Smooth sailing now! It's great to see a plan come together. Let's make this a record year of volunteers! Thanks Tyler Thorsen and Jeff Wolda for the scouting report.
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/a-call-to-arms2019-01-24T14:09:00-06:002019-02-07T13:03:54-06:00A Call To Arms!Tyler Thorsen
Update 2/07/2019
Friends of Padre, PINS Staff and Nueces County Coastal Parks are working overtime to get the road cleared out for the Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup. That's true dedication. Thanks to Friends of Padre Board members, Jeff Wolda, Cody Moravits, and Kevin Eager who camped alongside the Front end loaders so that they could stay in the work area near Big Shell.
The 2019 Billy Sandifer Big Shell Cleanup will be held Saturday February 23rd at the Padre Island National Seashore. Volunteers will meet at the Malaquite Visitor’s Center no later than 8am. The normal park admission fee will be waived for cleanup volunteers. Volunteers can expect to be back at the Visitor’s Center Parking lot no later than 2pm.
Volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles are and have always been the backbone of this event. However, those without four-wheel-drive are welcome and will be transported down the beach as space becomes available in four-wheel-drive vehicles. Volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles willing to accept riders should notify team leaders during registration. Trailers for hauling trash are much needed but must be in good condition due to the rough terrain.
Volunteers are advised to check weather forecasts and dress appropriately as the event has historically included some rather adverse weather conditions. Long trousers, long sleeved shirts, windbreaker jackets or slicker tops, suitable headwear and sturdy work shoes are recommended. Boards with rusty nails can and should be expected under piles of dead sargassum so sandals and bare feet are not recommended.
Food will be available at the Malaquite Pavilion at the conclusion of the event with Corpus Christi Area Domino’s Pizza and the CCA Corpus Christi Chapter Wienerschnitzel Wagon. Drinking water and light snacks will be available in the work area but feel free to bring something to eat during the event if you feel it necessary.
Volunteers will receive those wonderful Augsart commemorative Coyote Design T-shirts while supplies last. And this year for the very first time we are honored to offer up to 1200 volunteers Yeti Rambler Tumblers in various sizes. Thanks from our first time sponsor, Yeti, one of the most respected outdoor manufacturers in the world. Thanks to our friend and fellow cleanup volunteer, Kurt Obersteller, who works at Yeti for bringing this new partner to our event.
And to our largest and long time supporter, Mr. Leon McNinch of the Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation of Alice, TX , we thank you for letting us continue our mission dedicated to the preservation and betterment of North Padre Island and the people and wildlife that call it home.
Brother Curtis Mai and the Sharkathon event have been one of our biggest supporters and friends for years as have our partners in conservation at the Corpus Christi Chapter of CCA.
Michael Laskowski Sr. and Jr. of Trac-Work Inc. has been our glove supplier for over decade. Brian McKinsey is our Support Leader and Vehicle “Puller Outer” down island. In addition to that role, Brian has personally bought ads in various publications and has purchased billboard space this month along South Padre Island Drive and I-37 in Corpus Christi to publicize this event. Thanks to Everett Johnson aka “Yank” for all of the support from Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine. The Padre Island Moon, HEB, Value Bank, The Texas State Aquarium, Saltwater Angler, Corpusfishing.com, Graf Plumbing, 1360 KKTX and K99, The Bait Bucket, Gambler Specialties, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Stephen and Donna Gregory, Federal Steel, Coastal Bend Audubon Society, Padre Island National Seashore and the Matt Eckstrom Family. Thanks to the City of Corpus Christi for providing recycling for our recyclable plastic from the beach.
“Life’s a hoot! Get you some of it!” See you on Saturday February 23rd 2019!
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-beach-report-11-24-20182018-11-29T14:32:00-06:002018-11-29T14:32:39-06:00Friends of Padre Beach Report 11/24/2018Tyler Thorsen
Jay Gardner filed this report
Driving on Friday Nov. 23rdwas brutal. Tides to the dunes, and multiple vehicles had issues. Driving on Sunday, Nov. 25thwas a 10.5 out of 10. Pompano were caught the length of the beach, mostly on the south end. Water cleared as the weekend progressed. Hardheads still present in fair numbers while pompano fishing, occasional blacktips and bull whiting were mixed in. structure in the 40’s and 50’s is amazing. Weed present on the north end of the beach from the blacktop into the 30’s, and absent south. Shelling excellent. Debris moderate with occasional logs across the beach impeding traffic during high tides from the 40’s south. Two narrow pinches, one in the lower 40’s and one in the upper 50’s. best camping areas are the washovers in the mid 50’s. firewood scare in many areas due to recent high tides.
Bird List
Grackles
Piping plover
Herring gull
Sanderling
Willet
Ruddy turnstone
Wilsons’ plover
Black bellied plover
Red knot
Great blue heron
Brown pelican
Db cormorant
Royal tern
Reddish egret (including a white phase)
Sandwich tern
Semipalmate plover
Caspian tern
Forsters tern
Laughing gull (none before the 17MM! weird)
Franklins gull
Ring billed gull
Long billed curlew
Northern harrier
Black vulture
White egret
Snowy egret
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-beach-report-for-10-29-20182018-10-30T19:28:00-05:002018-10-30T19:29:39-05:00Friends of Padre Beach Report for 10/29/2018Tyler Thorsen
Filed by Cody Moravits
Air Temp: High - 80 Low - 62
Water Temp: 72
Waves: Flat calm building to 2 foot surf Monday afternoon
Wind: Light SE winds all day on Sunday increasing to 10-15mph by Monday afternoon
Weed: Some to moderate dead grass in the guts but still completely fishable
Driving: 5/10 at high tide and 8/10 on low tide
Mullet weren't observed in numbers until the SE wind kicked up a little and got the water moving back north. Fishermen reported slow fishing for the most part over the weekend with better catches of pompano being found on the northern end of the beach on shrimp/fishbites.
Long rod fishing on the south end resulted in mostly hardheads, a few nice whiting, one slot redfish and one pompano for dinner.
Fishing with live mullet only yielded blacktip and finetooth sharks in the 2-4 foot range. Driving was fine north of the 15mm but quickly got soft and bumpy once you hit the 20s. The worst part of the beach was between the 20-25mm.
Tides have fallen out by now so if driving at low tide be careful for washouts. Don't forget to slow down when driving by people's camps and pick up more trash than you bring out!
Birds observed:
Snow Goose
Cattle Egret
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Caracara
Northern Harrier
Great-tailed Grackle
White-tailed Hawk
Willet
Curlew
Reddish Egret
White Morph Reddish Egret
Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Sanderling
Brown Pelican
Rudy Turnstone
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Royal Tern
Sandwich Tern
Black Bellied Plover
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-beach-report-for-10-02-20182018-10-05T10:24:00-05:002018-10-05T10:24:28-05:00Friends of Padre Beach Report for 10/02/2018Tyler Thorsen
Air temp: High 84* Low 76* Water Temp: 83* Waves: 2-4 feet Mullet were observed the length of the beach with the most bait being on the south end. Water clarity was nice and green with a few areas of browner water in the 40s.
Sargassum was washing in along the majority of the beach with the worst area being the mid 40s, making long rod fishing difficult but not impossible. Driving is best at low tide however there are many washouts that need to be watched out for & the high road is soft from all the rains.
The tide has been coming up almost to the dunes at night so take that into account if camping overnight. Fishing was rather slow despite the large amounts of bait on the beach with anglers reporting catches of mainly ladyfish with the occasional slot red, small jacks, spanish mackerel, trout, and bluefish.
Peregrine Falcon Caracara White Tailed Hawk Willet Curlew Cattle Egret Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Rudy Turnstone Reddish Egret Snowy Egret Franklin’s Gull Laughing Gull Herring Gull Caspian Tern Royal Tern Sandwich Tern Common Tern Marbled Godwit Turkey Vulture Black Bellied Plover Piping Plover Sanderling Brown Pelican
* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.
Green nests found in Texas in 2018
North Padre Island, North of PAIS
1
Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS)
3
South Padre Island
1
Total*
5
* Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Dr. Donna Shaver for further information.
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-beach-report-8-03-20192018-08-04T12:18:00-05:002018-08-04T13:28:38-05:00Friends of Padre Beach Report 8/03/2018Tyler Thorsen
Seas early 1 to 2 feet with larger swells south of the 30 mile mark.
Driving was good until the 20's with lots of four wheel required during high tide. Rough spots continued all the way to the 41 mile mark where we turned around.
Water clarity was excellent with water temperatures in the low to mid 80's with no upwellings of cold water observed. Sargassum was light on the north end of Padre Island National Seashore and very scattered to south of the 20 mile mark.
We did notice lots of tar balls in scattered fashion the entire length of the beach and floating in the clear water. We will be contacting the Texas GLO to see if they are aware of the tar and will report back when we find out.
Here you can see the tar floating in the crystal clear water near the 30 mile mark.
Fishing was best early in the morning and later in the afternoon with stingray, ladyfish spanish mackerel, whiting, speckled trout and redfish reported.
Birds observed:
Great Blue Heron
Black Skimmer
Long-Billed Curlew
Sanderling
Ruddy Turnstone
Brown Pelican
Laughing Gull
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
Willet
White Ibis offshore low over the water
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-beach-report-7-24-20182018-07-25T15:50:00-05:002018-07-25T19:17:09-05:00Friends of Padre Beach Report 7/24/2018Tyler Thorsen
FoP Report 7/24/2018
Cody Moravits
Waves: 2 foot in the morning calming to 1 foot or less in the afternoon
Water temp: 81 degrees F
Wind: 10-12 mph SW switching to light SE winds after 12pm
Driving: 6/10 Even though the beach is nice and wide there are a few soft spots above the ledges that have been forming around the water's edge which requires 4x4 on heavier trucks. Fishing was extremely slow with only whiting, hardheads, and bonnethead sharks caught and reported by other beachgoers.
Water was clear and cool the length of the beach but cleaner north of the 30.
Birds observed:
Great Blue Heron
Tricolor Heron
Little Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Black Skimmer
Long-Billed Curlew
Sanderling
Ruddy Turnstone
Brown Pelican
Laughing Gull
Sandwich Tern
Black Tern
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Forster's Tern
Least Tern
Willet
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-7-20-20182018-07-20T10:06:00-05:002018-07-20T10:06:18-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 7/20/2018Tyler Thorsen
Via Dr. Donna Shaver
Today, 1 green turtle nest was recorded in Texas, at Padre Island National Seashore.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 249 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
2 Galveston Island
1 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
9 Surfside Beach (area record)
1 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
7 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
12 San Jose Island
14 Mustang Island
136 North Padre Island, including 123 at Padre Island National Seashore
58 South Padre Island
7 Boca Chica Beach
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 4 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 Galveston Island
1 Matagorda Peninsula
2 Padre Island National Seashore
GREEN TURTLE So far this year, 5 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore
3 Padre Island National Seashore
1 South Padre Island
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/ridley-rendezvous-7-14-20182018-07-16T12:34:00-05:002018-07-20T10:01:56-05:00Ridley Rendezvous 7/14/2018Tyler Thorsen
Friends of Padre participated in the first Ridley Rendezvous this past Saturday at the Malaquite Beach Visitor's Center to celebrate 40 years of sea turtle conservation.
We gave information about conservation and the importance of keeping trash out of our oceans and our beaches.
Also featured was our shadowbox memorial to our founder Captain Billy Sandifer. We commissioned the Frame Up shop in Corpus Christi to do the work and Theresa did a wonderful job! Friends of Padre Secretary, Cody Moravits (R) and our friend and P.I.N.S. Education Coordinator William Buzz Botts (L) taking the memorial into the building where it will soon be on display.
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/padre-island-national-seashore-to-celebrate-40-years-of-turtle-conservation2018-07-03T11:42:00-05:002018-07-03T11:43:25-05:00Padre Island National Seashore to Celebrate 40 years of Turtle ConservationAaron BaxterStaff from the National Seashore will host the first Ridley Rendezvous festival.
(Corpus Christi, Texas) - Superintendent Mark Spier announced today the staff at Padre Island National Seashore will host the first ever “Ridley Rendezvous” on July 14, 2018. The event celebrates the 40th year of successful collaboration of the bi-national, multiagency Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Restoration & Enhancement Project at Padre Island National Seashore. Developed in the 1970’s, this pioneering conservation program worked to restore the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle when it was feared that it would go extinct within a few years unless immediate steps were taken. Four decades of work by both the U.S. and Mexico, helped to increase the Kemp’s ridley population although more work remains to be done. This milestone year celebrates the progress made towards recovery of this species. Dr. Donna Shaver, Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery states: “I am thrilled to celebrate this anniversary with representatives from the various agencies who have helped with these conservation efforts for decades. This progress could not have been made without all of these agencies working together to help study, protect, and restore the species.”
Friends of Padre and other conservation groups will also be on hand. We will be passing out Friends of Padre Bumper stickers and debuting a memorial display in honor of our late founder, Captain Billy Sandifer.
See you there!
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-6-28-20182018-06-28T14:00:00-05:002018-06-28T14:00:30-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 6/28/2018Tyler Thorsen
Via Dr. Donna Shaver
Today, 1 green turtle nest was found in Texas, at Padre Island National Seashore.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 248 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
2 Galveston Island
1 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
8 Surfside Beach (area record)
1 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
7 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
12 San Jose Island
14 Mustang Island
136 North Padre Island, including 123 at Padre Island National Seashore
58 South Padre Island
7 Boca Chica Beach
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 2 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 Galveston Island
1 Padre Island National Seashore
GREEN TURTLE So far this year, 2 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore
1 Padre Island National Seashore
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-6-19-20182018-06-19T15:06:00-05:002018-06-19T15:06:54-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 6/19/2018Tyler Thorsen
Via Dr. Donna Shaver
Today, 1 loggerhead and 5 Kemp’s ridley nests were found in Texas, all at Padre Island National Seashore.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 242 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
2 Galveston Island
1 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
8 Surfside Beach (area record)
1 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
7 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
11 San Jose Island
14 Mustang Island
132 North Padre Island, including 119 at Padre Island National Seashore
57 South Padre Island
7 Boca Chica Beach
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 2 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 Galveston Island
1 Padre Island National Seashore
GREEN TURTLE So far this year, 1 nest has been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-6-05-20182018-06-05T18:32:00-05:002018-06-05T18:32:12-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 6/05/2018Tyler Thorsen
Via Dr. Donna Shaver
Today, 14 Kemp’s ridley nest were found in Texas, including 7 at Padre Island National Seashore, 5 on South Padre Island, 1 on North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore, and 1 on Boca Chica Beach.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 220 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
1 Galveston Island
1 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
8 Surfside Beach (area record)
1 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
6 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
11 San Jose Island
10 Mustang Island
120 North Padre Island, including 108 at Padre Island National Seashore
49 South Padre Island
5 Boca Chica Beach
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 1 nest has been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 Galveston Island
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-5-31-20182018-05-31T11:22:00-05:002018-05-31T11:22:47-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 5/31/2018Tyler Thorsen
Via Dr. Donna Shaver
Yesterday, 28 Kemp’s ridley nests were found in Texas, including 11 found at Padre Island National Seashore, 4 on South Padre Island, 3 on North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore, 3 on Surfside Beach, 3 on Brazoria County north of Surfside, 2 on Mustang Island, 1 on Boca Chica Beach, and 1 on Quintana Beach.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 193 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
0 Galveston Island
3 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
6 Surfside Beach
1 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
5 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
5 San Jose Island
10 Mustang Island
110 North Padre Island, including 99 at Padre Island National Seashore
47 South Padre Island
4 Boca Chica Beach
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 1 nest has been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 Galveston Island
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-donates-hi-def-tv-to-padre-island-national-seashore-education-center2018-05-30T10:38:00-05:002018-05-30T10:43:37-05:00Friends of Padre Donates Hi Def TV to Padre Island National Seashore Education CenterTyler Thorsen
On Sunday May 20th after the video presentation of "The Life and Times of our founder, Billy Sandifer", Friends of Padre donated the Hi Def 70" TV to the Education Center at the Padre Island National Seashore. Left to right, F.O.P. board member - Troy Adler, Ranger William "Buzz" Botts - P.I.N.S Education Coordinator, F.O.P Vice President -Tyler Thorsen, F.O.P. President - Aaron Baxter, P.I.N.S. Superintendent - Mark Spier, and F.O.P. board member - Cody Moravits.
Ranger Buzz told Friends of Padre the timing was perfect as their old video monitor "cratered". He added that it will be put to good use for showing educational programs and training videos in the conference room at the Malaquite Visitor's Center.
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-sea-turtle-nest-update-5-25-20182018-05-25T14:30:00-05:002018-05-25T14:30:54-05:00Texas Sea Turtle Nest Update 5/25/2018Tyler Thorsen
Courtesy Dr. Donna Shaver
Today, 1 loggerhead nest was found in Texas, on Galveston Island.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 148 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
0 Galveston Island
0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
3 Surfside Beach
0 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
1 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
3 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
5 San Jose Island
7 Mustang Island
86 North Padre Island, including 79 at Padre Island National Seashore
39 South Padre Island
3 Boca Chica Beach
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 1 nest has been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
1 Galveston Island
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-5-15-20182018-05-15T08:30:00-05:002018-05-15T08:30:36-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 5/15/2018Tyler Thorsen
Courtesy of Dr. Donna Shaver
Yesterday, 1 Kemp’s ridley nest was found on the Texas coast at Padre Island National Seashore.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 97 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
0 Galveston Island
0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
2 Surfside Beach
0 Quintana Beach
1 Bryan Beach
0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
1 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
3 San Jose Island
5 Mustang Island
53 North Padre Island, including 51 at Padre Island National Seashore
30 South Padre Island
2 Boca Chica Beach
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/texas-turtle-nest-update-5-01-20182018-05-01T09:22:00-05:002018-05-01T09:22:57-05:00Texas Turtle Nest Update 5/01/2018Tyler Thorsen
Courtesy of Dr. Donna Shaver
That one nest North Padre Island was found on the stretch of beach that Friends of Padre adopted near marker 295!
Yesterday, 41 Kemp’s ridley nest was found on the Texas coast, including 22 at Padre Island National Seashore, 13 on South Padre Island, 2 on Boca Chica Beach, 2 on San Jose Island, 1 on North Padre Island north of Padre Island National Seashore, and 1 on Mustang Island.
KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 50 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
0 Bolivar Peninsula
0 Galveston Island
0 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside
0 Surfside Beach
0 Quintana Beach
0 Bryan Beach
0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach
0 Sargent Beach
0 Matagorda Peninsula
0 Matagorda Island
2 San Jose Island
1 Mustang Island
26 North Padre Island, including 25 at Padre Island National Seashore
19 South Padre Island
2 Boca Chica Beach
Data presented here are preliminary. Do not cite or quote without permission. Contact Donna Shaver for further information.
Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/a-birdseye-view-of-the-23rd-annual-billy-sandifer-big-shell-beach-cleanup2018-03-27T10:01:00-05:002018-03-27T10:03:57-05:00A Birdseye view of the 23rd Annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach CleanupTyler Thorsen
Here's a wonderful overview of this year's 2018 23rd Annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Cleanup. Thanks to all who helped to make this one the best ever!
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https://www.friendsofpadre.com/blogs/friends-of-padre/friends-of-padre-at-barefoot-mardi-gras-2-10-20182018-02-11T15:03:00-06:002018-02-11T15:04:19-06:00Friends of Padre at Barefoot Mardi Gras 2/10/2018Tyler Thorsen
Friends of Padre enjoyed participating in this year's Barefoot Mardi Gras on North Padre Island Saturday February 10th. It's an annual event that raises funds for local charities and each year when the schedule allows we participate to publicize our annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Cleanup. This year it is on Saturday February 24th.
The day started foggy but warm.
Thanks to Jacob Augsberger and his lovely wife, Lauren, for letting stage at his house and to Jacob for doing such a fine job on our cleanup artwork this year.
We passed out hundreds of Friends of Padre stickers and a few vintage t-shirts along the way too!. One thing that did surprise us was that several people asked us why we were cleaning shells from the beach. When we thought about it we do call it the Billy Sandifer "Big Shell" Cleanup. We may need to point out more that this is the name of the section of the beach we clean annually on Padre Island National Seashore - Big Shell. It's normally a four wheel drive only section of beach which runs from the 18 mile mark to about the 30 mile mark some thirty miles from the end of the pavement on Park Rd. 22. We promise we are not removing or cleaning Big Shells! ; )
We will see you next at the Big Shell Cleanup. Be at the Malaquite Visitor's Parking lot on the Padre Island National Seashore Saturday morning February 24th no later than 8am.