Sarasota Almanac--January 2010

Many people think we don't have seasons in Florida. We do; they are just more subtle than they are in other parts of the country. We experience many changes throughout the year in temperature, humidity, rainfall, dew point, amount of light, weather patterns, tides, stars visible, bird and animal migrations, growing season, and activity of frogs and other animals.






In this new section, Sarasota Almanac, I will share some subtle seasonal changes. Please feel free to comment and add your own observations and together we will get more tuned in.






January:



New Moon: January 15



Full Moon: January 30



Meteor Showers: January 3-4 Quadrantids (very short and very few)







Other astronomical events:



January 15, Annular Solar Eclipse



January 23, Mars at opposition; closest approach to Earth, best time to see







Other observations in the world around us:







Light: After the winter solstice on December 21, the length of daylight gradually begins to increase and the energy feels a little more "outgoing".







Temperature: This time of year, we may have cold spells, even frosts.







Crops: Cool weather vegetables can be grown, like collards, chard, lettuces, Asian greens, etc.







Foliage: In mid to late January, the leaves of the red maple trees turn orange to red or even scarlet, before dropping. Almost immediately afterward, red flowers appear on the trees, followed by seeds and new leaves, which may come out reddish-bronze color and turn to green. It's like fall in January followed immediately by spring! Leaves of vines like wild grapes and Virginia Creeper may turn and fall as well.







Animals/Bird Activity: Hundreds of thousands of swallows may be seen in some areas.

Manatee Watching

Its so wonderful to see wildlife out in the wild. There's nothing more thrilling to me than being out on the bay and seeing dolphin and manatees. One of my favorite memories is of being on a boat on Sarasota Bay, being able to look down into the water and seeing a mother and young manatee swimming right beside us!

I do appreciate, however, getting to see manatees in less "wild" conditions, like near power plants in the winter. Once a year I try to go to Apollo Beach to the Teco Power Plant/Manatee Viewing Station. As you know, manatees used to migrate further south as the Gulf and Bay waters cooled. They can't survive in water below 67 degrees. But now they travel to nearby canals and rivers that have power plants on them. The plants use the waters to cool their machinery, discharging the now warm water back into the canals. This warm water is very attractive not only to manatees, but some species of fish (sharks, tarpon, creville jacks, snook) and rays. On a cold morning you can see dozens of manatees from the viewing platform.

Our recent cold spell killed 77 manatees, I was told. However, according to this year's census, there was still the highest number of manatees in ten years.

photo: The nose knows! A manatee lifts its head out of the water for a breath of air (and perhaps a little people watching?)

(photo copyright Anne Cederberg 2010)

Tail of a Tale

I learn a lot watching the manatees at the viewing area. I see things that will help me recognize their presence in the wild, like looking for dark spots in the water, the edge of a flipper barely breaking the surface, or the ripples caused by a submerged manatee. Sometimes in the wild, these clues are all you get--you never get to see the whole manatee. Here's a good shot of a manatee tail as its owner dives deeper.

(photo copyright Anne Cederberg 2010)

Ooops!

As much as I love watching manatees, I love seeing the other creatures in the canal as well. The highlight of this visit was watching the rays (spotted eagle, cow-nosed, and southern sting rays) hurling themselves into the air and then hitting the water with a big splash! Someone told me that it may be mating season and that's why they are jumping so much, or they could be jumping because their re-entry stuns fish. I'll have to do some research. Perhaps they are just jumping for joy!

You should have seen me, camera in hand, head swiveling from side to side as I spotted one jumping...aimed...in mili-seconds, no less...and pressed the shutter. I had quite a collection of big splashes (which was pretty great to catch anyway) and a lot of blurry photos of scenery across the bank that had nothing to do with rays! But I persisted. It was great fun....

(photo copyright Anne Cederberg 2010)

Not too bad!

Got one! It's amazing how large they are. They were jumping every few minutes, much to the delight of the crowds.

(photo copyright Anne Cederberg 2010)

Ah, Finally!

Ah, finally! A little out of focus, but an impressive look at a ray in "flight" all the same!

(photo copyright Anne Cederberg 2010)

Spiral Dancer

As an added bonus, I saw something jumping out of the corner of my eye, swiveled, pressed the shutter, and caught this image of a fish jumping! It came out of the water, spiraled like a football, and dove back in. Looks like maybe a shark, although I didn't know they jumped.

All in all, a very satisfying end to my trip to Apollo Beach.

(photo copyright Anne Cederberg 2010)

To visit Teco Power Plant/Manatee Viewing Station, take 1-75 North from Sarasota to exit 246. Turn left on Big Bend Road. Head towards the smoke stacks. The viewing station is right there at the power station. if you go to their website, you can activate a camera from your home computer and view the manatees from there!