Friends of Rookery Bay

Friends of Rookery Bay and Rookery Bay staff attended the Marco Island Historical Museum’s Independence Day Celebration featuring a special closing reception of Clyde Butcher’s “America the Beautiful” photography collection.

Clyde was in attendance and recognized Friends ofRookery Bay Executive Director TJ Snopkowski. They chatted for a while about the prospect of Clyde coming to Rookery Bay in the near future to take picturesof the Reserve.

Rookery Bay staff also used the opportunity to learn more about the Calusa peoples who inhabited the area long before the pioneers and establishment of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Some of their shell mounds remain to this day on Shell Island Road.

The education team schedules site visits like this periodically to gain a deeper understanding of Florida’s natural history and to get inspiration for future exhibit updates at the Environmental Learning Center.