Elsa Kimbell

Environmental Education
and Research Center
Sponsored by the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Inc.
16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, Florida February 2011

What’s Kimbell Center News:

Happening...
2011
Okeechobee Battlefield
Historic State Park
February 5 & 6
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
For more information
about this event, call the
Kimbell Center or visit:
www.okeechobeebattlefield.com/
schedule.htm.
∗ Volunteers! - Kimbell Center volunteer meeting…
Please join us on Sunday, February 20th, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
We will be brainstorming and discussing program ideas and upcoming programs
and events. Please call the Kimbell Center if you would like to attend, we would
love to hear your ideas!
∗ New interns - Research Projects Abound!
Students from Palm Beach State College come in weekly to take
vegetation samples and study Loxahatchee River usage. They are
studying scrub habitat for the threatened Florida Scrub-jay and
sampling flatwood areas to determine if the habitat is adequate for
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, which have not been seen in the
park since 1984.
∗ Guided River Tours - request yours today…
We can do a guided river tour for any group of four or more. You can rent a boat
from the River Store or bring your own. River tours are also offered occasionally as
a Saturday Morning Family Adventure Program.

Ocean to Lake Park Highlights:

Greenway Celebration WHAT’S HAPPENING:
February 25 - 27 Ranger Talk...
Horseback riding,
biking, hiking, February 14th is just around the corner. It is a time of the year when so
or paddling... much money and effort is put into attracting or exciting a significant
Pick your mode of other. Giving cards, chocolates, flowers, or jewelry are just several ways to
transportation and express our feelings for one another. Some folks like to celebrate with a
you’re on your way! cruise to a romantic getaway while others like to keep it simple by just
For more information going on a camping trip. Imagine just sitting around the campfire under a
about this event, call the
star-lit sky. As you place another log on the fire, sparks begin to fly. You
Kimbell Center or visit:
www.oceantolake.org. look up and discover that there are a few fireflies (a.k.a. lightening
bugs) twinkling about. There is so much romance in the air…
(See page 3 for the rest of the article by Park Ranger Barry Richardson.)
FLORA AND FAUNA - WHAT YOU CAN SEE…
Keep an eye out. It is that time of year when bald eagles are nesting
and raising young. The Eagle Watch crew is on alert and many have
If you are interested in seen hatchlings with attentive parents on the lookout. If you’re lucky,
volunteering at Jonathan you just may see one flying overhead looking for a rodent to
feed their young. Photo by Laura Erickson
Dickinson State Park www.lauraerickson.com
contact Libby Reinert in
the Kimbell Center.
Park programs and events are sponsored by the
Kimbell Center Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Inc. For information about
561-745-5551 the Friends of JDSP, visit www.friendsofjdsp.org.

Kimbell Center Newsletter, February 2011, page 1

 Elsa Kimbell
Environmental Education
and Research Center
Sponsored by the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Inc.
16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, Florida February 2011

Special Programs February Schedule: Program Descriptions:

for you and Saturday, February 5 Saturday Family Adventure Programs**
your group… ∗ Amazing Insects, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. ∗ Amazing Insects
∗ “A Balancing Act” Video The weather is nice and the
Would you like a special
1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. bugs are stirring… Join park staff to
program for your group?
∗ Evening Ranger Program (for overnight investigate the world of insects from
We can adjust most
guests) - time and location vary. anatomy to adaptations. This program
programs to fit any
group’s needs. begins with an indoor presentation
Sunday, February 6 followed by insect collection, habitat
SCHOOLS AND ∗ Ranger-guided Nature Walk, exploration, and microscope study. Meet at
HOMESCHOOLS: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. the Kimbell Center - registration is
We can adjust most suggested.
programs to fit your Saturday, February 12
needs. Programs are ∗ Snakes Alive, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. ∗ Snakes Alive
free and entrance fee ∗ “A Balancing Act” Video Discover the world of Florida’s
can be waived for 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. venomous and non-venomous
curriculum aligned ∗ Evening Ranger Program (for overnight snakes. The program includes
programs or service guests) - time and location vary. a slide presentation and live snake
projects. demonstration. Meet at the Kimbell
Sunday, February 13 Center - registration is suggested.
BOY SCOUTS,
∗ Ranger-guided Nature Walk,
GIRLS SCOUTS:
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Complete your badges in
the park! We offer many Saturday Evening Ranger Programs
Saturday, February 19 There’s more to the park than
programs for scouts to
∗ Amazing Insects, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. meets the eye! Join a Park Ranger
work on or complete
∗ “A Balancing Act” Video and learn about the park’s wildlife,
badges. Programs are
1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. plants, or natural and cultural
free with paid park
∗ Evening Ranger Program (for overnight history. These programs are for
Admission. Entrance
guests) - time and location vary. overnight visitors. Times and locations
fee can be waived for
service projects. vary.
Sunday, February 20
BIRTHDAY PARTIES, ∗ Ranger-guided Nature Walk,
CHURCH GROUPS 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Ranger-guided
AND MORE:
Nature Walk
Most of our programs Saturday, February 27 Experience the natural world
are available for any ∗ Snakes Alive, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. on a leisurely Sunday morning
group. Programs are ∗ Evening Ranger Program (for overnight nature walk or hike up to Hobe
free with paid park guests) - time and location vary. Mountain Observation Tower. Don’t forget,
admission. Entrance
the nature walk is for ‘Big Kids’ too!
fee can be waived for Sunday, January 28 Locations vary.
service projects. ∗ Ranger-guided Nature Walk,
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. **Programs may require registration and
Contact the topics may vary from what is listed.
Kimbell Center Please call the Kimbell Center for more
for more information, 561-745-5551.
information.
561-745-5551.

Kimbell Center Newsletter, February 2011, page 2

 Elsa Kimbell
Environmental Education
and Research Center
Sponsored by the Friends of Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Inc.
16450 SE Federal Hwy, Hobe Sound, Florida February 2011

Beetle Mine
By Barry Richardson

February 14th is just around the corner. It is a time of the year when so much money and effort is put into attracting
or exciting a significant other. Giving cards, chocolates, flowers, or jewelry are just several ways to express our
feelings for one another. Some folks like to celebrate with a cruise to a romantic getaway while others like to keep it
simple by just going on a camping trip. Imagine just sitting around the campfire under a star-lit sky. As you place
another log on the fire, sparks begin to fly. You look up and discover that there are a few fireflies (a.k.a. lightening
bugs) twinkling about. There is so much romance in the air.

Fireflies are actually flying beetles. They can be seen mostly during the spring and summer where moist wooded
areas thin out into meadows, fields, gardens, and vacant lots. Some species can be found throughout the United
States and South Canada. Approximately 1/3 of 57 species lives here in Florida. Some species are rare and are
hard to find because they do not produce light (bioluminescence) or have the ability to fly. The color of light and fre-
quency of flashing is a way that fireflies communicate. In some species males do the flashing and in others they do
not. This also applies to females. This ability to use flashing-like code helps them identify other fireflies within their
own species, keep away predators, or just to ask, “would you be mine?” Whenever it’s hard for a male to find a
date, he mimics the flashing signals of another species.

Biochemists along with Entomologists have been studying fireflies for many decades. They have been able to
come up with a flash graph that can help them to identify specific species. However, fireflies tend to change their
codes making it difficult for the everyday explorer to figure out who is who and what is being said. Flash signals can
be changed from generation to generation. So if the old fashion way of saying, “I love you,” doesn’t work, find an-
other.

Many years ago I went out for a night walk and saw an area that was just thick with fireflies. Since then I have seen
very few. Fireflies are more concentrated in some areas than in others and it is believed that their numbers have
been declining in part to loss of habitat. Other causes of their decline are drought, artificial light, and chemicals that
alter the structure of the soil. Fireflies lay their eggs in the soil. You can help them keep the romance going by con-
sulting with your local garden store to see what are the best bio-friendly chemicals used for lawn and garden care.
Until next time, put another log on the fire and keep the flame going.

Kimbell Center Newsletter, February 2011, page 3