Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve - Friends of the Reserve

05/29/2026

Want to know more about tropical weather? Florida Tropical Training Week takes place from July 27th-30th. Register for virtual session at https://www.weather.gov/jax/FTTW2026.

05/28/2026

Come on down on June 3rd for our very first World of Wonders Wednesday of the summer. All ages are welcome (from 2 to 242)!!! This will be an hour-long class (2-3pm) where you will get a chance to connect with our estuary. During the very first class you will be given a crash course on the basics of nature journaling through an “I notice, I wonder, and it reminds me of”. This technique will teach you how to observe, ask questions, and make connections to nature.

Come rain or shine everything will be fine.

Don’t worry if you miss this week’s we will have another class next Wednesday at the same time.

05/27/2026

The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve is asking the public for help in preserving its federal funding.

The Reserve is encouraging individuals, business owners, and organizations to sign a letter to federal legislators supporting the Reserve and the many services it provides to the community.

Sign at the links below:
Individuals: https://www.nerra.org/get-involved/
Businesses and Organizations: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIeXRFKxy_KBgyAHdooNHJ3AaUyHl33_XWu3Y7absRllxKuw/viewform

05/27/2026

Ever wonder what that pink blobby thing on the beach is? Trying to figure out what makes tupelo honey so special? Come to the nature center during the summer and find the answer to these and other burning questions. Our docents are ready for you.

05/26/2026

Song(s) of the South
The Northern Mockingbird may look drab in its brown and gray suit, but the bird’s musical ability has few limits. In fact, a male mockingbird can have over 200 different songs in its repertoire. Besides their own songs, mockingbirds are gifted mimics, mastering the calls of a wide range of other birds, often mixing them into their own arrangements. Both males and females sing, but the males are the true masters often singing throughout the night. Long an icon of the South and the state bird of Florida, mockingbirds have expanded their range further north. Common throughout the Apalachicola Bay region, mockingbirds keep our forests, fields, and gardens alive with song. For more information about our local flora and fauna, check out the Nature Center at the Apalachicola Estuarine Research Reserve, 108 Island Drive, Eastpoint .

05/22/2026

Gator Life
The official state reptile of the state of Florida, the American Alligator thrives in our swamps, marshes, lakes, (and sometimes our golf courses and swimming pools!). With their thick skin and toothy smile they almost seem indestructible. Yet, this impressive creature was almost wiped out in the 1950s from habitat loss and market hunting. Today, with careful management, the population of American Alligators has rebounded, and they play a pivotal role in the health of our estuary. Of course, you never want to get too close to an alligator (adults have 80 teeth) so the next best thing is to come to the Nature Center at the Apalachicola Estuarine Research Reserve, 108 Island Drive, Eastpoint Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm. Right inside the front door you can see and touch a specimen from our local waters (don’t worry, he won’t bite).

05/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FbkMKtRrE/

During , two workshops on safe navigation & hazardous weather were taught by NOAA Office of Coast Survey & NWS-Tallahassee.

Thank you to the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve & Gulf Coast State College for hosting the events!

05/18/2026

Join Us in Making a Difference!
Volunteer Site Host Opportunity
108 Island Drive Eastpoint, FL USA
Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve

A unique opportunity awaits you to live and work along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. ANERR is seeking volunteer camp hosts, preferably couples, to assist with daily operations at our Research and Education Center. Site hosts must commit to a four-month period and work 20 hours a week each (4 hours/day Mon-Fri mornings).
Both hosts must pass a level 2 background screening, this step is required for those in positions of trust at Florida State facilities.

In return you will enjoy RV living in a full hook-up site adjacent to a freshwater wetland and yards from the shores of pristine Apalachicola Bay. There is only this single campsite available, so hosts are the only occupants on the property from evening to morning M-F and Sundays. You will have gate access 24 hours a day.

Duties focus on the operation of the public Nature Center. One host interacts with visitors of all ages and operates the gift shop. Formal education programs for school groups & classes for career professionals also take place at the Center.
The second host handles a myriad of tasks including caring for of the aquariums, clearing debris from sidewalks & boardwalks and general facility maintenance.
Currently recruiting for the periods:
Monday, Aug 31st, 2026 - Friday, Jan 8th, 2027 Monday, May 10th, 2027 - Friday, Sept 10th, 2027
Monday, Sept 13th, 2027 - Friday, Jan 7th, 2028
No prior experience needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to help! If you’re ready to contribute, please contact us today. Email:[email protected]

05/13/2026

On Monday, ANERR staff found the first Little St. George Island sea turtle nest of 2026! The nest was laid by a loggerhead sea turtle. Staff carefully placed a protective screen over the nest to help keep predators out, then recorded some additional data such as measurements of where the nest was located on the beach. We are excited for the beginning of another nesting season and are hopeful for many successful nests this year!