On Dec. 12 Biscayne National Park kicked off the 10th year of its Family Fun Fest.

As park ranger Gary Bremen said, “In a season of so much hustle and bustle, taking time to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the natural world can be a much-needed break.”

Participants could stop at stations located around the visitor center to discover holiday-themed interactive and hands-on activities. These included making ornaments out of real Christmas tree worms that live off South Florida’s shores, “A Biscayne Carol” (a twist on the Dickens classic) and posting New Year’s eco-resolutions to the Resolution tree.

Kids received a paper passport that was punched at each station that he or she completed and they received prizes for completing all stations. Each family received native poinsettia plants to take home and enjoy throughout the year.

Family Fun Fest takes place on the second Sunday of every month from December through April. The series receives funding from the Captain Bob Lewis Billfish Challenge and the Bobby Duryea Memorial Fund at the South Florida National Parks Trust. Additional support this month comes from Pro Native Consulting, the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves and a host of dedicated volunteers.

Future Family Fun Fest events in the 2010-2011 season are these:

Jan. 9: Musical Misfits (as Bremen described the event, “What if a guitarfish, a fiddler crab, a trumpetfish and a spotted drum formed a band?”)

Feb. 13: Keeping Up with the Joneses on Feb.13 (celebrating Black History Month with a look back at the Jones Family of Porgy Key)

March 13: Alien Invaders (Biscayne is invaded by aliens)

April 10: BioBlitz Rewind (last April, thousands of people helped identify more than 800 species of plants and animals in just 24 hours as part of the National Geographic BioBlitz)

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street, nine miles east of Homestead.

These lionfish were captured in Biscayne National Park off Miami.

One year after the first Indo-Pacific lionfish was discovered and removed from Biscayne National Park, almost 50 additional ones have been removed. Lionfish are invasive, exotic animals with few natural predators in the waters off Miami. The animal feeds voraciously on native fish, especially members of the snapper and grouper families.

Local predators do include human beings who find lionfish tasty when prepared properly.

Government biologists believe the discovery of new lionfish, all of which were small at under six inches in length, indicates a new wave of invasion that is in its early stages. Young lionfish are being swept in with currents from the south, where populations are more established.

“It is unlikely that we will be able to completely eliminate lionfish from Biscayne National Park,” said Vanessa McDonough, the park’s fishery and wildlife biologist. “We do hope, though, that we can keep on top of this invasion and circumvent the issues associated with other South Florida exotic species invasions like pythons and iguanas.”

After the initial lionfish sighting in June, 2009, new reports were rare and sporadic. The recent sightings have occurred in many parts of the park, such as reefs, wrecks, seagrass beds, hardbottom communities and around dock pilings. Seventeen lionfish were removed from a single site.

The park is calling on visitors to capture and report lionfish, which are generally unafraid of divers.

But be careful. The mane-like assemblage of spines that give the fish its leonine appearance are tipped in poison that can cause severe pain, swelling, nausea, headaches and convulsions. If visitors cannot safely remove a fish themselves then they should note its location with GPS coordinates. Sightings can be reported at 305-230-1144.

For further information about lionfish in Biscayne National Park, including photographs, click here.

Xavier Cortada's Smalltooth Sawfish.

Miami artist Xavier Cortada is mounting a major installation at Biscayne National Park this winter and spring, part of the park’s celebration of the United Nations’ “International Year of Biodiversity.”

According to a statement from the park, “Endangered World: Biscayne National Park will feature 360 brightly colored flags lining the roads and trails at Convoy Point for over a mile, each representing one degree of the planet’s longitude. Individuals and organizations will adopt an endangered or threatened animal that lives at that longitude and paint an image of that animal on one of the flags. At the same time, participants will commit to an ‘eco-action’ that directly or indirectly mitigates the plight of that animal.”

Cortada has created art installations around the world to raise awareness about issues like global climate change, deforestation and the plight of endangered species. In 2008, he traveled by icebreaker to the North Pole to create an installation that generated awareness about the imminent threat climate change poses to the planet’s biodiversity. In 2006, his Reclamation Project sought to remind Miami Beach residents and visitors of the island’s origins as a mangrove forest by having over 2,500 mangrove seedlings displayed in shop windows. He has created collaborative works at universities and cultural institutions around the world.

South Floridians are being recruited to take part in the Key Biscayne project as individuals or as part of community organizations. Participants can create flags and commit to actions on their own, or they could take part in flag-painting workshops held in December and January in various Miami locations. The flags will be on display from February 14 to May 1, leading up to BioBlitz, National Geographic’s 24-hour project to count as many living things as possible in Biscayne National Park.

“I am honored to bring this participatory eco-art work to a national park that serves as a refuge for 17 threatened and endangered species in my community,” Cortada said in a written statement. “The Endangered World: Biscayne National Park installation will do more than generate awareness about global biodiversity loss, it will engage participants—artists, teachers, business owners, community organizers, concerned citizens—in local action.”

On May 1 flag creators will be invited to participate in the event’s closing ceremonies. The flags will then become a part of an Endangered World traveling exhibit that will go to national parks around the country. Details, including lists of available species, instructions for participation and applications, are available by clicking the “Endangered World” link at XavierCortada.com.

For more details on the project, visit NPS.gov/bisc or call park ranger Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144.

Miami photographic artist Brian Trainor’s solo exhibition Hanging Out in
Biscayne National Park opened at the park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center Gallery on Nov. 20. That evening, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Trainor hosted a “meet the artist” wine-and-cheese reception that included a silent auction for an original photograph. The show and reception were free to the public.

The show runs until Feb. 15.

A former photographer in the US Navy, Trainor has spent nearly 30 years developing his skills as a photographer.

According to a statement from the park, Trainor “will often nondestructively manipulate the scene to add interest to otherwise mundane objects. Where more traditional photographers might focus on the sun in a sunrise photo, Trainor’s lens is pointing down at the water, camera askew at an odd angle. Mangrove trees against a bright blue sky are photographed through a watery medium for a fish’s view. Even debris washed in along the park’s shoreline becomes beautiful in Trainor’s photos.”

“Brian’s photographs offer a very different perspective on the park compared to our previous artists,” park ranger Gary Bremen said. “Where many photographers capture the park’s stunning landscapes and wildlife, Brian focuses on small details from unique perspectives. His work definitely engages people in intriguing and often delightful ways.”

All works in the show are available for purchase directly from the artist.

Hanging Out in Biscayne National Park is part of the park’s community artists program, which was started in 1997 as an outlet for established and emerging artists who are inspired by the park’s beauty. The program is made possible by the South Florida National Parks Trust through the generosity of Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Affairs Division, The First National Bank of South Florida and Sedano’s Supermarkets.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street in Homestead. For further information on the exhibit, call 305-230-7275 or visit the park’s website. People can also visit BrianTrainorPhotography.com.

To honor America’s service men and women, areas managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior will not charge entrance fees on Veterans Day (Nov. 11). In Southeast Florida the areas include Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. The typical fee to enter ENP is $10 for a vehicle and $5 for a cyclist or hiker.

According to a statement from Linda Friar at ENP, “Visitors to public recreation lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation are invited to take a day to honor and reflect on what our service men and women have done to maintain our freedom and keep peace around the world.”

“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harms way.”

The Department of Agriculture is waiving entrance fees at its national forests.

A boater was killed by lightning on Sept. 5 in Biscayne National Park.

According to a Miami Herald report, “U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Nick Ameen said the man was struck while standing on a 14-foot boat with an aluminum hull.”

A spokesperson for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the lightning struck the 37-year-old boater around 1 p.m. off Soldier Key. Two of the boater’s friends were in the water when the lightning strike occurred and were not harmed.

To read the Herald’s full article, click here.

Scott Kraynak's Coming To The Surface

Artist and national park ranger Scott Kraynak opened a solo exhibition of his work at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center Gallery on June 12. Inspired: Countless Sources of Beauty, One Spectacular Park features colored pencil drawings inspired not only by the park’s resources, but also by a variety of artistic movements.

The show is free to the public and open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until September 7.

A statement from the park’s communications department describes Kraynak’s work: “(His) pieces echo a wide variety of emotions: his awe of wildlife; the quietude of a stilt house; the poignancy of the fragility of nature and history. The pieces also mirror Kraynak’s takes on the works of other artists, from impressionists to cubists to mannerists. Above all, though, Kraynak’s drawings mirror his love of nature. ‘While I hope that everyone that views my work can see the joy (or anger, depending on the piece) that I felt while creating it, ultimately, the purpose of this artwork is to inspire people to get out and immerse themselves in nature and to appreciate this treasure that we take for granted all too often,’ says Kraynak.”

Inspired is part of the park’s Community Artists program, which was started in 1997 as an outlet for the works of both established and emerging artists who are inspired by the beauty of Biscayne National Park. The program is made possible by the South Florida National Parks Trust through the generosity of Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Affairs Division, The First National Bank of South Florida and Sedano’s Supermarkets.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street, nine miles east of Homestead. For further information on the exhibit call 305-230-7275 or visit NPS.gov/bisc.

The final installment in Biscayne National Park’s 2009 Family Fun Fest series pays tribute with “A Salute to Mom!” on May 10 (Mother’s Day). The free event takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center and features a variety of interactive and hands-on activities, including these:

Sibling Rivalry — Meet a brother-sister pair of otters rescued and rehabilitated after a hunter’s dog attacked their mother.

Turtle Hurdles — Navigate obstacles that a mother sea turtle has to avoid to get to her nesting beach.

Mr. Mom — Seahorses, jawfish and damselfish agree: sometimes, the best mom for the job is a dad!

Are You My Mommy? — Test your reasoning skills to match the fish larvae in the microscope to the adult.

Crabby Mom — Will the giant land crab make it across the road to lay her eggs?

Participants will receive a paper passport to be punched at each station as they complete the activities. Those who complete all five activities earn a special button to help remember the day.

Family Fun Fest is a monthly event held from January through May. The series is made possible through a grant from the Captain Bob Lewis Boat Center Yamaha Billfish Challenge and the Bobby Duryea Memorial Fund at the South Florida National Parks Trust. Additional support comes from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, The University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Graduate Student Organization, NOAA Fisheries Mississippi Laboratories, Wild Florida Productions, GetOutdoorsFlorida.com and a host of dedicated volunteers.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located nine miles east of Homestead. Call 305-230-7275 or visit NPS.gov/bisc for more information.

The third installment of the 2009 Family Fun Fest season at BNP, on Sunday, March 8, will shed light on the park’s shadowy past from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The free event at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center features a variety of interactive and hands-on activities, including these:

Shake it Up! Become an archeologist as you carefully sift through evidence left behind thousands of years ago.

All in a Day’s Work. Chores sure are different today than they were 120 years ago!

Gone Fishin’! Lancelot Jones was one of the most famous fishing guides on Biscayne Bay, but what made him so successful?

Mapping Brenda Lee. Making a map can be pretty tough. Now imagine doing it underwater!

Build-a-Boat. Make your own boat! Will it wreck or will it float?

Participants will receive a paper passport to be punched at each station. Those who complete all five activities will earn a special button to help remember the day, and those who earn five buttons during the season receive a Family Fun Fest Fanatic award in May.

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center is located at 9700 SW 328 Street, nine miles east of Homestead. Call 305-230-7275 or visit NPS.gov/bisc.

For the past 15 years the park has been salvaging pieces of coral damaged by boat groundings, storms and other traumatic impacts. The pieces are mounted with epoxy onto PVC rods and a scannable tag is implanted in the base of the rod. The resulting “coral popsicles” are then introduced into coral nurseries located throughout the park. It is hoped that someday the slow-growing colonies will be able to be used in restoring damaged reef areas. The popsicles are regularly cleaned and weighed for documentation and research purposes, and volunteers perform most of this work.

Volunteers would also be involved in locating and rescuing damaged corals, securing funding, participating in educational outreach and other aspects of nursery maintenance. There are positions for both swimmers and non-swimmers.

For more info contact Richard Curry at 305-230-1144 x3006 / Richard_Curry@nps.gov.