Manatees Gather and So Do People!
Blue Spring Manatee Festival a Huge Success

Ranger Wayne Hartley stops by to let us know which manatees from the SMC adoption program are visiting the spring.Saturday volunteers include (l-r back) Kelly Hodoval, Jennifer Lege and Rick Lowitz. (l-r front) Gail Kainen and husband Collis, Janice Nearing, Ranger Wayne, Amber Lowitz holding "Lola" the manatee, and J.J. Hill. (Photo by Terry Nearing)

By Janice Nearing, Communications & Outreach Coordinator

They came from all over Florida. They came from all parts of the country and from around the world. The crowds that flocked to Blue Spring State Park on Jan. 22 & 23 during the 20th Annual Manatee Festival in Orange City came to see one big main attraction – the manatees! And they weren’t disappointed! 106 manatees were counted in the spring run on a misty Saturday morning, and even more showed up on a much brisker Sunday morning. All along the winding boardwalk, beneath the grand old live oaks and palms, people searched for a spot to get a good look at the manatees resting contentedly in the warm spring waters. People of all ages snapped pictures, children cheered, fingers were pointed excitedly toward new manatee sightings, and all around you could hear the awe-inspired voices of the park visitors as they marvelled at the wonder of these magnificent, gentle animals.

Our Save the Manatee Club information table was set up close to the boardwalk, almost parallel to the historic Thursby House, another big attraction at the park. Many people strolled over to see us and to find out if their “adopted manatee” had been spotted that day. “Has Phyllis been in?” asked one person. “I think I saw Howie—is he here today?” inquired another. On Saturday, Ranger Wayne Hartley provided us with a list from his manatee morning “roll call,” so we were able to let people know if their particular manatee had shown up that day. People also wanted to tell us what they were seeing. “I saw a manatee mom and her baby playing. The baby was right on her back, now the little one’s resting her flipper on mom’s back. They’re so loving, it brings tears to my eyes,” a woman explained. A man rushed up to report that one of the manatees hadn’t come up for air for many minutes, and the people watching were growing concerned for the manatee’s safety. We assured him that it is perfectly natural for a manatee at rest to stay submerged for up to twenty minutes.

Dammie Bembry and daughter Cheyanne Marshall learn more about manatees at the SMC table. Note the special manatee T-shirts from Cornerstone Elementary School in Bunnell, FL. (Photo by Terry Nearing)

It was enormous fun handing out manatee color sheets to the kids, and we were pleased at the number of people who stopped by our table to pick up manatee information. We encouraged those who were able to tear themselves away from manatee-watching to check out the educational manatee film and program provided at the park. Many folks, including a couple from Germany, adopted a Blue Spring manatee from our Adopt-A-Manatee program. “Lola,” an adorable four and a half foot plush manatee was a big hit at our table. The donation draw for Lola takes place next month, and Save the Manatee Club will be donating half the net proceeds to Blue Spring State Park for the manatees.

Of course, we couldn’t have done any of this without the tremendous help of our wonderful and dedicated Save the Manatee Club volunteers. Saturday’s help included volunteers Kelly Hodoval and her friend J.J. Hill, Amber & Rick Lowitz, Jennifer Lege, Gail Kainen and her husband Collis, as well as my energetic husband, Terry Nearing who was at my side and a huge help for both days of the festival. I grabbed a moment to ask some of them why they became volunteers. “’Cause manatees are my favorite animal,” declared Kelly. Her buddy J.J. responded with, “I don’t want them to become extinct. We should learn all about them and not let that happen.” Amber explained her sentiments. “I don’t know why I love them, I just do. They’re so helpless – that to me is so heartbreaking. If I can help save one, then I’ve done my job.” A new volunteer crew showed up bright and early on a very chilly Sunday morning at the park, including Doreen Palmisano, Katie & Brian Kulbaba, Kris Williams and daughters Laura & Sarah. Doreen, who moved here from the Southwest, told me about her interest in getting involved with Save the Manatee Club. “The very first week in Florida I saw a Save the Manatee Club public service ad, and I fell in love. These are special creatures helped by special people. I’m happy to be involved.”

People came from far and wide to see manatees at Blue Spring. Shuttle buses from Valentine Park unloaded throngs of people all weekend during the festival. (Photo by Terry Nearing.)

Down at Valentine Park, the Blue Spring Manatee Festival was also in high gear throughout the weekend. Visitors there enjoyed arts and crafts, music and dancing, face painting, games, food and much more. And to make sure that everyone had an opportunity to see the “big stars” of the day, people at Valentine Park could ride a bus up to Blue Spring to see the manatees. Some of our staff volunteered at the Save the Manatee Club booth which was set up in the environmental conservation tent. People were able to adopt a Blue Spring manatee as well as purchase a variety of popular manatee items such as calendars, T-shirts, and holiday ornaments which are also featured in the Club’s catalog.

Sunday morning volunteers and Park Biologist Richard Harris -- ready for another busy day at the park! (l-r) Richard Harris, Doreen Palmisano, Terry Nearing, Kris Williams & Katie Kulbaba. (Photo by Janice Nearing.)

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