In this episode of Florida Uncut, we’re joined by avian ecologist Mary Marine, who is part of a team leading recovery efforts for one of North America’s most endangered birds, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, in the Everglades Headwaters.

Mary shares how she codified her passion for this “little brown bird” and went from seasonal technician to an instrumental part of the recovery efforts with Archbold Biological Station. We’ll also discuss what endangered species recovery actually looks like on the ground, and why working lands and ranchers are essential partners in conservation (and why you should buy Florida beef!). We talk about translocation work, collaboration across divides, and why the Everglades Headwaters is one of the most important landscapes in Florida’s future.

Despite the challenges the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow faces, Mary’s hope for the future is relentlessly grounded in science, people, and the long game of conservation.

And just to keep things interesting, when Mary isn’t matchmaking between endangered birds, she’s doing it for humans too as a certified wedding planner.

Topics include:

• Florida Grasshopper Sparrow recovery and fieldwork realities
• Translocation and reintroduction of endangered birds
• Ranching, working lands, and conservation collaboration
• Storytelling as a tool for long-term conservation success

Follow Mary on Instagram @_marymarine_

You can watch the award-winning documentary of the FGS The Little Brown Bird for free here: http://thelittlebrownbird.film/

Check out Jeff Corwin’s episode of Wildlife Nation featuring Mary and the FGS here.

Last month I had the incredible pleasure of not only attending the inaugural Lake Wales Ridge Fire Festival, but sitting down on stage with three leaders in local, state, and regional fire management efforts to learn more about what they do and why the role of fire is important to the story of protecting and connecting wild Florida.

It was a great day of learning, engaging, great food, and being with the conservation community in central Florida. I ended up bringing my whole family, who all had a wonderful time.

The panel included:

• Adam Peterson - Florida's Fire Manager for The Nature Conservancy
• Elysia Dytrych - Headwaters Ecosystem Management Team for Archbold Biological Station
• Joe Bruner - Wildland Fire Program Manager, Avon Park Air Force Range

I hope you enjoy this conversation! The audio quality will sound different as we recorded outside and in front of a live audience.

Thanks again, Zach Franco, and the Archbold Biological Station crew for the opportunity!

Check out the new film from Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, Patchwork Wild.

In this episode of Florida Uncut, Mason sits down with Ryan Young, founder and Lead Explorer of Rising Tide Explorers, an ecotourism company based in Naples, FL.

Back in 2016 Ryan and his group of biologist friends (including his future wife, Jeannine) realized that there were no certification, education, training, or experience requirements needed to conduct ecotours in the entire state of Florida. This left eager travelers with no way of knowing if the guide they were following into the wilderness had any training, safety certifications, or real knowledge of this unique and complex ecosystem. Having dedicated their lives to exploring the outdoors and studying the ecology of the area, the group decided to leverage their unique backgrounds, connection to the local science community, and passion for science to raise the bar of the ecotourism industry in Southwest Florida.

In 2019, Friends of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve partnered with Rising Tide Explorers to continue providing memorable and educational adventures in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Proceeds support education, research and conservation.

In this chat we dig into the magic of where they guide tours in Rookery Bay, the importance of science-led tourism, and how RTE’s partnership with Friends of Rookery Bay helps fund real conservation research. It’s a conversation about curiosity, stewardship, and why getting people on the water might be one of the most powerful ways to protect the places we love.

In addition to founding RTE, and now owning Naples Outfitters, Ryan also served as the trekker guide for the 2024 Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation expedition and is the narration voice of the upcoming documentary Patchwork Wild, which will be screened at Rookery Bay Learning Center on December 2nd. Registration is limited!

Register for the December 2nd screening here.

Learn more about Ryan and team:

• Go on a Rising Tide adventure here: https://risingtidefl.com
• Learn more about Naples Outfitters: https://naplesoutfitters.com