Page 10 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - April '22
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Page 10, Jupiter Ocean Mile
      Northern Notes



      Living With Sandhill Cranes                        Wildlife Code 68A-4.00(3). Why was this done? Cranes   more vulnerable to predation by dogs or cats, especially
                                                         can become aggressive when fed by people. When they   the young cranes. Occasionally, birds have been known to
      By Katie Roundtree,                                are used to a free meal, they will continue to return and   cause damage to property as a territorial defense behavior
      Director of Finance and                            demand it when it is not offered. Cranes returning to a   upon seeing their reflection in cars or window screens.
      Administration, Northern                           yard where they have been fed are prone to injury by cars   Pesticides in yards and urban areas can also be of concern
      Palm Beach County                                  as they cross the street to get to the yard. They are also   as they forage for food in the ground.
      Improvement District                                                                                   Look around and enjoy these beautiful birds as they
        Sandhill cranes are                                                                                interact within our Florida environment. Many of them
      long-legged, long-necked                                                                             can be found in the preserves and marshes in our area.
      gray, heron-like birds with                                                                          Give them their space if you come across them and be
      a patch of red skin on their                                                                         mindful of them crossing or walking in our roadways.
      head. They are distinctive                                                                           Finally, please do not feed them for the good of the cranes
      looking birds standing                                                                               and Florida’s delicate ecosystem. For more information,
      almost 4-feet-tall and can                                                                           please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
      be seen near preserves and wetlands, in parking lots and                                             Commission website at www.myfwc.com.
      walking across roads oblivious to danger. They travel in                                               NPDES tip: Safely use and dispose of pesticides. If all
      small groups or pairs sometimes with young in tow.                                                   of the pesticide cannot be properly used, check with your
        Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. The                                             solid waste management authority to find out when and
      Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis), numbering 4,000                                            where to properly dispose of this type of hazardous waste.
      to 5,000, is a nonmigratory year-round breeding resident.
      They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater
      sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two   La Posada Encourages Lifelong Learning
      subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida
      but nests in the Great Lakes region.
        Sandhill cranes                                   Through Intergenerational Celebrations
      mate for life and
      attract mates using                                 During National Reading Month
      an elaborate dance.
      These cranes nest
      during late winter and                                “The more that you                             an open mind and
      early spring on mats                                read, the more things                            trying new things.
      of vegetation found in                              you will know. The more                          For the residents
      shallow water such as                               that you learn, the more                         who participated,
      preserves or marshes.                               places you’ll go” is a                           sharing stories
      Sandhill chicks can                                 quote from I Can Read                            w ith the
      leave the nest as early                             with My Eyes Shut! - an                          kindergartners
      as  eight  hours  after                             iconic book by infamous children’s author Dr. Seuss. Since  brought back
      hatching and can swim                               1921, the words of Dr. Seuss have inspired minds young  m eani ngful
      if necessary. Juveniles                             and old, and encouraged anyone and everyone to pick up  memories of their own childhood, where reading Dr. Seuss
      stay with their parent                              a book and read.                                 books was a big part of learning, growing and discovering
      from 9 to 10 months                                   Despite his passing in 1991, Dr. Seuss’ legacy has  a love for reading.
      after hatching.                                     continued to live on, inspiring National Reading Month,    “I can’t think of a better way to have spent my morning,”
        They have been                                    created by the National Education Association. Recognized  says Barbara Schaffer, resident of La Posada. “It was a
      around for a very                                   annually in March, National Reading Month is designated  wonderful experience and brought back all the memories
      long time.  The first                               to celebrate and encourage a love of reading for all ages,  of when I was a teacher and got to read books to young
      known sandhill crane                                discovering new books and cherishing old classics. At La  children.”
      fossil was found in the                             Posada, a Kisco senior living community, residents are    La Posada also provided each child in the kindergarten
      Macasphalt Shell Pit in                             encouraged to engage in lifelong learning through various  class with a copy of Oh the Places You’ll Go to encourage
      Florida. It was estimated to be about 2.5 million years   events and programs at the community all year long.  the students to “Spring Forward with Books” as well as to
      old. They are not endangered but due to loss of habitat,   Recently, residents were given the opportunity to honor  prompt them to explore their self-confidence and identity,
      their populations can be of concern in certain areas. They   National Reading Month in true “Seussical” fashion by  keep an open mind and stay positive in the face of future
      are attracted to open areas in urban settings such as golf   observing Read Across America Day.      adversity.
      courses, parks in subdivisions and undeveloped land in     Read Across America Day was launched in 1998 by    “Reading regularly is vital for children’s development,”
      commercial areas.                                   the NEA as a way to encourage children to read. Since  says Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “Not
        Sandhill cranes are omnivores, which means that they   its conception, the annual reading holiday has been held  only do we want to encourage them to read, but we also
      eat plants as well as small animals like snails, frogs,   on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss’s birthday. This year, the  want to instill motivation on an impressionable generation
      worms and grubs. They provide natural biological control   La Posada wellness team organized an intergenerational  to continue to read, learn and grow through all the places
      for their grazing areas as they eat these common pests of   celebration between residents and kindergarten students  they’ll go.”
      turf. Sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods   from Marsh Pointe Elementary.               Beyond Read Across America Day, residents of La Posada
      and do not need handouts from humans.                 “Because Read Across                           are provided with a multitude of opportunities to learn within
        People inadvertently put them in harm’s way when   America Day promotes                            the community throughout the year. Each month, residents
      feeding them, thinking that they are being kind. It is never   and encouraging reading               are given a wellness calendar that is stacked full of events
      a good idea to feed wildlife. In fact, in 2002, the Florida   for all ages, we wanted                and programs that target various dimensions of wellness. In
      Fish and  Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)    to celebrate it in a way                         March alone, residents were given the opportunity to attend
      made it illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida Fish and   that allowed multiple                    six different lectures that discuss a range of topics in current
                                                          generations to interact,”                        events and politics.
                                                          says Rick Minichino, wellness director at La Posada. “It    “Our wellness team works to provide an environment
                                                          was great to see our residents so enthusiastic and eager to  that encourages our residents to develop and continue
                                                          read to the young class.”                        to learn,” says Minichino. “We want our residents to be
                                                            On March 2, residents and associates of La Posada were  intrinsically motivated, so we make sure to provide extensive
                                                          up bright and early and dressed in Cat In the Hat-like attire  opportunities for them to read, have discussions and engage
                                                          to get into the true Dr. Seuss spirit. Conducted via Zoom,  in activities that encourage them to continue to grow.”
                                                          residents of La Posada took turns reading an array of Dr.    In addition to activities provided by the wellness team,
                                                          Seuss classics to the kindergarten class. Among the iconic  residents of La Posada have access to a full computer
                                                          titles read was one of Dr. Seuss’s most notorious books, Oh  center and an extensive library that equips residents with
                                                          the Places You’ll Go, known for its meaningful message  all the resources they need to learn and discover on their
                                                          about the importance of seizing new opportunities, keeping  own time.
                                                                                                             “We hope to inspire our residents to commit to lifelong
                                                                                                           learning,” says Cadiere. “It has proven extensive benefits
                                                                                                           for overall health and wellbeing and allows our residents
                                                                                                           to be more engaged with the world around them.”

                                                                                                              If you are interested in learning more about life at
        Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing                                                          La Posada, join us for a special event in partnership
        Palm Beach County and is a privately                                                                 with Keller Williams on April 19 at 2:00pm. During
        owned and managed company.                                                                          the event, attendees will experience the award-winning
        Captain’s is committed to providing
        dependable, reliable and professional                                                                amenities and service that make La Posada special.
        ground transportation to and from all                                                                For more information, please visit mylaposada.com
        South Florida Airports and Seaports.  PBCVH212                                                                  or call (561) 277.0660.
           To reserve your vehicle:
        561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890  www.captainsairport.com                                    Paid Advertisement
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