Sponsor the 2026 Apalachicola 3rd of July Waterfront Celebration

Apalachicola July 3rd Waterfront Celebration Friday, July 3rd 2026 | 5:00pm- Until Riverfront Park Apalachicola, Fl The Apalachicola July 3rd Waterfront Celebration is the highlight of summer in Apalachicola—an event that brings energy to our local businesses and creates lasting memories for our entire community. As we enter our fourth year hosting it, we invite you to take an active role in making it bigger, stronger, and more impactful than ever. Planning is already underway for an exceptional celebration on Friday, July 3rd, 2026. With your support, we can elevate this event to new heights. Every dollar raised is reinvested directly into the celebration, enhancing its quality, expanding its reach, and increasing its benefit to our community. Festivities begin at 5:00 PM at Riverfront Park, featuring live music, family-friendly activities, and a variety of outstanding local food vendors—many of them not-for-profit organizations supporting meaningful causes. The evening builds to a breathtaking fireworks display over the river, drawing thousands to our waterfront each year. This event depends on one critical goal: raising $30,000 for the fireworks show alone. This is the event’s single largest expense—and the moment that defines the entire celebration. Without the support of sponsors like you, this signature experience simply would not be possible. Your sponsorship is more than a donation—it’s a visible investment in our community and a powerful opportunity to showcase your business to a large and engaged audience. The Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce cannot do this without the support of dedicated partners like you. Stars & Stripes Sponsor – $1,100 Our premier level offers top billing with prominent name recognition on event signage and T-shirts. You’ll receive Facebook and website shoutouts, repeated main stage mentions throughout the day, and premium signage near the stage. Includes access for 8 guests to the Sponsor Tent with beverages, BBQ, and a courtyard view of the fireworks and live entertainment. Red, White & Blue Sponsor – $750 Enjoy strong visibility with name placement on signage and T-shirts, along with social media and website recognition. Includes main stage mentions, park signage, and access for 4 guests to the Sponsor Tent with food, beverages, and prime viewing. Independence Sponsor – $450 Receive name recognition on signage and T-shirts, plus Facebook and website shoutouts. Includes two main stage mentions, park signage, and access for 2 guests to the Sponsor Tent. America 250 Sponsor – $250 Show your support with name placement on sponsor signage, social media and website recognition, and one main stage mention. Help us reach our $30,000 goal and ensure the fireworks continue to light up Apalachicola for years to come. Your support is what makes this tradition possible—and keeps it growing. Download Sponsor Form Here Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce 17 Ave E Apalachicola, Fl 32320 www.apalachicolabay.org 850-653-9419

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Be a part of Riverpalooza this May🎉 🎶💙

Apalachicola Riverkeeper	May 3, 2026, 3:18 PM (22 hours ago)
to me

A Celebration of Community, Conservation & the Apalachicola River   Join us on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Apalachicola, FL for the Third Annual Riverpalooza    A full day of stewardship, connection, and celebration in support of the Apalachicola River.    Community Coastal Clean-Up (8 AM – 12 PM EST)   Start the day at the Apalachicola Yacht Club as we come together to care for the river and bay that sustain our community. Volunteer by boat, bike, or on foot alongside Apalachicola Riverkeeper staff and fellow supporters. All participants will receive a complimentary raffle ticket to win a RedHead Gun Safe.    Afternoon Celebration (beginning at 12 PM EST) After the clean-up, stay and enjoy an afternoon at the Apalachicola Yacht Club featuring: Fresh local oysters from Water is Life Oysters (available with donation) Live music by Tommy Cooper, The Ukulilies, Clayton Mathis and Lynn Wamp                         and The Palmetto Kickers New this year.....a Dunk Tank featuring favorite personalities ready to take the plunge! Local vendors showcasing river-related trades, crafts, and coastal heritage  and more....    Support the mission This event is open to the public, so please share this message with your neighbors and friends.  All Apalachicola Riverkeeper members and guests are encouraged to make a suggested $10 donation at the door and additional donations are always appreciated. Your support directly advances Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s work to protect and preserve this vital ecosystem.   Thank you for being part of this community. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate alongside local partners and continue working together for the health of the Apalachicola River and Bay.      Not Just Any Safe, It's a VAULT!    Snag your chance to own a RedHead Western Series Gun Safe!  Holds up to 48 guns, withstands fire up to 1,400°F for 45 minutes and is UL-listed for burglary protection - so what's inside, stays inside.     $10 = 1 ticket, $20 = 2 tickets, etc.    Winner announced at Riverpalooza and you don’t even have to be there — we’ll still let you win!   Winner picks up gun safe in Apalachicola.  Support the Apalachicola Riverkeeper and grab your lucky ticket(s) now!       Buy Tickets Here!     Since 1998, Apalachicola Riverkeeper has been the unwavering voice for one of America’s most vital and endangered waterways — protecting the Apalachicola River and Bay through action, advocacy, and community. From restoring sloughs and fighting pollution, to defending against harmful development and standing up in court, we work every day to safeguard this irreplaceable natural treasure for future generations. Protect what you love — join us. Support Our Work

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Wrack Line - The Florida Shorebird Alliance Newsletter May 2026

Photo by Emily Hunter, FWC

The Florida Shorebird Alliance Newsletter May 2026 In this Issue Events & Reminders Imperiled Beach-Nesting Bird (IBNB) Survey Experiences FSA News FSD Updates Ebb Tidings Events & Reminders May 13-19: This is the third survey count window for the breeding season. Please see the Breeding Bird Protocol for details.   May 23-25: Memorial Day Weekend! Shorebirds and seabirds nesting along the coast need more support during busy holiday weekends. Can you help? Please check the FSA website.  Imperiled Beach-Nesting Bird (IBNB) Survey Experiences The Southwest Region is hosting two shorebird monitoring experiences in June for individuals interested in becoming FWC Permitted Monitors. IBNB Permitted Monitors are dedicated individuals with proven shorebird and seabird identification skills and avian survey experience. They are qualified to assist FWC Incidental Take Permittees with minimizing and avoiding harm or harassment of imperiled beach-nesting birds during project activities.  Pinellas/Sarasota Counties: June 2-4, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day. Lee/Charlotte Counties: June 16-18, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day.  Fill out the IBNB Permitted Monitor Interest Form. After completing the form, an email will be sent with the opportunity to sign up for an experience.   Survey experiences are also available in the South Region and Northwest Region.   South Florida Details: Dates: Ongoing (May-August) Locations: Various If you are interested in learning about opportunities in South Florida, contact Ricardo Zambrano at Ricardo.Zambrano@MyFWC.com. Please include a name, phone number, and address for each interested participant.  Northwest Florida Details: Dates: Ongoing (May-August) Locations: Various If you are interested in learning about opportunities in Northwest Florida, contact Nick Vitale at Nicholas.Vitale@MyFWC.com. Please include a name, phone number, and address for each interested participant.  FSA News Photo by Emily Hunter, FWC World Migratory Bird Day  World Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated on Saturday, May 9. This is an international campaign that raises awareness about migratory bird conservation and the challenges birds face along their journeys. This year’s global theme, “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter,” highlights the crucial role of community scientists in tracking bird movements, monitoring habitats, and identifying threats. This year, the American oystercatcher is one of the featured migratory birds!   Florida supports the largest concentration of wintering American oystercatchers anywhere in their range. The state is also home to a population of breeding oystercatchers, making Florida critical for the conservation and population recovery of the species. Our understanding of oystercatchers in Florida has grown significantly thanks to the dedicated efforts of Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA) partners and the collaborative work through the American Oystercatcher Working Group.   FSA partners play a crucial role in protecting Florida’s shorebirds and seabirds by collecting data to inform conservation actions. Their work ensures that species like the American oystercatcher continue to thrive along Florida’s coasts.   These efforts highlight how powerful a committed group of community scientists can be, and there’s always room for more individuals ready to make a difference. If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to spend a day at the beach watching birds while making a difference…how do I get involved?” Your local FSA partnership can help you get started with bird surveys and stewardship opportunities.  Look up an event near you, suit up, and soar outdoors to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day on May 9. Your observations truly matter!  Partner Spotlight: Ricardo Zambrano  During his 32 years with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Ricardo Zambrano has played a central role in building partnerships and elevating Florida’s conservation presence nationally and internationally, leading to significant progress for shorebird and seabird conservation. Ricardo serves as the FWC South Regional Species Conservation Biologist, managing nongame species and their habitats. He established and organized the FSA partnerships in Collier County, the Southeast region, and the Florida Keys, and continues to support these partnerships as a resource and collaborator. Ricardo has also taken on leadership roles in environmental organizations that broaden Florida’s conservation impact, connecting him with colleagues whose expertise helps strengthen the state’s ongoing wildlife conservation efforts. As Vice-President of the Waterbird Society, Ricardo planned and hosted the 47th Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale in 2023 that brought global experts to Florida, providing a platform for FSA partners to share innovations in waterbird conservation.  Ricardo’s professional collaborations also contributed to a major conservation milestone: helping to attract roseate terns to the Dry Tortugas for the first time since the late 1970s. With assistance from electricians and technical specialists, he used social attraction tools including decoys, and a solar powered system broadcasting calls around the clock to reestablish a colony after hurricane losses in 2005. Today, the Dry Tortugas remain the only site in the continental U.S. where roseate terns, bridled terns, brown noddies, sooty terns, magnificent frigatebirds, and masked boobies nest.  After more than three decades of working with imperiled species in South Florida, Ricardo is a leader and collaborator who continues to inspire partners, volunteers, and future scientists to actively engage in shorebird and seabird conservation.  Snowy Plover Chicks are Hatching!  Photo Credits: Samantha Hinsz, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (left) and Emily Hunter, FWC (right)  Snowy plover chicks have begun hatching in Southwest Florida and the Panhandle. These semi-precocial chicks leave the nest within hours and rely on their parents for 28-42 days until they fledge. As seen in the photos above, snowy plover chicks, as well as most flightless young shorebirds, are extremely well camouflaged and easy to miss on the beach. While beach-nesting birds may be most active from mid-February to the end of August, it’s best to avoid beach-driving whenever possible. If you are authorized to drive on the beach, please follow these guidelines:  Use only designated access points and drive on the hardpacked sand near or below the high tide line. Avoid the upper beach and never drive on dunes or over beach vegetation where birds may nest or hide. Stay clear of wrack lines and areas of dense seaweed, which often harbor shorebird chicks. Minimize ruts by lowering tire pressure and using 4WD. Drive slowly and stay alert for camouflaged eggs or chicks. Avoid night driving and never park near posted nesting areas.  Please respect all posted areas and stay on designated walkways. If you spot snowy plovers nesting or tending chicks, maintain a wide buffer. If the birds appear agitated or leave their nest, you’re too close and should back away. As a general guideline, stay at least 300 feet away. Your awareness and care on the beach help protect Florida’s smallest and most vulnerable shorebirds.  FSD Updates We do not currently have dedicated fields in the FSD to report banded breeding birds. However, if banded birds are observed nesting during your survey, please record the full band combinations in the Solitary Nest Site Description and Nest Site Visit Comments. See examples below!  Solitary Nest Site Description:  Nest Site Visit Comments:  These details are critical for verifying renesting and linking chicks to their natal nests. However, entering band information in the FSD is not a substitute for reporting bands to the Bird Banding Lab or the appropriate researchers. Please be sure to report band resights with both.   Visit the FSA’s Banded Birds page to learn where to report banded birds – who you report bands to varies by species and band combinations.  Ebb Tidings Photo by Emily Hunter, FWC Least Terns Are Back!  Keep an eye on the skies. Least tern breeding season is here!   These charismatic birds migrate from Central and South America each spring to nest in Florida, where up to a third of their range-wide population breeds. As you watch for birds nesting on sandy beaches and shell islands, don’t forget to look up. About half of the population of breeding least terns in Florida nest on gravel rooftops, making them essential habitat for the species. Building rooftops provide important alternative nesting habitat for shorebirds and seabirds, many of which are considered imperiled.

Want to get involved?     Email Shorebird@MyFWC.com for more information about your local partnership.     Join the flock on social media: Florida Shorebird Alliance Facebook Group   The Florida Shorebird Alliance (FSA) is a partnership of agencies, non-government organizations, and individuals committed to shorebird and seabird conservation in Florida. FSA partners coordinate their independent work and collaborate to address research, management, education, outreach, and public policy needs.

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