Helping to Sustain a Way of Life in the Bahamas

New video – watch and learn how to estimate the age of a conch!

By admin | 12 July 2012 | 1 Comment
Published in Abaco Expedition 2012, Outreach, Uncategorized, Videos

So, what happens when the weather keeps us from getting out there and counting conch? Usually its data entry, catching up on email, lab work, checking the weather forecast, more data entry, checking the forecast again…mostly we’re behind the computer, but sometimes we get a little creative. Chris and Dunte arrived In Sandy Point just in time for the effects of a tropical storm, so they had lots of time to hone their acting skills and shoot an outreach video about one of the most interesting things they learned in their volunteer training…how to estimate the age of a conch. They also wanted to make sure they got out an important message. Take a look and share with people who might be interested!

A speedy conch…

By admin | 27 June 2012 | No Comments
Published in Abaco Expedition 2012, Uncategorized, Videos

…can only move this fast! Even though a large part of the conch’s body is one big muscle, they don’t exactly flee from predators. When they’re small they bury themselves in the sand to avoid being eaten by animals like rays and lobsters. When they grow bigger, their strategy is to hide inside their thick shell. Unfortunately for the conch, that big shell may make them more visible to their #1 predator, HUMANS. And where there’s one conch, particularly during the summer mating season, there are likely many more in the area because conchs mate in large aggregations. Hundreds or even thousands of individuals might be found in an aggregation, and all they can do when they see YOU coming is retreat into their shell. And well, we’ve gotten pretty good at getting them out of the shell. Check out this “Great Conch Race”on conchsaladtv.com

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Bahamas coast

Conchs are native to the coasts of the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, The Bahamas, and Bermuda.

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