Jan. 5
Went to Lakes Park (about 3 miles away) to walk this morning - this is one of our favorites. Very warm, even at 10 a.m. Saw lots of birds, but not as many as usual. Saw one small alligator, partially in the water, sunning itself. Lunch at 5th wheel, then set up the satellite for the TV - now we get the Chicago stations. Next to the library - also one of our favorite things to do. It only costs $5 a month to join, so we do so. It’s always cool there, and there are lots of magazines and papers to read (as well as lots of books!!). Went to Starbucks at Miromar mall for iced tea and snack, then home.
The following is from an article in the Bonita paper:

NAPLES — Lee County led the state in 2008 in the number of boat-related manatee deaths, according to figures released Monday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The 14 manatee deaths attributed to boat strikes in Lee County is the same number Lee County chalked up in 2007 but is below the 21 deaths reported in 2006, figures show. Lee County topped the list for boat-related deaths because it has a lot of manatees and lots of boats. The numbers are part of a grim accounting of 337 manatee carcasses that state biologists recorded in Florida waters in 2008 — an increase of 20 manatees over 2007, but below the five-year average of 357 manatees. The lack of a red tide, a bloom of microscopic algae that can kill manatees, helped keep the numbers down. Scientists attributed only three manatee deaths to red tide in 2008.
Deaths of 101 newborn manatees, though, was a record high and compared with 59 newborn deaths in 2007. Some research suggests that manatees are dying or being killed at a younger age, which makes every newborn manatee that much more important. While newborn deaths was the No. 1 mortality category in 2008, boat-related deaths was No. 2.
Other categories of manatee deaths are flood gates or canal locks — manatees sometimes get caught in these structures — cold stress, natural including red tide, other human and undetermined. In all, 45 dead manatees were reported in Lee County waters in 2008, and 17 manatee carcasses were reported in Collier County, according to Monday’s report. Lee County ranked No. 2 in total manatee deaths; Collier ranked fifth.
After Gov. Charlie Crist intervened, the Conservation Commission in 2007 postponed a decision on downlisting the manatee from endangered to threatened status. A similar downlisting also has been pending by federal authorities at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.