Today, we enjoyed a two-hour excursion cruising the waters of Sarasota Bay with Captain Doug aboard the whisper-quiet Duffy Sun Cruiser 22, a boat powered by electric batteries. Welcome to the 21st century! Along the way, we saw an absolutely amazing array of wildlife, including manatees, dolphins, ospreys, commorants, pelicans, great blue herons, white and snowy egrets, white and glossy ibis, anhinga, and (a first for my birding wife) an American Bittern. We passed a bald eagle nest, but the couple was apparently out foraging for lunch.
At one point, Captain Doug tiptoed to within a few feet of a pelican rookery on a mangrove island, which was truly memorable. We were so quiet there and elsewhere on the cruise that the birds paid little attention to our presence.
This was clearly a highlight of our visit to AMI this year, and we highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates the vast array of wildlife or simply enjoys being out on the water.