February Delicate Balance of Nature- Flamingos
2026-02-23 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a very special lecture on flamingos given by Jerry Lorenz.
In late August 2023, Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a category 3 hurricane in the big bend region of Florida. Along with the devastation typical of such storms, Idalia also brought along hundreds of American Flamingos that were unceremoniously scattered across the eastern US as far north as Wisconsin to Pennsylvania. In this presentation, Jerry Lorenz presents not only the fate of these flamingos but also the convoluted history of this iconic and once abundant species in Florida; how and why it was largely extirpated in the United States more than a hundred years ago and why, until recently, the State of Florida considered it to be non-native species. He also explains why it finally seems to be re-establishing a resident population in the state centered here in Florida Keys, Florida Bay and the Everglades.
Jerome J. Lorenz is an estuarine ecologist whose research focuses on the impact of water management in the southern Everglades on the coastal ecosystems of Florida Bay. Specifically, he focused on the linkages between fresh water deliveries from the Everglades, the abundance of aquatic plants and prey fishes in the mangroves and the success of nesting Roseate Spoonbills and other wading birds in Florida Bay. In 2000, Jerry became Research Director at Audubon Florida’s Everglades Science Center after completion of his Ph.D. from University of Miami. He was promoted to Research Director for Audubon Florida in 2005. Beginning in about 2015, he also began participating in research into the potential re-establishment of flamingo populations in southern Florida. After more than 35 years directing long-term ecological studies in the Keys, he retired from Audubon in April 2025 but continues to participate in the study of water birds in the Keys, particularly the pink ones.
We will start with a reception at 6:30pm and begin our lecture promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83999152613

March Programs
2026-03-02 - 2026-03-31

Community Paddle
2026-04-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Paddle the Florida Keys, 90773 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL, 33070, United States

April Delicate Balance of Nature- Lion Fish
2026-04-27 18:30 - 20:30

May Park Programs
2026-04-30 08:00 - 17:00
May Schedule (1)

How Part of the Atlantic Ocean Became a State Park- May Delicate Balance of Nature
2026-05-18 18:30 - 20:30 | John Pennekamp Visitor Center and Aquarium, 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL, 33037, United States
“How Part of the Atlantic Ocean Became a State Park,” will be delivered by Elena Muratori, Park Services Specialist at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Our reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84127680116
While the idea to preserve the coral reefs offshore of south Florida dates back to the time of Everglades National Park’s conception, it did not become a reality until President Eisenhower’s era. Muratori will present an engaging history of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, along with some present-day changes.
Celebrating 30 years with the Florida Park Service this month, Elena Muratori has worked at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for 25 of those years. A Florida Park Services Specialist, Elena grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. She graduated from Florida’s New College as an environmental studies major, working as a reference librarian to pay for her education. Elena also earned an M.S. degree in counseling psychology at Florida State University. A former paralegal for a civil rights law firm, she helped manage a food co-op and health food store and was a paid peace and justice activist. As an activist, she learned how to manage and motivate volunteers — a useful skill since she oversees volunteers in her park service job. After frequent long weekend drives to Key Largo to snorkel and dive, Elena moved to Miami’s Coconut Grove from northern Florida and volunteered at the Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove. She was hired there, and later as a state park ranger at Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. Elena’s Keys community activities have included steering Pennekamp’s 50th birthday celebration in 2010 and advising Coral Shores High School’s Student Peace Alliance, supporting students to get Monroe County parks designated as “peace parks” with plaques throughout the Keys. She hopes to always communicate by example the importance of caring for each other and the environment where we live. If we humans can understand that we are part of this ecosystem — not separate from it — and that everything we do has an effect, that would be world-changing.
Our reception will begin at 6:30pm and the lecture will start promptly at 7:30pm. Join us via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84127680116

June Park Programs
2026-06-01 08:00 - 2026-06-30 17:00

Mighty Migrations: Southeast Florida's Role in the Incredible Journeys of Songbirds (June Delicate Balance of Nature)
2026-06-22 18:30 - 20:30
Bird migration has fascinated humans for millennia, when we first began to wonder “where do they go?” For years, though, it was difficult to answer that question precisely – until people began banding birds and learning where those marked individuals would end up. Southeast Florida plays a critical role in bird migration along the Atlantic Flyway, and for 23 years, a group of dedicated volunteers has been banding birds at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park to unravel the mysteries of songbird migration throughout the Caribbean. In this talk, we’ll explore the science of migration, the process and value of banding, and some of what we have learned from the Cape Florida Banding Station’s 23-year data set about why the birds come to our corner of the state, and where they go from here.

Dr. Steffanie Munguía is an experienced Latina environmental advocate and conservation professional working across the hemisphere to build a more inclusive environmental movement. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Florida, Steffanie’s passion for conservation grew from an early love of birds and weekend camping trips into a career. Over the years, she has worked as an environmental educator, social scientist, and student engagement leader. She is now the Avian Conservation Programs Manager for Zoo Miami, where she supports their existing partnerships with bird conservation programs in Latin America and the Caribbean while developing new programs in South Florida. Steffanie is also a bander-in-charge and the field director at the Cape Florida Banding Station, the longest-running, southern-most migratory bird banding station in the continental United States.
Join us in person at the John Pennekamp Visitor Center at 6:30pm for a pre lecture reception or via Zoom at 7:15pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81000667101

July Park Programs
2026-06-30 08:00 - 2026-07-31 17:00

Pollinators: Ecology, Importance, and Conservation (July Delicate Balance of Nature)
2026-07-27 18:30 - 20:30
Pollinators are essential to our ecosystems, playing a crucial role in ecological health, food security, and the economy. However, their populations are declining due to various threats. This presentation will highlight five key groups of pollinators, explore their ecological significance, and discuss how gardening can serve as an effective conservation strategy. Join us to learn how you can make a difference.

Liah is passionate about landscaping, native plants, pollinators, and ecology. She is fascinated by complex ecological interactions and how horticulture can be used to support local ecosystems. Liah’s work is community-oriented and rooted in education,providing accessible, science-based resources to all members of Monroe County, including residents, youth, and professionals.
Join us in person in the John Pennekamp Visitor Center at 6:30pm for a pre-lecture reception or via Zoom at 7:15pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87530387091

Outdoor Education's Impact on Ocean Conservation (August Delicate Balance of Nature)
2026-08-24 18:30 - 20:30
Education is powerful. Sarah has witnessed first hand the impact of MarineLab’s experiential education programs on the thousands of students who visit each year. Over time, MarineLab has collected stories, data and teacher insight on how student’s experiences out of the classroom have changed the trajectory of their futures, creating paths that directly impact our environment. We are excited to share how outdoor education specifically can be a powerful tool to combat the threats our oceans face.

Sarah Egner is the Senior Vice President at MarineLab, an environmental education center based in Key Largo. She has been with the organization since 2007, serving in various capacities over the years including educator, Captain, curriculum developer and teacher trainer. In her current role, she oversees all aspects of the MarineLab education program and is incredibly proud of the impact the organization has on students throughout the country and on the habitat that she loves the most – our ocean. After living in the Keys for 20 years, Sarah works remotely from St Augustine with her family.

Join us in person in the John Pennekamp Visitor Center at 6:30pm for a pre-lecture reception or via Zoom at 7:15pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82435222102
