Hello! My name is Chloe, I am a new intern working with WFSU and Apalachee at Lake Elberta. I am currently a 9th-grade student at a local area high school. I am excited to explore and observe all the wonders that are around the area! Ever since I can remember, I have been in love with all sorts of art and academics. Normally with activities that are indoors. But, I am looking forward to having the opportunity to be able to gain a better appreciation for nature and be able to embrace it!
One of my favorite subjects has always been science, specifically biology. In the past, I have done several projects and participated in several programs that have focused on other parts of biology, like microbiology and physiology. Wanting to broaden my biological knowledge, I wanted to not just research, but actively participate in conducting some ecology-based research of my own and making a difference to a wildlife hotspot that needs our help.
Helping out Apalachee Audubon at Lake Elberta
While I am interning for WFSU and Apalachee Audubon, I will be helping with a few projects at Lake Elberta. One of those projects I want to partake in is cleaning up the immense amount of trash around the park. This will involve organizing community trash clean-ups and finding a way to reduce the amount of trash being dumped around the park. Along with this, I also want to reach out to the community. Both surveying the community to see what they enjoy about the park and educating the community about the area and its condition. These two projects would help the park overall, either to improve its physical condition or keep the park lively with visitors.
Along with Wood Stork in the pictures above, Lake Elberta is a refuge for a plethora of migratory birds. There are all sorts of birds, there being delicate birds like Purple martins (Progne subis) and sharp birds like Anhingas (Anhinga Anhinga) . These birds using the park for shelter, food supply, and a nesting place for their families to grow at.
Besides all the birds, Lake Elberta contains a few other animals, the area also having mammals like otters (Lontra canadensis) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) inhabiting it. However, these specific animals live around in the forest-like area that surrounds the lake. You can normally see these creatures more lively around springtime, them normally inhabiting in the nearby creek beside the lake or high up in available hole spaces in trees.
I am immensely thrilled to get to work with WFSU and Apalachee Audubon at Lake Elberta! I cannot wait to start on reaching out to the community, cleaning up the park, and several other projects around the park. Along with that, I am excited to gain the opportunity to have a better understanding and love for nature.
Chloe’s internship is funded by a grant from the PBS series Age of Nature
Also Watch– In 2019, WFSU documented the work done by Apalachee Audubon to enhance the habitat at Lake Elberta for the EcoCitizen Project.
