For the Love of Cats, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of cats and kittens in Collier County, is joining the Vanderbilt Farmers Market’s summer season to spread awareness about its mission and vital programs.
Funds received for the organization, which started on Marco Island, help support its life-saving initiatives: TNR (trap, neuter, return) for community cats, emergency veterinary care and wellness for families in need, and senior cat adoptions for seniors in Naples and Collier County.
The Vanderbilt Farmers Market summer season is held every Saturday from June 15th to September 21st. The Farmers Market is at Vanderbilt’s Galleria Shoppes, 2355 Vanderbilt Rd, Naples.
Staff and volunteers will be on hand to help inform shoppers about the organization’s impact and to provide fun cat items to help fund its programs.
“We are so excited to be joining the Vanderbilt Farmers Market this summer! We can’t wait to make new friends in North Naples and tell them all about our life-saving programs,” said Jan Rich, founder. “This is a busy market and we are very grateful to the organizers for finding a space for us.”
Rescued Kingbirds
Joanna Fitzgerald of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida recently wrote about two kings rescued on Marco Island and taken to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital in Naples.
One islander arrived just as the hospital was opening with two baby gray kingbirds he had found the night before in a restaurant parking lot. “The rescuer was clearly upset by the situation, especially since there was a third chick that didn’t survive falling out of the nest,” she writes.
“Both puppies exhibited signs indicating that they were in pain – both had increased respiratory effort, were quiet, their eyes were dull and neither was trying to move. Hospital staff administered painkillers, electrolytes and placed the puppies in an animal intensive care unit heated with oxygen.
“A check of the birds a short time later showed that one chick was a little more active and both were begging to be fed. Due to their young age, kingbirds needed to be fed every hour.
“The next morning, the kingbirds were vocal, active and moving around the animal intensive care unit. Hospital staff decided it was worth trying to reattach the babies. The kingbirds came from a nest in the parking lot of a busy restaurant, but a less busy area with good tree cover across the street from the restaurant was a good nesting option.
Hospital staff hoped to lure the parents back to the area where their nest was, allowing them to hear and see their babies, and then lead them to the trees across the street.
It took a while, but finally an adult kingbird flew into the area where the team was waiting with the two chicks. While the team waited and gave the parents time to see that the babies were back, the cubs attempted their first flight and flew in opposite directions across the parking lot.
Hospital staff struggled to capture the two cubs. Even though the king bird flew into the parking lot, it only stayed for a few seconds before flying away. After that, none of the adult kingbirds returned.
Although the reestablishment was unsuccessful, it was a learning opportunity for the hospital staff. Gray kingbirds are a rare admission to von Arx Wildlife Hospital, with only eight admitted in the last twenty-five years. Each situation provides knowledge for the team to build on. No matter what happens, there is peace of mind in knowing we did everything we could to bring the family together.
Fitzgerald said since the chicks have grown, they are now being housed in a small indoor flight enclosure as they gain muscle strength while learning to fly. Once well flown, they will be moved to a large outdoor flight recovery enclosure until they are old enough to fend for themselves and be released.
Reminder: Tuesday – Happy Hour of Hope
Marco Island Meals of Hope invites you to its next happy hour, 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, at Sami’s, 227 North Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Marco Kiwanis will host. For a $20 entry fee, attendees will enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks at happy hour prices and live music. These monthly events are open to the public. Happy Hour events raise funds to purchase food raw materials for the packaging event scheduled for November 9th at Marco Island Charter Middle School.
‘Watercolors and Wildlife’ at Rookery
This class with local artist Jan Deswick highlights one aspect of nature’s beauty. At 9:30am, Thursday, June 20th, join together to paint the Naples coastline and an estuarine environment. The cost is $85 and includes all materials.
Each participant leaves with a matte-finished painting. RSVP in advance at rookerybay.org. Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road.
Rookery Bay Marine Camp
Rookery Bay Research Reserve’s Student Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) is a half-day summer camp for 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students with an interest in the environment, marine science, and marine biology.
Camp starts in June. You can choose just one day, two days or a full week of sessions. Camp dates: June 18th, 19th and 20th; June 25, 26 and 27; 9am – 1pm Cost is $75 per day (camping bags are available).
Registration is required at RookeryBay.org/events or call 239-530-5972.
Free entry to the garden on June 19th
In recognition of our country’s federal holiday, the Naples Botanical Garden is extending free admission from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 19, Wednesday, June 19.
“The peaceful spaces of the Garden provide moments of reflection and peace on a day that celebrates a step in the long march towards equality,” the press release said.
For locals, opportunities to relax, reflect and connect in the Garden continue throughout the summer.
From June 1 through September 30, residents of Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties receive discounted garden admission with qualifying identification. Staff-led tours, WONDER, Dig Deeper programming, and all art exhibits are included as part of a garden visit.
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