The Skiff and the Bird Islands

When I was eight my parents bought me a 15 ft . cyprus skiff . My dad had found it wasting away under some pepper trees at Hansen Boat Yard and contracted the yard to do some painting and patchwork . It could hold a small outboard so he bought a 10 horse Evinrude and within a couple of weeks the boat was ready to go . I was taught how to handle the skiff dubbed Mike 1 and soon it became a part of me almost an extension of my being . My mother who had grown up with boats would go out in the bay with me and it became a favorite pastime of ours to anchor near the bird islands in Roberts Bay just south of the Siesta Key bridge . She would talk of the cycles of life while we passed time watching the pelicans and other birds tending their young . At that time there were more mangroves and natural islands for the birds to roost on . It was around 1961 so the Army Corps was yet to execute its plan to dredge the Intracoastal waterway through Sarasota and Roberts Bays . Today , as you come south through the present day north Siesta Bridge if you look right the first island you will see is one of the original Edwards Islands , however the next island called Big Edwards is a fill island created by the original dredging . The fill unfortunately covered up mangroves , oyster beds , and grasses but created a large island which is still enjoyed today by boaters . Perhaps not a good tradeoff considering the bay began almost immediately to lose fisheries and rookeries . As you continue to head south look to your left and you will see two things . One is the old channel which led to my favorite old boatyard , Reigles and the new wave break which was a brilliant idea by several high school students . The breakwater is now protecting what is left of the bird islands of my youth . Fortunately , the birds have taken quickly to the rocks , grasses , and soil placed there . Mote Marine and Resaearch facility does say the bay is improving through efforts to switch from septic systems but we still have a long way to go . Continuing south , look right again and you will see another fill island also part of the Edwards islands . The very next island on your right directly across from The Field Club is named Skiers Island yet another fill . The area around this island is an official watersports area so watch out for skiers and tubers ! Visitors can go on any of these islands which are NOT rookeries . Never land on a rookerie island as it is against the law and dangerous for the birds . If you go to one of these fill islands please leave it cleaner than you found it . I keep garbage bags in my whaler and pack out any trash I find . Please recycle cans , plastic , and glass . Also if you are not familiar with sea life laws it is highly illegal to take any type of sea life away fro its habitat . This includes , well , anything except fish and bluecrabs ! So , don't do it ! Mote has several times daily sea life tours which land on Big Edwards and is presently promoting " 30 Days of Discovery " so get out and enjoy our bays !