THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, BUILDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THE GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN BRINGING STABILITY TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAD LOST THEIR PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME.

COULD THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS COME DOWN TO TECHNOLOGY?

HOW AI DATA CENTERS HAVE BECOME A CRITICAL TALKING POINT FOR CANDIDATES.

AND IT'S A RETURN.

3 DECADES IN THE MAKING.

SKIMMERS ARE FOUND NESTING ON SANIBEL ISLAND LEADING A STRONG SHOWING FOR BIRDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ARRESTS REACHED A RECORD HIGH IN JUNE.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO NEW GOVERNMENT DATA.

AN ANALYSIS BY THE GUARDIAN ABOUT THE LATEST NUMBERS PUBLISHED BY ICE SHOWS THAT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ARRESTED MORE THAN 43,000 PEOPLE LAST MONTH.

IT'S THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE DONALD TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 2025.

THE INCREASED ARRESTS LEAVE MORE FAMILIES SEPARATED FROM LOVED ONES.

AND IN BONITA SPRINGS, A GRASSROOTS EFFORT IS STEPPING UP TO HELP THOSE IMPACTED FAMILIES.

WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS.

REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE HAS MORE ON THE INITIATIVE CALLED ADOPT AN ICE WIDOW, FAMILY.

>> THE ADOPTION STARTED INFORMALLY TODAY.

15 FAMILIES ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM ADOPTERS COMMIT TO MONTHLY SUPPORT A MINIMUM OF $100 A MONTH.

ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES BELONGS TO ROSA.

HER DOCTOR, JOAN BURTON HAS BEEN VISITING HER FOR MONTHS NOW.

>> IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY GOING THROUGH SUCH A VERY TOUGH TIME.

AND THAT I HAD NO IDEA OF TOUGHER GUN LAWS.

>> ROSA TOAST TO WEAR A TRADITIONAL PIECE FROM HER HOME COUNTRY OF GUATEMALA ALONGSIDE HER 7 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, GENESIS, THAT SHE NO RAISES ALONE.

AND WAS THERE WITH HER HUSBAND WAS TO TEEN.

BUT KU ABOUT COLEMAN.

THIS UNFORTUNATELY, MY LITTLE ONE WITNESS, THE WHOLE THING >> WE WERE WE WERE UNDER A CAR WHEN THE CHAIR WHEN THEY DO HEARD THAT AWAY.

AND AND SHE CRY AND SHE SHE HAS.

SO FOR SOME TRAUMA ABOUT IT, AND THAT HAS THEY WERE.

>> ROSA SAYS HER HUSBAND CAME TO THE UNITED STATES IN 2000.

HE WAS DETAINED ON JANUARY 6 OF THIS YEAR.

NOW SHE'S RAISING GENESIS ALONE.

WHAT SACRIFICES HAVE YOU HAD TO MAKE TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY GOING DURING THIS TRANSITION?

>> MY WANT SEE ME AS WE'RE VERY HARD BECAUSE MY HUSBAND.

>> WAS THE MAIN BREADWINNER.

I DID WORK, BUT I JUST CONTINUE TO LITTER AND 2.

DUE TO THE FAMILY FOR THE IT'S ALL ON ME.

AND I JUST WORK A LIMITED NUMBER OF HOURS A WEEK.

>> BURTON SAYS WATCHING ROSA HOLD HER FAMILY TOGETHER IS WHAT KEEPS ARE COMING BACK THIS MOTHER IS CREATIVE.

>> ABOUT SURVIVING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY SERVE 5 AND I. DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT AND A HORRIBLE SITUATION THAT WE IN US AS A COUNTRY HAVE PUT AN END.

>> PLUS, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF PEOPLE AWAY, INCLUDING WOMEN WITH BABIES.

THE KIDS HAVE REMAIN WITHOUT A MUELLER.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THE FOLKS COME HERE TO WORK.

NOT TO COMMIT CRIMES.

>> AND FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M ELISBETH ANDARGE >> FOR MORE ON THE ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.

I AM JOINED BY ADRIANA RIVERA.

SHE'S THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION OR FLICK THIS RIVERA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HOW YOU HELP IMMIGRANTS?

YES, SO WE FIGHT FOR.

>> EVERYONE'S RIGHTS.

WHETHER YOU ARE AN IMMIGRANT.

>> WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE, YOU KNOW, WE WE BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THAT WE ARE ALL INTERTWINED A SPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHERE ONE OUT OF EVERY 5 FLORIDIANS WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.

NOW FLORIDA IS ONE OF THEIR LEADERS IN IMMIGRATION ARRESTS.

>> THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE RECENTLY IN ICE ACTIVITY.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THIS IS BEEN HAPPENING WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE AN UPTICK AND IMMIGRANT ARRESTS?

YES.

SO WE HAVE SEEN.

>> AFTER OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ IN MINNESOTA.

THE PUBLIC THAT'S JUST NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT THESE ARRESTS WERE HAPPENING IN THE WAY THAT THESE HUGE RAIDS WERE GOING ON IN.

THEY WERE A LOT OF VERY LIKE FAST AND PHIRI IS WITH A LOT OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

A LOT OF VIDEOS CAME OUT OF IT FROM HOMELAND SECURITY THEMSELVES UP FROM EYES.

THEY MADE A BIG SHOW OF EVERYTHING AND IT BACKFIRED.

SO NOW THEY'RE PIVOTING TO A MORE QUIET APPROACH, NOT A LEFT DEADLIER AS WE HAVE SEEN LAST WEEK.

UNFORTUNATELY.

SO NOT LET THAT LEA NOT LESS AGGRESSIVE, JUST QUIETER, BUT DON'T BE FOOLED BECAUSE THESE ARRESTS ARE STILL HAPPENING.

AND THE RAMPING UP FAMILIES ARE STILL BEING SEPARATED.

COMMUNITIES ARE STILL HURTING.

THEY ARE NOW ASKING FOR 2000 ARRESTS PER DAY AND THAT EQUALS ABOUT 75 ARRESTS PER DAY OF EACH OF THE 25 FIELD OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE HAVE WELL, A VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVELY ADOPTED THE 2.87 G AGREEMENT MODEL.

THAT IS THE MODEL THAT BASICALLY DEPUTIZE IS ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY TO DO.

FEDERAL IMMIGRATION WORK STILL IN FLORIDA, WE HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, AGENCIES FROM FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TO SOMETHING AS REALLY MINDBLOWING AS FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THE FLORIDA LOTTERY.

AND LOCAL UNIVERSITY LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE THE EFI YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT ADOPT THESE MODELS.

SO FLORIDA IS, YOU KNOW, ON THE FOREFRONT OF THESE MODELS THAT BASICALLY TURNED EVERY DAY LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO 7 PROTECT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY INTO FRONTLINE ICE.

AGENTS THAT ARE SEPARATING AND HURTING COMMUNITIES.

>> AND IN YOUR WORK WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION, IT.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN HAPPEN TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MIGRANT DRIVEN?

>> AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN HAS BEEN REALLY SAD THAT PEOPLE ARE SCARED.

PEOPLE ARE.

YOU KNOW, RIGHTFULLY RIGHTFULLY SO.

RIGHTFULLY TERRIFIED.

IN THE LAST WEEK WITH IT, THE BRUTAL KILLING OF LOAD AND SO ON A WHOLE IN TEXAS AND JOHN DO DINE IN MAINE.

AND THEN WE SEE A YOUNG MAN HERE IN SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLYNN AND RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE AND THEN GETTING HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE MR.

DO DINE IN MAINE WAS COMPLYING.

HE WAS THERE.

HE LOST HIS LIFE.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, WHAT DO I DO IF I STAY, I COULD LOSE MY LIFE.

IF I RUN, I COULD LOSE MY LIFE.

SO WE'RE SEEING A PATTERN WHERE, YOU KNOW, THESE AGENTS ARE OPERATING COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF FLOOD IS LEGAL AND LAWFUL AND NOBODY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS THE RIGHT TO BE JUDGE JURY AND EXECUTIONER NO MATTER WHAT PAPERWORK THE PERSON HAS OR HASN'T MR.

BARROW, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION.

YOU CAN VISIT ITS WEBSITE AT FLORIDA IMMIGRANT DOT ORG OR YOU CAN ALSO CALL THEIR FREE HOTLINE.

COMING UP FROM THE SANDS OF SANIBEL TO THE COAST OF NAPLES THIS SEASON HAS BEEN GREAT FOR MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT CALL SOUTHWEST WE ARE LESS THAN ONE MONTH OUT FROM THE FLORIDA PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

ONE TOPIC QUICKLY ASSERTING ITSELF AT THE TOP OF MANY POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS.

THE ROLE OF MASSIVE DATA CENTERS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

FORT MEADE CITY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A MASSIVE 2.6 BILLION DOLLAR HYPERSCALE DATA CENTER.

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

BUT POLK COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE FIGHTING BACK.

A RECALL PETITION IS UNDERWAY TO STOP THE CENTER FROM BEING BUILT AND REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

THE 3 CITY LEADERS TO APPROVE THE PROJECT INCLUDING THE MAYOR.

>> WGCU HOST AND REPORTER JOHN DAVIS JOINS US NOW.

>> FOR UPDATES ON FLORIDA'S ELECTIONS AND KEY ISSUES FOR VOTERS AND CANDIDATES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO TODAY.

JOHN, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

SO FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF POLITICALLY OF THESE HYPERSCALE DATA AI CENTERS POTENTIALLY COMING TO FLORIDA?

HOW'S THIS PLAYING OUT?

WELL, AS WE KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A NATIONAL ISSUE AND CERTAINLY A STATEWIDE ISSUE.

MORE THAN 20 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN FLORIDA.

>> HAVE EITHER INSTITUTED SOME KIND OF BANNER OR TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW AI DATA CENTERS OR THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT HOW THEY WOULD DO THAT, WHERE THEY'RE AT LEAST HOLDING HEARINGS ON THE POSSIBILITY.

AND THIS, OF COURSE, AS WE KNOW IS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH AMOUNT OF WATER THEY REQUIRE TO KEEP THEM COOL.

THE HIGH AMOUNT OF ENERGY THAT THEY USE ISSUES WITH COMPATIBILITY OF SURROUNDING LAND YEARS.

THE NOISE THAT THEY GENERATE AND CONVERSELY, FORT MEADE, IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN FLORIDA WHERE OF LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS HAVE GONE AHEAD AND APPROVED A PROPOSED HYPERSCALE AI DENTIST.

I DATA CENTER AND THEY'RE FACING SIGNIFICANT PUSHBACK FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT ISSUE AND EVEN LITIGATION.

NOW, THIS HAS EMERGED AS A MAJOR POLITICAL ISSUE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND ELSEWHERE.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH OUR MIDTERMS APPROACHING.

>> HOW IS THIS IMPACTING THE PERSPECTIVES OF VOTERS?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WITH THIS LITERALLY HER REALLY LOOKS AT WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE MIGHT TOO, BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN RECENT YEARS HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PREEMPTION BILLS THAT THEY PASS AND THESE ARE MEASURES THAT TAKE AWAY THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND THIS HAS BEEN ON A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES.

EVERYTHING FROM FIREARM REGULATION TO DISPOSAL OF PLASTICS TO VACATION RENTALS AND SO I CAN SEE VOTERS BEING CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT AI DATA CENTERS WOULD BE ALLOWED IN THEIR COMMUNITY MIGHT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

NOW, THIS YEAR, THE STATE LEGISLATURE DID PASS A MEASURE ESTABLISHING STATEWIDE STANDARDS FOR DATA CENTERS.

WELL, NOT FULLY PREEMPTING LOCAL LAND USE AUTHORITIES.

SO AS IT STANDS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STILL DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADOPT THOSE MORATORIUMS AND TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, LAND USE ZONING CHANGES.

BUT I THINK THAT WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FUTURE MIGHT BE IMPACTING HOW VOTERS ARE AT LEAST CONSIDER WHO THEY WANT REPRESENTING THEM IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE.

AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THIS YEAR, EVERY STATE HOUSE SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION AND HALF OF THE STATE SENATE SEATS ARE UP FOR ELECTION.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

HOW IS THIS ISSUE WITH THESE HYPERSCALE DATACENTERS PLAYING OUT?

>> ON THE STATEWIDE LEVEL, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RACE FOR FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR.

>> THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING A LOT HAPPENED.

PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN FRONTRUNNER SOUTHWEST WHERE REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS IS BEING BACKED BY PRO AI POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES.

A I PACK RECENTLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING DONALDS CAMPAIGN WITH 5 MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THIS IS REALLY GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIS FELLOW REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS IN THE PRIMARY TO GO AFTER HIM SAYING THAT HE'S TOO COZY WITH THE AI DATA CENTER INDUSTRY BUT DONALD HAS KIND OF BEEN PUSHING BACK ON THAT.

HE'S BEEN TALKING A LITTLE TOUGHER IN A RECENT CAMPAIGN AD.

HE SAID, QUOTE, IN MY FLORIDA, IF YOU DON'T PROTECT OUR POCKETBOOKS OR OUR PEOPLE, YOU WON'T BUILD DATA CENTERS, PERIOD.

AND I JUST ON MONDAY HE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION IN THE U.S.

CONGRESS INTENDED TO PREVENT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA CENTERS FROM DRIVING UP UTILITY COSTS.

SO THIS WOULD LITERALLY REQUIRE DATA CENTERS.

IF CONGRESS ADOPTS THAT TO FIND THEIR OWN PRIVATE SOURCES OF WATER AND ELECTRICITY AS OPPOSED TO TAPPING INTO THE POWER GRID AND PUBLIC WATER.

UTILITIES.

AND ON THE OTHER END OF THAT, YOU HAVE THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, DAVID JOLLY, WHO VERY RECENTLY HAS COME OUT SAYING THAT IF HE'S ELECTED GOVERNOR, HE'S GOING TO PURSUE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST A STATEWIDE MORATORIUM ON AI DENNIS CENTERS FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

SO I BROUGHT A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THAT AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND.

I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS AND ELECTIONS.

THE ISSUE OF DATA CENTERS IS GOING TO BE THE NEW NORMAL IS HERE TO STAY.

>> THERE IS A NEW PUBLIC OPINION POLL OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA THAT SHOWS THE RACE TIGHTENING FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S.

AND THE SENATE SEAT.

WHAT COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT, RIGHT?

SO AGAIN, BYRON DONALDS, THE PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, AT LEAST THE FRONTRUNNER.

>> HE'S ABOUT 5 POINTS AHEAD OF THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.

DAVID JOLLY.

AND THEY'RE HYPOTHETICAL GENERAL ELECTION MATCHUP.

NOW, THAT'S ABOUT ONE POINT TIGHTER THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA'S LOSS PUBLIC OPINION POLL IN EARLY MARCH TURNING TO THE U.S.

SENATE RACE, THE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN ASHLEY MOODY.

SHE STILL HAS A COMFORTABLE LEAD OVER BOTH OF THE DEMOCRATICS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE NIXON, ALEX VAN MAN, SHE'S AHEAD OF THEM.

AND WE, AGAIN, HYPOTHETICAL HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS BY 8 POINTS AND 10 POINTS RESPECTIVELY.

SO ANGIE NIXON HAS THIS MIGHT LEAD OVER ALEX VENEMAN IN THAT POLL.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT MIGHT BE THE RECENT LEGAL TROUBLES.

HE'S BEEN GAINING HEADLINES FOR AND THIS WAS WHENEVER SHE WAS PROTESTING THE STATES CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING EFFORTS.

I THINK WE ALL REMEMBER THE VISUAL OF HER IN THE PINK SUIT AND THE MATCHING PINK MEGAPHONE KIND OF DISRUPTING THINGS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

THEN SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR NOT LEAVING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AFTER THE BUILDING CLOSED AND SHE'S GOT A COURT DATE IN SEPTEMBER FOR THAT.

SO YOU WOULDN'T THINK ON THE SURFACE GETTING ARRESTED IS GOING TO BE A GOOD THING FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN.

BUT THE REASON SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR THAT MIGHT REALLY BE SPEAKING TO HER BASE OF SUPPORT.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN DAVIS, THANKS FOR THE LATEST ON ALL THESE ISSUES.

ABSOLUTELY IX.

>> FOR MORE ELECTION COVERAGE AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO THE FLORIDA PRIMARIES, MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE FLORIDA SUN, ONE OF THE MORE ENJOYABLE WAYS TO SPEND YOUR TIME IS ALONG OUR BEACHES AND YOU WON'T BE ALONE AS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS SEEN A BOOST IN SHOREBIRD NESTING FOLLOWING YEARS OF HURRICANES AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT, SEVERAL SPECIES HAVE SEEN A REBOUND IN NUMBERS THIS NESTING SEASON.

THAT INCLUDES THE POPULAR BLACK SKIMMER.

THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION SAYS THE BLACK SKIMMER HAS RETURNED TO THE ISLAND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, AT LEAST 15 BLACK SKIMMER NAST'S HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED SHOWING SIGNS OF PROGRESS.

>> MEGAN HATTON JOINS US NOW AS SHE IS AUDUBON.

FLORIDA'S.

>> SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SHOREBIRD PROGRAM MANAGER AND YOU WERE JUST TELLING ME THIS IS REALLY A BUSY TIME RIGHT NOW FOR BIRDS.

THEY ARE IN TRANSITION.

THE WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> YES, SO WE ARE ABOUT TO WRAP UP THEIR BREEDING SEASON.

SO FOR SURE BIRDS THEY BREED FROM ABOUT MARCH TO THE END OF AUGUST, SO WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF CHECKS.

THEY'RE ABOUT TO FLEDGE, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN FLY.

FINALLY.

SO THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO FORAGE IN ALL THINGS ON THEIR OWN AND WE'RE MOVING INTO MIGRATION.

SO WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE A FEW EARLY COMERS SHOWING UP ON OUR BEACHES FROM OUR NORTHERN STATES.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME BIRDS THAT NEST HERE LIKE EARLY STEARNS THAT ARE GOING TO START MOVING OUT OF THE AREA AND DOWN UNTIL LIKE THE CARIBBEAN AND SOUTH AMERICA.

SO A LOT OF MOVEMENT COMING IN AND OUT OF FLORIDA RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT KINDS OF SHOREBIRDS WOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE IF WE HEAD OUT TO OUR OUR WATERWAYS RIGHT NOW?

RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF OUR NESTING SPECIES.

SO WE'LL HAVE BLACK SKIMMERS WILL HAVE OUR LEAST TERNS WILSON CLOVERS, SNOWY PLOVERS KIND OF THOSE ARE AN AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHERS ARE MAINE, 5 NESTING SPECIES FOR OUR AREA.

I HAVE BEEN STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF WELL, IT'S COMING BACK INTO OUR AREA SHORT.

SO THAT LETTERS ON THESE ARE ALL MIGRATORY SHOREBIRDS THAT ARE FINISHING UP NESTING THE NORTH'S AND THEY'RE STARTING TO MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN HERE.

SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE OUT THERE BECAUSE YOU'LL START TO SEE SOME OF MORE INTERESTING SURE.

BUT RETURNING TO THE AREA THERE.

SO BEAUTIFUL, AREN'T THEY?

NOW WE HAVE HEARD THIS REALLY REMARKABLE NEWS THAT IT'S BEEN MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

BUT NOW BLACK SKIMMERS ON SANIBEL ARE HAVING BABY CHECKS.

YEAH.

>> WHAT HAS CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR NOW AFTER SO LONG.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY AFTER AND THE CAUSEWAY WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THERE WAS A LOT OF REBUILDING HAPPEN ON THERE.

PART OF THE REBUILD WAS LAYING DOWN NEW GRAVEL FOR ALL THE PARKING AREAS.

GRAVEL LOOKS A LOT LIKE CURSE.

AND SO WE ALREADY AT HADLEY STEARNS IN THE AREA NESTING THE BLACK SCAMMERS ARE NEW ADDITION TO THIS YEAR.

I KNOW SCCF WHICH IS THE SANIBEL CONSERVATION GROUP MONITORS THAT AREA.

AND SO THEY WERE REALLY EXCITED WHEN THE BLACK SKIMMERS CAME.

AND NOW THEY'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE HAVING CHECKS STARTING TO HATCH.

AND THEN LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS AND JUST THAT ONE LITTLE CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT ADDING IN THAT NEW GRAVEL OPEN AREA REALLY INVITED THEM IN.

>> WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DISTURBANCES TO THE HABITATS OF OUR SHOREBIRDS.

HUMANS IS ONE OF OUR BIG WHEN THEY'RE OUT AND BEACHES ARE BIRDS WHEN THEY'RE BREEDING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR NAS THAT TO STAY THEIR EGGS ARE RIGHT ON THE SAND.

AND IF YOU'RE OUT IN THE BEACH, YOU KNOW HOW HOT THE SAND IS.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON THEIR EGGS TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

IF THERE'S PEOPLE WALKING TOO CLOSE OR EVEN A DOG WALKING TO CLOSE THOSE BIRDS GET SCARED OFF AND THEY'RE NOT SITTING ON THEIR EGGS.

THEN LEAVING THOSE EGGS VULNERABLE TO THE HEAT AND ALSO THE PREDATORS.

SO THERE THERE'S A LOT OF THREATS AND YOU'RE ALSO THINKING SEA LEVEL RISE IS ALSO CAUSING HABITAT TO CHANGE.

SO AREAS THAT USED TO BE SAFE NOW, MAYBE FLOODING BECAUSE THAT THAT WATER IS COMING UP HIGHER THAN IT HAS BEFORE MAKING THAT SAY NO LONGER A VIABLE SITE >> AND YOU ARE ONE THAT HELPS TRACK ALL OF THESE MOVEMENTS THROUGH THIS MIGRATORY BYRD INITIATIVE.

WHAT IS WHAT IS THIS INITIATIVE AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

SO THE INITIATIVE IS TO >> GATHER AS MANY DIFFERENT PARTNERS WE CAN FROM ALL THE WAY FROM INTERNATIONAL FEDERAL LEVEL DOWN TO LOCAL CHAPTERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO FILL KNOWLEDGE, GAPS OF THE ANNUAL CYCLE OF MIGRATORY BIRDS BECAUSE WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT LOT OF THEIR BREEDING SITES ARE KNOWN.

WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHERE THESE BREEDING SITES ARE.

WINTERING SITES FOR MOST SPECIES.

WE DO NOW KIND OF THAT IN BETWEEN POINT.

EXACTLY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE STOPPING, WHAT AREAS ARE.

SO BY FILLING IN THOSE KNOWLEDGE GAPS OF THEIR ENTIRE ANNUAL CYCLE HELPS AUDUBON FOCUS, THEIR CONSERVATION EFFORTS ON AREAS THAT IT'S THE HAS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THOSE BIRDS.

SO FOR SEEN THAT CERTAIN SPECIES ARE ALL DYING OFF IN THIS AREA, WE COULD KIND TO ADDRESS.

WHY IS THAT HAPPENING THERE?

OR IF WE WANT TO LIKE TRY TO PROTECT CERTAIN LANDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM GETTING DEVELOPED.

WHEN IDENTIFIES THOSE AREAS THAT ARE MOST NEEDED FOR BY LEARNING MORE ABOUT DIFFERENT SPECIES, FULL MIGRATION ROUTES.

SO THEY'RE USING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRACKING DOWN FROM.

I DO VERY LIKE POPULATION COUNT SURVEYS.

BUT THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE DOING RADIO TELEMETRY THROUGH THE NETWORK.

SO THEY THE CAPTURE BIRDS BANNED THEM.

PUT.

YOU MIGHT SEE SOME BIRDS WITH LEG BANDS ON THEM.

SO THAT'S ONE WAY THAT WE CAN TRACK THEM.

AND THEN THEY ALSO GET THESE LITTLE BACKPACKS THAT OUR LITTLE RADIO SIGNALS AND AS THEY'RE FLYING, THERE'S THESE TOWERS TO THE MODUS NETWORK THAT WILL PAYING.

AND BILL PAYING THAT BIRD OFF THAT TOWER.

AND THEN THAT'S A DATA POINT IN QUITE THIS BIRD WAS HERE IN THE STATE AND THEN IT WAS AT THE NEXT POINT IN THE STATE.

SO WE CAN KIND OF SEE HOW QUICKLY THEY'RE MOVING AND WHAT AREAS THEY'RE USING THE MOST SO DIFFERENT KIND OF TRACKING.

BASED ON DIFFERENT BIRDS ARE HELPING US FILL IN THOSE KNOWLEDGE GAPS.

AND THEN WE USE THAT TOO.

COLLABORATE WITH ON ALL SORTS OF LEVELS.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

MEGAN HATTON AUDUBON, FLORIDA.

I DON'T WANT TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER FACT ABOUT SHOREBIRDS FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

ACCORDING TO ALL ABOUT BIRDS, THE BLACK SKIMMER IS THE ONLY BIRD ON EARTH WITH AN EVEN BILLS.

THE LOWER MANDIBLE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER.

AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, ALLOWING THE BIRDS FLY LOW, SLICE THE WATER AND SCOOP UP FISH PURELY BY TOUCH.

YOU CAN FIND MORE ENVIRONMENTAL IN NATURE.

STORIES BY CHECKING OUT OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BIRDWATCHING IS A GREAT WAY TO DOCTORS GENERALLY RECOMMEND YOU GET BETWEEN 10 AND 30 MINUTES OF SUNSHINE EVERY DAY.

NOW IN ADDITION TO GETTING A BOOST OF VITAMIN D EXPERTS AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC SAY SUNSHINE CAN IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP QUALITY, INCREASE ENERGY LEVELS AND REDUCE STRESS.

BUT HIS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE REPORTS.

NOT EVERYONE CAN HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH CATCHING RAYS.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SON ALLERGY?

>> IT MAY FEEL THAT WAY ON A HOT DAY.

BUT FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT'S ACTUALLY THE CASE.

>> IT'S RELATIVELY UNCOMMON.

BUT YES, YOU CAN BE ALERTED TO THIS ON ON THAT GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS A PHOTO SENSITIVITY OR SIGN ALLERGY.

AND IT BASICALLY HAPPENS WHEN OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM OVERREACTED TO ULTRAVIOLET RAYS.

>> CLEVELAND CLINIC, DERMATOLOGISTS STILL P CATER PAUL SAYS PEOPLE WITH THE SUN ALLERGY USUALLY DEVELOP A RASH AFTER BEING IN THE SUN.

THE RASH TYPICALLY SHOWS UP ON PART OF THE SKIN THAT GETS DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

I'M LIKE A SUNBURN.

THIS ALLERGIC REACTION CAN SHOW UP AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES IN THE SUN AND HAPPENS REGULARLY.

WHILE RARE DR CATER PAUL SAYS YOU CAN DEVELOP A SUN ALLERGY IT ANY AGE.

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE ONE?

>> IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING REPEATEDLY AREN'T GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE ON LARGE BODY SURFACE AREA IS ABSOLUTELY SEE.

NO BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST FOR TREATMENT MANAGEMENT ON, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE IT'S THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS.

>> IN GENERAL, DR.

CATER PAUL RECOMMENDS EVERYONE WEAR SUNSCREEN.

YOU SUN PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND AVOID THE SUN.

IN THE MIDDAY HOURS WHEN ITS STRONGEST.

WGCU NEWS.

I'M TEDDY BYRNE.. >> COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF FLORIDA'S PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WE BREAK DOWN THE NEW REPORT THAT SHOWS INDIVIDUALS WITH A CRIMINAL HISTORY.

WE'RE COLLECTING STATE FUNDING FOR THEIR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.