Wayne Hartley, Manatee Specialist, and Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate, take "roll call" on a cold winter morning at Blue Spring State Park. Photo courtesy David Schrichte.
By Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate All activities conducted under permits DEP #02042213 and USFWS #MA791721-6.
The chilly weather in January brought many manatees to Blue Spring State Park. On January 29, park staff counted 721 manatees, which is a new record! See photos of adoptees sighted so far this season by Wayne Hartley, Manatee Specialist, Cora Berchem, Director of Multimedia and Manatee Research Associate, and our partners at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
You can watch more videos from the manatee season on our Webcam and YouTube pages. Many of the manatees featured below are in our Adopt-A-Manatee® program.
On January 26, Save the Manatee Club’s Cora Berchem was assisted on her webcam repair work by manatee adoptee Annie (left) at Blue Spring State Park.Our partners from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spotted adoptee Illusion at the Riviera Beach power plant on January 30th during their photo-ID work! We are so grateful for the update!Whiskers, on December 1, 2021. He made his first visit to Blue Spring State Park on November 26, 2021.Aqua has been a regular visitor to Blue Spring this season. Here she is in a great photo on January 5, 2022.Here’s a photo of Doc on November 24, 2021, which was also his first recorded visit of the season.Rocket, December 6, 2021. He was the sole SMC adoptee in the run on both December 6th and 7th.Philip was one of the more early arrivals, showing up in November. Here he is on January 12, 2022.Wayne and Cora report that Una might be pregnant! Here she is on January 5, 2022.Moo Shoo and her calf arrived early on November 8th and have been regular visitors at Blue Spring. This photo is from January 9, 2022.Deep Dent was the last adoptee to arrive at Blue Spring on November 27, 2021.Phyllis was one of the earliest visitors to Blue Spring. Here she is on November 2, 2021.His many scars identify Merlin, seen from the back on December 5, 2021.Gator is easily identified by his scars on November 23, 2021.After several surgeries and almost three years of rehabilitation to recover from injuries and serious infection, Lesley was released at Blue Spring in January 2021. We were glad to see her back for the 2021–2022 season. This photo is from January 14, 2022.We are pleased Flash has been a regular visitor to Blue Spring this season. This photo is from November 24, 2021. He was also spotted at another spring in late January by fellow researchers.Howie first showed up on November 8, 2021. His visits have been consistent with the chillier weather. Here he is on January 5, 2022.We haven’t seen Margarito often this season, but he has been in. This photo is from a visit on November 10, 2021.We were glad to see Millie, our east coast adoptee on November 26, 2021, at Blue Spring. Later, in early February 2022, she was seen at the Port Everglades power plant – quite a distance to travel in two months. FWC researchers also saw Millie resting next to Chessie, famous adoptee and fellow long-distance traveler, at Port Everglades!There have been lots of visits by Paddy Doyle (front) this season, but not as many from Floyd (back). Here they are together on November 24, 2021.Looks like Lucille is making a bid for Attendance Champion this season! She has been in consistently. Here’s a photo from January 5, 2022.
After multiple cold fronts throughout the winter, we had seen most of the adoptees by the start of the new year. Here are some new photos and videos!
A Very Special Visit to Blue Spring
February 1, 2026
On a recent cold January morning, we had the pleasure of meeting 7-year-old Avery and her family from Georgia at Blue Spring State Park!
Ocklawaha River Advocacy Update
February 1, 2026
The Florida legislative session is in full swing, and Save the Manatee Club is actively engaged, advocating beneficial policies and funding for manatees and their habitat.
