Welcome to the Manatee Project


I captured this moment quite by accident, but it is a great picture. Just before a manatee comes to the surface to breathe, he opens his valves to let out the air that is currently in its lungs. Generally these bubbles are the first thing that we see on the water's surface.	Even the life jackets need to be cleaned when getting MERV ready for another two weeks on the water.

This drawbridge separates City Island Grass Flats from the Siesta Key area. It opens every half hour to allow the larger boats to get through. The cranes you see in the background are actually part of current construction to build a new bridge. Opening the drawbridge daily has caused traffic and some real pollution concerns in this community. The people constructing the new bridge have staff members who check for manatees all day to ensure that none are injured during this process.	This is a sight that I will certainly miss. The animals in Pansy Bayou come up so close to the shore when we arrive. Its almost as if they are saying hello.

Victoria is socializing with another manatee here at Pansy Bayou. Do you remember what the more specific term is for the behavior that they are displaying here?	Can you guess the name of this manatee based upon previous descriptions?