In the age of segregation in the United States, greatness and legacy was born.
Ranger Hitchcock with Lee County Parks and Recreation above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
In southwest Florida, in 1949, a half acre parcel of land was purchased on San Carlos Bay by those with foresight in Lee County which would in the following year be dedicated to Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche and was called Bunche Beach.
At its dedication, an estimated 3000 people certainly reveled at one of the first "black" beaches during the historical age of segregation with Bunche Beach today part of and bearing Dr. Bunche's name at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
During this earlier period, Dr. Bunch had traveled a path that led him to receive the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his United Nations negotiations between Israelis and Arab States in the creation of the Palestine accord.
Dr. Bunche also received the Medal of Freedom from President Kennedy in 1963.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
The history of Dr. Bunche is very interesting and I encourage you to research his life.
A remarkable facility constructed for the use of future Bunche Beach Preserve visitors was dedicated on 19 June 2010, while also honoring D.J. "Petro" Petruccelli who served as an executive of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce for 22 years and was a 25 year member of the Lee County Parks and Recreation Services Advisory Committee.
Tom Obrock above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
If it weren't for fellow Florida wildlife enthusiast, Tom Obrock, who advised me of the dedication and ribbon cutting at the preserve, I would always regret missing it.
The building on the current 719-acre preserve site has greatly benefited from further land purchases and donations while utilizing solar power for its electrical needs and has composting restrooms with no running water available.
The gentleman above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
The name of the road to Bunche Beach is John Morris, but I thought I heard it referred to as Bunche Road during the ceremony.
This road now terminating at San Carlos Bay from the north was once the primary route across the bay with its wooden bridge destroyed by a hurricane in 1926.
Ranger Miller with Lee County Parks and Recreation above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
The officials re-dedicating the preserve and its new facilities were all passionate in their words and well received by the crowd at hand.
While additional parking spaces were created in the 2010 renovation of the preserve, many were lost seemingly as a compromise.
Senior Supervisor, Cindy Carter, with Lee County Parks and Recreation above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
Significant parking closer to the beach has been eliminated.
Bunche Beach Preserve is one of my favorite venues to visit at any time, but particularly at low tide when one can walk over a large expanse of the bay to observe the often prolific bird activity there.
The gentleman above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
At the time of the ceremony, I was fortunate to observe an Osprey with prey while a few other bird species also passed overhead.
Bunche Beach Preserve has a proclivity to attract the endangered Piping Plover which currently receives federal protection.
Lee County Florida District 4 Commissioner, Tammy Hall, above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
My first observation of the Piping Plover was in the infancy of my interest in birding while at Bunche Beach Preserve.
My interest was of course heightened when I observed this bird species with evidence of numerous captures of it due to the bands on its legs.
The blessing above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
My research of banding has led me to believe that there can be great importance in the pursuit of birding.
While the Piping Plover is rarely seen, wading birds, and shore birds such as Wilson's Plover and Black Skimmer are much more frequently observed at Bunche Beach Preserve and are equally welcome and seen nearly year round.
Lee County Florida District 3 Commissioner, Ray Judah, above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
Least Terns were again observed near the west channel of Bunche Beach Preserve this past week and were actively feeding.
I'm now in my second year of observation of the Least Tern at Bunche Beach Preserve and am wondering where these particular birds are nesting and feeding their young.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
Many of my very favored wildlife photographs have been taken at Bunche Beach Preserve and include an image of the Little Blue Heron that I was humbled by having published in the 2010 Jan/Feb issue of Audubon magazine as an editors' choice in the inaugural photo issue of the periodical.
Another photograph taken at this must see venue involves interesting feeding behavior of the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
This particular image which I have chosen to use on my contact card was culled from hundreds of thousands of images taken at wildlife venues around Florida.
Google maps has a current snapshot of the site available which was interestingly captured at an apparently very high tide.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
Additional writing of my experiences and observations at Bunche Beach Preserve can be seen by clicking here.
A representation of what might be seen through photography at Bunche Beach Preserve can be seen by clicking here.
Roger Clark with Lee County Parks and Recreation offering a tour of the preserve's grounds above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
Visit this astounding venue ideally around sunrise or sunset at low tide when you can.
Be prepared to walk in the water in the bay, while swimming is now an available option at the recreation facility which also offers two kayak launches, two fishing piers, and 310 feet of boardwalk for wildlife viewing.
The ribbon cutting above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.
There was a tremendous amount of activity and hard work by many in the hours preceding the dedication.
Bunche Beach Preserve is open from dawn to dusk year round.
Ranger Hitchcock with Lee County Parks and Recreation above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.In southwest Florida, in 1949, a half acre parcel of land was purchased on San Carlos Bay by those with foresight in Lee County which would in the following year be dedicated to Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche and was called Bunche Beach.
At its dedication, an estimated 3000 people certainly reveled at one of the first "black" beaches during the historical age of segregation with Bunche Beach today part of and bearing Dr. Bunche's name at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.During this earlier period, Dr. Bunch had traveled a path that led him to receive the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his United Nations negotiations between Israelis and Arab States in the creation of the Palestine accord.
Dr. Bunche also received the Medal of Freedom from President Kennedy in 1963.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.The history of Dr. Bunche is very interesting and I encourage you to research his life.
A remarkable facility constructed for the use of future Bunche Beach Preserve visitors was dedicated on 19 June 2010, while also honoring D.J. "Petro" Petruccelli who served as an executive of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce for 22 years and was a 25 year member of the Lee County Parks and Recreation Services Advisory Committee.
Tom Obrock above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.If it weren't for fellow Florida wildlife enthusiast, Tom Obrock, who advised me of the dedication and ribbon cutting at the preserve, I would always regret missing it.
The building on the current 719-acre preserve site has greatly benefited from further land purchases and donations while utilizing solar power for its electrical needs and has composting restrooms with no running water available.
The gentleman above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.The name of the road to Bunche Beach is John Morris, but I thought I heard it referred to as Bunche Road during the ceremony.
This road now terminating at San Carlos Bay from the north was once the primary route across the bay with its wooden bridge destroyed by a hurricane in 1926.
Ranger Miller with Lee County Parks and Recreation above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.The officials re-dedicating the preserve and its new facilities were all passionate in their words and well received by the crowd at hand.
While additional parking spaces were created in the 2010 renovation of the preserve, many were lost seemingly as a compromise.
Senior Supervisor, Cindy Carter, with Lee County Parks and Recreation above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.Significant parking closer to the beach has been eliminated.
Bunche Beach Preserve is one of my favorite venues to visit at any time, but particularly at low tide when one can walk over a large expanse of the bay to observe the often prolific bird activity there.
The gentleman above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.At the time of the ceremony, I was fortunate to observe an Osprey with prey while a few other bird species also passed overhead.
Bunche Beach Preserve has a proclivity to attract the endangered Piping Plover which currently receives federal protection.
Lee County Florida District 4 Commissioner, Tammy Hall, above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.My first observation of the Piping Plover was in the infancy of my interest in birding while at Bunche Beach Preserve.
My interest was of course heightened when I observed this bird species with evidence of numerous captures of it due to the bands on its legs.
The blessing above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.My research of banding has led me to believe that there can be great importance in the pursuit of birding.
While the Piping Plover is rarely seen, wading birds, and shore birds such as Wilson's Plover and Black Skimmer are much more frequently observed at Bunche Beach Preserve and are equally welcome and seen nearly year round.
Lee County Florida District 3 Commissioner, Ray Judah, above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.Least Terns were again observed near the west channel of Bunche Beach Preserve this past week and were actively feeding.
I'm now in my second year of observation of the Least Tern at Bunche Beach Preserve and am wondering where these particular birds are nesting and feeding their young.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.Many of my very favored wildlife photographs have been taken at Bunche Beach Preserve and include an image of the Little Blue Heron that I was humbled by having published in the 2010 Jan/Feb issue of Audubon magazine as an editors' choice in the inaugural photo issue of the periodical.
Another photograph taken at this must see venue involves interesting feeding behavior of the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.This particular image which I have chosen to use on my contact card was culled from hundreds of thousands of images taken at wildlife venues around Florida.
Google maps has a current snapshot of the site available which was interestingly captured at an apparently very high tide.
The gentlelady above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.Additional writing of my experiences and observations at Bunche Beach Preserve can be seen by clicking here.
A representation of what might be seen through photography at Bunche Beach Preserve can be seen by clicking here.
Roger Clark with Lee County Parks and Recreation offering a tour of the preserve's grounds above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.Visit this astounding venue ideally around sunrise or sunset at low tide when you can.
Be prepared to walk in the water in the bay, while swimming is now an available option at the recreation facility which also offers two kayak launches, two fishing piers, and 310 feet of boardwalk for wildlife viewing.
The ribbon cutting above was photographed at San Carlos Bay: Bunch Beach Preserve in June 2010.There was a tremendous amount of activity and hard work by many in the hours preceding the dedication.
Bunche Beach Preserve is open from dawn to dusk year round.