Happy 2012, under blue crystal skies

It's been a quiet month or so here in blog land. There've been the holidays, and some resting and family time, and maybe a football game or two...well, you know the drill. But  we've rung out the old, and we're getting ready to ring in the new in a big way. We've celebrated so much in 2011, including our arrival here, and on Facebook and Twitter. The Friends of the Reserve held its 2nd annual OceanWise event to Fish & Wildlife who keep a special eye on the North Atlantic Right Whales who calve in our waters every winter.

2012 promises to be an exciting year for GTM NERR for a BUNCH of reasons, not least of which is the thoughtful expansion of our online presence. We're taking a look at how we meet everyone where they want to be met online, whether here at the blog, our web sites, online content like our newsletter and via social media. We've just debuted a new newsletter and will be including it here soon. More exciting events are planned, including a fundraising Run sponsored by the Friends coming in late winter/early spring and lots more.

But you don't need a reason to visit the Reserve. Wrap up in your winter gear and walk the beach or trails. Canoe. Fish. Photograph. These chilly winter days range from cloudy nor'easters to bright, stunning days under skies so blue they seem to shimmer, and our pristine beach offers as many shades of blue as Ireland is said to offer of greens. Go see for yourself. And if you see a Right Whale, be sure to call it in (888.979.4253). Right Whales don't have dorsal fins, often rest at or near the top of the water, and are dark in color, so they can be easy for boaters to overlook. Beachgoers often spot them by the v-shaped "blow", or by the simple fact of their amazing size as they break the surface of the water to breathe - they can be up to 55 feet long, and that's not a typo. So come on out!



We're on Facebook at GTMResearchReserve, and you can follow us on Twitter @GTMReserve.