COUNTDOWN TO MANATEEFEST :

 

Join us for a Lecture at the Lagoon, where you will have the opportunity to hear from a diverse range of environmental experts. These knowledgeable speakers specialize in sharing captivating stories about a variety of fascinating topics, from the octopus population under the Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach to the importance of manatees in our ecosystem. Our free lectures are held at 2:00 p.m. on the third Sunday of each month. Don’t miss this chance to learn and be inspired!

November Lecture 2026: Join us for a special Lectures at the Lagoon lineup during our Manatee Season Kickoff event on Saturday, November 21, 2026.

Join us for a special expanded lecture series as we celebrate the return of manatees to our warm waters! In place of our traditional Sunday lecture this month, on Saturday November 21 we’re offering multiple bite-sized presentations and short films about manatee migration, conservation efforts, and the Lake Worth Lagoon. Perfect for curious minds of all ages who want to dive deeper into marine conservation!

Featured Speakers

10:15am | Lights, Camera, Lagoon!
Conservation Success Stories of Lake Worth Lagoon

Film Presented by Friends of Manatee Lagoon

An estuary once pushed to the brink… Lake Worth Lagoon is rising again. From a secluded lake the Seminole called Hypoluxo — “water all around, no way out” — to an estuary where freshwater meets saltwater and a transformed urban waterway emerged, decades of change clouded its waters and strained its wildlife. This series reveals the comeback… and the next chapter is ours to shape.

12:00pm | Manatee Photo ID: Who you may see at Manatee Lagoon
Presented by Amber Howell, Manatee Biologist at FWC

Meet the manatees who call our lagoon home! Amber will share photos and stories of specific manatees frequently seen at Manatee Lagoon, including their rescue and rehabilitation journeys. Learn how to identify injured manatees while getting an inside look at FWC’s manatee rescue program.

Dr. McCoy will share her innovative approach to seagrass conservation by examining natural protective mechanisms and developing targeted restoration strategies that work with nature’s own defensive systems.

2:00pm | Resilience: Islands of the American Oystercatcher

Film Presented by Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resource Management

Resilience: Islands of the American Oystercatcher tells the story of how islands created from dredged material became unexpected habitat for one of Florida’s most distinctive shorebirds. As American oystercatchers began using these man-made islands to nest and raise their young, conservation partners saw an opportunity. Palm Beach County, the Florida Inland Navigation District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and partners working throughout the Lake Worth Lagoon came together to adaptively manage the islands and improve them for wildlife. Through habitat enhancement, monitoring, and long-term collaboration, these islands are being transformed into places that support American oystercatchers and a growing community of coastal species. Resilience explores how wildlife can adapt to human altered landscapes and how people can respond by creating better conditions for nature to thrive. A Walker Wildlife Films documentary.

Event Details:

Date: November 21, 2026
Times: 10:15 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.
Address: 6000 N Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Cost: FREE, registration recommended.

LECTURE SERIES ARCHIVE