 Mark your Calendar for FossilFest 2025 March 15 - 16 |
TBFC Season 2024-2025 updates: Next Club Meeting is Feb. 1, 2025 @ 7pm EDT in the USF Behavioral Science Room #103 (In-Person) Next Peace River Monthly Trip: Feb. 8, 2025 (Paid, Active Members only and water levels permitting) - Zolfo Springs Guage Next CEMEX Center Hill Trip: Feb. 12, 2025 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People) - Check Facebook for Details Next Brooksville Trip: Jan. 29, 2025 then Feb. 26, 2025 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People) Next Bone Valley Fossil Farm Trip: Jan. 25, 2025 then Feb. 22, 2025 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People) Check the Field Trips page or the Calendar for details! |
Be sure to renew your Fossil
Permits! Never Dig into the River banks! Collection of Artifacts is Illegal on Florida state owned land!
President's Message
2024-2025 Season
And just like that, 2024 is done.
Many of us had a rough last few months with storms and flooding, but that is behind us as January is here (good luck to those that are still digging out from the flooding and wind damage). As I write this it seems we will get a day of rain with a cold front, but I certainly expect that river levels will begin to cooperate, and river fossil hunting season can begin in earnest. Visibility in the rivers should continue to clear up and water levels ought to remain manageable until the warm summer brings back daily rains. I’ve seen many of you are already starting to “clean up” in the rivers. Many of you SCUBA divers are already posting pictures of great fossil finds online. Take advantage of the season. You can’t find fossils sitting on your couch or watching football. Plan a river trip now!
January brings the start of a very busy time of the year for TBFC. In addition to our regular monthly meetings and field trips, FossilFest and the Peace River Adventure are right around the corner. We can run the Adventure blindfolded with one arm tied behind our backs, but FossilFest, that’s another animal.
Will there be a Peace River Adventure in 2025?
Folks keep asking, but I just don’t know. I haven’t even had the chance yet to talk with the folks down south to see if the venues were damaged during the hurricanes. I will post here soon if you need to “save the date”.
Read the Chronicles each month (Members Only), check the calendar here on the TBFC website, and follow us on Facebook. Also, please be very cautious while venturing out into the rivers and creeks. There’s nothing in those rivers worth dying for.
FossilFest 2025: FossilFest 2025 runs March 15 - 16 (set up on March 14). The show is big, one of the biggest amateur run shows in the country. It takes a lot of volunteers to operate FossilFest!
What is FossilFest? Find more information here!
We have a busy few months ahead of us. I look forward to accomplishing all these events with your help. Happy New Year & Good Hunting,
Missed a meeting or just want to watch it again? You can view our past meeting recordings or live streams in the playlist below (Also found in the About section):
Announcements
Next Meeting Presentation
Feb. 1, 2025Fossil Hunter's TV Show
with Donald Brunning
7PM IN-PERSON CLUB MEETING at the USF Behavioral Science Room #103
Due to unforeseen circumstance Dr. Richard Hulbert had to cancel as TBFC’s speaker for the February meeting.
We are thankful that Donald Brunning from the television show FOSSIL HUNTERS has graciously arranged to step in for the February 1 meeting.
FOSSIL HUNTERS follows the adventures of seven amateur paleontologists and friends as they search for prehistoric clues to our past.
Donald Brunning made significant prehistoric discoveries in the 90s on the Wekiva River. Donald and his friend collect the remains of several animals including the remains of mastodon. His interest in fossil collecting led him to create the documentary style television show FOSSIL HUNTERS which airs on several PBS channels in Florida.
Donald and some of his cast will be on hand to talk about his life of fossil collecting, showing off some scenes from FOSSIL HUNTERS, and is anxious to see and possibly film some of the finds that members from TBFC have made.
Don’t miss the February meeting!
Tampa Bay Fossil Chronicles
Hopefully you’ve noticed that TBFC has stepped up its game with the newsletter each month. In addition to all of our regular contributors, we’ve added two new recurring articles this season. “In Touch with Inverts” by Rob Carlson was added in September. Recently added, “Paleo Analysis” by Steve Vicari. Each month Steve will be discussing interesting prehistoric fauna and how they relate to extant species.
Please check out all of the articles in each issue. Only TBFC members receive the Chronicles, we don’t post it online or on Facebook.
Be sure to renew your Fossil
Permits! Never Dig into the River banks! Collection of Artifacts is Illegal on Florida state owned land!
