TBFC Events Calendar TBFC Meeting Location and Info Connect on Facebook Watch on YouTube Follow us on instagram #tampabayfossilclub FossilFest Flyer Download About FossilFest Peace River Adventure Flyer Download
TBFC Season 2023-2024 updates:
Next Club Meeting is Dec. 9, 2023 @ 7pm EDT in the USF Behavioral Science Room #103 (In-Person)

Next Peace River Monthly Trip: Dec. 9, 2023 (Paid, Active Members only and water levels permitting) - Zolfo Springs Guage
Next Brooksville Trip: Dec. 13, 2023 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People)
Next CEMEX Center Hill Trip: Dec. 20, 2023 (Paid, Active Members only. Limit 20 People)
Check the Field Trips page or the Calendar for details!

President's Message

2023-2024 Season


Tampa Bay Fossil Club

And just like that, 2023 is over. Over the past few years my December messages seem to continue a common theme. Get out there and hunt for some fossils! The summer rains and hurricanes have helped the rivers wash a lot of fossils from their buried hiding spots. It’s one of the few benefits we get from the bad weather many of you have had to endure during Florida’s long wet season. Just like in the past, I think everyone will have a great winter/spring fossil hunting season and find lots of good fossils. It seems the rain has finally slacked off and the currents and depth in the rivers have calmed down. The visibility is clearing up too.

TBFC’s river trips have been canceled recently due to safety concerns with currents and depth, but I expect folks will be finding lots of shark teeth and other goodies very soon. There’s never been a better time to start planning your trips into the rivers for some SCUBA diving or screening washing. Visit our Facebook page to hook up with other fossil hunters who are planning fossil hunting trips. Don’t forget to keep those hunting permits up to date too!

TBFC had a great auction at the November meeting. We had LOTS of items and made a good amount of money to spend on scholarships this coming year. I want to thank Dr. Bob Sinibaldi for working the auction and to all of you who donated items. And, to those of you who spent money on the auction items. Last but not least, a nod to Bill Faucher for chairing the meeting in my absence (I was fossil hunting...) Thank you all!

Missed a meeting or just want to watch it again? You can view our past live stream meetings in the playlist below (Also found in the "About" section):



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 2024: Please don’t forget that FossilFest 2024 is right around the corner (March 15, 16 & 17). Please put those dates into your calendars. We will start signing up volunteers in January.

I want to wish all TBFC members a Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays (for those of you who celebrate something different) and a prosperous and safe 2024. Be good to each other and be safe out there.



Good Hunting,
Mike Searle

Announcements

Dec. 9, 2023
Paleo Tech Talks by
Dr. Sarah Sheffield & Students, USF Geosciences
7PM IN-PERSON CLUB MEETING at the USF Behavioral Science Room #103

Many of you already know about Tech Talks. If you don’t, they’re very popular technical talks covering a wide range of technical concepts and ideas. For TBFC, our December meeting will feature Paleo Tech Talks. Short presentations and Q&A sessions on different topics.

Ohav Harris: Echinoderm diversity through the Paleozoic Era.
Elizabeth Altier: Estimating the effect of latitude on echinoderm body plans.
Haley Vantoorenburg, Taylor Rand, Karla Rodriguez, Ohav Harris, and Elizabeth Altier: USF Geology and Paleontology Collections: fossil preservation and museum organization.

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!

Paleo Preserve Burnett's Wholesale Nursery
TBFC Events Calendar TBFC Meeting Location and Info FossilFest Flyer Download Peace River Adventure Flyer Download