Michelle, MLK Day 2012: this beach cleanup was for you (Malia, Sasha & kids everywhere)

Yesterday was a brutal beach day. I'm a native Floridian and a weather-wimp. I don't know how my northern litter-picking friends do this year-round.

It was really windy. I was cold. My ears hurt. My sarong became a scarf and my hoodie was flapping around madly. Each time I'd move the wind would whack me with my zipper.

Any other day, I would have turned around and headed home. But I'd given my word to Michelle Obama. She tweeted (personally with her mo signature) "Here's something dear to my heart: the MLK Day of Service. Will you join me to serve your community on Monday? http://OFA.BO/NTYQkR -mo." I tweeted to her that I would pick up litter. Michelle would have never known, but I keep my word, so I kept walking. And I'm glad I did. On my way to the shore I spotted a wounded bird.

In this video a surfer describe finding the bird an hour earlier. Actually there were two birds tangled in fishing line wrapped around their wings and one with a hook in its beak. Ruth cradles and give comfort to the bird.

 

Within minutes several caring people gathered to help. Someone brought a towel. Someone brought a box.

Ruth's son took the bird -- a Royal Tern -- to South Florida Wildlife Center. A radiograph showed it had swallowed a sinker. If the bird is healthy enough they'll operate and if the bird recovers 100% it will be released.

Bird in good hands, I continued my litter pickup, gathering 2.75 pounds of litter from this empty and relatively clean beach:

Michelle, if it wasn't for you, this litter would not have been collected today. Here's hoping Malia, Sasha and kids everywhere will inherit a litter-free planet.

Fortunately, none of this litter will end up becoming ocean plastic. Here are photos of two pieces of marine debris with barnacles still attached. Luckily they have been rescued from the Atlantic Garbage Patch.

All litter was categorized and at documented at http://www.marinedebris.engr.uga.edu/

If you're interested in documenting litter go to this website to find out about getting an app for your smartphone. It's not only for marine debris. It's for litter everywhere as it all ends up in the ocean eventually.

When I left the beach it was already dark with black storm clouds roiling across the sky. I was eager to get home -- tucked in for the evening. I looked for the homeless woman I'd noticed when I first arrived at the beach. She was no where in sight. I was heartened to see the outpouring of care and compassion by all those I met on the beach yet saddened to know none of us had been able to help this human being.

That's one reason I pick up litter. It needs doing. And it's something I CAN do -- with my own two hands. Any time. Any where.