WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL TRIPS to Sanibel Island for birding in “Ding” Darling. But Sanibel is also known for quality and variety of shells found along the beaches and an entire subculture combs the beach at low tide, always hopeful for a shark’s eye, an olive or a rare Scottish bonnet.
The early sheller gets the best
We arrived before dawn on a full-moon low tide (the best) only to find dozens headlamps already twinkling as collectors demonstrated the “Sanibel stoop.” There are literally millions of oft picked over shells deposited at the high tide line but the good finds are at the water’s edge. Or still in the shallows.
Live conch Sea star
Many, especially horse conches, are still alive but it’s bad form — and illegal — to collect live specimens.
She stoops to conquer
We aren’t as sophisticated or as fussy as the “real” collectors, so Connie managed to snag a baggie full of interesting shells. We’re not sure what others do with their booty but Connie will turn hers over to our friend Candace, who tends the conchology collection at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Connie will supply the location information; we’ll leave it to Candace figure out what they are.
