Did you know:

• FOT started Tigertail Beach cleanups in 2006. There have been 2789 volunteers, 872 bags of trash, 27 tires, totaling 6825 pounds of trash, over 3 tons! Since 2012, 846 people have attended the Breakfast and Birds event!  
• Since 2012, Friends of Tigertail has awarded 24 Campership scholarships to school children!
• Since 2012, over 1532 people have attended the Friends of the Friends of Tigertail Discover Tigertail education programs!

Friends of Tigertail Participates in Great American Clean-up/Bay Days

Held annually each spring, The Great American Clean-up/Bay Days is a county wide event sponsored by Keep Collier Beautiful, Collier County, and groups at local beaches and river shores. Friends of Tigertail has participated for years and because of energetic volunteers has had success in keeping the beach clean for beach goers and wildlife alike. The 2025 event on March 22 was no exception as 50 volunteers went deep into mangroves, grassy areas, sand dunes, and the parking lot to rid the area of debris. A variety of participants lent a hand from young children to grandmothers, residents, vacationers, and a large group from the Lely High School Civitan Group. Many items were collected, from bottles, cans, and cigarette butts to tires, rope, and clothing, totaling 177 pounds.

Friends of Tigertail holds four clean-ups a year, with the next scheduled for July 5.

Breakfast & Birds on March 15, 2025

Friends of Tigertail "Breakfast and Birds" Presentation Delights Participants!

Were you ever curious about the birds populating the shoreline at Tigertail Beach? 30 new and experienced birders enjoyed learning about the physical and behavioral characteristics of several resident and visiting avian species at the second Friends of Tigertail "Breakfast and Birds" presentation of the season on March 15. Organization member and experienced birder Fran Huxley provided guidance in differentiating among several birds that appear similar but are unique. After describing the "Magnificent Migrators" with the help of an informational poster created by Susan Kubat, the group was able to directly observe many species feeding near the edge of the lagoon.

Besides the two birding presentations each season, Friends of Tigertail hosts quarterly beach clean-ups. In association with Keep Collier Beautiful and Collier County, the next event is the Great American Clean-up/Bay Days on Saturday, March 22, with the goal of keeping the area clean for wildlife as well as human beach enthusiasts. Information about this and other events can be found on this website.

Friends of Tigertail Add Benches to Tigertail Park Upgrades

Friends of Tigertail donated two benches to the Tigertail Beach Park, augmenting the recently upgraded playground area as well as the observation tower.

On Monday, August 16 a ceremony was held for the bench donation, with Friends of Tigertail Board members and Melissa Hennig, Regional Manager of Beaches and Water for the Collier County Parks and Recreation. The location of the benches will benefit park visitors, with one in the newly renovated playground area so that families can be comfortable watching their children at play, and the other bench placed on the lower level of the observation tower, creating a shaded perch to observe the beach below.

Friends of Tigertail is appreciative of the county's efforts in improving the park's facilities. The new playground is now state of the art, and will be enjoyed by many young park visitors. Through a grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County, a tall shade structure was added, providing relief from direct sun for the children.