Take a nature walk with a naturalist to learn about Huguenot Park

Huguenot Park is a peninsula surrounded by three different bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean, the St. John's River, and the Fort George Inlet. Its unique location has resulted in a unique environment, and on Wednesday afternoons from at 3 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m., Shelley Beville, a parks naturalist and Waterway Wildlife tour guide, leads interested beach goers on an hour-long nature walk.

Leaving from the park's Nature Center down onto the sandy banks of the St. John's River, Shelly, who has a master's degree in biology, identifies any interesting shells, birds, plants, or geographical features and give facts about the area, the water, the park, and the wildlife. Ask a question, any question, and she'll have an answer.

She'll tell you why a crab might have two different-sized claws. It's probably a male fiddler crab; the female's claws match. They're called fiddler crabs because the males will wave their large claw in the air in a territorial show, making a motion similar to playing a violin.

She'll explain why you can't walk on the sand dunes. The ecosystem and the wildlife that live there, like sea oats, must be protected. Species like sea oats are dune stabilizers, who prevent erosion, and they are protected by law in Florida. "It's a $500 fine if you're caught molesting that grass," Shelley laughs. You might want to stay off the dunes.

Is this a conch shell? Perhaps, but it could also be a whelk shell. Whelk shells have vertical striping and are smooth, while conchs have horizontal ridges. Shelley identifies several different kinds of conchs and whelks which live right here in Jacksonville.

Have you ever wondered if all jellyfish sting? Cannonball jellies, which look like a mottled pink ball, actually don't. Any other ones you see around Jacksonville will sting. "If you ever see anything blue or purple floating on top of the water," Shelley warns, "swim away quickly."

If you are looking for sharks teeth, Shelly will tell you to look along the wrack line, which is the edge of sand near the dunes where lots of debris and dead plants are. Lots of interesting things are found here; a bird bone was found on Wednesday's tour, and teeth of megalodons, an extinct species of Cenozoic era shark, have also been found at Huguenot Park.

You will think of plenty of questions to ask Shelley on the walk. Hand her a shell and she'll identify it and tell you the story behind it. The Recreation and Community Services website, jaxparks.com, lists all the activities and learning opportunities at Huguenot and the other parks in our area.

The Nature Center is only open on weekends during the winter (unless there's a program being given), but is open every day in the summer. The building is filled with bones, shells, books, interactive games and information on anything you might see if you prefer to explore on your own. A free expert tour guide at your disposal is a rare resource, though, and Shelley Beville is one of the best.