Tour de Coast: Mak’s 550-Mile RIDE for Conservation Florida
All photos provided by Mak
This October, one determined cyclist is taking on the ultimate Florida ride - and she’s doing it for
wild Florida.
Meet Makayla “Mak” Fick, an endurance athlete from Jacksonville Beach who’s trading her daily training rides for a roughly 550-mile, three-day journey from Jacksonville Beach to Key West. Her mission? To raise awareness and funds for Conservation Florida and our work protecting the lands and waters that make Florida home - for people, for nature, forever.
From Her Hello Kitty Bike to 500 Miles
Mak’s love for cycling started early - with the smell of rubber tires, the thrill of speed, and a Hello Kitty bike that she begged her dad to take the training wheels off of. From biking to school every day to outpacing her dad up hills, cycling became more than just transportation - it was joy, challenge, and freedom.
After running at Ole Miss and immersing herself in Jacksonville Beach’s endurance sports community, Mak decided she was ready for her biggest “side quest” yet: Tour de Coast.
Why She’s Riding for Wild Florida
What she’s named the Tour de Coast isn’t just about miles - it’s about mission. Mak was inspired by Conservation Florida’s work to protect Florida’s wildlife corridors, including the Guana River Wildlife Management Area, a critical habitat and recreation area we helped protect from a land swap earlier this year. That victory preserved not just a safe haven for wildlife, but also a beloved route for gravel cyclists and nature lovers alike.
“Cycling has given me so much joy and connection,” Mak says. “I wanted to use this ride to give back - to protect the places I love to explore and help others experience them for years to come.”
Mak’s route across the Sunshine State.
The Ride
From October 24–26, 2025, Mak will pedal the length of Florida in just three days, connecting with local bike shops and fellow cyclists along the way. Each mile she rides will shine a spotlight on Florida’s wildlife corridors - the connected lands that allow animals like the Florida panther, black bear, and countless bird species to roam freely and safely.
“I wanted to use this ride to give back - to protect the places I love to explore and help others experience them for years to come.”
- Mak Fick
How You Can Support Mak’s Mission
Mak has set a fundraising goal to support Conservation Florida’s mission to protect Florida’s wild and working lands. Here’s how you can be part of the Tour de Coast:
Donate to her GoFundMe → Support the Tour de Coast
Follow her journey → Event Details & Updates
Share her story on social media to help spread the word.
Every dollar raised helps us protect the lands and waters that make Florida the paradise we call home.
Together, we can keep Florida wild - for wildlife, for people, and yes, for cyclists!
in case you missed it:
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 40,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Follow us on social media @conservationflorida.
A SAFE PLACE TO LAND
Photos provided by Anna Crocitto, Tim Barker, and Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI)
If you’ve ever looked up on a summer day in Florida and spotted a black-and-white bird with a forked tail gliding effortlessly against the blue sky, chances are you might’ve seen a swallow-tailed kite. These graceful birds, sometimes called “sky angels,” travel thousands of miles each year, chasing warm winds and plentiful food.
You might have even seen a special kite named “Townsend!”
Why so special, you may ask?
This swallow-tailed kite checked in for a stay amongst a pine forest permanently protected by Conservation Florida near Ocala in Central Florida.
You could say he’s pretty close to our hearts.
Townsend is part of a tracking study led by the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI), which follows these birds on their remarkable journeys to better understand their migration patterns and the habitats they depend on.
Townsend was the last of the GPS-tracked swallow-tailed kites to begin his fall migration. On August 27, he set out on his journey!
He started south from the Savannah River in Georgia, spending his first night along the Altamaha River, a familiar area near his nesting territory.
From Georgia, he continued south to our home state of Florida where he found a peaceful refuge on Conservation Florida-protected land in Marion County - our Millpond Swamp conservation easement.
Townsend’s flight path southward, including a rest at Millpond Swamp.
On Millpond Swamp, he battled no bright streetlights or racing cars. Only the buzzing of bugs and the fresh fog of the morning.
A peaceful moment of his journey south.
For Townsend, Millpond Swamp offered a safe place to rest and refuel. For us, his visit is a reminder of why land conservation matters.
Swallow-tailed kites rely on Florida’s wetlands, forests, and open spaces to find food, raise their young, and safely migrate each year. When we protect those places, we’re not only safeguarding one species; we’re protecting entire ecosystems.
Florida is the stronghold for swallow-tailed kites in the United States. Once nesting in 21 states as far north as Minnesota, their numbers have declined sharply over the last century, with only about 15,000 remaining today. Most now breed here in Florida, making our state essential to the future of the species. By late summer, the young are ready to take flight, and the flocks begin to gather before making their long journey back to South America.
Most swallow-tailED kites now breed here in Florida, making our state essential to the future of the species.
For kites like Townsend, protected wild places aren’t a luxury - they’re a necessity.
Wetlands provide the frogs and insects that sustain them, tall trees offer nesting sites, and large forests give them space to rest before migration. As development and habitat loss continue, conserving these connected, protected spaces becomes even more urgent.
Conservation Florida’s work ensures that birds like Townsend have safe places to land - today, tomorrow, and forever. Through land conservation, we’re helping keep the skies full of these “sky angels.”
When Townsend soared over our protected land, he showed us what’s at stake - and what’s possible when we work together to keep Florida wild.
By September 1, Townsend had reached Cuba, where he stayed for four nights before flying to Cancún, Mexico. He has spent the past few weeks in Mérida, Mexico, and we expect him to continue south to South America soon.
We’ll be looking to the skies next season, hoping to see him again on his journey home.
Thank you to the partners who shared this story with us and are helping swallow-tailed kites like Townsend soar!
American Bird Conservancy (ABC)
The Avian Reconditioning Center for Birds of Prey
Cellular Tracking Technologies CTT GSM-GPS transmitters
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR)
Microwave Telemetry, Inc. Satellite transmitters
National Fish and Wildlife Federation (NFWF)
Orleans Audubon Society (OAS)
Ornitela GSM-GPS transmitters
PotlachDeltic Corporation
*Swallow-tailed Kites are captured, banded, and fitted with a trackers under State, Federal, and local permits held by the Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI). ARCI partnered with American Bird Conservancy and Orleans Audubon Society to track kites like Townsend through funding from International Paper and the National Fish and Wildlife Federation. More on ARCI’s blog: https://www.arcinst.org/2025/07/17/swallow-tailed-kite-research-coalition-continues-to-improve-sustainable-forests-in-the-southeastern-u-s/
in case you missed it:
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 40,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Follow us on social media @conservationflorida.
Leave Your Legacy: National "Make a Will" Month
Photo credit: Anna Crocitto
We know — writing a will isn’t exactly at the top of anyone’s summer to-do list.
But joining the Florida Land and Legacy Society now will mean a healthier, greener Florida tomorrow.
As we recognize National Make-A-Will Month, we’re inviting you to consider leaving a legacy gift to Conservation Florida. It’s a powerful way to ensure that the wild places you love — the springs, ranchlands, forests, and swamps — continue to thrive long after we’re gone.
And here’s the incredible part:
Every $1 given to Conservation Florida becomes $36 in land protected — thanks to leveraged funding and strategic maneuvering from our team.
Your legacy gift could have an extraordinary impact.
Photo credit: Anna Crocitto
Ways to leave Conservation Florida in your will:
Bequests — Add a simple clause in your will or trust.
Securities — Donate appreciated stocks or mutual funds.
Life Insurance — Name us as a policy beneficiary.
Retirement Plans — List Conservation Florida as a beneficiary on your IRA or 401(k).
Real Estate — Leave land that can be conserved or used to fund protection elsewhere.
Charitable Trusts & Annuities — Create a giving plan that benefits both you and conservation.
No matter your age or assets, there’s a way to leave a lasting impact.
Photo credit: Anna Crocitto
If you have already included Conservation Florida in your estate plans or would like to speak with a member of our philanthropy team about your legacy, please call 352-376-4770 ext. 701 or email at philanthropy@conservationfla.org — we're happy to help.
Together, we can make sure that a century from now, wild Florida is still wild — and still here.
Thank YOU for thinking about the future of this beautiful state we all call home.
in case you missed it:
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 40,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Follow us on social media @conservationflorida.
A Wild Florida Summer Thanks to you!
Photo credit: Anna Crocitto
Because of you, this summer has been
wildly amazing!
From protecting panther habitat to opening new trails, your support turned hot summer days into huge conservation wins.
Mind if we share some highlights?
Here’s just some of what you made possible:
🌿 You helped conserve AP Ranch — 1,003 acres of working lands in Highlands County, home to endangered Florida panthers. This land will remain forever wild, thanks to your support.
🚶♀️ You also helped connect people to the land. In May, we opened 3.5 miles of hiking trails at D Ranch Preserve in Volusia County — a once-private ranch that’s now permanently protected and open for all to explore.
🏆 You helped us tell Florida’s conservation story — and win an Emmy doing it! Our docuseries, Protect Our Paradise, took home a Suncoast Emmy Award, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
🎉 Our Sunshine State Soirée was a sold-out success! Together, we raised over $220,000 to protect Wild Florida. From cocktails to conservation, we celebrated the future we’re building — with you at the center.
Photo credit (left to right): Anna Crocitto, Conservation Florida, Brandon A. Güell
But that’s not all…
💧 You ensured that the largest underground cave system in the United States is protected forever. Chip’s Hole in Wakulla County was saved from development and will now become a preserve for public use and recreation, all thanks to your voices.
🏛️ We took your voice to Tallahassee. At our legislative reception, we brought lawmakers, landowners, and advocates together to champion land conservation and policy that supports protecting wild and working lands.
📝 Our summer interns have been hard at work at D Ranch Preserve — helping restore trails, document wildlife, and support public access. On our blog, intern Raylynn shared a powerful reflection on conservation, connection, and what it means to grow up in Florida.
🐻 Conservation Florida made headlines! News outlets featured our work to give black bears room to roam, highlighting the importance of corridor connectivity and protecting habitat before it's gone.
🌱 And there's more good news: Our Private Lands Stewardship Program is officially serving landowners — empowering Floridians across the state to conserve the places that matter most.
Photo credit (left to right): Carlton Ward Jr., Brandon A. Güell, Chris Werner
And through it all, your impact multiplied. Every $1 you give helps save $36 worth of Wild Florida — protecting more land, more wildlife, and more of what makes this state special. We’re just getting started — and we’re so glad you’re on this journey with us.
Stay cool, and stay wild,
The Conservation Florida Team
in case you missed it:
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 40,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Follow us on social media @conservationflorida.
From Cattle to Conservation: The Role of Ranchlands in Florida’s Environmental Future
by Raylynn M. Adcock, Conservation Florida Summer Intern
When most people picture conservation in Florida, they imagine wetlands, springs, or thick forests, typically not open pastures. As a student at the University of Florida studying animal sciences and agricultural communications, I’ve learned that agricultural lands are more than just farmland. Through my time walking pastures, watching cattle roam, attending events like the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention to talk with ranchers who’ve cared for these spaces for generations, and especially during my internship this summer with Conservation Florida, I’ve seen that these working lands are crucial to Florida’s environment, economy, and way of life.
Until 2019, when D Ranch Preserve was officially protected by Conservation Florida, the land was home to a cow-calf operation. At first glance, D Ranch Preserve may look like any other cattle operation or ranch, but spending time on the land has deepened my understanding of just how much it supports. Working at D Ranch Preserve has shown me firsthand what many already believed to be true: working lands aren't barriers to conservation, they’re the backbone of it. Across Florida, places like D Ranch Preserve are proving that agriculture and conservation can exist not only side by side but in direct support of one another for the betterment of saving wild Florida.
Florida’s ranchlands are more than just grazing space for cattle. They provide vital habitat for wildlife, help keep water clean by soaking it back into the ground, and act as natural buffers against the rapid spread of development. As more houses and highways continue to sprawl across the state, protecting places like D Ranch Preserve feels more pressing than ever.
“Florida’s ranchlands are more than just grazing space for cattle. They provide vital habitat for wildlife, help keep water clean by soaking it back into the ground, and act as natural buffers against the rapid spread of development.”
I’ve witnessed the balance firsthand. Early in the mornings, I see dew fresh on the grass and whitetail deer silently slip through the trees. Nearby, a gopher tortoise disappears into its burrow as a crowd passes it on our guided nature hike. Overhead, sandhill cranes call out in their distinctive voices and their bellowing calls echo through the wide-open sky. As I walk the trails at D Ranch, the smell in the air is a mix of sun-soaked grass and damp earth, leaving me with a warm and earthy feeling of appreciation for the land.
D Ranch sits along a natural path used by many animals to travel safely between ecosystems and fields. It’s like a quiet highway for wildlife, hidden in plain sight. This connection allows animals to roam freely and find food, mates, and shelter essential for their survival. Cattle still graze here too, which adds to the richness of this landscape and reminds us that working lands and conservation lands don’t have to be separate. We’re stronger when we work together, when ranchers, conservationists, and nature itself all play a role in protecting these places.
“Organizations like Conservation Florida work with landowners to protect their land for the future by keeping it natural and undeveloped, while still allowing it to be used for ranching or farming. ”
What stands out to me most about D Ranch Preserve is the way it redefines what conservation can look like. It’s not about taking people off the land or halting production. Instead, it’s about protecting the land’s ability to thrive, even as its role evolves. Organizations like Conservation Florida work with landowners to protect their land for the future by keeping it natural and undeveloped, while still allowing it to be used for ranching or farming. This means families can stay and care for their land, keeping it wild and open for the future.
As I continue learning and gaining experience, I’m more certain than ever that the world we live in today is one in which agriculture and conservation are not only compatible but essential partners. D Ranch Preserve shows what’s possible when we stop seeing these sectors working against one another. At D Ranch Preserve, raising cattle and protecting wildlife are one and the same because here in Florida, agriculture and conservation grow from the same soil. Even more so, the people who work this land are the original conservationists, caring for the soil, water, and animals that depend on it.
If we want to protect Florida’s future, we need to continue working together by listening, learning, and protecting the land that sustains us all.
in case you missed it:
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 40,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.
Follow us on social media @conservationflorida.