No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of Keys Weekly, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to present our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue.
Our neighbor of the week is Sarah Bruno, a volunteer at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. When she is not volunteering, she is a wildlife photographer.
SARAH BRUNO
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
How long have you been in the Keys and what brought you here? I’ve been in the Keys 42 years. The hotel business brought my family here.
What’s a project that you’ve worked on that you are most proud of? I recently completed a conservation project preserving fishing spears from the Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea.
What adjectives would your closest friends use to describe you? Creative, compassionate and optimistic.
If you could have one superpower, what would you choose and why? Invisibility would be my superpower of choice. It would certainly make taking photographs of wildlife much easier.
If you could come up with a new holiday to give people the day off, what would the day be called and why? Nature Photography Day, because reconnecting with nature restores humanity.
What was a really significant moment in your life that had a huge impact? Being introduced to the Everglades. This part of the country is so beautiful and there are so many diverse species to photograph.
If you could have a wild animal for a pet, which animal would you choose and why? A falcon. Falconry requires a deep connection with nature.
If you were a flower, which flower would represent you the best and why? A ghost orchid. They’re not easy to find, and they’re at home amongst the trees. A purple ghost orchid would be amazing.
What is the coolest thing you have ever photographed? The purple gallinule. It’s a brightly colored marsh bird, known for its striking purple and green plumage, red bill with a yellow tip and bright yellow legs.
Know someone who would make a good “Neighbor of the Week?” Email keysweeklyjen@gmail.com.
