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8/9/2019 Jan 2009 Wingspan Newsletter St. Petersburg Audubon Society
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Calendar of Events -
December ‘08 - January ‘09
Dec. 6 - Birding Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (W/22/92) - Meet
8 a.m. in Nature Center parking lot. With a bird list approaching
210 species, Boyd Hill NP is St. Pete.’s jewel of a park whereanything might turn up. Leader: Ron Smith. Contact: Judi
Hopkins, 526-3725.
Dec. 20 - 109th Annual Christmas Bird Count. Participate in
a day of full contact birding. Call Don Margeson to volunteer,
572-0227. Countdown dinner 6 p.m. at Panera Bread, 2285
Ulmerton Rd., Feather Sound. Dave Goodwin, compiler.
Jan. 1 - Rich Paul New Year’s Day Birding Open. Bird in the
New Year at Ft. DeSoto Park from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. All
donations to benefit Audubon of Florida’s Coastal Island
Sanctuary. Create a team or bird on your own. Chili, bread, and
drinks provided. Bring a dessert to share. Shelter #13. Contact
Mauri Peterson for lunch reservations:maurip@aol.com , or 727-398-4124.
Jan. 3 - Birding trip to Zellwood - Limited space. Contact
Judi Hopkins, 526-3725, for directions and meeting place.
Two-hour car trip to area. Birding will start at 8 a.m.Leaders:
Wes Biggs, Dave Goodwin, and Harold Weatherman.
Jan. 5 **Note–Mon.,7:30 p.m., Joint meeting with
Clearwater Audubon–see inside for details!
Jan. 17-18-19 - Camping at Koreshan State Park -
Corkscrew Swamp Back Country Tour - A weekend of hiking,
birding, and famous “potluck spaghetti” dinner. Call Wanda
Dean, 321-3995, for tour, and Frank Pattie, 397-3952, forcamping. Reserve early- space limited.
Jan./Feb. - Shorebird Classes - Learn to identify those cryptic
winter shorebirds with John Ogden and Maureen Arnold. $30
for 3 classes. Watch newsletter for dates and details. Call
Maureen Arnold to register, 577-0448.
Jan. 24 - Target Birding - “Duck Hunting” - Visit various
water holes in search of wintering ducks. Meet at 7:30 a.m.,
place TBA. We will end the morning at the Tierra Verde ponds,
then go to JoJo’s for lunch and countdown. Contact Judi
Hopkins, 526-3725, for meeting place. Leader: Doug Clark
The St. Petersburg Audubon Society
WingSpan December 2008-January 2009
Festive sounds of environmental will be heard radiating through Laon Wednesday, December 10, fr
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This yeinnovative guest speaker is JamValentine of Quest Foundation. enticing performance, “FloridMagnificent Wilderness,” will invour optimistic spirit for Floridpresent and future throuextraordinary wildlife and wildernphotographs, and a quadraphosound-orchestrated performance.
In addition to our guest speaker, the evening promises to be fiwith friends and colleagues who share your passion of natuFlorida, a festive silent auction packed with special treasu
environmental booths loaded with important information for yperusal, and tasty holiday foods brought from everyone’s kitcheshare. This evening also reviews the ending year by applauding Audubon and Native Plant environmental award winners. They our local inspirations reminding us that we can all makedifference.
Please join us at the Conservation Celebration where togetherwill rejoice in our past year’s successes while anticipating nyear’s adventures.
See inside for the night’s schedule and more details.
“CONSERVATION CELEBRATION–A NIGHT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CELEBRATION!”“Florida–Magnificent Wilderness” By James Valentine, Quest Foundation
Joint Annual Meeting withNative Plant Society
Wednesday, December 10, 20086:30 p.m. at Pinellas Co. Extension12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774
Celebrating 100 Years of Conservation
1909 - 2009
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Pinellas Birds by Ron SmithThe winter season is usually full of avian surprises. Questions arise as to whether it’ll be a good season for ducks, will the robins invade our peninsula like they do in some years, or will an unexpected gull show up? The serious birdconsiders these things and looks for patterns through other bird sightings from around the state.
Interesting to me was the fact that five Chipping Sparrows were at Honeymoon Island and three more were seen at FoDeSoto on the weekend of November 15-16. Chipping Sparrows are rarely seen at either location, and when they areis usually not more than one or two. Another sign that I found hard to ignore was that there were a couple of reports American Robins (in flocks) in mid-November. Is snow far behind? I’m kidding.
RECENT SIGHTINGS – Hooded Mergansers were apparent north county in November, especially at Palm Harbor whe
15 were at the sewage treatment plant. A surprising nine Wood Ducks flew over Honeymoon Island on Nov. 14. A SnoGoose was at the Tierra Verde duck pond on Nov. 01. One of the adult Purple Gallinules and a chick were sethroughout November at the Roosevelt Wetlands.
Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers made appearances at Fort DeSoto the first half of November and unexpected Dickcissel was at Honeymoon on Nov. 03. Somewhat late fall migrants included a male Nashville Warbat Fort DeSoto on Nov. 14, a female Black-throated Blue Warbler in a St. Pete neighborhood on Nov. 17, and a BluGrosbeak and Painted Bunting near Seminole on Nov. 14.
ST. PETE CBC – It’s that time of year again. Last year some 70+ volunteers participated in the St. Pete CBC in some wor another. The goal this year of coordinator Don Margeson is to reach 160 species seen. It will take lots of help. Sget involved. Check out www.PinellasBirds.com
FL SPECIALTIES BUS TRIP--March 14, 2009
This day-long, whirlwind bus trip, led by Dave Goodwin, takes us in search of Florida’s specibirds: Snail Kite, Bachman’s Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-cockaded WoodpeckeSwallow-tailed Kite, Caracara, Scrub Jay, and Burrowing Owl. We will travel through centrFlorida in a 47 passenger motor coach complete with restroom. The bus leaves promptly at 6:a.m. from the Sears store at 94 th Ave. North and 9th St. in St. Petersburg. Our round trip excursio
will take us to Lake Kissimmee, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Joe Overstreet Landing, and Lake Lizzie PaWe plan to arrive back in St. Pete around 6:00 p.m.
This year as an added bonus, we will stop for lunch at Forever Florida so you will only need to bring snacks & beveragfor the day. Water will be provided also. Cost is $75.00, which includes lunch, bus fare, tolls, & entrance fees. Your checmade payable to St. Petersburg Audubon, will confirm your reservation. Call Mauri Peterson at 727-398-4124 for moinformation and to make your reservation now!
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Mauri Peterson, SPAS President
It’s that time of year--time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for. No matter whoyou voted for, anticipate changes, be open minded, change won’t happen overnight. Voto help. Don’t just sit back and expect our government to do all the work. Same goes f
Audubon. Be a part of the process. Volunteer when called upon. Volunteer when NOT called upon. But the key is participate-- whenever and however you can! This chapter would not be what it is without the participation of volunteers. I would not be able to do this job with out the support and help from the Board members and from omany volunteers. Keep up the good work! If you have never participated, please join us. We have a lot of fun in thprocess and would love to have you along for the ride.
The 2008-2009 Annual Appeal letter has been mailed. I realize we’re in a very depressed economy right now atimes are tough. To those who have contributed in the past, I hope we can rely on you again; to those who have nplease take a moment to consider why you are a member of Audubon and what we do for you and your communitYou are fortunate to be a member of St. Petersburg Audubon Society, the oldest chapter in Florida, founded in 190by Katherine Tippetts. A contribution in any amount will help us continue the legacy of conservation, advocacy aeducational outreach started 100 years ago.
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IT’S GREAT TO BE GREEN by Barb Howard
CONSERVATION NEWSby Dave Kandz
Victories!
Pinellas County voted in favor of amending the county charter to place control of environmental lands in the hands voters like you, thereby decreasing the susceptibility of the decision-making process to political pressures. The vote woverwhelmingly in favor - almost 70% to 30% statewide.
Passed by an overwhelming 68% of voters, Amendment 4 for land conservation exempts lands with conservation easemenfrom property taxes and allows lands managed for water and wildlife benefits to be taxed according to use. These incentives hathe potential to help protect millions of acres of habitat. The legislature will need to implement Amendment 4, and Audubwill work to ensure that the measure is carried out as intended and is not subject to abuse.
Challenges!
State Parks Propose Closure or Transfer of 21 Parks
To meet Gov. Christ's called-for 10% overall budgetreduction, the Florida Park Service is proposing to "temporarilyclose" nineteen state parks to public access and reduce theirmanagement to a "caretaker" staff until the state budget returnsto levels that can support the full functioning of the parks. Anadditional three parks, managed for other agencies, will be
returned to those agencies. Some of these closures could havegrave implications for Florida's rarest natural communities andwildlife. Florida's parks and other conservation lands are heldin trust for the people of Florida. Holding land in trust means acommitment to good management and responsibility forstewardship of vulnerable natural resources. Audubon calls onGov. Crist to give substantial consideration to the impacts ofthese reductions on the state's ability to adequately managethese sensitive resources.
Locally, Egmont Key hosts Florida's largest Royal aSandwich Tern colony. Reversion of this property to tNational Wildlife Refuge system may provide some cosavings, but the short timeframe proposed would not give tfederal cooperating agency sufficient time to find the resourcto replace the important functions the state park curren
provides at Egmont. The current cooperative agreemebetween the refuge system and State Parks provides EgmoKey with a staffed presence to manage the more than 170,0annual boater visits to the island, and protects the islandunique historical and natural resources, including nestimarine turtles and extensive shorebird and seabird colonieWithout this presence, the park's sensitive resources would left without on-site, round-the-clock management, and tisland would be vulnerable to trespass and resource abuse
FWC Marks Land Management, Law Enforcement and Nongame Wildlife Grants Among Other Programs for Cuts
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionhas proposed $16 million in budget reductions, including the
elimination of $2 million in land management funding, 68 lawenforcement positions, and the $100,000-per year NongameWildlife Grants Program. This grant program has funded vitalresearch on nongame species that FWC has not had thecapacity to conduct themselves.
Florida birds that have benefitted from this researinclude species like Swallow-tailed Kites, Short-tailed Haw
and White-crowned Pigeons. The proposed reduction woueliminate this program and end the only state grant fundisource available for most nongame species in Florida.
Visit the "Take Action" link on our web site, stpeteaudubon.org/takeaction, to voice your opinion on these issues.
Give a gift to the planet this year!
It’s the holiday season again. Just a couple quick reminders–Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink!Just because it’s the holidays we don’t have a license to trash the planet–remember the “Storyof Stuff” at www.storyofstuffcom? Buy organic, local, sustainable gifts when you have to give something. Think oyour footprint. Great gifts are memberships to organizations, animal adoptions at a local zoo or aquarium, giftcards to local markets, or prepayment of a monthly electric, phone, or utility bill for someone. Many stores havesustainable organic cotton or bamboo lines for clothing or linens now–check their websites. Did you save those gbags from last year to wrap gifts this year? Make this a green holiday all the way!
And, now would also be a good time to print your newsletter at home on your own recycled paper. Contact JoAnnWilson to receive your Wingspan electronically at JoAWilson@msn.com.
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"CONSERVATION CELEBRATION" B BB B Your Help Needed!! By Jeanne Murphy
SCHEDULE:4:00 - 6:30 p.m. Set-up (your help needed)
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Bid on Silent Auction Treasures,Visit Environmental Booths, Enjoy FestiveFoods & Refreshments
8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Presidents’ Messages,
Environmental Awards
8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Presenter James Valentine,“Florida—Magnificent Wilderness”
9:30 -10:00 p.m. Retrieve auction items,Clean-up (your help needed)
REFRESHMENTS: Please bring some finger foodappetizers to share – makes for a delicious assortment.Your SPAS Board will supply desserts. And, in keepingwith our goal to “Go Green,” please bring your non-disposable table service!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Successful events are easy withlittle help from a lot of people. Can you help with setup fro4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. (room, auction, or refreshment set-ups)cleanup at 9:30 p.m.? We need a lot of hands for both efforPlease contact Barb Howard at 343-1272 b_howard2001@msn.com.
AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED: Gift items, gift certificateservices—be creative. Weeding, handyman, technical hecookie of the month, drive someone to the airport…you’re suto have a skill someone could “purchase.” With all donationwe need a donation record form. Hardcopy donation forms aavailable on our website and at our monthly meetingElectronic auction donation forms are available by emailiJeanne a request at jmurphy@sensingnature.com or call Baat 343-1272. Unfortunately, it is too difficult to accept items tday of the event. All donations and their forms are due November 28th.
“Ivory-billed Woodpecker Project” By Ron Rohrbaugh, Project Director, Cornell University
Monday, January 5, 2009Unitarian Universalists Church of Clearwater
2470 Nursery Road, Clearwater(between US 19 & Belcher Road, north side of Nursery)
Joint meeting with St. Pete Audubon - This is the fourth season Ron has directed the Lab's ivory-bill search Arkansas. Ron works with the entire team to hammer out an overall strategy for the search, coordinating with mapartners in this far-reaching project. Ron has been with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology since 1996. He has an M.S. Wildlife Science & Ecology and a B.S. in Wildlife Science, both from The Pennsylvania State University. Ron will us in on one of the great ornithological stories of our time……the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. This will trube an evening we will long remember.
Notes From Your Birding Field Trip Coordinator Judi Hopkins DEC. 6th - Birding at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve should be fantastic! Ron Smith, our leader for this excursion, hbeen leading field trips here the f irst Saturday of each month, since March 1988! We will be privileged to be attendihis 151st trip. Let's all show him how much we appreciate his dedication to birding. He also has a great web page y
can view at www.pinellasbirds.com anytime you want to know what is going on in Pinellas County! See you there, birding staat 8 a.m., meeting place is in the parking lot in front of the main building.
Our January 3rd trip to Zellwood is drawing quite a bit of attention from all over the state. For over 50 years the Zellwood arhas been one of the premier “Hot Spots” for Florida birders. If you are planning to go on this trip, please contact me soon, 523725, so I can save you a space. I will then give you the directions to the area we are to meet. Birding will start at 8 a.m
Leaders: Wes Biggs, Dave Goodwin, and Harold Weatherman.**Note: Please let me know if you are attending any field trips. Last minute changes do occur at times!! Thanks!
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NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONINTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP $20.00 (New membership only)
G Please enroll me as a member in the National Audubon
Society. Start my subscription to AUDUBON magazine & senmy membership card.
G I do not wish to receive AUDUBON magazine.
G I wish to receive the SPAS WingSpan only electronica
Name ___________________________________
Address _________________________________
City ______________ State___ Zip___________
Phone __________________
E-mail address _____________________________
Please enclose a check, payable to the National AudubonSociety , mail to:
St. Petersburg Audubon SocietyPost Office Box 49087
St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087
GGGG National Audubon occasionally makes its membership listavailable to carefully selected organizations whose mailings you mfind interesting. To have your name omitted from this list, pleasecheck here.
G I would also like to help my local chapter. I have a special
interest and/or skills in:G Local conservation issues G Board of Directors
St. Petersburg Audubon Society Position on Free-Roaming Domestic and Feral Cats
Background:The domestic cat (Felis catus) is a beloved house pet with over 77 million pet cats nationwide. Of these, curren
about 43 million spend some time outside. Additionally, there may be 60 to 100 million homeless stray and feral ca
Domestic cats have become a common feature not only of our backyards and city streets but also of our parks a
other wild lands. Remembering Felis catus is non-native to Florida, they are not part of our natural ecosyste
Animal behavior experts note that cats will hunt and kill even if well fed. The Board of St. Petersburg Audub
Society recognizes the science-based conclusions of the adverse impacts of free-roaming domestic and feral cats
birds and other wildlife. Based on the adverse impact to wildlife, the St. Petersburg Audubon Society will work w
communities to educate the public about dangers that free-roaming domestic and feral cats pose to birds and othnative wildlife, as well as dangers to the cats themselves inherent with being outdoors, including transmission
diseases, hazards, and predations.
St. Petersburg Audubon Society:1. calls for all cats to be kept indoors and the humane removal of free-roaming domestic and feral cats;
2. opposes human behavior permitting cats to roam free;
3. supports programs to neuter or spay cats before reaching reproductive age, vaccinate and register cats, and
encourages owners to keep their cats indoors (unless on harness and leash or in a safe, enclosed outdoor
structure);
4. strongly opposes ‘managed’ outdoor cat colonies and “Trap, Neuter, Release” (TNR) practices;
5. will work with the scientific, conservation, and animal welfare communities to educate the public about the dangers that free-roami
domestic and feral cats pose to birds and other wildlife, as well as the dangers to the cats from outdoor hazards, diseases, and predatio
6. and urges local, state, and federal wildlife agencies, public health organizations, legislative bodies, and the public to ban and elimin
free-roaming domestic cats and feral cat colonies through humane capture by individuals, animal services and/or control facilitie
References: Migratory Bird Treaty Act; American Bird Conservancy’s Resolution of Free-Roaming Cats; People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA); Defend
of Wildlife; and National Audubon Society Resolution.
Dear Great Backyard Bird Count Participant:
Save the Dates: GBBC is Coming!The next Backyard Bird Count takes place February 13-16,
2009. The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology are calling on everyone to "Count for Fun, Count for
the Future!" Participants did just that in record numbers for the
2008 count, submitting more than 85,000 checklists and identifying
635 species. Let’s break some more records this year!
GBBC Ambassadors NeededAs always, we rely on volunteer ambassadors to help spread the
word about the GBBC and engage more people in their
communities. Your contribution could be as simple as hanging up
a few flyers or as ambitious as pitching the event on local radio and
TV stations. You can use the new GBBC news release posted on the
web site. You’ll also find an updated version of the slide show for
use in GBBC workshops and other events.
For more ideas on how to promote the GBBC, check out "Get
Involved" on the GBBC website. You can fill out the online
ambassador sign-up form and specify the kinds of activities you’d
like to do.
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Shell Key Shuttle
& Sunset Cruises
Shell Out$22/adult
$11/child <13
MERRY PIER
801 Pass-A-Grille Way St. Pete Beach, Florida727-360-1348
www.shellkeyshuttle.com
Captain Alva Sholty
NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE
PAIDSt Petersburg, FL
Permit #6340
The St. Petersburg Audubon Society P.O. Box 49087 St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087
www.stpeteaudubon.org 727-384-0027
Chapter RepresentativesPresident: Mauri Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398-4124Vice President: Maureen Arnold (Membership) . . . . . . 577-0448Treasurer: Rick Potter (Ways & Means) . . . . . . . . . . . . 822-9637Secretary: Nancy Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894-5940Board Members and Duties:
Harold Albers (Education) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 864-1113Mary Brazier (Finance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 867-7151Wanda Dean (Newsletter & Special Events) . . . . . . . . 321-3995Jud i Hopkins (Fie ld Trips) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-3725Barb Howard (Programs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343-1272Dave Kandz (Conservation & Publicity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471-0699Mark Mueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 686-3179
Jeanne Murphy (Programs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391-8362Lee Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865-2293Alice Tenney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894-2062
Neighborhood Outreach: Barb Zias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521-4997Least Tern Project: Monique Borboen-Abrams . . . (904)813-5115Shell Key: Barb Ranck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374-7039
The Guy Bradley Award , named after the Audubon
warden who gave his life to protect bird colonies, was
presented to Beth Forys, Professor at Eckerd College,
by Monique Borboen-Abrams at Audubon Assembly on
Saturday, October 25, 2008. Beth was honored for
“Stewardship in the face of threats to birds and their
habitat.” (Least Tern Project)
Honeymoon Island State Park Field TripReported by Saskia James
On November 8, 2008, a groupof 15 birders gathered for awalk at Honeymoon IslandState Park led by Ron Smithand coordinated by JudiHopkins. The walk lasted from8-noon, the weather was sunnyand temps in the mid-70s.
During this trip we began noting bird species as we crossed thecauseway to Honeymoon. This initial count included BrownPelican, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Double-crestedCormorants. Overall, 68 bird species were recorded in about 3-1/2 hours.
A small pond near the parking lot had Mottled Ducks,Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal. On the walk to the
pet beach area we saw a Northern Harrier flying in low over thegrass. At the beach, there were a number of species eitherresting or foraging: Plovers - Black-bellied, Snowy, Wilson’s,Semipalmated and Piping; American Oystercatcher, RuddyTurnstone, Sanderlings, Western Sandpipers, Dunlin and aGreater Yellowlegs. Also along the beach were Laughing Gulls,a Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gull, as well as other Laridae -Forster’s Tern, Sandwich Tern, Royal Tern and BlackSkimmers.
Printed on Recycled Paper
In the tidal areas were Tricolored Heron, Little BHeron and Great Blue Heron. We walked along the Osprey T
and did see Osprey and an adult Bald Eagle in flight overhe(Note: As of November 13th, 2008, portions of the Osprey Twill be closed until May 2009 for nesting Bald Eagles). Walkthrough the pine flatwoods along this trail is a uniqexperience, and we were pleased to see a Great Horned Oresting high on a branch plus a number of wood warbleYellow-rumped, Pine, Prairie, Palm, and Common Yellowthralong with some vocal Eastern Towhees.