Our Motto: Conservation Through EducationApril & May 2010 Vol. 44 No. 2 Supporting our community since 1959 Reach us by calling 727-442-9140 or visit us at www.clearwateraudubon.org Inside this issue… Banner Year f or Bald Eagles _______ Page 1, 4 Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve ______ Page 3 Beach Stewards Needed ___________ Page 3 Clearwater Audubon Mail __________ Page 3 Swallow-tailed Kite Meeting _______ Page 6 Field Trips ______________________ Page 6 Banner Year for Bald Eagles By Barbara Walker Wing Beat Publication Due to unforeseen complications with printing and postal permits the February-Mar ch edition of Wing Beat was not mailed. The edition was, and is, available on our website. While we continue to encourage members to take electronic del ivery of the Wing Beat we understand there are indivi duals who can not do so. Ifyou are receiving the Wing Beat in the mail and wish to switch to electronic delivery please call Mike MacDonald at 727-409-0459. Above: Dave Bruzek, Progress Energy Environmental Specialist , watches the female from PI18 just after releasing her at Ahhochee Hill. Photo: Barb Walker The bald eagle nesting season, which runs from October 1st through May 15, got off to a strong and early start which is typically good for bald eagles . At first it seemed like we might have a steady uneventful season. That was not to be. In November two adul t bald eagles were rescued. One was in St. Petersburg and the other in Palm Harbor. ( cont. top) The adult female from PI18 which is in Palm Harbor was previously res- cued, also in Palm Harbor in 1996. She had been s hot and spent near ly two years at Audubon’s Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland. She was released in 1998 NW of Brooksvill e. She was again released in the Brooksville area, this time on March 3rd by David Bruzek of Progress Energy. Audubon members and EagleWatch Volunteers fr om several counties attended the event. This year EagleWatch Volunteers in Pinellas monitored 34 locations. At this point 20 nests are confirmed as producing young with the expectation that we will have a few more eaglet s reported soon. Local nests hatched 39 eggs however the total eaglet count is higher! Three extra eaglets were placed into nests throughout the county. The first was on February 15th, President’s Day, at PI20 in Dunedin. The eaglet was nicknamed Hoover in honor of President’s Day. President Hoover was adopted by his uncle when he was approximat ely 9 years old. Expert tree cli mber Jim Lott scaled the tree in Broley-like fashion with assistance from Art Finn, City of Dunedin. Once up the tree Jim took a photo of the 2 downy eaglets in the nest and confirmed the age match with Lynda White. Out came Hoo- ver for a brief glimpse and then into a sack for ‘elevator’ style lift into the tree. When initially rescued the eaglet was only 2-3 days old and survived after the home nest tree fell. (cont. p. 4)Above: Hoover meets a sibling Photo: Andrea Webb
Transcript
8/9/2019 April-May 2010 WingBat Newsletter Clearwater Audubon Society
Reach us by calling 727-442-9140 or visit us at www.clearwateraudubon.
Inside this issue…
Banner Year for Bald Eagles _______ Page 1, 4Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve ______ Page 3Beach Stewards Needed ___________ Page 3Clearwater Audubon Mail __________ Page 3Swallow-tailed Kite Meeting _______ Page 6Field Trips ______________________ Page 6
Banner Year for Bald EaglesBy Barbara Walker
Wing Beat Publication
Due to unforeseen complications with printing and postal permitsthe February-March edition of Wing Beat was not mailed. Theedition was, and is, available on our website. While we continueto encourage members to take electronic delivery of the WingBeat we understand there are individuals who can not do so. If you are receiving the Wing Beat in the mail and wish to switch toelectronic delivery please call Mike MacDonald at 727-409-0459.
Above: Dave Bruzek, Progress Energy Environmental Specialist , watchesthe female from PI18 just after releasing her at Ahhochee Hill.Photo: Barb Walker
The bald eagle nesting season, which runs from October 1stthrough May 15, got off to a strong and early start which istypically good for bald eagles. At first it seemed like wemight have a steady uneventful season. That was not to be.
In November two adult bald eagles were rescued. One wasin St. Petersburg and the other in Palm Harbor. (cont. top)
The adult female from PI18 which is in Palm Harbor was previously res-cued, also in Palm Harbor in 1996. She had been shot and spent nearlytwo years at Audubon’s Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland. She wasreleased in 1998 NW of Brooksville. She was again released in theBrooksville area, this time on March 3rd by David Bruzek of ProgressEnergy. Audubon members and EagleWatch Volunteers from severalcounties attended the event.
This year EagleWatch Volunteers in Pinellas monitored 34 locations. Atthis point 20 nests are confirmed as producing young with the expectatiothat we will have a few more eaglets reported soon. Local nests hatched39 eggs however the total eaglet count is higher! Three extra eaglets werplaced into nests throughout the county. The first was on February 15thPresident’s Day, at PI20 in Dunedin. The eaglet was nicknamed Hooverin honor of President’s Day. President Hoover was adopted by his unclewhen he was approximately 9 years old. Expert tree climber Jim Lottscaled the tree in Broley-like fashion with assistance from Art Finn, Cityof Dunedin. Once up the tree Jim took a photo of the 2 downy eaglets inthe nest and confirmed the age match with Lynda White. Out came Hoover for a brief glimpse and then into a sack for ‘elevator’ style lift into thetree. When initially rescued the eaglet was only 2-3 days old and surviveafter the home nest tree fell. (cont. p. 4)
Above: Hoover meets a sibling Photo: Andrea Webb
8/9/2019 April-May 2010 WingBat Newsletter Clearwater Audubon Society
Supporting our community since 1Our Motto: Conservation Through Education
Designating the New Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve
HB 1325 by Rep. Ron Schultz (R-Crystal River) and SB 2674 by Sen. Charlie Dean (R-Invernespropose to create the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve protecting the coastlines of Pasco, Hernandand Citrus counties. This remarkable region, called the Nature Coast, is home to immensely pro-ductive seagrass meadows, coastal springs, salt marshes that are home to rare and declining speclike diamond-backed terrapins and Saltmarsh Sparrows, and vital habitat for manatees and marinturtles. Aquatic preserve designation will finally recognize this remarkable stretch of Florida coa
line as the jewel that it is, and may also protect it should the Legislature lift Florida's existing probition on nearshore oil drilling.
Do you enjoy the beach?
Would you like to learn how to find nests and chicks of beach-nestingbirds and help us with some simple on-the-beach efforts to protect themhis spring and summer? Clearwater Audubon needs a crew of friendly
volunteers dedicated to helping some of our state’s beautiful beach-dependent birds nest and raise their young chicks to ensure their contin-ued survival.
Volunteers conduct counts of adults, nests, and chicks of beach-nestingbirds in state parks and on municipal beaches. When nests are located,volunteers install post-and-rope perimeters around them and then monitorhe area until nesting is completed and young chicks can fly. At strategicocations, volunteer beach stewards stay close to posted areas throughout
each weekend or on holiday weekends to protect the nests and educate thepublic about the need to protect these beautiful birds.
No experience is required for you to participate in this program. Volun-eers can select which activities to join and set the amount of time you can
dedicate weekly or monthly. To find out more, join us for the upcomingBeach Bird Steward information and training program.
Wednesday, April 28th, 6:30-8:30 pmCity of Clearwater’s Moccasin Lake Nature Park Education Center
This free training is jointly sponsored by Clearwater and St. PetersburgAudubon chapters and includes presentations by Captain Roger Young,Law Enforcement officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission, and Audubon chapter coordinators skilled with beach stew-ard techniques and shorebird identification.
For more information contact Marianne Korosy (Clearwater Audubon) at
Unfortunately, mistakes happen and the last mail pick fromthe Clearwater Audubon PO Box was misplaced. Two typeof mail make this a critical loss.
Donations to Clearwater AudubonAny donations to Clearwater Audubon that were mailed to oClearwater Audubon PO Box after December 22nd wereprobably lost. If you find that your donation check to Clear
water Audubon has not cleared your bank within a month,please contact Jane Williams at 727-447-7394 to make ar-rangements to send another check. Or you can re-send youcheck to
Since the checks were made out to Clearwater Audubon, thecannot legally be cashed by anyone else. None of your actudollars will be lost. However, your contribution will not benfit Clearwater Audubon unless the check is re-issued.
Donations made after January 4
th
were safely received.
Local Membership applicationsThese too were lost if mailed to our Clearwater Audubon PObox after December 22nd . Those mailed after January 4th were safely received. If you made a membership applicatiolocal or national, and sent the application and your check tothe local Clearwater Audubon PO Box, please contact JaneWilliams at 727-447-7394 to make arrangements to re-apply
Our deepest apologies for the inconvenience caused by thisloss for correspondence.
8/9/2019 April-May 2010 WingBat Newsletter Clearwater Audubon Society
On March 8th two more eaglets were fostered in south Pinellas nests. One of them a very submissive female and the other a very aggressive male. The malewent into a nest which is a rarity in Florida, it is in a eucalyptus tree! Theparents swooped in and landed in the tree several times while climber Jim Lotthovered above us. Make sure to see Kathy Finnerty’s beautiful show of theplacement of the first eaglet.http://www.photoshow.com/watch/dD9rd3Tc.
On March 11th one of the Honeymoon Island eaglets was most likely swept off the nest tree by high winds. Early Friday morning, the 12th, EnvironmentalSpecialist Dan Larremore rescued the eaglet. The eaglet was cared for by Sun-coast Seabird Sanctuary until transport to Maitland was arranged. The eagletwill have the company of quite a few other eaglets that have had similar mis-fortunes as the wind has been persistent throughout the state. The eaglet is hurtand is expected to be at the clinic for awhile.
EagleWatch Volunteers have put in hundreds of hours and all placed eagletsare being well cared for by their foster parents. Two nests in live pines appearto have failed this year and several nests are occupied by sub adults and are notyet productive. Please look for final numbers in the next edition of Wing Beat.
Above: Bald Eagle in EucalyptusBelow: Jim Lott prepares to climbPhotos: Barb Walker
Above: Lynda White holds Hoover Photo: Kathy Finnerty
Below: Jim Lott places Hoover in the nest.Photo: Kathy Finnerty
Below: David Bruzek Photo: Kathy Finnerty
Links to Eagle Storieshttp://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/wildlife/baby-eagle-fin-home-in-dunedin-nest/1073519
8/9/2019 April-May 2010 WingBat Newsletter Clearwater Audubon Society
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Supporting our community since 1959
bove: Wood Stork loafing in a Seminole yard.
aiting for homeowners to feed them food that isn’t part of a theirual diet, is not normal healthy behavior for the Wood Stork which is
endangered species. In Florida, intentionally feeding listed speciesat are threatened, endangered, or species of special concern is illegalithout a permit. In addition, it is illegal to feed sandhill cranes,ars, raccoons, foxes, and alligators.
he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) seesis feeding as altering the natural behavior of the species and as suchs the definition of “take” as it amounts to molesting, harassing, or
arming. If you observe the feeding of any of these species, you canll FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-3922 so that someoneom the enforcement division can educate and handle the problem. At of listed species can be found at:tp://www.myfwc.com/WILDLIFEHABITATS/
mperiledSpp_index.htm
Endangered Wood Stork Welfare
www.DunedinOspreyCam.org Photos: Barb Walker
8/9/2019 April-May 2010 WingBat Newsletter Clearwater Audubon Society
Moccasin Lake Nature ParkMadeleine Bohrer 518-6241Meet in parking lot; songbirds & raptors in oak & xeric hammock, wabirds in lake. ¾ mile shell & board trail.
April 3, 11am—2pmFestival—Eco-day, Mc Gough Nature CenterBarbara Stalbird 518-3047Conservation information, presentations, tours, kids crafts, entertainmeand food.
April 9, 7am
Cross Bar RanchKen Rowe 781-7045Meet at Countryside Shopping Town in front of Sears by US19 frontagroad, bring lunch and drinks; safari bus to observe resident & migratorsongbirds, raptors and burrowing owls, learn about water resources.
April 10, 7:30am
Circle-B Bar RanchLynn Summerson 596-8022Meet at Tri-City Mall in front of Party City; eagles and other raptor,songbirds, water birds (resident white pelicans), alligators at former caranch in oak habitat on lake Hancock. 3.5 mile sand trails.
April 14, 7:30am
Ft. Desoto County ParkJohn Hood 461-4762 or Jaqui Williams 585-3587Meet at Tri-City Mall in front of Party City; migratory song birds, raptand water shore birds; causeway & shoreline drive + 1-2 mile walk onTampa Bay’s north shore.
April 17, 6:30am
J.B. Starkey WildnernessMarianne Korosy 772-7584Meet at Countryside Shopping Town in front of Sears near US19 frontroad; songbirds and raptors in large Pasco preserve.
April 24, 8amJohn Chesnut County ParkEllen Pfau 786-3718Meet at shelter #6: resident and migratory songbirds, raptors and moreBoardwalk, shell and paved trails.
April 28, 8am
Honeymoon Island State ParkMerle HubbardMeet behind McDonald’s at corner of Alt US 19 and Curlew Road: waing, water and shore birds, plus migratory songbirds and raptors. 2-3mile walk on sand trails.
May Field Trips
May 1, 8am
Moccasin Lake Nature Park—Brunch with the BirdsMadeleine Bohrer 518-6241Meet in parking lot; songbirds & raptors in oak & xeric hammock, wabirds in lake. ¾ mile shell & board trail.
May 8, 8amClearwater Marine AquariumMike MacDonaldMeet at aquarium; explore St. Joseph Sound by boat for water birds anmarine wildlife. Fifteen advanced reservations and $15.00 deposit re-quired to secure special time and price; trip cancelled if less than 15reservations.
February Monthly Meeting with Ken MeyerBy Madeleine Bohrer
Ken Meyer—what a remarkable individual. He should be ranked withpeople like Stephen Kress who devote their life’s work to the preserva-tion of threatened species of birds. He is the founder of the Avian Re-search and Conservation Institute, a nonprofit organization that supportsland management and conservation planning according to the needs of
birds. Thanks to Paul Trunk’s innate talent for bringing people like Kento us, our February monthly meeting was centered around Ken’s work with Swallow-tailed Kites, a unique raptor lowest on the evolutionarytotem pole of raptors.
Here is an angel among raptors with its diminutive beak and relativelydelicate talons that feeds on small vertebrates (such as warblers and liz-ards) and insects. The subspecies of Swallow-tailed Kites that spendsfrom February to July breeding in Florida originally had a range spanningthe Mississippi River down through Florida but with habitat decline andthe dearth of epiphytic mosses with which they build their nests, theyhave been restricted to Florida for appropriate nesting grounds consistingof tall trees interspersed with farmland. Along with their beaks and tal-
ons, these kites are characterized by the shape of their wings: rather thanthe broad wings possessed by most raptors, these birds have thinner,more tapered wings which limit their take-offs and landings but benefittheir migratory habits. The Swallow-tailed Kites we see here in Floridamigrate from Brazil up through Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula thenover the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to Florida. Generally, raptorsavoid flying over water but not the Kite. Ken and his group of graduatestudents have spent painstaking hours of mist netting, tagging, and plac-ing both VHS and satellite transmitters on Kites to reveal their migratoryroutes which has ultimately led to the critical work of preserving theirhabitat over the span of continents.
A Swallow-tailed Kite builds its nest in the cradle of tree-top nodes of
branches so that it can circle over and drop down into the nest.(Remember, a broad-winged raptor has the advantage of being able toflap once or twice and be airborne whereas the thinner, more taperedwing of the Kite does not allow for this.) The Kite pairs lay only twosmall, red-speckled eggs formerly prized by European egg collectors—another probable reason for the Kite’s decline. They will only lay one setof eggs per season, so if a hurricane sweeps by and their highly elevatedand exposed nest is compromised, they will not re-lay—again, anotherevolutionary hindrance. The young need several months to be ready forflight and the adults typically leave for their trip south before the young, acommon practice among migratory species. A young bird can be charac-terized by a shorter tail and narrower wings. In July the birds leave theirnests and congregate by the thousands in a half dozen sites throughoutFlorida feeding heavily to fuel their southerly migration. Prior to the
placement of transmitters, these sites were not known. Ken showed usincredible aerial views of a stand of cypress literally covered with Kites.This is a sight to be seen. A solitary Kite looks like an angel—can youimagine a thousand Kites?
What would the avian world do without people like Ken Meyer and hisgroups of graduate students who study these unique yet vulnerable birds?We are truly indebted to them. Just think: Ken is devoting his lifetime tothis pursuit. What if every one of us chose just one thing we could do tohelp a species or to ease the burden on the environment? That is whatultimately makes a difference in the long run.
8/9/2019 April-May 2010 WingBat Newsletter Clearwater Audubon Society
Email Address __________________________________________________________________ To ensure you receive our electronic newsletter please fill in your email address, if you do not have email please call 727-442-9140 to request apaper copy.
Which membership category? Chapter @ $15/year National @ $20/year
Please enclose check to Clearwater Audubon Society for Chapter membership, or National Audubon Society for National membership
How can you help Clearwater Audubon Society achieve its Purpose? [check all that apply]
Our purpose is embodied in our motto: Conservationthough education & our activities include:
• protection of nesting, wintering and migrating birdsthrough Project Colony Watch, rescue of chicks fallenfrom rooftop nests, Project Eagle Watch, and participa-tion in the county-wide beach nesting bird survey;
• education, including Audubon Adventures for elemen-tary school students, environmental education scholar-
ships for teachers and students, free birding classes forthe public, and a speakers bureau;
• sponsorship of projects at local nature parks;
• field trips to prime birding locations in Florida, through-out the United States and internationally;
• monthly meetings held October through May featuringspeakers on a wide array of environment-related topics;
• participation in bird surveys, which provide data forvital ornithological research;
• participation in local nature festivals;
• publication of our bimonthly newsletter, Wingbeat, andour website, at www.ClearwaterAudubon.org;
• advocacy at the local, state and national levels.
YOU CAN HELP!
Whatever your interests or skills, we can use your helpprotecting birds and the environment. If you like workingoutdoors, writing, speaking, organizing, baking, or justmeeting new people, we have opportunities for you. Callthe Clearwater Audubon Society at 727-442-9140 or anofficer listed on page 2 and we’ll tell you how you canhelp.
