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April Meeting:
Name That Tune
David Williamson takes us through an interactive program matching bird sounds with photos of Sarasota birds.
Date: Monday, April 11, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 1031 S. Euclid Avenue
Cost: FREE |
 Get Out in April for These Great Activities
Want details and maps to meeting locations? Click here.
Carefree Learner
Tues., April 5, at 9:00 am
RESERVATIONS Cost $20
Monthly Celery Field Walk
Sat., April 9 at 8 am
Pinecraft Park
Sat., April.16 at 9 am
Fort De Soto
Tues., April 26 at 8 am ,.
Egmont Key
Thurs., April 28 at 7 am
RESERVATIONS Cost $20
Butterflies at Rothenbach
Thurs., May 5 at 10 am
Wildlife Bingo at Urfer Family Park
Friday, May 13 at 4 pm
Fun for kids!
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Field Trips Not Featured in SAS Blog
Tuesday, March 8: Felt's Audubon Preserve:
Nearly thirty birders were treated to a beautiful morning at Felt's Preserve in Manatee County. We started off with brilliant bluebirds, frequenting the many houses on the property. Several red-shouldered hawks were raising a ruckus on the telephone poles. The bird blind was quiet, so we walked the woods trail, seeing wood ducks, titmice, woodpeckers (pileated, red-bellied, and downy), and hearing many singing parula warblers. Back to the blind and after patient waiting, we were rewarded with two male and several female painted buntings on the feeders. Joining them were about eight indigo buntings, in various shades of blue. An American goldfinch joined the crowd, along with a pair of Carolina wrens bathing in the fountain. The buntings stayed at the feeders for a good 15 minute show and photo opportunity. Afterwards, we were treated to a wonderful look at a Great Horned Owl that was spotted by Jeanne Dubi. Overall, we accumulated a day list of over 40 species, but the stars of the day were the colorful painted buntings.
Lynn Jakubowicz
Thursday, March 17: Red Bug Slough
Stu Hills and Martha Straub led an enthusiastic group through Red Bug Slough, searching for wading birds, ducks and songbirds. After a slow start, the group was rewarded with a total of 39 species, including House Wren, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. The highlights of the trip were great views of several Wood Ducks, and a close-up look at a beautiful pair of Green Herons.
Martha Straub |
From the Field: Fun Recaps of Where We've Been
Read recaps of our recent birdwatching field trips and plan on joining us on upcoming excursions. (The column on the right has the Blog Archives containing past trip reports). |
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Insomnia In Gainesville
Recently SAS had a 3 day, 2 night bus trip to the Gainesville area. While there we ran into a forecast of rain. About 3 am on the first night I couldn't sleep and so decided to turn on the TV to check out the weather...rain, ugh...what else? I continued on and landed on the PBS channel and my blurry eyes spied a face that looked like someone I knew; she even had a vaguely familiar British accent when she spoke. Could it be....? Hmmm! There was more narration and suddenly I heard "Celery Fields". Well, I'll be darn; it was our president, Jeanne Dubi. She was talking about getting hooked on birding during an interview done 7 years ago for a TV station in Sarasota. So there I was sitting in a motel room in Gainesville, watching TV at 3 am and my co-leader was on the TV screen before me. That's quality living!
Congratulations Jeanne. Sure hope it airs at other times all over Florida. Karen Jensen
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Celery Fields Cleanup
Tues., April 26 at 8 am
Please help us keep our adopted road litter free. Meet at the gazebo on Palmer Blvd. Gloves, bags, and safety vests are provided. We are usually finished within an hour.
Palmer Blvd clean up on March 22: John Hegener, Joanna Bear, Bruce Higgins, Paul Newhart and Jeanne Dubi. Thanks to all. We could use more help next time so we can cover our entire 2-mile obligation.
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Welcome New Members!
Linda Ackroyd
William Beckmeyer
Sue Bilter
Ann Bladstrom
Sheila Cafferillo
Billy Campbell
M.J. Christensen
Christopher Cummins
Pat Donelly
Thomas Eichelberger
Sylvia Farrington
Albert Frost
Barbara Gaugham
Mona Greenbaum
Betty Griggs
Edward Hagen
Kenneth Harpe
Frances Hines
Prudence Hodges
Peter Hoult
Irmgard Kelly
Anita Kincaide
John Koach
Judith Ligon
Marge Markman
Charles S. McClure
Mary Muller
Ann Mumford
June D. Myerson
Tom Noppenberger
David Peacock
Bob & Maxine Prentice
Thorold Roberts
Gertrude Ross
Vera M. Schenk
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Scott
Barbara Stahlschmidt
Bruno & Sara Sutley
John Taylor
Diane Winegar
Marjorie Wininger
Fred & Ann Wurlitzer
Lester Bachman
Ingrid & James BedfordJoan Campbell
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Closson
Betty Donovan
Kathi Garcia
Astrd Hall
William Kelly
G. Klinedinst
Andrew Krumm
Denise Lange
Elizabeth Logan
Rita Major-Hallerdin
Richard & Victoria Markoe
Kristen Mazzarella
Martha Noyes
Carol Nunes
Linda Reinhardt
Robert H. Rosenthal
Marilyn Sanger
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Celery Fields Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Tuesday, May 3, 5-7pm
 This is the official opening of the Celery Fields after the fabulous wetlands restoration. Local dignitaries and key personnel will be speaking. After the ribbon cutting, a 5K run/2K walk up and down the hill and beyond is planned (commemorative t-shirts available for a fee). All are welcome. Come have fun at the NEW Celery Fields.
Sarasota County and Sarasota Audubon Society are co-sponsors of this long anticipated event. We hope to see you there. |
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Chick Check
Let's see how our beach nesting birds are doing, Search for Snowy Plover, Least Terns and Black Skimmers, all imperiled species and all ready to nest on our beaches
April 16 & 30: Meet at Siesta Key public beach. Parking lot side of concession area at 8 am
May 14: Meet at N. Lido parking area at the corner of Ben Franklin & Ringling Blvd. at 8 am
Call Jeanne Dubi at 355-1709 for details.
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It is time again to worry and act on behalf of our beach nesting birds, specifically Snowy Plovers. This year, we are trying a different strategy: to engage a coordinator to manage the volunteers, oversee buffering, and provide public and private education on the beaches. Our goal is to raise at least $5,500 for this effort-so far we have $3,700 ($1,500 from chick checkers on SK; $1,000 from Sarasota Audubon; $1,000 from Audubon of Florida and $200 so far from the appeal in the Pelican Press).
If anyone would like to send in funds in support of these cute birds and their life and death struggle, here's the address: Sarasota Audubon Society, PO Box 52132 , Sarasota , FL 34232 . Mark your envelopes "BNB". We are trying to beat last year's record of 7 fledglings; with your help we can do it.
 | | Snowy Plover Pair by D. Irizarry |
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Meet Our Board of Directors:
Karen Jensen, First Vice President
Like most of us, I am not a Florida native but have lived here since 1968. I was raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where the outdoors was a major part of my life. While in grade school my family very briefly moved to California for winter work and during the trip there I remember my mother looking for condors and seeing roadrunners dashing across the road. This must be how I became interested in birding.
Now I am an OB/GYN nurse practitioner who has worked for the county health department for nearly 30 years. I have 3 children, 4 grandchildren and am mostly retired. My other interests include membership in Time Sifters Archaeology Society which has given me experience working on "digs" and meeting outstanding people in that field. Travel is another of my interests. Some of my trips have brought me to countries like Egypt, Spain, Thailand, Cambodia and Peru. In the near future I am hoping to do an historical/birding trip to India. |
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North Lido Restoration Project
The North Lido Beach Restoration Project is complete. The main effort which began in September consisted of removing non-native vegetation, excavating a tidal wetland/ tributary parallel to the mangroves along Pansy Bayou and creating a contoured upland dune system. Two weeks ago, Florida Native Plants planted 8,700 plants, including various salt tolerant grasses, sea oats, beach daisy, sea daisy (sea oxeye,) sea goldenrod, wax myrtle, coontie palm and many other species. This summer, volunteers from the Bay Guardians will put in more than 500 additional plants. The project covers approximately 30 of the 70 acre park and is designed to create and improve a habitat for estuarine dependent fish, as well as birds, reptiles and other wildlife. In less than a month after excavation ceased, various species of fry were observed along the entire length of the tributary. The herons and egrets were quick to catch on.
Major funding for the project came from Southwest Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was directed by Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. Other partners and supporters included the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County, Lido Shores Property Owners Association, Lido Key Residents Association, individual abutters, Sarasota Audubon Society and Captain Jeffrey Karr with the Sarasota Police Department.
The project holds great potential for a much improved habitat for birders and all who enjoy nature in the not too distant future. Marc Hayman
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 | | Green-crowned Wood Nymph |
Member Travelogues
We have members who travel to various countries for birding. These photos are from Rick Greenspun's trip to Ecuador. We will put his and anyone else's travelogues on our blog for the enjoyment of fellow members. Please contact me (editor@sarasotaaudubon.org) with submissions.
To view Rick's wonderful photos and commentary- www.sarasotaaudubonblog.blogspot.com
 | | Purple-throated Fruit Crow |
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More Publicity for Celery Fields and Sarasota
The March issue of Audubon, the magazine of National Audubon, has a special advertising supplement in its March-April issue, pp. 55-61, entitled BIRD FLORIDA. On p. 56 there is a full page ad for birding in Sarasota County, and the first place mentioned on the page is the Celery Fields. There is also a nice photo of a couple with binoculars. Yes, Sarasota County is for the birds, and the entire nation will know it. Check out www.discovernaturalsarasota.org/bird2
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Subscribe to Bird Alerts!
Need the latest birding info for our area? To subscribe, just send an e-mail. Thanks to Peter Rice for providing this service.
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SAS Name Tags
If you are a new member or do not have an official SAS name tag, you can have one delivered right to your door. Send your name, address and telephone number and a check for $4.50 made out to: Michael Fox, 2749 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34237. For an extra $2.00, you can order a badge which attaches by magnet. No pinholes!
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