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Message from Our President
Sarasota Audubon continued its record of sound financial operations by ending yet another year in the black. We also saw an increase in membership; it is now close to 1,200! We are so proud of the way we are growing and thriving.
Conservation Matters: Sarasota Audubon is a leader among environmental organizations on Florida's West Coast for protecting our beach nesting birds. During the season just ended, 50+ volunteers gave 3,000 hours on Siesta, Lido and Longboat Keys as they helped 6 Snowy Plovers, 83 Black Skimmers and 12 Least Terns all achieve adulthood. This remarkable achievement is due entirely to those volunteers, including many Sarasota County staffers give their off-duty time so freely.
Helping students study the environment is the number one goal of our scholarship program.
This year, as in the previous 4 years, we provided funds for kids to enjoy and learn as they attended Sarasota County's environmental camp program. In addition to tuition, our funding helped transport kids by bus since working parents could not get them there. And high schoolers at Sarasota Military Academy benefited from our scholarship program by enabling a group of them to study and rehab the coral reef in the Florida Keys.
This year 2011 will go down as a signature year - one in which SAS put into motion its plan to build a nature center at the Celery Fields. Just to put this project in context , of the 465 Audubon chapters throughout the country, more than 50% of them either own or manage public or private property. This is Sarasota Audubon's time to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who are on the front line of habitat protection and environmental education.
As we enter another exciting year, we know that our members and supporters are cheering us on, and that's very good news indeed for birds.
Remember: the environment is priceless.
Jeanne Dubi
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October Meeting:
Birds of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas
Rick Greenspun will show and discuss the birds he found on a recent visit to this US birding hotspot, highlighting all the parks and NWR's in the area and the specialties of the Rio Grande.
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Social hour at 7 pm followed by business meeting and presentation. First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall: 1031 South Euclid Ave., Sarasota
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Our Adorable Volunteers
This summer, these two young Audubon volunteers helped environmental campers make Snowy Plover chicks
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"The Big Year"
Film Opens Oct. 14
This sophisticated comedy was inspired by Mark Obamscik's best- selling chronicle of three colorful and obsessive birders as they compete for the biggest "Big Year."
Audubon served as a resource for the filmmakers,. It's a positive, engaging look at birding and birders.
Check your local listings.
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Overnight Bus Trip to Wakulla Springs
January 18, 19, & 20 2012
Join Jeanne Dubi and me on this ever popular trip to the Tallahassee area in north Florida. We are staying at historic Wakulla Lodge south of Tallahassee and timing it to get our best chance of getting the ducks and other wintering birds in the beautiful St Marks NWR. On the way north we'll visit Payne's Prairie to try and get another look at the Whooping Cranes and on our return, visit Suwannee River SP and a bird research station for more elusive birds.
From the lodge we'll visit an open air museum in Tallahassee where we can bird, take a tour, attend a special program and have lunch.
$350 pp/dbl & $435 pp/single. Includes all transportation, food, fees and lodging.
Bring lunch the first day.
Karen Jensen, 924-2446; karen@sarasotaaudubon.org
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Conservation News
Bad News for Florida's Environment
While some of you were "up north" for the summer, things have not been going well for the environment here in Florida. We already knew what was coming from last spring, when the legislature, with enthusiastic support from Governor Scott, gutted two decades of still
flimsy state growth management
(see last May's Brown Pelican), dumping almost all responsibility onto ill-prepared county and city governments, while restricting them (and restricting voters) from most effectively bringing rampant sprawl under control.
The small remnant of the state growth management agency (Dept. of Community Affairs) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were brought under the control of newly-appointed chiefs who were opposed to the former work and objectives of those agencies. As a result, the DEP (not inaccurately newly nickname Department of Environmental Persecution) is leading the legal battle against the federal Environmental Protection Agency that is trying to impose court-ordered site-specific maximum daily loads of polluting wastes and fertilizers in Florida waters. (As this was being
written, the EPA gave up on trying to clean up some of the Florida waters.)
Those who always gave little or no priority to protecting Florida's natural areas and the birds and other wildlife that inhabit them (developers and legislators, often the same people) grasped widespread public concern over high unemployment as a golden opportunity to abolish government funding and programs that had tried with modest success to restrict environmentally unwise development, control air and water pollution and purchase and preserve environmentally sensitive land. Ignoring everything but theoretical private sector jobs, remaining environmental laws and regulations were changed or ignored in rushing to approve massive environmentally damaging new developments that would be unlikely to win approval without the jobs crisis even though most will not even start building until more normal times with less unemployment have arrived.
Meantime, government jobs, particularly in environmental agencies like DCA and the Water Management Districts, were abolished. The WMDs have had budget cuts of about a third and have been prohibited from
buying any more environmental lands (the Southwest Florida WMD partnered with Sarasota County in acquiring much of our environmentally sensitive lands.) In Sarasota County, the voter-approved land buying program has almost come to a halt because most of the most recent bonding of future income had to be paid to the bondholders to bring the value-to-bond amount up and to reflect land value and tax income decrease. So now that environmentally sensitive land is a better buy, the money is no longer there to buy it (except for a few small parcels).
Governor Scott's plan to turn over portions of 56 state parks (including Honeymoon Island) to private corporations to build campgrounds and other facilities may have been shelved for the moment, but a move to open up some parks and other state- owned conservation land to hunting for deer and other animals and birds in addition to hogs seems to be still active. So be prepared to dodge those bullets when you're birding.
Wade Matthews, Conservation Chair
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 | | Jane Brandhorst, Mary Heinlen, Karen Jensen and Jody Allen in the Celery Fields Gazebo |
Celery Fields Update
Most of you know that the Celery Fields in Sarasota now have a new, awesome wetland. One hundred acres of the 300-acre storm water facility was planted with 10,000 aquatic native plants after the ground was contoured with shallower and deeper areas, and simulated prairie potholes with muddy edges. In addition, the County has installed a boardwalk that juts into the wetland. Sarasota Audubon Society was fortunate to be involved in the planning of the construction and of the development of the area for birds.
Mount Celery: The soil that was skimmed off the 100-acre site was put onto the existing hill, making it the highest point in Sarasota at about 80 feet! The hill will be planted with native plants, trees and shrubs and is already a great hit with winding paths and observation points at the top. It's a
good work out, and many people are enjoying it for exercise.
The plantings in the wetland were completed earlier in the year and have taken off big time. There are wonderful stands of giant bulrush, short-stemmed bulrush, alligator flag and arrowhead among many other plant varieties. But, the greatest thing of all is that the birds have discovered it. This summer we have seen Purple Gallinules (no previous suitable habitat for them), Least Bitterns,breeding Black-necked Stilts,
breeding Limpkins, Green Herons left and right, and all the other birds you would expect. This has made our hot summer very worthwhile.
For those of you bent on your county lists, come and visit. All others are welcome too!
You really will be surprised at what you see.
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Check Out Our New Website:
www.sarasotaaudubon.org
We have worked hard this summer giving our website new capabilities and a new look. There's lots to see. By clicking on the calendar box on the right on any page, you can open up any red highlighted date to see what event is occurring on that particular day. Or, you can scroll our UPCOMING EVENTS for a full list of activities for the 2011-2012 season. There's much more, so explore!
In addition, you can register online for our events, become a member or renew your membership. You can also donate to one of our great conservation projects online. Our secure site gives you the comfort of knowing that your credit card info will not be compromised. If you want to register by mail, download the form for the event you are interested in and send it in by regular mail to Sarasota Audubon Society, PO Box 52132, Sarasota, FL 34232.
We launched the site over Labor Day weekend and are still tweaking some things, so your patience is most appreciated. Constructive comments are welcome. Send to info@sarasotaaudubon.org.
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October Activities
Thursdays at OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK
Every Thursday, Oct thru Apr. Bird walk to search for Florida Scrub Jays, N. Bobwhites, and other pine flatwood species. Meet inside the park at 8:30am at Lake Osprey/Nature Center (park fee). Call Joyce with questions (508-737-8954)
Tuesday, Oct. 4:
CORTEZ FRIGATEBIRD ROOST
Join Rick Greenspun and John Ginaven (383-5133) as they watch Frigatebirds come off their Cortez roost and soar into the sky. Meet at Leffis Key at Bradenton Beach. Call John for time and exact meeting place.
Friday, Oct 7: SLEEPING TURTLES PRESERVE
Join butterfly enthusiasts Stu Hills (922-5261) and Jeanne Dubi on a walk thru this lovely Venice area county park to locate and ID local butterflies. Meet at McDonalds (Bee Ridge and Cattlemen) at 10am.
Saturday, Oct. 8: CELERY FIELDS BIRD WALK
Meet at the gazebo (Palmer & Raymond) at 8am.
Monday, Oct. 10: MONTHLY MEETING: Birds of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas: Rick Greenspun will recount his recent visit to this birding hotspot.
Thursdays, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27: OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK See beginning of TRIPS for details.
Tuesday, Oct 11:
CELERY FIELDS CLEAN UP
Meet at the gazebo (Palmer & Raymond) at 8am
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Saturday, Oct 15: PINECRAFT PARK
Look for fall migrants with Edith Miller (364- 3637) at this local hotspot off Bahia Vista. Meet at Pinecraft Park at 9am.
Tuesday, Oct. 18: ROBINSON PRESERVE
This Bradenton 487-acre waterfront preserve has been restored to a native wetland with hiking trails and boardwalks. Leader Dan Irizarry (305-582-5786). Meet at Robinson Preserve parking lot at the corner of 99th St NW and 17th Ave. NW at 8am.
Monday, Oct. 24: CELERY FIELDS MONDAY BIRD WALK CLUB
Joyce Leary (508-737-8954) leads a bird walk every 4th Monday, Oct thru March at the Celery Fields. Meet at the gazebo (Palmer & Raymond) at 8am.
Wednesdays, Oct 26, Nov 2, 9, 16: BIRDING CLASSES. See website for details
Saturday Oct 29: SIESTA KEY SHOREBIRDS
Find resident and migrant shorebirds on Siesta Key. Meet at SK Public Beach parking lot (near pavilion) at 7:30am. Leaders Rick Greenspun and Kathryn Young (612-760-1771).
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Holiday Lunch
Wed., Dec. 14 at University Park Country Club
Celebrate the season with good food and good friends; table prizes too.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Cost $25. Contact Julie Byrne at julie@sarasotaaudubon.org or 379-3882 for more details.
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Siesta Key Bobcat Family
Tatiana Staats has graciously shared her photograph of a bobcat kitten. The family has taken up residence in her backyard. "They are such magnificent creatures."
 Bobcats are territorial, but because they are smaller and hunt prey that is more abundant, they require less land area than do other carnivores.
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Sad News
We offer condolences to the family of Lenora Bradley, a longtime SAS member. She will be missed.
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Be a Volunteer
Love birds? Like to lend a hand? You can help in many ways by clean ups, monitoring nest sites, helping on day trips, working with kids, admin work.
Great for making friends too.
Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Marcy Packert: volunteer@sarasotaaudubon.org or 360-0808.
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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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