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December 10 Meeting:
Sabal Palms in Florida
 Jono Miller provides an in-depth look at one of Florida's native palm trees and its importance to wildlife.
Social hour at 7 pm followed by our business meeting and the presentation.
First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall 1031 South Euclid Ave., Sarasota.
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Help Us Build Our Nature Center
Be a part of our plans us as we move forward with our Nature Center at the Celery Fields. So far, over 400 members have donated, as well as non-members, foundations, businesses and other Audubon chapters. Over half of the Audubon chapters in the country (there are 465) own or manage private or public property to protect birds. It's time that Sarasota stepped up and had its very own Audubon nature center too.
We are palnning on beaking ground in the fall/winter of 2013/2014. Be part of this exciting project. Don't be left behind! You can DONATE online at www.sarasotaaudubon.org or you can send a check to SAS, PO Box 52132, Sarasota, FL 34232.
We also have the capability of accepting transfers of stock; if you transfer appreciated stock, you do not have to pay capital gains tax-something to consider at this time. If you'd like more details about the project or would like a tour of the Celery Fields, contact Jeanne Dubi at [email protected].
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2012 Christmas Bird Counts
The following area Christmas Bird Counts are listed as follows, along with the coordinator's contact info. Please join up to help-it's a lot of fun. If you want to send in backyard sightings, contact the coordinator for your area.
Myakka River SP, Monday, December 17: Ken Alvarez: [email protected]
Sarasota, Saturday, January 5: Glynnis Withrington: [email protected]
Bradenton Circle, Saturday, December 22: Dick Comeau: [email protected]
Gulf Circle, Thursday, January 3: Dick Comeau: [email protected]
Venice, Sunday, December 16: Rett Oren: [email protected]
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Kids' Programs Get Off to a Rousing Start
In the October newsletter, we announced our Celery Fields Explorers program for kids. The program, which begins in January and runs through May 2013, will get 1300-1400 kids from kindergarten to high school out to the Fields for environmental education. Kids in nature--that's music to our ears! Most kids these days suffer from NDD-nature deficit disorder-but with this program, Sarasota Audubon is doing something about it. Within 4 hours of the trips being announced to all schools in Sarasota County, all 28 trips were filled, and there is a waiting list of 30. The response from teachers points out the desperate need for funded field trips. The total cost of the program is $19,880 of which the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice has granted half. We have to come up with the rest. So far, we have received donations of $2,970. If you would like to fund a kid or any part of a trip (each child will cost about $15; each trip of 50, $710), you can send a check to: SAS, PO Box 52132, SRQ 34232, or go to our website www.sarasotaaudubon.org and click on the DONATE button.
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In Remembrance of a Dear Friend
On November 17th, I lost a dear friend and compadre. Barbara Singer and I had known each other since 1997 when Mike and I moved to Florida. She was in real estate then and showed us several houses. She popped up in my life a number of years later, at the Celery Fields. Her good friend Steve Black had introduced Barbara to birding, and there she was enjoying every bird and every moment of birding. At that time, I was The Brown Pelican editor, and had no idea that I would be president of Sarasota Audubon one day. Barbara was about to become a member of the board of Manatee Audubon, and I'm sure she had no idea that she would be president of Manatee Audubon one day either.
Over the years, we watched each other's progress, commiserating over difficulties and celebrating our successes. And successes Barbara had. For one thing, she had a wonderful personality-a good sense of humor, tons of common sense and a sharp eye for finances. I never met anyone who didn't warm instantly to her. And the way she shepherded Felts Preserve to being a first-rate birding venue was remarkable; she is leaving a wonderful legacy.
As Barbara's illness took over and kept her from traveling, she always enjoyed listening to others' birding trips, and made the Galapagos trips a huge success. I know she really wanted to go, but it never stopped her from putting a million percent into the planning so that others would enjoy the experience. Barbara, thank you for that. I will miss you deeply.
I know you are flying with the birds now.
Jeanne
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Have you made your reservation for our popular Holiday Lunch on December 12? Our annual celebration includes
 a presentation, table prizes and lots of camaraderie. Please join us.
It will start at 11:45 at the Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch. Meet at the breezeway between the restaurant and the banquet facilities. Cost $25. Reservations required
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This is always a fun event. Call Julie Byrne at 379-3882 for information.
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Historic St. Augustine & First Coast Birding, March 20-22, 2013
 | | St. George St. in the Historic District |
Our "getaway" bus trips are always fun and informative. And this trip is no exception. SAS trips are a great way to meet new people or travel with old friends.
Meet at Bee Ridge and Cattlemen Rds. for a 7 am departure by bus March 20 and expect to return about 5 pm on March 22. On the first day bring a brown bag lunch. Our hotel is the Holiday Inn on Ponce de Leon Ave. There will be a one hour trolley tour upon arrival. The second day, we'll visit Anastasia State Park for birding. In the afternoon we'll visit the Lightner Museum and then tour the historic district on our own or go birding with Jeanne. The final day will include visiting the The Oldest House and then we'll head home, birding on the way.
Cost: Single: $450; Double occupancy: $350
This trip is filling up so reserve your spot now. Contact Karen Jensen (941 924-2446). Karen & Jeanne Dubi are our indefatigable trip leaders.
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| Local Membership
Please let's go green. Send an email to
[email protected]. We mail 900+ paper copies to our members and only 400+ online. The cost of printing and postage could be put toward our bird friends and their habitat. Plus our eBP has direct links to other sites, some You Tube videos and color photos.
By becoming a local SAS member, you pay dues of $20 a year, renewable every December. No renewal notices are sent. You can renew online at our website click here , see me at the general meeting, or mail a check to SAS, PO Box 52132, Sarasota, Fl 34232
Lynn Jakubowicz, Membership Chair
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Birding Hot Spots in Sarasota & Manatee Counties.
Just $6.00 at monthly meetings and field trips or $7.75 by mail. Send a check to: SAS, PO Box 52132, Sarasota, Fl 34232-0337.
Also, available at the Sarasota Visitors Center, Book Store 1 Sarasota, Selby Gardens, Environeers, and Myakka River State Park. |
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 Badges
Send name and address to:
Michael Fox, 2749 Ringling Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237 $4.75 with pin & $6.75 with magnet Add $2.00 for shipping
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Now you can just click on our Brown Pelican header to go to our website.
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, Dec. 4: CELERY FIELDS CLEAN UP
Meet at the gazebo (Palmer & Raymond Rds.) at 8am
Wed, Dec. 5: MYAKKA RIVER SP
This wildlife preserve always provides great birding. Meet at 8:15am in the first parking lot on your right just inside the park (fee). Note: park opens at 8am. Leader Owen Comora (378-5166). BRING LUNCH
December 6, 13 ,20, & 27 at OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK
Every Thursday, October through April. 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). Park opens at 8am. Call Joyce with questions (508-737-8954)
Saturday, Dec 8: LAUREL LANDFILL PINELAND
Bird with Barry Rossheim (387-5044). Meet at the BP gas station (on the way to the Landfill) on the corner of Laurel Road and Knights Trail Rd at 7:30am.
Wednesday Dec 12: HOLIDAY LUNCH
Join us at the Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch. Our annual holiday celebration includes a presentation, table prizes and lots if camaraderie.
Saturday, Dec 15: SOUTH LAKE MYAKKA RIVER SP
Join Barry Rossheim (387-5044) as he takes the hike down to south lake (aprox 5 miles round trip). This is a large lake that few visitors venture to. Possibility of finding many ducks and shorebirds. Meet at Twin Lakes Park (6700 Clark Rd east of I-75 on way to Myakka SP) at 7:30am. Bring water & lunch.
Monday, Dec. 17: CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT Myakka River State Park. Ken Alvarez: [email protected]
Monday, Dec 24: 4th MONDAY BIRD WALK CLUB
Joyce Leary (508-737-8954) leads a bird walk on the 4th Monday Oct-March at the Celery Fields. Meet at the gazebo (corner of Palmer & Raymond Rd) at 8am
Thursday, Jan 3: LIDO BEACH & WOODS
Join John Ginaven (383-5133) and Stu Wilson on a pre-CBC scouting trip to find birds in this great Sarasota County area. Meet at the N. Lido parking area at 8am. This is a small parking lot at the end of Ben Franklin Dr. before it curves to go to the public beach.
Saturday, Jan 5: SAS CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Our annual bird count is lots of fun. To participate, contact [email protected]
Thursdays, Jan 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK See Dec. Information
See our website www.sarasotaaudubon.org
for all day trips and activities.
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Plymouth Harbor and Siesta Towers Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon that has visited Siesta Towers on Siesta Key for the past 10 years did not show up this year and the Peregrine that has also visited Plymouth Harbor has not shown up as well, leading me to FINALLY admit that it was indeed the same bird. We knew that she wouldn't live forever, but she has been such a familiar site every Christmas Bird Count for so long. She perched on the same window ledge at the same building and arrived within 4 days every Oct. 10th.
If anyone on Siesta Key has seen a Peregrine on another condo, could you please email me. She is sorely missed.
Rick Greenspun
[email protected]
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SAS at the Sarasota Bay Water Festival
November 18 was a great day to meet and greet many happy people. We had good weather and a common interest in bay friendly living and, and in our case, birds. Stu Hills and Valerie Ponzo entertained little and big kids with the Bird Singing Pop-up Book. The headgear of the day was large balloon flamingo hats, as you can see in the attached photos.
Many attendees admired our bird photo exhibit and our Birding Hot-Spots book was very popular. I counted over 50 exhibitors, sponsors, volunteer groups and bands at the Festival. Manatee Audubon Society shared our tent.
Sara Koenig King, Festival Volunteer and Photographer
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Free Smartphone App for Great Florida Birding Trail
Identify the birds, butterflies and flowering plants seen along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Viewing Trail and throughout Florida. Designed with non-experts in mind, this tool is perfect for young or novice nature lovers, visitors to Florida and more seasoned explorers. Child-friendly icons lead the user to beautiful color photographs and basic descriptions of each species.
* Search for 200 birds by name or filter by color, size, shape and season.
* Search for 106 butterflies by name or filter by color, size and family. Compare to similar species and learn about their larval host plants.
* Search for 247 flowering plants by name or filter by color, size, flower type, flower arrangement and plant form. Learn about some of Florida's most notorious invasive plants.
There is a list of the 491 sites along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Viewing Trail; search nearby sites by current location or any city in Florida. Find the sites on a map.
This Nature Viewing application was developed by the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida IFAS Department of Entomology and Nematology and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with support from grants from the Florida Wildflower Foundation and Florida Museum Associates.
On your Android or Apple product, search for Nature Viewing.
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Reading Corner
Think you know some serious birders? Life List by Olivia Gentile offers a glimpse of the life of Phoebe Snetsinger, one of the world's most renowned birders.
First discovering birds as a desperate housewife eager for diversion from young children and a suburban life, Phoebe eventually traveled to dozens of countries including Micronesia, Japan, Peru, Kenya, Australia, Ethiopia and Brazil. After first identifying a Blackburnian Warbler in May 1965, Phoebe would eventually see and identify more than 8,400 birds until her death in 1999.
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Be a Volunteer
One of the reasons we are a growing and successful organization is our volunteer base.  SAS is non-profit and volunteer driven. You could be a part of our exciting future. Please share your talents.
Contact:
Volunteer Coordinator, Marcy Packer
[email protected] or 360-0808
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