Jan 2009 Wingspan Newsletter St. Petersburg Audubon Society

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:[email protected] , 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



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.



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 [email protected].



"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 [email protected].

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 [email protected] 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!



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.



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.

Jan 2009 Wingspan Newsletter St. Petersburg Audubon Society

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