Sarasota Audubon Explores Arizona, a Travelogue by Merrill Kaegi

Sarasota Audubon Society led a southern Arizona birding expedition on April 16-23, 2011. If you didn't get to come along, here's a great account of what we saw and enjoyed. Come with us next time!

Lynn Jakubowic, Mary Heinlen & Judy Bryant

On Sunday morning we awoke early and upon stepping out of our cozy cottages at Cave Creek Ranch in Portal, Arizona, we were stunned by the dramatic beauty of the Chiricahua Mountains looming above us. Two women guides joined us for our day in the mountains of Coronado National Forest. Our group was divided between three vans rented in Tucson, and driven by Jeanne Dubi, Karen Jensen and Bruce Higgins. We rode on several "primitive roads" which resulted in clouds of dust covering our vehicles. The variety of bird species that we saw was exciting, with the Painted Redstart and Red-faced Warbler among the many that we saw.

Early the next morning we had time to wander the grounds of the Ranch, viewing many birds on the grounds. Especially popular were the numerous varieties of hummingbirds at the feeders. On our way out of the Portal area we began our several visits to "private" birding spots with a stop at Jasper's feeder garden. Here in an isolated spot in the desert we quietly watched many species of birds flying in to enjoy the feeders. We went on in the desert and visited the site of a large tank of water on a range where there were a number of curious cows, several with suckling calves. One of the notable birds seen here was the Vermilion Flycatcher.

We came very close to the Mexican border at Douglas, Arizona on the way to our next stop at the Sierra Suites in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The next morning we visited another private site, Mary Jo Ballator's Ash Canyon B & B. Numerous feeders were alive with birds, especially hummingbirds. Being there was a real education for many of us. On to Beatty's Miller Canyon Guest Ranch where we were again fascinated by a hummingbird enclave. Ending our day was a visit to an entirely different habitat, the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. We walked across a savannah of golden grasses toward the green wall of a cottonwood-willow forest canopy along the San Pedro River. There was much bird activity because of the flowing water (a small flow due to very dry conditions). An interesting sighting there by Jeanne was a Verdin.

Our goal our second day in Sierra Vista was to bird in a canyon on the Fort Huachuca Army Base. However, a large sign stating that due to severe fire danger there was no admittance to the canyon by vehicle or by foot, frustrated our effort. Most of the group continued to bird along a stream there and went on to another site. Lynn Jakubowicz drove five from the group to nearby Ramsey Canyon Preserve, run by The Nature Conservancy. There was considerable bird activity along Ramsey Creek. A highlight was a sighting by Valerie Ponzo of a Whiskered Screech Owl, standing at the entrance to its nesting hole in a tree nearby.

The group reunited at the San Pedro site to view a hummingbird banding session. Many of us had never seen this and were fascinated by the process. Three of our group got to hold a newly banded hummingbird before it took off for the trees, and freedom. Our day was not over. We then visited Battiste B & B in Sierra Vista where we were guaranteed to see at least one Elf Owl as darkness descended. We saw the female look out of her nesting hole in a pole and fly off to join her mate. We also saw several Acorn Woodpeckers return to roost in other holes on the same pole. Unfortunately we did not see the Elf Owls return.

Barbara Shanko with newly banded hummingbird

On our way to the last stop at Comfort Inn in Green Valley, Arizona, we stopped at Paton's Birder Haven. We again saw a large number of hummingbirds as well as other species, but alas, not the Violet-crowned Hummingbird we sought. On to Patagonia State Park area where we had an excellent view of the Phainopepla. Later on at our lunch overlooking Lake Patagonia, we were interested to see a couple of Brown Pelicans fishing the lake, which is the largest in the area. Again, we passed close to the Mexican border when we drove through Nogales, Arizona.

On our last day we headed for the renowned Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains. On our way across the flatlands, some of our group spotted Roadrunners, and what appeared to be large Jackrabbits in the distance. We were tantalized when we stopped in the Canyon to hear the call of the elusive Elegant Trogon. Unfortunately, the bird(s) never appeared. On our walk up the trail friendly birders coming down told us about a Spotted Owl which was clearly visible up ahead. We all saw it as it sat dormant on a low branch. That evening we visited the home of friends of Jeanne's. We enjoyed their large yard seeing numerous birds and other creatures. The sighting of a Gilded Flicker was a highlight for many. A small herd of hungry Javalenas was also interesting.

Saturday morning we broke into two groups with one heading back to Madera Canyon to try to see the Trogon before leaving Arizona, and the other going to the Arizon-Sonora Desert Museum. We all ended up at the Museum enjoying the collection of live flora and fauna of the desert. On the wish list for those returning to the area is the Elegant Trogan and a few other target birds. Overall the group was well satisfied with a list of 143 species sighted.

-Merrill Kaegi

Florida Legislature Trashes Environment and Citizens' Rights

The just-concluded 2011 Florida Legislature eliminated or gravely weakened the environmental and growth management programs first enacted in 1985. These have been responsible for much of the state's protection of natural areas and such admittedly insufficient limits on sprawl and pollution that have been implemented over the last quarter century. One former now-elderly legislator commented that this was the most anti-environment legislature in his adult lifetime and similar comments were made by environmental leaders.


Perhaps the most damaging acts were gutting state growth management oversight of cities and counties, deregulating developers and shifting the legal burden of proof that their project will not harm the environment from petitioners to environmental activists, concerned neighbors, and citizens' groups.

Cities and counties can still attempt to control growth, but without state oversight and standards, many local commissioners will undoubtedly vote whatever way their developer campaign contributors want and counties or cities with good planning will be impacted by sprawl from others. And any multi-county wildlife corridors will now depend on the whims of various local commissions.

But there is much more. Budgets of the state's two environmental and growth management agencies (Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Community Affairs) and for the Florida Forever land purchase program were deeply slashed. Everglades restoration will barely have enough (mostly holdover) funds to continue. The Water Management Districts' taxing authority (they are a major purchaser of environmentally sensitive land for groundwater preservation in cooperation with counties like Sarasota) was cut by almost a third.

The former requirement that developers pay for roads, schools and other infrastructure their development needs has now been shifted in major categories to county or city taxpayers. In Sarasota County during the last few years several measures restricting sprawl and environmental degradation were enacted by citizen-initiated amendments to the County Charter, but the legislature made future such amendments much more difficult by decreasing the time for gathering petitions and imposing other restrictions on that route.



So what can we do? Litigation may overturn a few measures, but not many. We can remember who voted against the environment (Sarasota and Manatee Counties had no environmental champions in the Legislature that I have identified, and Sen. Mike Bennett was instrumental in gutting growth management), but the next general election is at least a year and a half away. We can keep informed on environmental issues, write letters to the editor, and telephone elected officials. County and City Commissioners, now with almost no state oversight, are even more important for the environment than heretofore, and we can lobby them more effectively. We can get involved in local politics, through political parties, local interest groups, as a candidate or a contributor.
And finally, don't give up. The natural environment and the birds and other animals that inhabit it are worth working and fighting for. If enough of us do that, Florida can rise to become, once again, an environmental leader.

Wade Matthews, Conservation Chair

Two Trips to Tierra Verde Duck Ponds & Ft. DeSoto

If you're looking for a short day trip providing a nice, birdy location this time of year, you can't go wrong with Tierra Verde and Ft. DeSoto. Here are two short accounts of Sarasota Audubon-led trips to these locations in February:


February 8 Trip, Led by Dan Irrizary
Our first stop was just before the drawbridge to Tierra Verde. A quick scan here revealed a mixed raft of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Loons (3 each or so) feeding not more than 50 feet offshore. We all got excellent looks at these birds that tend to be scope distances away!

From here we stopped at the Eagle pond. Mother eagle was standing by the nest, periodically checking in on her 3 week old eaglet! The male eagle was out hunting. The pond had about a dozen Pied-billed Grebes, lots of American Coots, some Common Moorhens, and several Ring-necked Ducks.

The Redhead pond and the pond just north of it were excellent this morning. The more northern pond had Pied-billed Grebes and many Lesser Scaup. The larger Redhead pond had hundreds upon hundreds of Redheads. Mixed in with them were some Lesser Scaup. We found a lone American Wigeon and gorgeous drake Northern Pintail amongst all these ducks. Several dozen Northern Shovelers were found along the north side of the pond. A lone Blue-winged Teal was spotted, as was one or two Ruddy Ducks.

From here, we went to North Beach. Winds were strong out of the north and the sky was overcast. We weren’t expecting much. There was a lone American White Pelican far off in the distance. In the lagoon were a Herring Gull, some Ring-billed Gulls, Laughing Gulls, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, and Great Egret.

Those were the highlights. Not a single shorebird was seen, but with the weather and it being low tide, they weren’t expected.


February 22 Trip, Led by Lynn Jakubowicz and Mary Heinlen
Twenty birders had a pleasant day at Fort DeSoto and the Tierra Verde duck ponds. Before the day was over we had recorded 70 species. We started our day at the far end of East Beach, where we saw American Oystercatchers, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Common Loons, as well as numerous shorebirds. Moving on to North Beach, we had a nice collection of gulls and terns, and a small group of six Wilson’s Plovers.

At the Tierra Verde duck ponds, we saw numerous ducks, including Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, and well over a hundred Redheads. One of the highlights of the day was a close view of a Bald Eagle chick on the nest with both parents nearby. Driving home over the Skyway Bridge we watched a huge flock of American White Pelicans fly past overhead.


Want to join us for other Sarasota Audubon trips this season? Check out the schedule on our website, www.SarasotaAudubon.org.

Birds of Ecuador--A Travelogue by Audubon Member Rick Greenspun

Hello From Ecuador Bird Friends,

After only one day in Ecuador, I thought I had brought my weather jinx from Sri Lanka!! We were met by torrential rain ( usually they get brief afternoon showers) that lasted 24 hours and resulted in being cut off from our lodge at Tandayapa, due to landslides. roads in and out were closed for the day and we retreated to a place called Mindo Loma Lodge and Preserve while our guide scrambled to find us alternative accomodations for the night.

WOW!! what a consolation prize that turned out to be. We were lucky enough to be able to bird from the balcony of the lodge protected from the weather while we were dazzled by Golden, Flame faced and Saffron crowned and Black chinned Mountain Tanagers. In the mix were dozens of Hummingbird species, Toucans, Flower Piercers and many others. The crown jewels of Ecuador are hummingbirds and Tanagers. There are 131 species of Hummers and 119 species of Tanagers and now, as of this email, we have barely made a dent.

Golden Tanager

Masked Flowerpiercer

Green Crowned Wood Nymph

Empress Brilliant

We have been birding mostly the Western slope of the Andes and today visited Antisana Reserve at about 11,000 feet for high Paramo species.

Dazzling flight displays by Andean Condors, Aplomado Falcons, Carunculated Caracara and vistas of the active volcanoes surrounded by clouds and snow made for a spectacular day.

Off to the Amazon tomorrow for five days and believe it or not I will have internet access( its a new world) and will try to send a few more emails.

As always, anyone wanting info on the itinerary can contact me. Stay tuned and Good Birding

Regards, Rick

Shorebirds on Siesta Key & Circle B Bar Preserve

January field trips included excursions to Siesta Key and Circle B Bar Preserve.

Shorebirds on Siesta Key, Jan. 15
This morning on the Sarasota Audubon's beach walk -Siesta Key we found an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and approximately 6 SnowyPlovers. We also had a Loon fly over letting us see the beautiful whitebelly and legs positioned far back on the body. It was also nice to see theSandwich Terns (5) which we did not dig up for the CBC in December.  -Kathryn Young, Trip Leader

Circle B Bar Preserve: Jan. 22
The Circle B-Bar Reserve, one of the newest birding hot spots in Southwest Florida, proved its reputation on Saturday, January 22nd. The weather was cool, but pleasant. We tallied 68 species in four hours of birding. The oak and pine trees yielded Prairie Warbler, White-eyed Wireo, Yellow-rumped and Yellow-throated Warblers, along with an abundance of robins. We even spotted several very early Purple Martins. Most of the reserve is a water area. Hundreds of White Pelicans circled overhead.

All of the usual herons and egrets were seen, along with hundreds of coots, moorhens, and grebes. Limpkins were plentiful and were not at all shy. Three (yes, three!) American Bitterns put on a show: all so close to the path that binoculars were not needed. A Bald Eagle was on its nest. Wintering ducks, including Blue and Green-winged Teal, Wigeon, Shovelers, rRng-necked, and Pintails, were readily observed.

After lunch, half of the group elected to return to the spot where a King Rail had been reported. It obliged the group with great views, just a few feet off the path. It was a suitable ending to a great day of birding.

-Lynn Jakubowicz, Trip Leader


Who's welcome on these trips? Everyone, and that means you. Visit us online at http://www.sarasotaaudubon.org/ for the line up of trips in February and beyond!

Fun in the Field: More Great Birding in 2010

Check out the birds we enjoyed on Sarasota Audubon trips in late November and early December. Hope you'll join us in January.

Siesta Key Shorebirds, Nov. 24

It was another stunning day on Siesta Key as a dozen birders scoured the beach for shorebirds. Though shorebirds were in scant supply, we did notice a large congregation of Herring Gulls that were not in evidence two weeks ago. The best showing was off shore, where we witnessed about 14 Common Loons in formation and a couple of hundred ducks, most probably either Scaup or Ring necks, way too far away to be sure. One lone male Magnificent Frigate bird gave us close looks as well as a second year Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey.

An adult Sharp-shinned Hawk was briefly seen on one of the condos and later provided good looks from the parking lot. Though only 26 species were tallied, it was, as always, a pleasure to be out in such perfect weather.

Good Birding and a Safe and Happy Holiday to All.  -Rick Greenspun



Lido Key Shorebirds, Dec. 5

This morning I led 9 birders to North Lido Key and North Lido Key Woods in search of wintering shorebirds, raptors, and passerines. Our best bird today was a late Magnificent Frigatebird seen as we were ending our walk and discussing the checklist!

We started at the beach near the parking lot where a large group of gulls and terns awaited. Most were Laughing Gulls and Royal Terns, with a smattering of Ring-billed Gulls and Sandwich Terns thrown in. There were 2 Herring Gulls and a couple Forster’s Terns as well. As we were watching that group, we saw a Black-bellied Plover and Snowy Plover off to the north, and a Sanderling that had flown into the gull group. We walked north along the beach from the gulls, and saw 4 Snowy Plovers, one of which was one legged! It wasn’t tucked in like usual. It was hobbling and hopping around very well, though. Further up the beach, we saw a landing Willet, and many Brown Pelicans off in the distance.

We kept our eyes peeled for pelagic birds, but none were seen. From there we walked across the dunes to the woods. Along the way we had a small flock of a dozen or so Palm Warblers. High in a dead tree, we saw an American Kestrel with several House Finch, a Mourning Dove, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. In the park, we added Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pine Warbler, and Black-and-white Warbler. On our way out, we saw a Kestrel and a Downy Woodpecker. Beautiful morning out today. Dan Irizarry


Myakka River State Park, Dec. 8

Ten members and guests attended the Sarasota Audubon field trip to Myakka River State Park on Wednesday, January 8. Starting out on a sunny but near-frosty morning, conditions warmed up to a delightfully pleasant day. We sighted 68 different species of birds which is believed to be a record for a SAS Myakka Field trip. Highlights included John Ginaven's discovery of a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers on the upper lake, and during our picnic at the end of the birding day, Edith Miller sighted a flock of approximately 50 White Pelicans. Other "good" birds seen by all included a Crested Caracara, Spotted Sandpipers, Hooded Merganser

The Snow Goose, which was present on the Upper Lake for two weeks, was not seen. Perhaps it built up it's protein supply and took off for its regular wintering grounds along the Texas Gulf coast. -Owen Comora & Kathryn Young


Visit us online at http://www.sarasotaaudubon.org/ for the schedule of trips. You're always welcome to join us.

Carefree Learner & Celery Fields in December: Great Trips

We're lucky to have so many places to enjoy and explore in Sarasota. Here are the species counts from two trips in December:


Celery Fields, December 11
Today during a Sarasota Audubon walk at Celery Fields we tallied up 55 species. We missed on Owen Comora's Gull-billed Tern but did find an Avocet (thanks to sharp-eyed Alice from NY) in the ponds south of Palmer Rd. From Palmer take a right on Raymond to the furthest western pond. A second highlight was the many Marsh Wrens and one Sedge Wren (thanks to our great guide Rick Greenspun). The SEWR was found in the cattails just below and to the north of the gazebo. The third highlight were the dozen or so Dunlin found in the 1st pond just west of the Gazebo and easily seen from the sidewalk. --Kathryn Young, Trip Leader

Carefree Learner, December 16
Today SAS member Campell Lee and I went on our first trip aboard the Carefree Learner. Though it was chilly, the calm weather and clear skies made the experience pleasant.

At Robert’s Bay Rookery we observed numerous Double-crested Cormorants and a dozen plus Great Blue Herons resting, nesting and courting. Two GB Herons were or near to being fledglings (didn’t see them fly). As well, we observed Brown Pelicans, a Cattle Egret, a Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egrets, laughing Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls and a Herring Gull resting at rookery.

A dozen White Pelicans were scattered about resting around the nearby mangrove islands along with resting and feeding waders-Little Blue Heron, Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, and more GB Herons and Great Egrets. Other birds seen at rookery were a large flock of Fish Crows, Turkey Vulture and a Belted Kingfisher. On the way back, our boat captain drew our attention to a Common Loon that surfaced near the boat then we spotted more in the bay. I also saw resting on a warning buoy a possible Black Tern in non-breeding plumage. It was a small tern with a notable dark gray back and wings. We ended our trip with a nice view of an adult Bald Eagle soaring over head at the marina. Good Birding to All and Happy Holidays! -Ruth Ellen Peipert, Trip Leader


Visit us online at www.sarasotaaudubon.org  to see our schedule of trips! We'd love to have you aboard.