What's a murmuration?

A friend of Sarasota Audubon Society sent us a link to this video of thousands of starlings. Not sure we all agree with all of the comments in the narration, but we thought you would enjoy the spectacle of these birds.

Where Have We Been Lately? Cool Notes from the Field.

• Felts Preserve, Oct. 2   The trip to this lovely Felts Preserve (a joint walk with 15 members and guests from Sarasota Audubon and Sarasota County Butterfly club) pretty much fulfilled this scenario, although flowers were scarce while Biden weeds were abundant. We spotted 17 different butterfly species, a Great Horned Owl, and three Golden Silk Orb-weaver Spiders. Highlights of the trip included a rare sighting of a Tawny Emperor, Southern Skipperlings, a Two-Spot Skipper, several Long-tailed Skippers (one missing his tail), Orange-barred Sulphurs, Black and Polydamus Swallowtails, and Ceraunus Blues everywhere. Several of our group concluded the morning with a tasty lunch at the Crab Trap 2 Restaurant in Elllenton.  -Stu Hills, Trip Leader

• Robinson Preserve, Oct.6    This morning, I led a group of 9 birders and a photographer from the Herald-Tribune through Robinson Preserve. The weather was absolutely wonderful, but the high winds made looking for passerine migrants quite a challenge. We ended the day with 42 species. Before we started, we saw the local Bald Eagle pair in and around the nest. Just after 8 am, we were able to observe them copulating in the nest. Our most memorable moment, however, occurred while observing a flock of shorebirds. As we watching, the entire flock flew off in unison. We looked around, and an immature Peregrine Falcon appeared out of nowhere! It was zigzagging over the pond and almost took out a Laughing Gull sitting on the water. We all got very good looks as it as it flew over our heads. Nearby, a Merlin was well. -Dan Irizarry, Trip Leader

• Oscar Scherer State Park, Oct.7   Our first walk at Oscar Scherer yielded the usual residents, including Scrub Jays, Brown Thrasher, and Tufted Titmouse. We were treated to a few late migrants and winter arrivals: Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-throated , Pine, and Parula Warblers. Join Audubon any Thursday at 8:30 AM at the Nature Center. -Lynn Jakubowicz and Karen Jensen

• Celery Fields, Oct. 9    Despite the disturbed habitat due to the recent dirt removal and plantings, we found 35 species, including a Sora Rail , Roseate Spoonbill, and Bald Eagle. Least Sandpipers and both Yellowlegs were abundant, along with Blue-winged Teal, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and some early Northern Shovelers. -Lynn Jakubowicz and Owen Comora

• Pinecraft Park, Oct. 16 Sarasota Audubon had a field trip to Pinecraft Park today, led by Edith Miller, with John Ginaven helping. It was a beautiful day. Although birding in the woods was slow, we managed to dig out 30 species: Along the creek highlights: Green Heron, Common Yellowthroat, House Wren, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Buntings, Belted Kingfisher. Overhead: American Kestrel. In the woodland: Blue-headed Vireo, Black and White Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and two Barred Owls calling.

Come on out with us next time. We have plenty of trips lined up in the next 6 months. Visit http://www.sarasotaaudubon.org/ to learn more.

We're Leading Some Nature, Birding (and Broadway) Trips! Want to Come?

Hope you'll come with us to explore the state and enjoy a little broadway! We have something fun for everyone, always in good company. Sarasota Audubon Society trips have great leaders who make the arrangements for you, and we always enjoy new people.

• Gainesville, Feb. 9-11, 2011   Two-night bus trip to Gainesville, including Micanopy, Paynes Prairie, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, the Natural History Museum/Butterfly Rainforest and Devils Millhopper. Jeanne Dubi and Karen Jensen (924-2446) always make these trips friendly and fun. Bus, hotel, admission fees, two breakfasts, two picnic lunches and two dinners included. The trip is filling up so reserve your spot soon!

• Billy Elliott, Feb. 13, 2011 at 2 pm   Award-winning Broadway Show in Tampa. We will take a comfortable bus to see this marvelous musical. Dinner at your own expense afterwards. Again, our indomitable trip leaders, Karen & Jeanne, are on board. FUN!!

• Wakodahatchee, Green Cay & Okeeheelee, Feb. 18 & 19, 2011   Join us as we travel to Palm Beach County. These wetlands have boardwalks and lots of birds, all within easy viewing. Bring your camera for great photo ops. Car pooling. COST $25. Hotel and dinner at your own expense. Call Holiday Inn at 561-968-5000 for reservation as part of SAS group. Dinner at lovely restaurant next door. Kathryn Young at 612-760-1771.

• Eagle Trolley- Sat., Feb. 26, 2011   Our eagle expert, Dale Nauman, will give us the history and great looks at 3 active eagle nests; leave the driving to us on the Eagle Trolley. Meeting place to be announced. $25 for a 3 hour ride and expert leader. Kathryn Young (612-760-1771)

Vote for the Environment in November: YES on Amendment 4

Our Sarasota chapter and at least 11 other Audubon chapters around the state have endorsed Florida Constitutional Amendment No. 4 (commonly known as "Florida Hometown Democracy"). This would require voter approval as the final step to change the long-term Comprehensive Plan for development that each county and municipality is required to have and with which zoning must comply. The statewide Sierra chapter and dozens of other environmental and civic groups around the state, including the major ones in Sarasota, have also endorsed it.


Thus far, I have not found any significant Florida or local environmental or neighborhood groups that are opposing it. But developers wanting to continue bankrolling campaigns of elected officials willing to change

Comprehensive Plans to allow them to build where they wish have formed and funded groups with names like "Citizens for Lower Taxes and a Stronger Economy” to blanket media and the mails against Amendment 4. The website http://www.floridahometowndemocracy.com/ has details on what this amendment would do and why it would neither overload ballots nor tank the economy.

Your ballot obviously contains other opportunities for pro-environment votes. Amendments 5 and 6 attack gerrymandering by requiring fairer redistricting, presumably empowering more environmentally-friendly voters at the expense of deep-pocketed developers. And some candidates are pro-environment and others anti or giving it little importance. While Audubon's tax status does not permit us to endorse or oppose candidates or political parties (we can endorse issues), you can look at candidates' environmental records and endorsements by Googling the national League of Conservation Voters and its Florida affiliate with the same name, or for local candidates, http://www.florida.sierraclub.org/sarasota (Sierra has a different tax status).

-Conservation Chair Wade Matthews

The Joy of Birding: Audubon Camp in Hog Island, Maine

As a neophyte to birding I was very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to attend a course over five days at the Audubon Camp in Hog Island Maine. The Course as the title of this essay is called is “Joy of Birding.”


All the campers arrived on Sunday afternoon in June of this year, and were taken with all their gear by boat to the island. An orientation was held and we were introduced to the staff, and we introduced ourselves to all assembled, including where we were from, our experience in birding and if we had been to Hog Island before and quite a few had been. We then were given our building and room assignments, got acquainted with our roommate(s) and headed for dinner. That night the evening’s program was on the history of Hog Island and Project Puffin.

For the next four days at 5:45 AM we had our early morning bird walk and or bird banding. After breakfast we were broken into four color teams for the rest of our time there. On Monday, two teams did a shakedown cruise of the waters around Hog Island and some of the other islands in the area. The other two teams did “Introduction to Birding.” Half way thru the morning we switched courses.

Lunch was at 12:30 PM and then we had the afternoon courses such as a trip by boat to Wreck Island to see the colony of Great Blue Herons or a 2-1/2 mile hike thru Hog Island. At dinner each night Dr. Steve Kress the director of Hog Island and Project Puffin gave some notes of interest to all assembled. After dinner we had our evening programs which usually started with a short topic on ornithology, then the nightly bird check list and the evening’s main program consisting of “Bird Art & the Evolution of Field Guides.” Another topic was the “Art of Pishing” which is making bird calls with your mouth,. The course was given by the well known birder and author, Pete Dunne and Pete is a fantastic “PISHER.” The days were long and sleep was much appreciated. The lobster boats and their diesel engines started at 4:30 AM and you could not escape the noise.
For the next three days the morning and afternoon schedules included boat rides out to Eastern Egg Rock Island where we saw the Puffins and seals, a trip inland to a blueberry farm, the Medomak Bird Hike (in the rain), workshops on “gardening for birds,” “bird feeding basics” and “birds of Maine.” A total of 57 species were recorded.

The last evening we had a farewell dinner with soup, salad, lobster with all the trimmings an a surprise desert was an individual little cake in the shape of an Atlantic Puffin.


It was a wonderful experience even though as a senior, the climbing on the large rocks on the coast of Wreck Island were a bit difficult to the point that some of the staff had to helpme. They were great. When I arrived home and told my family about my experience, they were quite proud of me. A week later my daughter-in-law presented me with a tee shirt that had a bird on it and below it said “#1 Pisher.”

-Myron Mendelson

Where the Least Terns Nest

Can you spot the Least Tern chick hiding in this photo? 
It's our little one out on Siesta Key.

With little undisturbed habitat left on beaches, Least Terns are using flat, gravel rooftops for nesting. A threatened species in the state of Florida, Least Terns are also the smallest of all terns in the country.

This summer approximately 100 Least Tern chicks fledged on the rooftop of the Carlton water treatmeat plant. It was a hugely successful season. Many thanks to Ellen McLean, along with Frank DeSteno and Nancy Edmondson, who inspected the roof each week.

Ellen reported the progress to us with such pride—like a new mom.

Since our beaches were unproductive for nesting Least Terns and Black Skimmers, this was a ray of hope in a gloomy outlook. No colonies on either South or North Lido, but a miracle occurred on Siesta Key: One Least Tern nested on the beach near Access 7, the first tern nesting on Siesta Key in over 30 years!

The Florikan roof near the Celery Fields produced 30-40 Least Tern chicks, another success for which we are grateful!

We thank everyone who cares about this special bird and especially those who volunteered their time to look after the nesting areas this summer.

Siesta Key Beach Nesting Successful, Thanks to the Efforts of Many

New Snowy Plover Nest on Siesta Key Beach,
taken by Claire Smithers

Wow...from this summer, we see that so much is possible when people who care come together to make a difference. Thanks to a fabulous group of volunteers and organizations, we were able to help seven (7) Snowy Plover chicks and one (1) Least Tern chick to fledge this year. Several factors contributed to the success:

• Sarasota County (and the BOCC) allowed us to close the pedestrian path from the Access 7 parking lot. Go Sarasota County!  We are grateful.
• Nighttime security guard on duty at Accesses 7 & 8 to limit after hours shenanigans; funded by Parks & Rec. How awesome is that?
• Volunteers in the parking lot spoke to many folks, handed out brochures and did a fab PR job for the birds. It's all about forming new friendships with potential advocates, and of course, education.
• Many volunteers located the chicks in the morning and then trailed the chicks on the beach (an exceedingly hot and arduous task, especially on holiday weekends) to keep folks away from them, also educating them in the process—another fab PR job.
• Success in limiting beach raking in the nursery area.  
• Buffering nesting zones, some on private property (with permission). 
• Many volunteers and organizations helped in this effort, and they should all be very proud of what they did. We give great thanks to an incredible team.

Growing Snowy Plover on Siesta Key Beach by Claire Herzog

People who made this possible:

Jean Adams, Susan & Nick Almario, Nancy Bangham, Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, Marie Brooks-Demaud, Julie Byrne, Tony Damian, Judy DeMersman, Nancy Douglass, Jeanne Dubi, Nancy Edmondson, Lynda Eppinger, Jerris Foote, Ann & Rima Gasparini, Cheryl Gladdie, Rick Greenspun, Mary Heinlen & daughter, Rachel Herman, Claire Herzog, Stu Hills, Karen Jensen, Ann Kaplan, Wilma Katz, Dianne Kennedy, Marianne Korosy, Barbara Loveridge, Bob & Catherine Luckner, Peg Magee, Nick Marin, Kristen Mazzarella, Maria Elisabeth Mantius, John McCarthy, Dick Miles, Linda & Rich Moreau, Robert Pasquali, Ruth Ellen Peipert, Jonathan Poyner, Kathi Rader-Gibson, Penney Rist, Barry Rossheim, Bonnie Samuelsen, Pat Sharp, Kyle Shenk, Andrea & Mike Shlasko, Carolyn Smithers, Claire Smithers, Michelle van Deventer, Jennifer Vreeland, Paula Wagner, Gayle Wardner, Deurita Wieczorek, John Whitehead, Roxanne Williamson, Allan Worms.

Organizations that made this possible:
Sarasota County Parks & Rec, Gulf View Condominiums, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, Siesta Key Association, Beachaven Condos, Mark Clibbard (beach raker), Coastal Wildlife Club, and Sarasota Audubon. Many thanks to all the beachgoers who stopped, looked, listened and learned. Many did not know that these birds nested on our beaches.


Now how is that for a community-wide effort? We give our thanks to everyone who helped these special birds survive. It's been a great summer thanks to you.

-Jeanne Dubi, Sarasota Audubon Society President

The Oil Spill: What to Do Locally and What NOT to Do

With the growing oil spill disaster close at heart to residents of Sarasota County, Sarasota Audubon is making several recommendations.

• Most importantly, do not attempt to clean the beaches by removing natural debris from the shoreline. This time of year our beaches provide the nesting sites for many different species of birds whose nests are often camouflaged. Eggs can blend in perfectly with the sand, are hard to see and are easily stepped on and can be inadvertently crushed. Moving beach litter from the shoreline into dunes and areas above the high water line will lead to impacts to nesting birds and could result in damage to the dunes.
• Connect with Save Our Seabirds to volunteer your time locally. This agency’s leadership is certified for work with birds and wildlife directly impacted by oil.
• Follow alerts issued by Audubon of Florida, coordinating funding and volunteer activities statewide that will help with oil spill impacts to our wildlife. You can also volunteer with them to help with the effort outside of Sarasota County.
• Consider making a donation to Save our Seabirds (http://www.savourseabirds.org/; telephone number 388-3010) or Wildlife Center of Venice (http://www.wildlifecenterofvenice.org/; telephone number: 484-9657) for wildlife rehabilitation

Thanks, Sarasota County. Great Move for Wildlife

Sarasota County Environmental Lands Are Growing by 7,700 more acres east of Myakka River State Park.

Just in case you missed the news, on April 14 our County Commission approved purchasing the 3,808 acre Walton Ranch, one of the largest tracts thus far added to the County’s voter-approved Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program.

Commission approval to purchase a conservation easement for an equivalent-sized portion of the Longino Ranch is anticipated by the time this Brown Pelican is received. While both of these purchases must also be approved by the Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which along with other State sources will supply well over half the funds, the District has participated in the negotiations and no problems are foreseen. Cattle ranching will continue on both tracts, but trails for birding, wildlife viewing and picnic or camping areas will be developed by the County for public access.

Probably more environmentally important than the size of the acquisitions is their location, completing a broad wildlife corridor connecting the Myakka River State Park and adjacent preserves with a preserve in DeSoto County extending to the Peace River. That should allow such wide-ranging animals as black bears and Florida panthers to establish themselves in the eastern part of Sarasota County. Young male panthers already occasionally wander north from their normal range south of the Caloosahatchee River and one may be in the Myakka area now.



-Wade Matthews, Conservation Chair

Spring at the Rookery

Thanks to Sarasota Audubon Society's Rick Greenspun for sharing these beautiful photos with us.

Is Rick an amazing photographer or what?  We love it that he's always so generous to share these captured moments with us. Be sure to get out and enjoy this season!

Check out our full array of activities online at http://www.sarasotaaudubon.org/.

Seeking Beach Nesting Bird Monitors: Training Provided & It's Fun

Every year, Snowy Plovers, Black Skimmers and Least Terns attempt to nest on our area beaches.

They face the challenge of not only the Summer heat and storms, but have to contend with predators,feral cats, raccoons, dogs and disturbance from unknowing or uncaring human activities.

To assist them in their time of need, we need volunteers to help locate and report nests, become beach ambassadors to inform and educate the public, and beach "Bird Life Guards" that would be stationed near nest sites during peak times and holidays to safeguard them from interference.

Training is available.

Sarasota Audubon is currently seeking volunteers in the following categories:

• Beach Ambassadors
• Nest Monitors/ Locators
• Nest Site Guardians

 E-mail Beachvolunteer@SarasotaAudubon.Org or call Bonnie Samuelson at: 951-7704.

Sarasota Audubon's April Environmental Notes: Keep Informed

The oil drilling issue is still big, folks.

The report from the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida has been released. Requested by the State Senate, it shows that drilling in State-controlled inshore waters of even the proven oil states of Texas and Louisiana brings each of those state governments less than $100 million a year. A State Senate report also estimated total petroleum reserves in Florida waters would supply the U.S. with less than a week of its normal consumption, having no discernible effect on gas prices. You may want to encourage our legislators to compare those returns with drilling's potential damage to the environment and to Florida's huge and vital tourist economy.

The Congressional Environmental Scorecard--check it out.

The League of Conservation Voters has just released its annual report of how US Senators and House Representatives voted on the eleven (Senate) and thirteen (House) issues that they defined as having clearly pro and anti-environment sides during 2009. Senator Nelson voted 100% of the time for the environment as defined by LCV, while Senator Martinez voted against the environment on all three votes he cast before his resignation, and his replacement, Senator LeMieux, cast a pro-environment vote only 17% of the time.
 
According to LCV, our local Representative, Vern Buchanan, voted pro-environment 29% of the time. Taking both houses into consideration, the most pro-environment state delegations were those of Connecticut and Hawaii with 100% each, the most anti-environment Wyoming (less than 5%) and Oklahoma (less than 7%). Details of the bills and individual votes are at http://www.lcv.org/. You may want to ask some of our elected officials to explain their votes.

Sarasota Audubon Trip to Hillsborough River State Park

Members of Sarasota Audubon Society carpooled up to the lovely Hillsborough River State Park yesterday in search of migrants and other delightful species of the avian kind.

A few treasures of the trip included Bachman's Sparrow, lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Pronothatary Warbler, Hermit Thrust.  And oh, what a beautiful day!

If you haven't been yet, please make an effort to drive the hour from Sarasota to check it out. What a peaceful oasis along a gorgeous river.

• Double Crested Cormorant
• Great Egret
• White Ibis
• Glossy Ibis
• Wood Stork
• Black Vulture
• Turkey Vulture
• Swallow-tailed Kite
• Bald Eagle (on the way up nesting on a tower)
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Northern Bobwhite (heard only)
• Sandhill Crane
• Ring-billed Gull
• Mourning Dove
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• White-eyed Vireo
• Blue-headed Vireo

• Red-eyed Vireo
• Blue Jay Tree
• Tree Swallow
• Fish Crow
• Tufted Titmouse
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Blue-gray gnatcatcher
• Hermit Thrush
• Gray Catbird
• Nothern Mockingbird
• Northern Parula
• Yellow-rumped warbler
• Yellow-throated warbler
• Pine Warbler
• Palm Warbler
• Black and White Warbler
• Prothonatary Warbler
• Eastern Towhee (heard)
• Chipping Sparrow
• Bachman's sparrow
• Northern Cardinal
• Painted Bunting
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Carolina Chickadee
• Common Grackle

Thanks so much to our fearless trip leader, Lynn Jakubowicz, and Sarasota Audubon's Membership Chair. Want to become a member of Sarasota Audubon? It's the best way to contribute to local environmental efforts while you enjoy activities and education. Learn more here.

Protecting Nesting Areas at Access 7

Sarasota Audubon Society is working hard to prepare for nesting season on our beaches.  We know that people can enjoy the beach while keeping a watchful eye for areas that are roped off. Please remind kids that running after birds on the beach can scare them away from eggs and chicks they are protecting. With your help, we can make this a win-win, and more of our threatened and endangered species can survive.

Thanks to everyone who helped out at Access 7!

You can join us on Lido Beach on Friday March, 26; meet at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling at 10 am. We're also having Chick Check walks on Lido Key on April 17 and May 21 at 8 am. Come out to help!

For more information about the birds that share our beaches and how you can help, contact Jeanne Dubi at (941) 355-1709.

Sarasota Audubon Society is Ramping Up Efforts to Save Beach Nesting Birds

Every year threatened and endangered beach nesting birds try to raise their chicks on Sarasota County beaches. Facing a number of threats from disturbance of nest sites by humans, predation by crows, dogs, cats and raccoons, the situation can be grim.

You may have noticed the buffered zones on Siesta and North and South Lido. This year, we have a new strategy: Sarasota Audubon Society is holding pre-posting parties, and everyone is invited. The group is buffering historical nesting sites in order to create a "safe zone" for birds to set up their nests. The public is invited to help or just come to watch and learn.

Last year on Siesta Key beach, 36 eggs hatched from eight Snowy Plover nests. Only two chicks survived one night on the beach, and the rest did not.

This year can be different with your help.

Here are some key dates for you and anyone interested in the effort:

• Informative presentation about beach nesting birds. Concession area on Siesta Key Public Beach on Wednesday, March 10 at 9 am. 
• Pre-posting parties. Siesta Key on Friday, March 12 at 10 am at Access 7, and Lido Beach on Friday March, 26; meet at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling at 10 am.  
• Chick Check walks on Lido Key. March 20, April 17, May 21 at 8 am. Learn how to identify our beach nesters and to spot chicks.

At the pre-posting parties, Audubon will be installing stakes every 20 feet or so around a designated site, attaching string, colored tape and information signs. The Chick Check walks are designed to look for courtship and nesting activities and to monitor the progress of Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers as they go through their breeding cycles.

For more information about the birds that share our beaches and how you can help, contact Jeanne Dubi at (941) 355-1709.

We Support Amendment 4

On Nov. 2 Florida residents can vote for an amendment to the State Constitution that might preserve much of what remains of wild and rural Florida and the birds and other animals that depend on those habitats. Called the Florida Hometown Democracy amendment, it would allow voters to veto any change to county or city comprehensive land use plans. Publicity and debate in many forums is already ramping up, and Sarasota Audubon Society (SAS) members should be informed.

About a hundred environmental and citizens' organizations, including SAS and seven other Florida Audubon societies, Florida Sierra, Florida Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Everglades, Environment Florida, and local or regional organizations such as ECOSWF, CONA, Citizens for Sensible Growth, and Control Growth Now have endorsed and recommended passage of Amendment 4.

What is Amendment 4 about? Each county and municipality in Florida is required to have a long-term growth plan projecting what land will be developed and for what use (commerce, residential, industrial, etc.) and how densely. A State agency (DCA) must approve changes adopted by the county or city commissions, and Amendment 4 would add voter approval as the FINAL step. The amendment would not apply to zoning changes, which would, as now, be subordinate to the comprehensive plan.

Developers should find land in the proper use category under the comprehensive plan, request a zoning change as appropriate, and build accordingly. But some developers, particularly those with a mega project (like the recently-foreclosed over-5,000-acre Isles of Athena project in eastern Sarasota County), find cheaper land that the long-term plan designates at a density only appropriate for agriculture or natural habitat. Then they have the local commission, perhaps elected with their financial support, approve the requested change in the long-term plan, push it through the State agency (some legislators are even trying to eliminate the requirement for State approval), and there goes another mega-development blocking a wildlife corridor.

Polls of voters in many parts of Florida show that most citizens deplore the sprawl and overdevelopment of the State that is destroying much of what brought or kept them here. The theory behind the Hometown Democracy amendment is that allowing voters a veto on such plan changes will discourage developers from even making many such requests, thereby channeling development into urban infill already allowed by the comprehensive plans. If a really good, generally supported change in the long-term plan is proposed, then voters will presumably approve it.

The two main arguments against Amendment 4 are: First, that it would flood the ballot with complicated proposals, and second, that it would discourage job-creating construction. However, the complicating details would obviously be consolidated, as already happens with such measures on the ballot now, with the ballot language concisely referring to the project. Second, with 300,000 homes already vacant in Florida and commercial space rates in free fall, the last thing we need now is low-paying jobs building more dwellings and shopping malls in environmentally sensitive areas. Instead, we should channel jobs into clean energy and high tech manufacturing, and after the present building glut is absorbed, direct new housing and commercial work to urban infill.

-Wade Matthews, Conservation Chair, Sarasota Audubon Society

Become a Chick Checker for Our Critical Beach Monitoring Program

Each year, dedicated volunteers jump through hoops trying to help our beach nesting birds survive. The picture is grim. Last year on Siesta Key beach, 36 eggs hatched from 8 Snowy Plover nests; two chicks survived one night, and the rest did not due to predation from crows, dogs, cats, raccoons, and human disturbance of nest sites.


You may have noticed the buffered zones on Siesta and North and South Lido. This year, we have a new strategy: we are going to have pre-posting parties—everyone invited. This means we will buffer historical nesting sites in order to create a “safe zone” for birds to set up their nests. Come help us or just watch and learn.

When are the parties? On Siesta Key on Friday, March 12 at 10 am at Access 7. On Lido on Friday March, 26, meet at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling at 10 am. What will we do? We’ll install stakes every 20 feet or so around a designated site, attach string, colored tape and information signs.

Prior to parties, I will be giving a presentation about our beach nesters at Beach University in the concession area on Siesta Key (public beach) on March 10 at 9 am. All are welcome. In addition, Sarasota Audubon is leading three Chick Check walks on Lido Key: March 20, April 17 and May 21. These walks are designed to look for courtship and nesting activities and to monitor the progress of Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, and Black Skimmers as they go through their breeding cycles. Meeting place is the parking area at the corner of Ben Franklin and Ringling on Lido Key at 8 am.

I hope you can join us to learn about the birds that allow us to share their beaches. For more information, call 355-1709.

Jeanne Dubi, President, Sarasota Audubon Society

Awesome Photos from Sarasota Audubon's Trip to Puerto Rico

Sarasota Audubon Society recently returned from a birding trip to Puerto Rico. The group found 15 of the 17 listed endemic bird species there.

Here's Rick Greenpsun's report and his photography:

Conditions were tough for birding and photography. The vegetation was thick and dark most of the time, and the birds were reluctant to show themselves. We birded the southwestern part of the island were it was lush but drier and then put in two days in the northeast corner near and in El Yunke Rainforest, where it was lush and wet. El Yunke gets about 200 inches a year in rainfall, so most days you can expect to get wet!!

The Puerto Rican Owl was taken at 4 in the morning with a flash and a flashlight.

Puerto Rican Tody:

Bananaquit singing:

If you'd like to come with us on our next trip, be sure to visit our website for more information. We travel locally, from county to county and every now and then, outside of the U.S.

Results of January 2 Christmas Bird Count..Man, That's a Lot of Birds

• Team 1: John Ginaven, Stu Wilson, David Manchester, Peter Rice and Marc Hayman checked off 68 species;
  
• Team 2: Rick Greenspun, Kathryn Young, Kathy Meaux, Mark Davis, Sandra Van Hullenaar, Michelle Van Deventer and Rebecca Lazarus covered Siesta Beach and all of Siesta Key and found the day’s only Peregrine Falcon and the single Lesser Black-backed Gull;
  
• Team 3: Valeri Ponzo, Carolyn Primus and Barbara Covey found a few onlies: A Mute Swan flyby, Wilson’s and Semipalmated Plovers, and a N. Rough-winged Swallow
  
• Team 4: Lynn Jakubowicz, Jane Brandhorst and Mary Heinlen got a very respectable 55 species in their urban area;
  
• Team 5: Edith Miller, Barry Rossheim, Ruth Ellen Peipert, and Lucy Pace found a pair of Baltimore Orioles, rarities for Sarasota. They also located a Hermit Thrush in Pinecraft Park;
  
• Team 6: Ellen Richardson and Ann & Tim Seidenkranz plugged away all day and found one of only two American Bitterns and an usual American Redstart;
  
• Team 7: Paul Lewis, Jane Shannon and Connie & Tom Plaskett found the count’s only Solitary Sandpiper;
  
• Team 8: Bill & Margaret Dunson, Nancy Edmondson, Greg Voigt, Sue Stam, and Roxanne Williamson covered the Celery Fields and surroundings and found the wintering Common Goldeneye and the only Sora for the day, and were only one of two teams to find Indigo Buntings;
  
• Team 9: Tina Mossbarger, Joni Bos Gray and Jeff Carson came up trumps with the day’s only N. Parula, and were one of only two teams to find Indigo and Painted Buntings;
  
• Team 10: Alison & Mike Bishop, Lorrie Muldowney and Chris Beaton found one of only two Merlins for the count; Team 10a consisted of several groups covering communities within Palmer Ranch: Harriet Siegel, Wade & Betty Matthews, Judy Meksraitis, Sue Hamilton and Rachel Nylen (Prestancia); Michael Hamilton, Kathleen Jones, Jim & Ann Eachus, Michael & Nancy Barnes (Village Walk); Sally Seeger and Michael & Nancy Barnes (The Isles); Michael Hamilton, Penney Rist with granddaughter Zoe Burge, aged 7 (Turtle Rock); Don & Karen Schneider (The Hamptons); and Sandy and Rena Cooper (Oaks Clubside). Collectively these groups found the only Green-winged Teal, the only Caspian Tern, and the other American Bittern. They clocked up 6,588 birds and 76 species—great stuff!
  
• Team 11: David Williamson, Barbara Singer, Steve Black, Peg Beeman, Daniel Somodi, Daniel Somodi, Jr., Al & Suzanne Semago, Matt Holman, Hugh Dinkler and DS Paige got the only American Wigeons and Redheads for the day;
  
• Team 12: Jeanne Dubi, Suzanne Daughtrey, Kelley Berkey and Steve Gansz found the only Gadwalls and Marsh Wrens;
  
• Team 14: Jeff Palmer and Tommy Elliott found the day’s only Ovenbird and Least Bittern;
  
• Team 15: Karen Jensen, Jerry & Sandy Ulrickson, Russ & Carole Hoffman and Rhonda & Bill Dix came up with 48 species in their urban area;
  
• Team 19: Rett & Priscilla Owen, Lou Kovach, Gloria Mankewicz and Bob Thomas covered Spanish Point and the intracoastal in that region and found the only Horned Grebe for the entire count, the lone Dunlin and the only Short-billed Dowitchers.

Owlers Jeff Palmer and Jeanne Dubi covered separate mainland areas, and Rick Greenspun and Kathryn Young owled on Siesta Key. Between them they found Eastern Screech-Owls, Great Horned, Barred and Barn Owls.


Backyard counters and neighborhood spotters really pulled their weight again.

• Area 1: Len Newman and Mary Allyn counted birds in Plymouth Harbor and contributed Green Herons;
• Area 2: David and Tatiana Staats added Ruddy Turnstone, a juvenile Bald Eagle and a Common Loon, and Beverly Peyser added a Green Heron;
• Area 3: Terry Proeger walked his neighborhood and contributed House Sparrow, Carolina Wren and Hooded Mergansers;
• Area 4: Jeanne Dubi added an early Eastern Screech-Owl and Mike Dubi smoked cigars on the patio until the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Painted Bunting showed up;
• Area 6: From her backyard after a hard day’s slog, Tina Mossbarger turned up the only Northern Bobwhite and the only Brown Thrasher and contributed Black-Hooded Parakeets and Am. Goldfinches for the area. Jeanne Dubi contributed a Barn Owl and 2 Barred Owls, and Henry Wagler found 3 Eastern Bluebirds;
• Area 7: Charlie Everly monitored his yard all day and turned in a nice list and Sue Herring added a rare Pine Siskin, seen at her feeder and photographed for the record;
• Area 8: While leading a scheduled walk for Venice Audubon, Barry Rossheim confirmed the Bufflehead at the Founders Club pond, located a Green Heron for the area then went off to join Team 5. Jeanne Dubi found a Barn Owl before daybreak on Center Road.
• Area 9 had the valuable help of Peter & Frances Rice who added Pied-billed Grebe, Tricolored Herons, Blue-winged Teal, Limpkins, American Coots, Belted Kingfisher and Savannah Sparrows, all from Heritage Oaks.
• Area 11: Karen Jensen helped out by adding a Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl, and Betty Matthews monitored her yard too.
• Area 12: Sheila Springer added Tufted Titmice, House Finch and Yellow-throated Warbler. Marcy Packer and Sandy Hasenjager emailed their list from Lakeridge Falls.
• Area 15: Joanna Bear watched her yard and contributed a Bald Eagle, Red-winged Blackbirds and 200 Tree Swallows.

A special mention goes to 12-year-old Campbell Lee. Along with friend Alexandria Atkins and his Mom, Robin Thomes, he covered his neighborhood and threw in Potter Park and Red Bug Slough too! The three of them added Carolina Wren, Common Grackles and Tree Swallows for several areas and came up with an impressive 40 species. We’ll all be scrambling to get him on our team next year.



Note: Tommy Elliott, a great birder and birding friend died a sudden and untimely death on Jan 14. Tommy was on every CBC since I can remember. Those who knew him will miss him terribly. I hope he’s birding from a cloud now.

 
The report above includes a record 90 counters in the field and 18 backyard/neighborhood watchers all helped to come up with 154 species for the count (last year we had 160). The day’s total of 1,233,126 birds was augmented by a 1 million+ Tree Swallow roost found on private property. Even without the roost, more than three times the average number of Tree Swallows was counted. It’s a great year for them. Some species were up and others were down over last year; it’s impossible to see trends over 2 years. The weather kept many small birds tucked down—cold and windy—and the numbers definitely reflect that.

Population Growth and Climate Change

Almost all rational and informed people who have passed beyond believing that the earth is flat accept the scientific data that heat-trapping gasses, especially carbon dioxide, are causing climate change. This change includes melting glaciers and polar icecaps, acidifying the oceans, increasing extreme temperatures and desertification in many areas, and reducing habitats and numbers of numerous species of wildlife. The fifteen hottest years on record since modern global temperatures have been kept have all occurred since 1991 and we have lost a third of our Arctic sea ice in the past thirty years.

Countless scientific studies have shown overwhelming evidence that most of this damaging climate change has been caused by human activity. Concentrations of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere are already at their highest levels in at least the last 400,000 years, thirty percent above those of the pre-industrial era. Audubon, Sierra, and almost all environmental organizations are lobbying for drastic measures to stop this disastrous process. These measures would include either mandatory limits on warming gas emissions or economic-based mandatory cap-and-trade treaties and legislation The successful system that mostly stopped sulfur emissions from acidifying northern lakes in the U.S. shows the effectiveness and modest cost of such legislation.

But neither Audubon, Sierra, nor most environmental groups have been clear in making the obvious linkage of damaging emissions and negative climate change to rapidly increasing human population. The inevitable striving of the roughly eighty million additional inhabitants of earth each year for a better standard of living that includes electricity, water, food, transportation, and such causes of global warming, in addition to depletion of natural resources, will negate much or maybe all measures against climate change. Some of those concerned by climate change may have been lulled by population stabilization in some countries, including parts of Europe and Japan. However, while the percentage rate of increase of the world's population has dropped because of the larger base on which it is calculated, the absolute number of additional people each year has remained essentially at its unsustainable high level.

One of the few environmental organizations that has made the obvious linkage of damaging climate change to human overpopulation is the rapidly-growing Center for Biological Diversity (http://www.biodiversity.org/) In addition to its frequent litigation to protect endangered species, it is actively campaigning for environmentalists and the public to push for governments and international bodies to give greater support for international family planning, smaller families, and more education of women who gives them options to excessive child-bearing. Perhaps we can encourage Audubon, Sierra and other major environmental organizations that once linked their former strong population programs to protecting wildlife and their habitat to renew and increase them with a focus also on the linkage to Climate Change.

-Wade Matthews, Conservation Chair

Noted Bird Photographer Arthur Morris to Share Award-Winning Photos

On Monday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m., world-famous bird photographer Arthur Morris will present some of his award-winning nature and wildlife photos at the free monthly meeting of Sarasota Audubon Society.

More than 11,000 of Arthur Morris’s photographs have been published in national publications including American Birds, Audubon, Birder's World, Florida Wildlife and Nature, National Geographic, Natural History, Nature Photographer, Outdoor Photographer, Ranger Rick, Wildbird, and other magazines, as well as in hundreds of books and calendars.

Our meetings take place at the First Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 1031 South Euclid Avenue in Sarasota. Call (941) 355-1709 for more information. Hope to see you there!

The Sarasota Audubon Society is the local chapter of the National Audubon Society. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is dedicated to protecting birds, wildlife, and the environment. Sarasota Audubon’s active education campaign includes monthly meetings featuring environmental topics and speakers, weekly trips to local parks and natural areas, annual overnight and international birding trips, and road clean up activities adjacent to the Celery Fields.  Learn more about us here.

Over 400 Show Up for Sandhill Crane Sunset!

Friday evening, over 400 people gathered at the Celery Fields to join Sarasota Audubon as we welcomed local Sandhill Cranes coming in to roost. One of our members counted 165 cars parked along Palmer Boulevard.

Last year this time, hundreds of cranes were roosting at the Celery Fields. Accordingly, we planned a "Sunset at the Celery Fields" activity for this year. Though we haven't seen those numbers this year, our crowd was not disappointed.

Over an hour-long period, we watched almost 50 cranes come in, bugling away as they flew over the Fields. We were able to get many people on the cranes with our spotting scopes, which delighted all. A great showing. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

Please Pass the Tap Water

The convenience of having bottled water is great, but consider the impact of those bottles and their transportation on the environment. And don't think recycling will make up for it either!

Next time you plan a meeting at the office or have a get-together at home consider serving tap water and brag about it. Also, don't accept bottled water if it is offered at another person's house or business function. Ask for tap water instead. Tap water costs very little to deliver since the infrastructure is already in place. Get a reusable bottle and keep it in the fridge or cupboard to take when you head out for birding or to the beach.

If you're worried about the safety of your tap water, contact your local municipality. Each year they are required to publish the results of their regular testing. (See below for local links). If necessary, there are a number of excellent filtering systems you can get for your tap or you can purchase a pitcher for the refrigerator that filters the water as you pour it in. Just watch out for those reverse osmosis systems. They waste a lot of water.

• Sarasota County
  
• More info on bottled water from the Natural Resources Defense Council
  

Celery Fields Sunset on January 15: A Sandhill Crane Special

Do NOT miss out on a beautiful sunset at the Celery Fields on Friday, January 15. 

Come on out with Sarasota Audubon around 5 pm and bring your lawn chair. We'll watch Sandhill Cranes coming in to roost.

Sandhill Cranes may be commonly spotted in pairs or in family groups throughout the year. Other cranes from northern areas migrate to Florida for the winter months, increasing the local population. ...And they love the Celery Fields!

Barn Owls and other species may also be seen. Photo ops will be plentiful.

Meet at the gazebo at Palmer and Raymond. Free. Call Jeanne Dubi at (941) 355-1709 for more information.  Hope to see you on the 15th for this relaxing and breathtaking opportunity.