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.