The St. Petersburg Audubon Society

WingSpan December 2008-January 2009 Celebrating 100 Years of Conservation 1909 - 2009 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 where anything 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, for camping. 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

“CONSERVATION CELEBRATION– A NIGHT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CELEBRATION!” “Florida–Magnificent Wilderness” By James Valentine, Quest Foundation Joint Annual Meeting with Native Plant Society Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:30 p.m. at Pinellas Co. Extension 12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774

Festive sounds of environmental joy will be heard radiating through Largo on Wednesday, December 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This year’s innovative guest speaker is James Valentine of Quest Foundation. His enticing performance, “Florida– Magnificent Wilderness,” will invoke our optimistic spirit for Florida’s present and future through extraordinary wildlife and wilderness photographs, and a quadraphonic sound-orchestrated performance. In addition to our guest speaker, the evening promises to be filled with friends and colleagues who share your passion of natural Florida, a festive silent auction packed with special treasures, environmental booths loaded with important information for your perusal, and tasty holiday foods brought from everyone’s kitchen to share. This evening also reviews the ending year by applauding our Audubon and Native Plant environmental award winners. They are our local inspirations reminding us that we can all make a difference. Please join us at the Conservation Celebration where together we will rejoice in our past year’s successes while anticipating next year’s adventures.

See inside for the night’s schedule and more details.

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 whom you voted for, anticipate changes, be open minded, change won’t happen overnight. Vow to help. Don’t just sit back and expect our government to do all the work. Same goes for Audubon. Be a part of the process. Volunteer when called upon. Volunteer when NOT called upon. But the key is to participate-- whenever and however you can! This chapter would not be what it is without the participation of its volunteers. I would not be able to do this job with out the support and help from the Board members and from our many volunteers. Keep up the good work! If you have never participated, please join us. We have a lot of fun in the process 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 and times are tough. To those who have contributed in the past, I hope we can rely on you again; to those who have not, please take a moment to consider why you are a member of Audubon and what we do for you and your community. You are fortunate to be a member of St. Petersburg Audubon Society, the oldest chapter in Florida, founded in 1909 by Katherine Tippetts. A contribution in any amount will help us continue the legacy of conservation, advocacy and educational outreach started 100 years ago.

Pinellas Birds

by Ron Smith

The winter season is usually full of avian surprises. Questions arise as to whether it’ll be a good season for ducks, or will the robins invade our peninsula like they do in some years, or will an unexpected gull show up? The serious birder considers 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 Fort DeSoto on the weekend of November 15-16. Chipping Sparrows are rarely seen at either location, and when they are it is usually not more than one or two. Another sign that I found hard to ignore was that there were a couple of reports of 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 where 15 were at the sewage treatment plant. A surprising nine Wood Ducks flew over Honeymoon Island on Nov. 14. A Snow Goose was at the Tierra Verde duck pond on Nov. 01. One of the adult Purple Gallinules and a chick were seen throughout November at the Roosevelt Wetlands. Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers made appearances at Fort DeSoto the first half of November and an unexpected Dickcissel was at Honeymoon on Nov. 03. Somewhat late fall migrants included a male Nashville Warbler at Fort DeSoto on Nov. 14, a female Black-throated Blue Warbler in a St. Pete neighborhood on Nov. 17, and a Blue Grosbeak 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 way or another. The goal this year of coordinator Don Margeson is to reach 160 species seen. It will take lots of help. So get 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 special birds: Snail Kite, Bachman’s Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite, Caracara, Scrub Jay, and Burrowing Owl. We will travel through central Florida in a 47 passenger motor coach complete with restroom. The bus leaves promptly at 6:00 a.m. from the Sears store at 94th Ave. North and 9th St. in St. Petersburg. Our round trip excursion will take us to Lake Kissimmee, Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Joe Overstreet Landing, and Lake Lizzie Park. We 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 & beverages for the day. Water will be provided also. Cost is $75.00, which includes lunch, bus fare, tolls, & entrance fees. Your check, made payable to St. Petersburg Audubon, will confirm your reservation. Call Mauri Peterson at 727-398-4124 for more information and to make your reservation now!

CONSERVATION NEWS by Dave Kandz Victories! Pinellas County voted in favor of amending the county charter to place control of environmental lands in the hands of voters like you, thereby decreasing the susceptibility of the decision-making process to political pressures. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor - almost 70% to 30% statewide. Passed by an overwhelming 68% of voters, Amendment 4 for land conservation exempts lands with conservation easements from property taxes and allows lands managed for water and wildlife benefits to be taxed according to use. These incentives have the potential to help protect millions of acres of habitat. The legislature will need to implement Amendment 4, and Audubon will 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 budget reduction, the Florida Park Service is proposing to "temporarily close" nineteen state parks to public access and reduce their management to a "caretaker" staff until the state budget returns to levels that can support the full functioning of the parks. An additional three parks, managed for other agencies, will be returned to those agencies. Some of these closures could have grave implications for Florida's rarest natural communities and wildlife. Florida's parks and other conservation lands are held in trust for the people of Florida. Holding land in trust means a commitment to good management and responsibility for stewardship of vulnerable natural resources. Audubon calls on Gov. Crist to give substantial consideration to the impacts of these reductions on the state's ability to adequately manage these sensitive resources.

Locally, Egmont Key hosts Florida's largest Royal and Sandwich Tern colony. Reversion of this property to the National Wildlife Refuge system may provide some costsavings, but the short timeframe proposed would not give the federal cooperating agency sufficient time to find the resources to replace the important functions the state park currently provides at Egmont. The current cooperative agreement between the refuge system and State Parks provides Egmont Key with a staffed presence to manage the more than 170,000 annual boater visits to the island, and protects the island's unique historical and natural resources, including nesting marine turtles and extensive shorebird and seabird colonies. Without this presence, the park's sensitive resources would be left without on-site, round-the-clock management, and the island 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 Commission has proposed $16 million in budget reductions, including the elimination of $2 million in land management funding, 68 law enforcement positions, and the $100,000-per year Nongame Wildlife Grants Program. This grant program has funded vital research on nongame species that FWC has not had the capacity to conduct themselves.

Florida birds that have benefitted from this research include species like Swallow-tailed Kites, Short-tailed Hawks and White-crowned Pigeons. The proposed reduction would eliminate this program and end the only state grant funding source 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.

IT’S GREAT TO BE GREEN

by Barb Howard

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 “Story of Stuff” at www.storyofstuffcom? Buy organic, local, sustainable gifts when you have to give something. Think of your footprint. Great gifts are memberships to organizations, animal adoptions at a local zoo or aquarium, gift cards to local markets, or prepayment of a monthly electric, phone, or utility bill for someone. Many stores have sustainable organic cotton or bamboo lines for clothing or linens now–check their websites. Did you save those gift bags 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 JoAnne Wilson to receive your Wingspan electronically at [email protected].

"CONSERVATION CELEBRATION" BYour 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 Festive Foods & 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 food appetizers to share – makes for a delicious assortment. Your SPAS Board will supply desserts. And, in keeping with our goal to “Go Green,” please bring your nondisposable table service!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Successful events are easy with a little help from a lot of people. Can you help with setup from 4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. (room, auction, or refreshment set-ups) or cleanup at 9:30 p.m.? We need a lot of hands for both efforts. Please contact Barb Howard at 343-1272 or [email protected]. AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED: Gift items, gift certificates, services—be creative. Weeding, handyman, technical help, cookie of the month, drive someone to the airport…you’re sure to have a skill someone could “purchase.” With all donations, we need a donation record form. Hardcopy donation forms are available on our website and at our monthly meetings. Electronic auction donation forms are available by emailing Jeanne a request at [email protected] or call Barb at 343-1272. Unfortunately, it is too difficult to accept items the day of the event. All donations and their forms are due by November 28th.

“Ivory-billed Woodpecker Project” By Ron Rohrbaugh, Project Director, Cornell University Monday, January 5, 2009 Unitarian 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 in Arkansas. Ron works with the entire team to hammer out an overall strategy for the search, coordinating with many partners in this far-reaching project. Ron has been with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology since 1996. He has an M.S. in Wildlife Science & Ecology and a B.S. in Wildlife Science, both from The Pennsylvania State University. Ron will fill us in on one of the great ornithological stories of our time……the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. This will truly be 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, has been leading field trips here the first Saturday of each month, since March 1988! We will be privileged to be attending his 151st trip. Let's all show him how much we appreciate his dedication to birding. He also has a great web page you can view at www.pinellasbirds.com anytime you want to know what is going on in Pinellas County! See you there, birding starts at 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 area has been one of the premier “Hot Spots” for Florida birders. If you are planning to go on this trip, please contact me soon, 5263725, 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!

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, currently about 43 million spend some time outside. Additionally, there may be 60 to 100 million homeless stray and feral cats. Domestic cats have become a common feature not only of our backyards and city streets but also of our parks and other wild lands. Remembering Felis catus is non-native to Florida, they are not part of our natural ecosystem. Animal behavior experts note that cats will hunt and kill even if well fed. The Board of St. Petersburg Audubon Society recognizes the science-based conclusions of the adverse impacts of free-roaming domestic and feral cats on birds and other wildlife. Based on the adverse impact to wildlife, the St. Petersburg Audubon Society will work with communities to educate the public about dangers that free-roaming domestic and feral cats pose to birds and other native wildlife, as well as dangers to the cats themselves inherent with being outdoors, including transmission of diseases, hazards, and predations.

St. Petersburg Audubon Society: 1. 2. 3.

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calls for all cats to be kept indoors and the humane removal of free-roaming domestic and feral cats; opposes human behavior permitting cats to roam free; 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); strongly opposes ‘managed’ outdoor cat colonies and “Trap, Neuter, Release” (TNR) practices; will work with the scientific, conservation, and animal welfare communities to educate the public about the dangers that free-roaming domestic and feral cats pose to birds and other wildlife, as well as the dangers to the cats from outdoor hazards, diseases, and predation; and urges local, state, and federal wildlife agencies, public health organizations, legislative bodies, and the public to ban and eliminate free-roaming domestic cats and feral cat colonies through humane capture by individuals, animal services and/or control facilities.

References: Migratory Bird Treaty Act; American Bird Conservancy’s Resolution of Free-Roaming Cats; People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA); Defenders of Wildlife; and National Audubon Society Resolution.

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION INTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP $20.00 (New membership only) G Please enroll me as a member in the National Audubon

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!

Society. Start my subscription to AUDUBON magazine & send my membership card. G I do not wish to receive AUDUBON magazine. G I wish to receive the SPAS WingSpan only electronically.

Name ___________________________________ Address _________________________________ City ______________ State___ Zip___________ Phone __________________ E-mail address _____________________________

GBBC Ambassadors Needed As 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.

Please enclose a check, payable to the National Audubon Society, mail to:

St. Petersburg Audubon Society Post Office Box 49087 St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087

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National Audubon occasionally makes its membership list available to carefully selected organizations whose mailings you may find interesting. To have your name omitted from this list, please check 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

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) The St. Petersburg Audubon Society

NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE

P.O. Box 49087 St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087 www.stpeteaudubon.org 727-384-0027

PAID

Chapter Representatives President: Mauri Peterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President: Maureen Arnold (Membership) . . . . . . Treasurer: Rick Potter (Ways & Means) . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary: Nancy Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board Members and Duties: Harold Albers (Education) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Brazier (Finance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wanda Dean (Newsletter & Special Events) . . . . . . . . Judi Hopkins (Field Trips) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barb Howard (Programs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Kandz (Conservation & Publicity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Mueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanne Murphy (Programs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alice Tenney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

St Petersburg, FL

398-4124 577-0448 822-9637 894-5940

Permit #6340

864-1113 867-7151 321-3995 526-3725 343-1272 471-0699 686-3179 391-8362 865-2293 894-2062

Neighborhood Outreach: Barb Zias . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521-4997 Least Tern Project: Monique Borboen-Abrams . . . (904)813-5115 Shell Key: Barb Ranck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374-7039

Honeymoon Island State Park Field Trip Reported by Saskia James On November 8, 2008, a group of 15 birders gathered for a walk at Honeymoon Island State Park led by Ron Smith and coordinated by Judi Hopkins. The walk lasted from 8-noon, the weather was sunny and temps in the mid-70s. During this trip we began noting bird species as we crossed the causeway to Honeymoon. This initial count included Brown Pelican, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Double-crested Cormorants. Overall, 68 bird species were recorded in about 31/2 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 the grass. At the beach, there were a number of species either resting or foraging: Plovers - Black-bellied, Snowy, Wilson’s, Semipalmated and Piping; American Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderlings, Western Sandpipers, Dunlin and a Greater 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 Black Skimmers. Printed on Recycled Paper

In the tidal areas were Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron and Great Blue Heron. We walked along the Osprey Trail and did see Osprey and an adult Bald Eagle in flight overhead (Note: As of November 13th, 2008, portions of the Osprey Trail will be closed until May 2009 for nesting Bald Eagles). Walking through the pine flatwoods along this trail is a unique experience, and we were pleased to see a Great Horned Owl resting high on a branch plus a number of wood warblers: Yellow-rumped, Pine, Prairie, Palm, and Common Yellowthroat along with some vocal Eastern Towhees.

Shell Key Shuttle & Sunset Cruises

Shell Out $22/adult $11/child