Feb 2002 Apalachee Audubon Society Newsletter

8/9/2019 Feb 2002 Apalachee Audubon Society Newsletter

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ApalacheeAudubonTheNewsletterOfTheApalacheeAudubonSociety,Inc.

February,2002Vol.102,no.5 www.apalachee.org

PresidentsColumn

Eachyearoverahalf-millionbirdsarebandedbyscientistsinNorthAmerica.Recently,FredBassett,fromMontgomery,Ala-bama,bandedtwoBlack-chinnedHummingbirdsinmyyardandwentontoband12

Rufous,4Black-chinned,1Allen'sand1Ruby-throatedHumming-birdsinotherTallahasseeyards.Healsorecaptured3Rufoushe

ProgramHighlight

Tuesday,February26

JimiswiththeFloridaDe-partmentofEnvironmentalPro-tectionandwilldiscussthepro-tectionofFlorida'ssprings.WakullaSpringsistoooftencloudedwithsedimentandis

becomingchokedwithHydrilla.Asoururbanareaextendssouth,wearelearning,oftentoolate,howinterconnectedourgroundandsurfacewatersareaswellasthecontributionofthemultiplepointandnon-pointcontaminantsources.Programsbeginwithaninfor-malsocialat7:00p.m.,fol-

lowedbytheprogramat7:30.

Goodbirding.

Larry

bandedherelastyearandonethatwasbandedinApril2000inIn-gramTexas,about75milesnorthwestofSanAntonio.Itisthefarthestwestahummerhaseverbeenbandedandthenrecap-turedintheeasternUnitedStates.Thisisasignificanteventinthesmallworldofhummerbandersandaddsavaluablepieceofin-formationabouttheirmigrationpatterns.Inadditiontotheirmigrationpatterns,bandingprovidesorni-thologistsothervaluableinforma-tion,suchastheircondition,size,andweightthathelpdeterminewhattheyneedtosurvive.Thedataisusedbyconservationists,scientistsandpolicymakerstodevelopconservationpolicy.Manypeopleinthisareamain-tainhummingbirdfeedersallyearlongandaredelightedtofindhummingbirdsvisitingtheirfeed-ersinthewinter.Oneofthebig-gestmisconceptionsabouthum-mingbirdsisthatifyoudonttakeyourfeederdownthehumming-birdswillnotmigrate.Thisisabsolutelyfalse!Fredassuresmethatthereisnothingyoucandotokeepthehummingbirdsherewhenitistimeforthemtoleave.

Soyoucankeepthosefeeders

cleanandfullandenjoywin-teringhummingbirdswithaclearconscience.Andpleasere-portyoursightingstoLarryThompsonatlthomp-son@audubon.org.

1Partsugar4PartswaterBoil1-2minutesCoolRefrigerateunusedsolutionNeverusehoneyorartificialsweetener!Donotaddredfoodcoloring(it

isnotneeded)


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Larry

OfficersPresident:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

BoardMembersMarvinCollins224-9549mcollins@nettally.comHansVanTol656-4039vantol@[email protected]

CommitteeChairsConservation:HansvanTolBirdathon:LarryThompsonEducation:EllenSheltonHospitality:EdGartner386-6543Membership:HarveyGoldman

Newsletter:[email protected]:JudyRicePopulation:HarveyGoldmanFieldTrips:MarvinCollinsPrograms:MarvinCollinsPastPresident:[email protected],SierraLiaison:GrayalFarr385-5732

TheApalacheeAudubonnewsletterispublished8timesyearly(Sept.May,exceptDec.)bytheApalacheeAudubonSociety,Inc.,P.O.Box1237,Tallahassee,FL32302-1237.

Thisnewsletterisprintedonpartiallyrecycledpaper.

MissionStatement

Protectionoftheenvironmentthrougheducation,appreciation

andconservation

Makeadifferenceby joiningtheNationalAudubonSocietyand theApalacheeChapter.Everynewmemberstrengthenstheorganizationandhelpsmakeourvoiceheardonbehalfofwildlifeandtheenvironment.

SPECIALONE-YEARINTRODUCTORYRATEis$20.00NAMESTREETCITYSTATE ZIPBILLMEPAYMENTENCLOSED

Membersreceivesixbi-monthlyissuesoftheaward-winningAudubonmagazine,eightissuesperyearoftheApalacheenewsletter,freemembershipinthelocalAudubonChap-ter,opportunitiestovisitmostsanctuariesandnaturecenters,invitationstostudywithAudubonexpertsatecologycampsandworkshops,andeligibilitytoparticipateinwide-rangingAudubontravel.LocalChapter:ApalacheeAudubon,E197XCH

Sendto:NationalAudubonSocietyPOBox51001(MakecheckspayabletoNationalAudubonSociety)Boulder,CO80322-1001

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TheNaturalistSocietyofNorthFloridahostslecturesbyresearchersinthenaturalhistoryofourarea.Allcommunitymembersinterestedinthetopicsofresearchareinvitedtoattend.ThelecturersareheldthethirdThursdayofeachmonthfromSeptemberthroughMay,exceptDecember.

Eacheveningsprogrambeginswithasocialmixerat7:00p.m.andisfol-lowedbytheprogramfrom7:30to8:30p.m.OnFebruary21,BillPalmerandToddEngstromwillpresenttheirresearchonBobWhiteQuail,Red-cockadedWoodpecker,andtheRedHillsEcosystem.ThepresentationwillbeheldintheeducationbarnatTallTimbersResearchStation,onHenryBeadelDrive,offHighway12acrossfromtheWCTVStation.GonorthoneitherThomasvilleorMeridianRoadandturnonHwy12.BeadelRoadishalfwaybetweenMeridianandThomasvilleRoad.

OnMarch21,GregHaganwillpresenthisresearchonRed-cockadedWood-peckerReintroduction.ThepresentationwillbeheldintheCooperativeExten-sionServiceAuditorium,615PaulRussellRoad,directlyeastofCapitalStadium.

OnApril18,(Stillbeingdevelopedannouncementwillcomelater)

OnMay16,JimMillerwillpresenthisresearchontheApalacheePeo-pleandtheirEnvironment.ThepresentationwillbeheldintheCoopera-tiveExtensionServiceAuditorium,615PaulRussellRoad,directlyeastofCapitalStadium.

!"


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ByLarryThompson

Morethan40hardybirdwatch-ersparticipatedinthisyearsall-dayTallahasseeChristmasBirdCount.The15-milecountcirclewasdividedintoninesectionswithateamassignedtoeachsec-tion.Thecensusofearlywinterbirdpopulationsrecorded125spe-ciesonJanuary1standanotherthreespeciesduringthecountweek!

ThanksgotoRickWestandGailMenkforcompilingthedataandsubmittingthereport,andthanksalsototheteamleaders:GrayalFarrRickWestToddEngstromFranJamesEdWoodruff

JimandEllenSheltonJimCoxandKateNeSmithDeanandSallyJueAlso,specialthankstoallthegreatbirderswhospentthedayinthefield!

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ApalacheeAuduboniscon-ductingitsannualBeginningBirdwatchingworkshoponSat-urday,March2nd.Wewillex-ploreandcelebratethefascinat-ingbirdsintheTallahasseeareawhilegainingknowledgeandskillstoenjoybirdingathomeorinthefield.TheApalacheeAudubonBeginningBirdwatch-ingWorkshopwillgiveyoua

greatopportunitytolearnfromexperiencedbirderswhowillsharetheiryearsofexperienceandskillstomakeyourbirdingmoreenjoyable.Theseminarswilladdressthebirdspecieslikelytobeseenduringthebirdwatchingfieldtripfollowingtheworkshopandthespecialop-tionalbirdwatchingfieldtripwewillofferabouttwoweeksafter

theworkshop.

TheApalacheeAudubonBe-ginningBirdwatchingWork-shopwillbeheldatMt.VernonSquare,1114ThomasvilleRd.,SuiteE,Tallahassee,Florida32303.TheWorkshopwillbe-

ginat8:00a.m.andendat4:00p.m.withabirdingfield-tripatalocalpark.

JoinLarryThompson,presi-dentofApalacheeAudubon

Society,andMarvinCollins,ProgramandFieldtripChair,forthisdayoflearningandfun.SeverallocalApalacheeAudubonSocietybirdingex-pertswillparticipateandcanhelpthebeginnergetstarted.Wellenjoyabirdingwalk,sobesuretobringyourbinocu-larsandfieldguides!SeeYOUthere!

Registrationforthework-shopis$25forAudubonmembersand$45fornon-members.Makecheckpay-abletoApalacheeAudubonSocietyandsendto:ApalacheeAudubonSocietyP.O.Box1237Tallahassee,Fl.32302


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Putyourpersonalbirdsight-

ingsonthemapinthe5thGreatBackyardBirdCount(GBBC)duringFebruary15-18.Na-tionalAudubon,theCornellLabofOrnithology,andWildBirdsUnlimitedinvitebirdersofallagesandskilllevelstopartici-pateinthisprojectthathelpsscientistsmapthedistributionandabundanceofwinteringbirdsinNorthAmerica.

Countthebirdsonanyoneorallofthecountdays.Eachcountingsessionshouldbeaminimumoffifteenminutesbutlongerisbetter.Prepareasepa-ratereportforeachday.Recordthedate,starttime,countdura-tion,weather,andtypeofhabi-tatateachsite.Foreachspeciesofbirdseen,recordthehighest

numberofeachspeciesseenatonetime.Forexample,ifatyourbackyardfeederyouhavefourCardinalsat10:00AMandthensixat10:30,countthatassix,notten,soyoudontcountthesamebirdstwice.YoucansubmityourresultsonlineandseethetallyfromtheentirecontinentattheGBBC

website(www.birdsource.org/gbbc).Lastyeartherewere53,343checklistssubmittedwith442speciesandover4.5millionindividualscounted.Ifyoudonthaveaccesstotheweb,callHansVanTolintheeveningat850/656-4039.FormoredetailsvisittheGBBCsite

orourchapterssite(www.apalachee.org).FormoreinfogotoourWebsite,orforthosewithoutinternetconnectioncallHansvanTolat8506564039(evening).

!"

SingersongwriterJimScottwillbeintownonFridayFebru-ary15,2002forasoloconcertofSongsfortheEarthfrom8:00-9:30PMattheUnitarian-UniversalistChurchofTallahas-see2810N.MeridianRoad.Generaladmissionfortheconcertis$10.00foradultsand$5.00for

childrenandstudentswithID.AdvanceticketswillbeavailableattheChurchofficeduringbusi-nesshours(385-5115).Ticketswillalsobeonsaleatthedoorthenightoftheperformance,soar-riveearlyforthebestseats.Jimisanexcitingacousticgui-tarist,singer,andcomposerofpowerfulmusicthatfurtherstheidealsofecology,justice,and

peace.Hemakesanimpactonheartsandmindsashisconcertscelebratethecommonhumanityofallcultures-ourconnectionswitheachotherandwiththeearth.Hismusichastakenhimaroundtheworldashemakeshiscaseforharmonywithwell-

crafted,intelligentandhumoroussongs,poetryandstories.Hisgui-tarfluencycomesfrombothaclas-sicalandjazzbackground,andheusesitwellwithclassicalandsteelstringacoustics.

InhisyearsasguitaristforthePaulWinterConsort,Jim'sclearvoiceledthousandsinthesong"CommonGround"andhisowneco-anthem,"ASongForTheEarth."Hewasco-composeroftheConsort'smonumentalchoralwork,"MissaGaia/EarthMass,"andrecordedAConcertfortheEarthintheGreatHalloftheUnitedNations.WhileamemberoftheWinterConsort,Jimalso

wroteseveralPBSsoundtracksandcomposedandarrangedanentireconcertforthegroupwiththeIndi-anapolisSymphony.

#$"%&$'

OntheSundayimmediatelyfollowingtheAssembly,theAudubonofFloridaBoardofDirectorsapprovedthefollow-ingfournewmembersforseatsontheBoard.JillMellen,Ph.D.-ResearchBi-ologist,Disney'sAnimalKingdomRogerVanGhent-St.John'sCountyAudubon,Chapterelected

BoardMemberJulieByrne-SarasotaAudubon,ChapterElectedBoardMemberLarryThompsonApalacheeAudubon,ChapterElectedBoardMemberCongratstoLarryandtheother

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#$%$&'&

ByMarvinCollins

Weareplanningmonthly"bird

walks"onthe3rdSaturdayofeachmonth.Wewilltrytomeetearlytocatchthemostavianactionandtrytopreservesomeflexibilityastolocationdependingonwheretheactionis.Weshouldbethroughbefore

noonbutsometimeinAprilorMaywewilltakeanalldaytripthroughtheareacoastal"hotspots"(BaldPointthroughSt.GeorgeIsland,forexample).Formoreinformation,callMarvinCollinsat850/224-9549.

&$(()%ByHansvanTol

EachyearAudubonofFloridaadoptsconservationresolutionstosetprioritiesforthestateandchapterorganizationsconserva-tionefforts.Conservationcom-mitteesinthechaptersinitiatemostoftheresolutionsandmembersoftheAudubonofFloridastaffproposeothers.Thentheyarereviewedandap-

provedattheannualAudubonAssemblybyAudubonmem-bersfromthe43Floridachap-ters.InNovemberthefollowing26resolutionswereapproved:ApalachicolaRiverArcticNationalWildlifeRefugeClimateChangeConservationEducation

EconolokhatcheeRiver EvergladesEcosystemFireManagement FloridaPantherProtection&RecoveryFloridaScrubJayRecovery FloridaWaterResourcesGrowthManagementIndianRiverLagoonWaterQualityLakeOkeechobeeLakeWalesRidgeEcosystemNorthwestFloridaWaterManagementOcklawahaRiverRestorationOilandGasDrillingPhosphateMiningEnvironmentalIm-pactsPinhookSwamp-OsceolaGreaterOkefenokeeEcosystemProtectedSpeciesRoadlessAreaConservationRuleRuralLandProtection SouthwestFloridaLandUseTransportationPolicy WhoopingCraneRecoveryYellowRiverDam

Asyoucanseethelistin-cludesnationalandstatecon-cerns.AndinFlorida,withitsrapidlygrowingpopulation,is-sueswithwaterresourcesand

waterquality,urbansprawlandpreservationofhabitatforplantsandanimalsareprominent.

Audubonchaptersinourre-gionproposetwoofthenewresolutions:ApalachicolaRiverandYellowRiverDam.TheYellowRiveristhreatenedbyarecentproposaltobuildadamtocreateadrinkingwaterreser-voironlandsthatwereboughtbytheWaterManagementDis-trictfortheprotectionandcon-servationlandsalongthisriver.Butthereareotherdrinkingwa-tersourcesthathavemuchlessenvironmentalimpactandarelessexpensive.Audubonstronglyopposesthisprojectasitwouldsubmergevaluablewildlifehabitatandwouldbedetrimentaltothreatenedspe-ciesoffishsuchastheGulfSturgeon.ThedamcouldalsodamagetheremainingseagrassbedsinPensacolaBay.AnotherlocaltreasureistheApalachicolaRiverasevi-dencedbythelargeexpendi-turesforlandacquisitionintheriverfloodplaintoprotectitswaterquality.Ithasagreatdi-versityoffreshwaterfishandisvitalfortheecologyoftheApa-lachicolaBayanditsrenownedoysters.Inspiteofthat,dredg-ingoperationsdetrimentaltothefishpopulationsandtheriver-bankshabitatcontinue.Dredg-

ingisnecessaryforcommercialbargetrafficbutthevolumeissolowthatthecosttotaxpayersis$30,000foreachbarge-tow.AudubonisurgingtheU.S.Congresstostopfundingthese

dredgingoperations.Tolearnmoreaboutthecon-servationresolutions,checktheAudubonofFloridawebsite(www.audubonofflorida.org)orcontactBillLowrieattheTalla-hasseeAudubonofFloridaof-ficeat222-2473.Thesearechallengingissuesandrequireallofustoworktogetherifwe

aregoingtochangepublicpol-icy.Weencourageyoutogetinvolved.Pleasecontactustolearnhowyoucanhelp.

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Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S.Postage

PaidPermitNo.30Tallahassee,FL

ApalacheeAudubonSociety,Inc.P.O.Box1237Tallahassee,FL32302-1237

Tocheckmembershipstatus,ortochangeaddress,calltheNationalAudubonSocietyOfficeat1-800-274-4201

MonthlyMeetings,fieldtrips,conservationactivitiesandbirdwalks

AudubonCalendarMonthlymeetingsarefreeandopentothepublic.TheyareheldattheUnitarianUniversalistChurchin

Tallahassee,2810NorthMeridianRoad.Theeveningsbeginwithaninformalsocialat7:00p.m.,followedbytheprogramat7:30.Unlessotherwisestated,fieldtripswilldepartfromtheFirstUnionBankat3400S.MonroeStreet(oppositetheFairgrounds).Notethetimeofdepartureforeachtrip.Formoreinfocheckoutourwebsite

athttp://www.apalachee.org/calendar.html.Saturday,Feb.2FieldTrip:JimCoxwillleada"working"fieldtripattheTallTimbersResearchStationtodis-coverevidenceofnestcavityexcavationbyBrown-headedNuthatches.Meetat8:30a.m.atTallTimbersonStateHwy12westofUS319.Saturday,Feb.16BirdWalk.Meetat1stUnionBankacrossfromfairgroundsonSouthMonroeat7:30a.m.Tuesday,Feb.26MembershipMeeting.JimStevenson-ProtectionofFlorida'sSprings.

Saturday,March16-BirdWalk.LocationandTimeTBA.

Tuesday,March26-MembershipMeeting.LarryThompson,etal.-BirdingTallahassee.Larrywillin-troduceabrochureindevelopmentthatwilldescribethebestareasforbirdinginandaroundTallahas-see.

Tuesday,April23-MembershipMeetingTBA.FridaySunday,April26-28-WelcomeBackSongbirdsandtheWakullaWildlifeFestival.WakullaSpringsStatePark.

Tuesday,May21-MembershipMeeting.GilNelson-NaturalGardensoftheBigBend:AnIntroductiontothePlantCommunitiesoftheFloridaPanhandle.Notechangefrom4thto3rdTuesdayduetoMemorialDayholiday.

Documents

Feb 2002 Apalachee Audubon Society Newsletter