October-November 2006 Avocet Newsletter Tampa Audubon Society

8/9/2019 October-November 2006 Avocet Newsletter Tampa Audubon Society

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Volume XVIII, Issue 5 October/November 2006

Tampa Audubon

The publication of the Avocet is funded in part through a grant from TECO Foundation

www.TampaAudubon.org

TAS Conservation Programs ....... 2Upcoming Programs ................ 3Field Trip Report .................... 42006/2007 Field Trips .......... 5 - 9Audubon Assembly .......... 10 & 11Announcements .............. 12 - 14Membership Application .......... 15

Tampa Audubon Society2006 - 2007 Board Members

OFFICERS:President- Stanley Kroh (acting)Immediate Past President- Ann Paul1st Vice President- Karl Stevens

2nd Vice President- vacantTreasurer- Stanley KrohRecording Secretary- vacantCorresponding Secretary- Michael Turrisi

DIRECTORS:Joe Bailey (2005-2007)John Costin (2006-2008)Rob Heath (2006-2008)Christine Malzone (2006-2008)Michele Northrup (2005-2007)(2005-2007)- vacant

COMMITTEES & PROGRAMS:ARC at the Park- Mike & Barbara MullinsAudubon Adventures- Ann PaulConservation Committee Co-Chair- Tom Ries

Conservation Committee Co-Chair- Dave SumpterField Trip Committee Co-Chair- JoAnne HartzlerField Trip Committee Co-Chair- Mary KeithAvocet Editor- Sabina- Espinet-ToddPublicity/PR- Michael TurrisiE-Mail Directory- Karl StevensMembership Development- vacantFund Raising- vacantWeb Site- Sabina Espinet-ToddRegional Conservation Committee Representa-tive- Rob HeathChristmas Bird Count- Dave BowmanSpecial Events/Tabling Events- vacantEndowment- vacantPrograms- Ann Paul

IN THIS ISSUE:Tampa Audubon is Proud

to Welcome OurNewest Members:

Michele NorthrupJoseph GambleMarian ReinhardtSusan EriksenSenator Victor CristWillow LaMonteJerry Troya


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Tampa Audubon Society Current Conservation ProgramsSeptember 2006

1) Colony Monitoring

TAS volunteers monitor and post nesting colonies on Medard Park Reservoir, Orange Lake in the Hillsborough

River, and East Lake Island, as Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Project ColonyWatchers.

2) Assist as volunteers at Audubons Richard T. Paul Alafia Bank Bird SanctuaryMake 3 ft X 4 ft white backed, lettered no trespassing signs for the Sanctuary. Help with posting the signs.

Assist the Roseate Spoonbill Nestling Banding Project and the re-sighting effort. Assist with prescribed burn

management of brush piles, removal of non-native invasive plant species and replanting of native trees and

bushes.

3) Bluebird Box Maintenance and Monitoring Project at Flatwoods County Park and the County Balm-

Boyette

Scrub Preserve Clean, repair, and replace bluebird boxes at Flatwoods County Park and the Balm-Boyette Scrub

Preserve, and monitor nesting success and failure during the breeding season. Also note use of the boxes by

other species of birds and animals (flying squirrels).

4) Audubon Resource Center at Lettuce Lake Park

Host visitors on Saturday and Sunday access times to the ARC, where changing displays, books, videos, and ac-

tivities entertain and enrich learners of all ages about environmental information, initiatives, and conservation.

Answer questions about the park and its wildlife. Provide meeting venue for environmental groups and plan-

ners. Conduct teacher training workshops and environmental education programs for youth and adults.

5) Conservation Advocacy

Provide TAS representation at local government meetings to advocate for birds, wildlife, habitat conservation

and restoration, and the environment.

6) Host a Lecture Series on conservation topics, including Blueways, Swallow-tailed Kites Research and Con-

servation, Building a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife (two sessions, with the Suncoast Native Plant Society and

other cooperators), Manatee Research and Conservation, Karst and Wetlands in Hillsborough County, among

others.

7) Lead an active Field Trip Series to share bird identification and behavior information and the adventure of

wildlife study.

8) Protect, post, remove trash from, and manage the Westshore Sanctuary Estuary, to sustain healthy man-

grove, sandbars, marsh, and mudflat communities.

9) Participate in the Annual Coastal Cleanup in September to remove trash from Tampa Bay estuaries and

rivers and the Annual Monofilament Cleanup in October to remove entangling line from bird nesting and

roosting island, with Audubons Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries and Tampa BayWatch.

10) Participate in committees of the Hillsborough County Greenways Initiative and the Environmental

Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, to conserve native lands and connectivity for wildlife.



Upcoming Programs:

Nesting ecology, migration, and survival of the Swallow-tailed Kite:The annual cycle of a species at risk

Thursday, November 9, 20067:00 p.m.

Dr. Ken Myers will be giving a talk on Swallow-tailed Kites at Weedon Island Cultural and NaturalHistory Center sponsored by Tampa Audubon Society.

Dr. Kenneth Meyer, Executive Director of Avian Research and Conservation Institute, Gaines-ville, Florida

Dr. Ken Meyers 18 years of field research on Swallow-tailed Kites continues as it documents anddevelops understanding of the year-round biology of this vulnerable species. This research helpsidentify threats that must be addressed in planning for its conservation. Captured and releasedSwallow-tailed Kites equipped with solar-powered transmitters, weighing only a few grams, haveshown a long-distance winter migration route to southwestern Brazil. These migrating birds have

intriguing social behavior, including their very large, pre-migration communal roosts. Dr. Meyer willdiscuss efforts to develop a long-term monitoring program. Keep your eyes on the skies to see theseincredible Kites, some of those paths of migration cross Pinellas County.

The fee for this program is $3. Pre-registration required. Recommended for adults.

Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg Florida.

For directions and other meeting information, please call (727)453-6500.

BLUEBIRDS AND BOXES!

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Join Mary Miller and her team of Bluebird Trail monitors for a report on their work on the FlatwoodsCounty Nature Park Bluebird Trail. Mary and her team have been working on the Trail for severalyears, repairing and replacing nesting boxes in February, and then monitoring the nesting effortsof the Eastern Bluebirds that depend on them. Well hear about nesting successes, what else usesthe boxes, and other fascinating aspects of the dramatic life of bluebirds. Flatwoods County Na-ture Parks habitats, with open lands near pine flatwoods, are perfect for bluebirds, but the loss ofSoutheastern U.S. old growth forests, with all those holey trees, has meant that these lovely crea-tures have trouble finding nesting cavities. Solution: Bluebird boxes! After the meeting, help assem-bling boxes, for use in your yard ($15 a box) or at the Flatwoods County Nature Park Bluebird Trail!



Field Trip RecapSaddlecreek Park, LakelandBy Jo Anne Hartzler

Tampa Audubon members and guests joined Winter Haven and Kissimmee Audubon birdersfor an early morning bird walk with temperatures already reflecting the coolness of fall.

It was fun to have so many eyes and ears to check out several migratory birds that decided notto disappoint us. Among those were: Black and white Warblers, Blue-winged warblers, Yellowthroated warblers and a great view of a light morph Short-tailed hawk.

On the walk back, we encountered what several people coined as a hover fly. It followed usalong the trail hovering so close we held our hands close in order to actually feel the cool airfanned by the flys wings.

A few die hard birders also ventured to Circle B Bar Ranch in Lakeland where we saw avast amount and variety of Herons, Egrets, Ibis, and Wood Storks.

(Photos Jo Anne Hartzler)

Thank you to Bob Snow who lead our trip that day and shared his knowledge and birdingexpertise with all of us.


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Field Trips (continued)

December 2, 2006 (Saturday) Oscar Scherer & Celery Fields. Meet leader Mary Keith (813-935-

6115) at McDonalds just west of I-75 on Route 60 at Faulkenburg Road in Brandon at 7:30AM.

There will be a stop in Ruskin to pick up south county people. Bring lunch, or leave for home at noon.

This trip is for Scrub Jays, plus usually Hooded Mergansers, Hawks, Sparrows and possible migratory

waterfowl depending on water levels. Walk on sandy trails, nothing difficult.

December 17, 2006 (Sunday) Alafia Christmas Bird Count.Contact Dave Bowman, CBC coordinator at (813)948-8516 for

more information.

December 30, 2006 (Saturday) Tampa area Christmas Bird

Count. Contact CBC coordinator, Dave Bowman, at

[email protected] or (813)948-8516 to participate.

January 6, 2007, (Saturday) 8:00AM University Village Senior Bird Walk . No, the birds arent

seniors but those at University Village are just as active as the birds. Enjoy the ponds and trails

around the campus of University Village in this easy walk where well discuss birding basics and s

the birds often seen there.

tudy

Those who wish can also visit a trail on the property where we might expect some of the wood

warblers. We will meet at the clubhouse but all non-residents must call in advance since community is

gated. Contact field trip leader, Jo Anne Hartzler at (813)310-7676 for more details or to be added tothe list.

January 13, 2007 (Saturday). Manatee viewing center. This is a field trip

and Audubon outing. Contact leader Stan Kroh at (813)831-3653 for details.

Also, call (813)228-4289 for recording.

January 20, 2007 (Saturday ) IMC. Details not yet confirmed with Mosaic C

Leave from McDonalds just west of I-75 on Ft 60 at Faulkenburg Road in Brandon at 7:15. Usuallya fantastic trip with lots of migratory birds from warblers to waterfowl. Mostly driving, very little

walking. Contact field trip leader, Mary Keith at (813)935-6115.

o.

January 27, 2007 (Saturday)Merritt Island . Leave from Dennys on E. Fowler Ave and Morris

Bridge Rd at 7:30 AM. Bring lunch and water. Mostly driving, very little walking, great waterbirds.

Contact field trip leader Mary Keith at (813)935-6115

February 18, 2007 (Sunday) Fort Desoto Park Contact field trip leader, Dave Bowman at

(813)948-8516 for details.




February 24, 2007 (Saturday) 8:00AM Chinsegut Nature Centerin Brooksville. Nesting Owls andhawks along with numerous songbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, Red-headed woodpeckers,Turkeys, and butterflies can easily be seen at this beautiful 408 acre wildlife preserve.

L

Leaders are Hank Bowen (813)541-3920/(352)544-0422 and Joni Hartzler (813)310-7676March 11, 2007 (Sunday) 8:00AM Violet Curry Elapp site on Sinclair Hills Drive, Tampa. Halfday trip to enjoy warblers, waterfowl, sparrows, songbirds and most Florida Woodpeckers.

Directions: I-275 to Bearss Ave, East to Nebraska, North to Sinclair Hills Drive (approx 1 block), right(East) to Violet Curry located on the North side between 15th Street and Livingston Ave. Meet atentrance or =contact trip leader, Jo Anne Hartzler, at (813)310-7676.

March 17,2007 (Saturday) Florida Specialties Bus Trip. St.Petersburg Audubon Society.All day bus trip around central Florida to discover some of Floridasunique birds.Meet at 5:45 AM at Sears located at 94thAvenue North & 9th Street, St.Petersburg. Pack a lunch & snacks. Leader Dave Goodwin. Contact

Mauri Peterson for reservations. (727)398-4124. Fee $60.




March 31, 2007 (Saturday) 8:00 AMLettuce Lake Park , Joint field trip with TAS and St.

Petersburg Audubon. Enjoy the trails and boardwalk at Lettuce Lake Park where nesting Osprey are

used to humans. (photo by Ken Arujo)Meet at the Audubon Resource Center at 8:00 AM for a half

day birding adventure with our neighbors from St. Petersburg. Bring a bag lunch if youd like to stay

for lunch. Lettuce Lake Park is located on the North side of Fletcher Avenue just West of I-75. For

more information, contact field trip leader, Joni Hartzler at (813)310-7676.

April 14, 2007(Saturday) Gibbons Preserve , Details to follow.

April 22,2007 Weedon Island Board Walk Leader Mary Keith. Phone (8130935-6115. Leave

from Borders Books on Dale Mabry and Cypress at 8:00AM. Easy boardwalk through mangroves.

Warblers & shorebirds.

Arpil 23-28. 2007. American Birding Association Convention, Lafayette Louisiana. Enjoy

the heart of French Louisiana Cajun style. Migration will be in full swing. Call 800-850-2473 x 230

for details or visit www.americanbirding.org/mtgs.

May12, 2007(Saturday) Lettuce Lake Park Audubon

Resource Center Cats Indoors Poster Contest for

Children. School aged children who have made a poster

for the Cats Indoors Is Not Just for the Birds contest will

meet at the ARC to see posters on display and for the

announcements of the winners. Attendees will be eligible for

door prizes. We will have a short walk along the boardwalk

to see some of the living creatures that the campaign is

helping to protect. For more information and to enter the

contest, contact Jo Anne Hartzler at (813)310-7676 or

[email protected].

May 19, 2007 Orlando Wetlands 7:30AM Meet at Dennys on East Fowler Avenue and Morris

Bridge Rd 7:30AM. Bring snacks and water. Its a circuit around wetland ponds, flat easy walking,

but long, no shade. Purple gallinules, Least Bittern, nesting Black-necked Stilts plus all of the local

waterbirds. Contact field trip leader, Mary Keith at (813)935-6115.

June 9, 2007(Saturday) 8:00 AMLake Park Nature Walk If you just love the outdoors and want

to know more about nature, this walk is for you. Well investigate several trails giving everyone the

opportunity to see things like weve never seen before. See amphibians, insects, spiders, birds, and

plants and learn to identify some of the native and non-native vegetation. Bring binoculars. Lake

Park is located on North Dale Mabry highwayin Tampa just South of Van Dyke Road on the

West side of Dale Mabry. For more in

contact field trip leader, Jo Anne Hartzler at

(813)310-7676 or e-mail usarealty@m

formation,

sn.com.

ne 16, 2007(Saturday) Myakka StateJu

Park Details to follow.


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Audubon Assembly 2006Saving Birds and Special Spaces

Audubon Assembly 2006

October 19-21, 2006

Cocoa Beach

Audubon Assembly Goes to the Beach!

Relax and enjoy the casual, beachfront atmosphere of the Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront

Resort. Join Audubon of Florida for engaging programs that highlight Floridas coastal environ-

ments and issues that affect their wellbeing. Get inspired and sharpen skills for advocating for

birds and their protection. Hear scientists share insights on global warming and its consequenc-

es for Floridas extensive coastal areas. Collaborate with other environmentalists and birders

from across the region to shape policies and take an active part in saving our birds, wildlife, and

habitats. Enjoy one of Floridas best beaches while you catch up with friends, colleagues, andfellow Audubon members. Field trips will take in some of Floridas birding hot spots, so dont

forget the binoculars!

Register by September 27 and pay only $99 for all receptions, meals, programs, workshops, and

even a movie. (After September 27, this all-inclusive package is $125.) Conference costs are

underwritten by Audubon of Florida to keep participants costs to a minimum, so make plans

NOW to attend! Download the registration form and mail or fax it in today! You can also con-

tact Vicky Johnston at (305) 371-6399 ext. 134 to have a registration form mailed to you.

Book hotel accommodations directly with the Holiday Inn, and take advantage of the special

rate for Audubon Assembly participants. Oceanfront rooms are available at additional cost.

Chapter Exhibits: Exhibit space will be available for Chapters at the Assembly. Cost is free but

spaces are limited! Reserve your space by October 10, 2006 with Jacqui Sulek, Chapters Coor-

dinator at (850) 251-1297.

Volunteers are needed! Please join Audubon staff by volunteering a few hours during this excit-

ing weekend. Contact Jacqui Sulek, (850) 251-1297 with your availability.

Casual attire, please. Meeting rooms can be cool, so bring a wrap to the sessions. For field trips,

bring your sunscreen, hat, and plenty of liquids. The beach is right outside, so have bathing suit

and towel handy.

Ruddy Turnstone on beach, R. J. Wil



First Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Last Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________Spouse/Guest/First Name ________________________________________________________________________________________

Last Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________________________ State ____________ Zip ____________________________________

Phone ____________________________ Cell __________________________________ Fax ______________________________

Email ____________________________________________ Chapter/Organization ________________________________________

m YES! I would like to volunteer at the Audubon Assembly. Please reach me by m telephone m email

Special dietary needs __________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Registration Fee. Per Person.

All-inclusive package includes Thursday beachside reception, Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday lunch, and all workshops and programs.

Refund policy: Up to 30 days prior - full refund; 10 or more days prior - $50 refund. Within 10 days of Assembly - sorry, no refunds.

m $99 Early bird registration (up to Sept. 27) m $125 after September 27

m Friday Reception and Awards Banquet (only) ____ @ $40/per person = $____________

Hotel reservations are not included in Registration. Book rooms directly with Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Resort 1-800-206-2747.

TOTAL DUE $___________________

m Enclosed is my check in the amount of $_______ payable to Audubon of Florida. Charge my m VISA m Mastercard in the amount of $________

Credit Card No._____________________________________Exp. Date_______ Signature ______________________________________

Mail form to Audubon of Florida, 444 Brickell Avenue, Suite 850, Miami, FL 33131 or Fax to 305-371-6398.

FIELD TRIPS. You must reserve by October 10 for ALL trips.

No.of People No.of People

Thursday m Orlando Wetlands Park _________ m Indian River Lagoon Sunset Cruise ($25/person) _________

Friday m Jetty Park and the Canaveral Locks ($10/car) _________ m Black Point/Merritt Island NWR _________

Saturday m Lori Wilson Park _________ m Indian Mound Station Sanctuary _________

Pay field trip fees directly to operator/facility at time of event. Cash or credit cards accepted. No checks.

REGISTER NOW FOR AUDUBON ASSEMBLY 2006


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The Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough

County wishes to invite you to its first annual Environmental

Summit scheduled for Tuesday, October 10.

EPCs Executive Director, Rick Garrity, will present the newly pub-

lished State of the Environment Report. We will open the floor to

take questions, comments and concerns. This is your opportunity

to speak first-hand with EPC staff regarding our environment and

what you feel we need to be doing to safeguard it for future gen-

erations.

If you are concerned about the fragile environment in our fast

growing community, you will want to attend. Learn about the chal-

lenges we face and the accomplishments weve made as a com-

munity in preserving our natural resources in Hillsborough County.

For additional information, please contact Barbara Motte

at (813) 627-2600, extension 1008.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION OF

H ILLSBOROUGH COUNTYPRESENTS

Environmental Summit 2006

Tuesday, October 10

6:00 p.m.

Environmental Protection Commission

of Hillsborough County

Roger P. Stewart Center

3629 Queen Palm Drive

Tampa FL 33619

WHO SHOULD

ATTEND?

Homeowners Associations

Environmental GroupsCivic Groups

Concerned Citizens

Business Interests

www.TampaAudubon.org



Florida Butterfly Festival

The Florida Museum of Natural History, home

of the award-winning Butterfly Rainforest ex-

hibit, will be the host of the inaugural Florida

Butterfly Festival October 14-15, 2006.

Enjoy this destination festival which willfeature lectures by world-renowned naturalists,

expertly guided field trips, specialty vendors

and a photography contest. While enjoying the

weekend festivities, take advantage of the cul-

tural and natural beauties of Alachua County

located in the heart of North Central Florida.

For more information

visit http://www.flmnh.

ufl.edu/butterflyfest or

call (352) 846-2000

ext. 200.

13th ANNUAL MONOFILAMENT CLEANUP

Boaters still Needed!

Tampa Bays wildlife needs your help! Coordinated with Audubon of Florida, TampaBay Watch is seeking volunteer boaters to participate in a monofilament (fishing line)clean up at bird nesting islands around Tampa Bay. Volunteers will remove snarledfishing line from mangroves and shorelines at sites close to home.

Who: Volunteers with boats or kayaks. Volunteers without boats can participate;however, there is limited space.

When & Where: Boaters will receive a packet indicating your islands to clean; just go

out anytime on Saturday, October 14th.This is a great opportunity to help the precious wildlife resources for which the Tam-pa Bay area is world-renowned.

Reservations are required. If you would like to participate, please contact:[email protected]



Join us on one of our weekly departures on a journey of exploration into the heart of the worlds greatest wil-

derness - the Amazon rainforest The amount and variety of natural life here is outstanding. Youll see a prolif-

eration of wildlife, including many kinds of primates, up to 100 kinds of birds, and nocturnal wildlife such as

caimans, capybaras and common potoos. You might even see the endangered giant otter or the rare harpy eagle.

But dont just take our word for it! Join Terra Incognita ECOTOURS and see for yourself how easy wildlife

spotting can be from our elegant, classically styled riverboat. She is small enough to traverse the narrow water-

ways that run into the jungle, and our excursion boats take you even further still.

Throughout the cruise on the Amazon River and its tributaries youll be accompanied by expert naturalist

guides, they are the friendliest, most knowledgeable and most experienced people youll ever meet, with an

uncanny ability to find wildlife and the desire to share their knowledge. An Ecotour Leader will also be with

each group from the moment they land in Lima, to the time you depart. If you have never been to the Amazon,

we certainly hope youll join us this year on our most sought-after journey. Please join us on this voyage to the

heart of the Amazon rainforest.

For each person that enrolls, a donation will be made to the World Wildlife Fund to support their importantwork in the Amazon River basin.

The tours run weekly, from Friday to the following Sunday. Please see the attached itinerary. The cost per

person is $3,499 (U.K.1,859).

Terra Incognita Ecotours pledges to engage in responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environ-

ment and improves the well-being of local people. Terra Incognita Ecotours currently has scheduled departures

to Madagascar, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea and Belize. New ecotours to New Zealand

are in the planning stages. For more information please visit: www.ecotours.com

Amazon River Cruise: The Greatest Voyage in Natural HistoryTerra Incognita Ecotours announces a new ecotour to the Amazon River

Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc. an-

nounces a new and exciting offering: a

one-week cruise on the Amazon River.

The rainforest canopy of the Amazon

River shelters the richest and most

diverse ecosystem on Earth, making itthe perfect place for anyone who cares

about nature. We begin in Iquitos, the

worlds furthest inland seaport, and

travel along the Amazons tributaries,

going deep into the Pacaya-Samiria

National Reserve - the largest wetland

reserve in the world. These are places

that others simply dont go. On our

many excursions, well look for the

Amazons myriad forms of wildlife

- monkeys, birds, sloths and othermammals, pink and gray dolphins and

much more.


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TAMPA AUDUBON MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

YES!I want to join the Tampa & National Audubon Societies at the special introductoryrate of $25 and save over 35% off regular dues!

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

City: ______________________________________ State: ____________ ZIP Code: ____________________

Phone: __________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________

Please make your checks payable to: Tampa Audubon Society

Mail to:

Tampa Audubon Society

P.O. Box 320025Tampa, FL 33679

I would like to include an additional contribution of $________ to the Tampa Audubon Society.

Your membership supports vital conservation issues. As a member you will receive the bi-monthly Audubon

Magazine, the quarterly Florida Naturalist Magazine and the bi-monthly Avocet Newsletter.

National Audubon occasionally makes its membership list available to carefully selected organizations. To have

your name ommitted from this list, check here.

Go tohttp://cafepress.com/tpaaudubon/

Board of Directors Openings

Tampa Audubon Society currently has vacant positions on our Board of Directors. Our Board typically meets once a month for 1-2 hours and discusses many issues that are vital to our ChapterIf you are interested in helping to chart the direction of our Chapter, please consider serving on ou

Board of Directors.

The Board is also looking for volunteers to helpwith various projects such as fund raising activities, hospitality, membership management, lettewriting, representing the Chapter at communityevents, etc.

Whatever your unique skill or interest mightbe, we need you!

Please contact Stanley Kroh, President,at 228-4257 or [email protected]

for more information.

Documents

October-November 2006 Avocet Newsletter Tampa Audubon Society