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INSIDE

FWC contacts Page 2

New Members Page 3

Where’s yourgarbage?

Page 4

Audubon PicnicPage 5

Walk in the ParksPage 6

Join Us!Page 7

Upcoming EventsPage 8

Member Alert! Recind permits to destroy gopher tortoisesMarion County Audubon Society has sent the following letter to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission:

“In as much as the Commission has raised the status of “In as much as the Commission has raised the status of “the gopher tortoise to “threatened” to acknowledge its current danger of extinction, we earnestly request that you also recind all permits to “destroy” that have already been issued to developers which we understand are valid in perpetuity.”Marion Audubon Conservation Committee member Margy Bielling said the letter also asks for the list of current “permit to destroy” holders. It is hoped these developers could be ap-proached one on one. Your support matters. Write a personal letter to each FWC Commissioner ..........................see Page 2

Marion County Audubon Society,Inc.P.O. Box 5616Ocala, FL 34478

Non-Profi t Org.U.S.Postage

PaidOcala, FL

Permit No. 255

Mark these datesApril 2008☛ Thursday, April 3 & Friday, April 4 -Nature Quest Wildlife Days at Silver

Springs attraction. Audubon has a booth. Hours 9-4. Volunteers needed. Call Ron Broman 861-4560. Come support this event.☛ Saturday, April 12 - 8 a.m Bird walk at the Forty-Ninth Avenue Trail Head. Call Carolyn at (352) 622-2850. ☛ Tuesday, April 15 - 7 p.m. Audubon Meeting at Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall, Ocala. Speakers talk about alternatives to managing our garbage mountain. Refreshments served.☛ Tuesday, April 22 - A trip to O’Leno State Park in Alachua County. Meet in

the parking lot of the park at 8 a.m. Call Carolyn at (352) 622-2850. May 2008☛Saturday, May 10 - The annual Audubon picnic you’ve been waiting for. Fun starts at 8 a.m. if you want to paddle down Juniper Creek (call Erica 352-546-5718). Picnic at noon at Juniper Springs Recreation Area. Entrance fee: $4.26 per person.

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Birds of a feather fl ock together Marion County Audubon Society, Inc.offers a local chapter membership optionto those who wish to be involved in Marion County’s environmental issues and activities. Local Audubon membership includesa monthly (during the winter) issue of TheScrub Jay, Marion Audubon’s newsletter. The newsletter has information on meetings, programs, activities, issues foryour involvement and guided fi eld tripsto identify native birds, fl ora and fauna. Dues are $10 annually. A bargain! Three easy ways to join:1. Go online and sign up at: www.marioncountyaudubon.com2. Print the online form and mail it to us.

Date__________

Name__________________________Address________________________City________________Zip_________Phone___________Fax____________E mail_________________________$10 membership paid by____cash ___check ____new ___renewalPrior Audubon chapter elsewhere?_____yes____noAre you willing to serve an active role?_____YES ____no

3. Use the form above, and mail it to: Marion County Audubon Society, Inc. P.O. Box 5616 Ocala, Fl 34478

We need you now!

We are on the Web at www.marioncountyaudubon.com

Go where the birds are . . .www.fl oridabirdingtrail.com

Send letters asking to recind all current permits to destroy gopher tortoisesLetters to individuals work best. Here are the names of FWC’s Commissioners:

Rodney Barreto, ChairmanBrian S. Yablonski, Vice ChairmanKathy BarcoRichard CorbettDwight SstephensonRonald M. BergeronKenneth W. Wright

Commissioners meet fi ve times a year.the remaining 2008 meeting dates are:April 9-10, TallahasseeJune 11-2, Dania BeachSept. 17-19, JacksonvilleDec. 3-4, Key West

To fi nd out the agenda items, log ontohttp://www.myFWC.comthe e mail address for Commissioners:Commissioners@MyFWC.com

Send correspondence to the Commissioners in care of:Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission620 South Meridian StreetTallahassee, Fl 32399-1600

The gopher tortoise is a keystone species of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Over 360 other species use gopher tortoise burrows.To know more, visithttp://edis.ifas.ufl .edu/UW048

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Offi cers/Board 2007-2008 Marion County Audubon Society, Inc.Co-PresidentsRobert Stenstream & Guy MarwickSecretaryRosalie CoynerAsst. Sec. & Volunteer CoordinatorDeborah ApplingTreasurerLarry SuttonCommunications Chair & PublicityLucy Tobias (352) 816-1251Communications TeamSandra Fernandez, Teresa DarnellJane Pope (E-mail distribution)Earth Day CoordinatorVince DrudingEducationRon Broman & Jim BucknerNewsletter & MailingsBetty Olson

WebsiteJim YaichProgram ChairErika Ritter (352) 546-5718Field TripsCarolyn Retey (352) 622-2850ConservationMargy Bielling, Judy GreenbergDolores SassserBirding GuideJeannie KonickiData Base & Membership ChairRon & Vicky StappTelephone Membership TeamDot Hull, Jane EbertsSybil BrennanHospitality TeamDot Hull & Greta Archer

What kind of bird is pictured

above?

(answer on P. 5)

Hello and Welcome New Marion County Audubon Members

OcalaJean De YoungRobin SeymourJames StoneSusan CesariniMary ClarkElizabeeth SchnitzlerKaren DaileyLaverta LopezKelli ParksJo LapplingAlice FisherEris MazzarelliBarbara EdwardsLawrence ChippendaleIgnacio Leon

Fort McCoyThomas Poots

AnthonyJanice Bresnick

ReddickLinda Bosnjak

BelleviewDorothy Caron

Silver SpringsBonnie BordenMarlene Metz

Summerfi eldMr & Mrs. Don SeyferthThomas Colbert

“It Starts In Parks”Marion County Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoringNature Walks in Marion County Parkson the fi rst and last Tuesdays of the month.

Bring a hat, insect repellent, water andbinoculars if you have them.Walks begin at 8:30 a.m.

Here are the dates:April 1 - Marshall Swamp TrailheadMay 6 - Moss BluffMay 27- Ocklawaha Visitors Center TrailJune 3 - Silver Springs Shores Park

For more information, call Cathy Norris at 671-8560

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A Cruising Down the RiverA Cruising Down the RiverA Cruising Down the RiverA Cruising Down the RiverA Cruising Down the RiverA Cruising Down the RiverA Cruising Down the RiverYou are invited aboard The Anhinga Spirit.

Experience the Ocklawaha River.The wildest Outstanding Florida Waterway.

Trips are custom designed, educational and fun!Licensed by USCG

352-546-5718 (home) 352-817-7820 (cell)captainerikaritter@yahoo.com

captainerikaritter@yahoo.com

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Do you know where your trash is?No, not in the can, after it leaves your house? Here’s shocking news - your trash is being shoved around by machines at Baseline Landfi ll & it isn’t going away.

Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m. our Audubon meetinggets trashy. Dr. Tim Townsend, UF professor of Environmental Engineering and Licensed En-gineer Jones Edmunds will discuss handling of Mount Trashmore. The county is looking at incin-eration. Is this sthe best and only alternative? What about toxic ash? They will

discuss these & alternatives - discuss these & alternatives - collecting methane for power, collecting methane for power, toxic materials and waste toxic materials and waste reduction methods of bio- reduction methods of bio- reactors. A bio-reactor landfi ll reactors. A bio-reactor landfi ll operates to rapidly transform operates to rapidly transform and degrade organic waste. and degrade organic waste. With effi cient design and With effi cient design and operating a landfi ll’s life can operating a landfi ll’s life can be extended by as much as be extended by as much as 20 years. 20 years.

Marion County Audubon meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings start at 7 p.m., GraceEpiscopal Church Parish Hall.Refreshments are served afterwards and free pamphlets are available for many Audubon projects.Bring family, friends and neighbors.

Audubon celebrates with a paddle and a picnicMay 10, Annual PicnicWow! Another year has gone. Enjoy the beautiful walks around the sand boils andsee results of CCC early efforts that createdthe picnic area at Juniper Springs Recreational Area in Ocala National Forest. Have a refreshing swim or just relax. We will present our new program chairs for 2008-2009. Want to paddle?Meet at 8 a.m. at the canoe launch at Juniper Springs Park for a very enjoyable paddle down Juniper Creek to Highway 19 take out (about six miles). Please call Erika (352-546-5718) if wanting to participate and toarrange for shuttle of personal boats. We will need to leave boat transportvehicles at take out area. Bring your own kayak or canoe or rent one (cost is $33.50 plus $20 cash deposit, includes shuttle). Paddlers must packfood & drink in non-disposable containers(we may get to lunch late).Picnic timeThe serious eating starts at noon at Juniper Springs Recreational Area on Highway 40. Look for Audubon table. Marion Audubon provides main dish. Bring your own plates, drinks, favorite side dishes. Entrance fee: $4.26 per person.