may-jun 2009 avocet newsletter tampa audubon society

8/9/2019 May-Jun 2009 Avocet Newsletter Tampa Audubon Society

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TAMPA AUDUBON SOCIETY

Volume XX. Issue 5 www.tampaaudubon.org May/June 2009

To conserve and restore our ecosystem

focusing on birds,wildlife, and their

habitats, througheducation, advocacyand community in-

volvement.

NEW MEETING PLACE

Century Buick Pontiac GMC Training Room

3308 W. Hillsborough Ave.

S.W. corner of W. Hillsborough Ave

and Lincoln Ave.

Second Thursday of the month

Mix, Mingle & Munch at 7 PM

Meeting at 7:15

Feather Circle

John Charles Miller 2006

Its day! Carolina Wren bosses, Wake up! Wake up!Pecka-peck of Downy Woodpecker

Rattle-rasp of Red-bellied WoodpeckerHappy trees welcome a cleaning

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers harvest insect monsters fromspreading oaks

American Goldfinches hog a swinging, swaying feederTitmice and Carolina Chickadees race and grab seeds a

big guys leaveJaybird chuckles and screams; fake hawk calls to exciteMockingbird peace-singing everyones song

Sunny and hotHummingbird protects Firespike and Jatropha

Mini-screams and zoomingWaits patiently until bees finish.

High and elegant in red maple treeGreat Crested Flycatcher watches all with soft tweep

Higher, Black Vultures cruiseLooking, looking, looking, looking

Twilight, fat hummingbird leaves flowers to hummermoths

Deeper Twilight, sweet chirps of Cardinal pair finishinwork

Night, soft trilled whirrsEastern Screech Owl begins hunt

Moon says, My turnMorning will wait

Check out Johns web-site

[email protected]

May 14 - Landscaping for

Birds, Butterflies & Wildlife

Shirley and Greg Williams, owners ofWildbirdsUnlimited, will offer the best tips and advice onattracting wildlife, especially birds and butterflies,to your own yard. Dont miss this exciting pro-gram on converting your environment to habi-

tat!

June 11 - Tampa Audubon Photography Club:

The Art of Nature

Joe Bailey and Dan Harnley lead Tampa AudubonPhotography Clubs artists as they share their best pic-tures and offer insights in nature interpretation. Everyyear, this presentation is our most engaging meeting.

This is also our summer Covered Dish Dinner, so

bring your favorite dish to share.


2/10

CAROLYNS CORNER

How are you doing in the drought? Having had very little rain recently, the lakes, ponds, rivers,and streams in our area have not been refilled. The lakes are almost two feet below normal. TheAlafia River has only 2% of its normal flow, while the Hillsborough River has an extremely lowflow. The Floridan Aquifer, our underground water, has dropped two feet below normal. Our de-salination plant is not even close to providing the water needs of the Tampa Bay area each day.

So, where is the water going to come from? Tampa Bay Water is expecting to pump more waterfrom the well fields that supply ground water from the aquifer than permitted. These well fields of-fer pristine habitat for flora and fauna. This extreme pumping will damage wetlands, lakes, rivers,springs, and, therefore, will impact wildlife. As we continue into the worst of our dry season, wewill be drying up our lakes and springs on which Floridas wildlife depends. Lakes can empty into

the aquifer if their bottoms give way into the underlying void that used to contain aquifer water. Allthe contaminants from the lakes will suddenly empty into our drinking water. Springs will have lesswater flow from the decreased aquifer, causing rivers and streams to have less flow, or to dry up.Plants and animals alike will suffer from our greed for water.

What can we do? We need to drastically reduce our personal water usage. I challenge you to becreative!Dont waste a drop! If you have a lawn, let it go dormant, or water only on your assignedday, and then, only if it really needs it. You might consider putting in a Florida native landscape,that, once established, wont require watering. Replace your lawn with native plants when the rainyseason returns this summer. Use Florida-friendly landscaping principles! Think about using rainbarrels to collect rainwater from your roof to use for watering plants and seedlings. Repair any leak-

ing faucets, hoses, or sprinklers.

What can we do indoors? A garbage disposal requires a lot of water to operate properly. Use a dis-posal only when necessary. Use your automatic dishwasher only for full loads. Limit the time waterruns while taking a shower. Install a low-flow showerhead. Take a five-minute or less shower. Turnoff the water while washing your hair or shaving in the shower. Take only shallow baths. Dont letthe water run while washing your hands. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin withsoapy water and fill the rinsing sink or basin one-third to one-half full. Avoid letting the water runcontinuously in the rinsing sink. When doing the laundry, run only full loads in the washing ma-chine. Running the machine when its full will save you time, energy, and water. Turn off the waterwhile brushing your teeth. Avoid using your toilet as a wastebasket. Tissues, insects, and other

things belong in a trash can, not the toilet. Install a low-flow toilet or place a brick or a two-literbottle filled with water in the tank to reduce the water in the flush. Think about every drop of wa-ter you plan to use, and determine if it is really necessary!

Water is a precious resource that we need for survival, but have taken for granted too long. Thewithdrawal of water from our sources should never exceed the natural replacement rate. If itdoes, we run the risk of running out of water. Lets be part of the solution, not the problem!


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TAMPA AUDUBON SOCIETY www.tampaaudubon.org

FIELD TRIPS - all bird-watchers, beginners to expert

Free and open to the public, check our web site for updates

Sun May 3 - Myakka River and Celery Fields, Mary Keith, 935-6115, [email protected]. 8AM

till after dark. Will carpool from McDonalds on Rt 60 and I-75, will bird Myakka River State Park(admission charge) for waterbirds, nature walk for warblers, then Celery Fields for shore birds andgrassland birds, whistling ducks, will stay till dark for barn owls.

Sat May 9 - Birding by Ear at Lettuce Lake Park, Russ and Gail Kruetzman, 986-1033,[email protected]. 9AM Visitors Center, done by 11:30

Sun May 10 - Coffepot Bayou Bird Island Boat Trip, RESERVATIONS NEEDED, with St PeteAudubon, call Alice Tenney, 727-894-2062. 6:30 PM, Meet at St Petersburg Pier by Bait House at thefar end of the pier, just in front of the large building.

Sat May 16, Orlando Wetlands, Mary Keith, 935-6115, [email protected]. 7AM, IHOP onFowler Avenue just west of I-75, carpool. This is a 2 hr walk on flat dikes, open and sunny, but greatwaterbirds, least bittern, nesting stilts. Bring water, snacks, lunch, sunscreen and bug repellant

Sat May 30 - Hillsborough River Canoe trip, Carolyn McKinney, 884-0578,[email protected]. Check website for details.

Sat June 6 - Butterfly Walk at Lettuce Lake Park, Russ and Gail Kruetzman, 986-1033,[email protected].

Sat June 13 - Beginning Birding, Lettuce Lake, Bill Lamoureux, 839-2742, [email protected]

9AM, Visitor Center, done by 11:30

Sat June 20 - Gibbens Preserve, Rob Heath, 671-0957, [email protected], 8AM, parking lotfor Gibbens Preserve, 8 miles east of Rt 301 on Boyette Rd, on North side of road, Bring water.

Sat June 27 - Lake Park Bird and Nature Walk, Carolyn McKinney, 884-0578,[email protected]. Meet at restroom parking lot at 8AM. Bring water, sunscreen, andinsect repellent . Done by 10:30.

Volunteers Needed to Help Maintain Purple Martin Condos at Flatwoods Park

Flatwoods Park has 2 purple martin condos that have been in the park for years and they are in need ofmaintenance and monitoring. If you have any interest in volunteering for this project, please call RangerEddie Anderson at (813) 917-6523. Eddie would be grateful for any help.

Submitted by Mary Miller


4/10

SLATE OF OFFICERS/DIRECTORS FOR 2009-2010

President: Carolyn McKinney1st VP: Tammy Lyons2nd VP: vacantTreasurer: Andrea College*

Recording Secretary: Gayle Parsons*Corresponding Secretary: Sherry Keller

Directors:3 to be newly elected or elected for an additional term (of two years)Pat LewisJoel ClevelandStan Kroh*

3 which are at mid-term (term will conclude in one year, and as such do not require re-election atthis time)

Tim BonsackMary KeithJoAnne Hartzler

* = not confirmed

Write in votes will also be allowed at the May election.

Birds and Climate Change: Ecological Disruption in Motion

Audubon recently released a new study using Christmas Bird Count Data. These analyses wouldnot have been possible without the hard work of CBC participants and the many chapters that or-ganize and lead counts. We thank all that have participated over the years for their effort. Thestudy explored if birds had shown significant shifts in their winter distribution over the last 40years. As we all know, birds are good indicators of the environment. We think birds provide im-portant information to people on changes in the environment and human quality of life. Audubonhas a goal of working bird indicators into regular reviews of how the environment in the US is do-

ing and hopefully helping drive policy and funding that benefits the environment and birds. Theseanalyses of the CBC dataset on winter distribution are part of that effort.

The report,Birds and Climate Change, is available on Audubons web site at http://www.audubon.org/bird/bacc/cbcanalysis.html and provides more details on the analyses and re-sults.

We will continue to undertake scientific analyses of these data to learn more about the status ofbirds and conservation needs. Please consider donating through the web site to help us continueusing the CBC data to move a conservation agenda.


5/10

Beginning Birding at Lettuce Lake, March 14Beginning Birding at Lettuce Lake, March 14Beginning Birding at Lettuce Lake, March 14Beginning Birding at Lettuce Lake, March 14

By Ceci LaDuca

March 14th was perfect birding weather, especially as the recent time change forced us out an hourearlier into the cool, clear morning. The new green growth on the trees provided more hiding placesfor the small birds, but was lovely nonetheless.

As we began our walk, Northern Parulas teased us from seemingly every tree, but none were actuallyseen until the end of our walk. We also heard cardinals and saw a Carolina wren, and a boat-tailedgrackle perched on the very top of a tall cypress tree.

At the observation tower we saw many waterbirds: white and glossy ibis, little blue heron, limpkin, ro-seate spoonbill, greater yellow legs, great egret, tri-colored heron, snowy egret, kingfishers and manyvocal osprey flying to and from the nest. A passerby reported that she had seen wood ducks earlier, butwe did not see any. One phoebe was spotted in a tree near the water. Also seen were two small gators,several turtles and many jumping fish!

Farther on we saw a red-shouldered hawk at close range, and a swallow-tailed kite. On the return walkwe saw a palm warbler, titmice, and finally the elusive parula.

ARC at the Park

Visitor Center at Lettuce Lake

Volunteer training is available for those who are willing to invest four hours a month tostaff the Visitor Center. The only skills needed are a love of the environment and a

friendly smile.

Photos by Rick Clewis

Northern Parula Great blue heron Osprey


6/10

Audubon Academy 2009

Pat Lewis, Carolyn McKinney, and Mary Miller attended the Audubon Academy 2009 on March 27 29. Thethree-day event was held at the FFA Leadership and Training Center in Haines City, Florida. The meeting washeld at the FFA lodge which is located on Lake Pierce near Catfish Creek. There were some very inspiring speak-ers, such as Eric Draper, Director of Policy, for Florida Audubon whose topic was Inspiring the Power of Grass-roots Conservation Policy. Other topics included Solar Power to the People, by Sarah Ridley and Pete Johnson,

Establishing Wildflower Roads, by Terry Zinn, and Does Your Chapter Need a Makeover? by Dr. Stuart Lang-ton.

While the theme was educational, the Academy wasnt all meetings. We also had time for several fieldtrips including a hayride in the nearby Florida scrub, where we looked for the Florida scrub jay. Therewere also field trips along Catfish Creek and a great pontoon boat ride on Lake Pierce where we spottedmany wading birds, as well as ospreys, eagles, and turkeys. The highlight of Saturday evening was ajam session by local musicians who played many songs that were easy to sing along to. It was a beauti-ful way to end the conference outside on a clear, cool, Florida evening sitting on the deck overlookingLake Pierce.

Pat, Carolyn, and Mary thank Tampa Audubon for paying the $25 registration fee for this great event.

Were looking forward to going again next year and hope some other Tampa Audubon members willjoin us.

Submitted by Mary Miller

Audubon magazine

photographyawardsBirds in Focus

In association with

natures best photography

Parlay your passion for birds into a dream trip to Peru,

Australia, or Honduras, or win professional photo gear, inAudubons first photography awards. Each participant can

submit up to 10 bird images, so you have 10 chances to win.Your winning entry will appear in the January-February

issue of Audubon and in Natures Best Photography. Heresyour chance to see your images soar to the top. Enter now!

Enter: May 15 to July 15, 2009Categories: Professional, Amateur, Youth (ages 13-17)

Details: www.audubonmagazinephotoawards.org


7/10

Healthy Yard Pledge I pledge to:

Reduce pesticide use

Conserve water

Protect water quality Remove Invasive exotic plants

Plant native species

Support birds and other wildlife on my property

Bring Joy to Your Yard

Go to - http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/ to visit

Healthy Yards

Neighborhood Conservation

Regional Resources Kidspace

Take the Audubon Healthy Yard Pledge

ECO QIUZ

1. ancient forest friendly

2. biogas

3. eco

4. eco-footprint

5. eco-friendly

6. green

7. recycled

8. renewable energy

9. sustainable material

10. volatile organic compounds

A. A gas fuel sourced from the decomposition of waste, converting a wastestream and potent greenhouse gases into an energy source.

B. Anything pertaining to the positive interaction between man-made processesand the delicate organic balance found in our environment.

C. Organic chemical compounds that have high enough vapor pressures thatunder normal conditions, allow them to significantly vaporize and enter theatmosphere, potentially inflicting damage on the environment.

D. A philosophy of not contributing to the destruction of ancient and endan-gered forests in the production of paper materials, manufactured with a highpercentage of post-consumer waste and no virgin fiber from old growth,ancient or endangered forests.

E. Manufactured from used or waste materials that have been reprocessed forfurther use.

F. Having minimal to no harmful or threatening impact on the natural environ-ment.

G. The total measurable effect that human related activities have had on theorganic life in Earths environment.

H. A philosophy of creating eco-friendly products, using sustainable technolo-gies that will not deplete our planet of all its remaining resources.

I. Materials that are generated from resources that are managed in a way thatthey are, for all practical purposes, sustainable over an extended period oftime.

J. Energy that is generated from regenerative resources or, for all practicalpurposes, energy that cannot be exhausted, such as wind, water, andsunlight.


8/10

Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland

article & photo By George Kaye

My wife and I didnt know what to expect whenwe went to the Circle B Bar Reserve. I wasbowled over by the birding. There are 6 miles odikes and trails, and a nice nature center

manned by volunteers.

Im sure this is old news to many Audubonmembers, but if you havent been there yet, youwont regret going.

The waterbirds, wading birds and raptors wereoverwhelming. There is an active eagle nest. Idont believe Im exaggerating when I say I sawalmost a thousand white pelicans there. I hadput my digital camera on video to pan the mass

of pelicans, since a wide angle would only havecaptured a portion of them.

Songbirds were plentiful. I saw my first Marshwrens and a meadowlark. Birds werent theonly critters there. I had two separate sightingsof wild hogs and alligators were all over theplace.

I went back again, this time I brought my bike. Iwas able to cover the whole trail network this

way, and a few extra side trails. Ill go backagain.

Directions from Tampa

Take I-4 to Lakeland exit Rt. 98. Go south allthe way through Lakeland. When you pass thePolk Parkway, begin looking for SR 540. TurnLeft on 540 and go a few miles to the entranceon the south side of the road.

Did you know that the meadowlark has de-

clined 86% in the last 40 years?

Flatwoods Park Bluebird Field Trip

By Mary Miller

Everywhere A Bluebird

On the beautiful Saturday morning of March 21, four-teen eager birders began the search for Eastern blue-birds at Flatwoods Park on Morris Bridge Road. Wedidnt have to look very far, as a pair of bluebirds wasflying in and around the bluebird box near the rangerstation. That box is equipped with a small wirelessvideo camera installed inside the box that transmits anybird action to a TV screen in the ranger office. The pairof bluebirds that we were watching had begun buildinga nest in the box. While watching the bluebirds, we also

observed other birds, including a northern parula, awhite-eyed vireo, and several red-bellied woodpeckers.

Afterwards we took a hike into the park and our leader,Mary Miller, opened several bluebird boxes for us toobserve nests and eggs of the Carolina chickadee andbluebirds. On the hike, we saw 26 species of birds in-cluding ground doves and palm, pine, and yellow-rumped warblers. In addition, we saw several otherbluebirds on our hike.

The Flatwoods Park Bluebird Trail has been in exis-tence for over 20 years, but has only been regularlymonitored for the last five by Mary Miller, with the helpof her husband, John. Last year was a bumper crop forbluebirds with 119 babies fledged out of the total of152, which included Carolina chickadees and tufted tit-mice. The trail is one of over 400 throughout NorthAmerica that was built to help the declining bluebirdpopulation rebound.


9/10

Century Buick Pontiac GMCUse of their facilities for

Audubon Meetings

Donations to Tampa Audubon Society

Joan Hackett

Susan Ogle

David N. Smith

Mary M. Trieschmann

Maria Antonieta Riveros-Revello

Joan Hackett50th new member for 08-09

Ann Osborne

Debbie Melms

Mark Javer

Need help with bird Identification?

e-mail Bill Lamoureux at:

[email protected]

ECO QUIZ ANSWERS

1. D, 2. A, 3. B, 4. G, 5. F, 6.H, 7. E, 8. J, 9. I,

Tampa Bay Estuary Board Endorses Model Fertilizer Ordinance

TBEPs Policy Board in November approved a model ordinance regulating urbanfertilizer use in the Tampa Bay region. The ordinance is intended to reduce nitrogenpollution from stormwater flowing into the bay and other surface waters.Local governments are encouraged, but not required to adopt the ordinance, which: Restricts application of Nitrogen and Phosphorous on lawn and landscape plants from June 1-September30,the summer rainy season. Prohibits application of Nitrogen or Phosphorous fertilizer within 10 feet of a water body.

Restricts the retail sale of lawn fertilizers containing Nitrogen and Phosphorous during the summer. Establishes a licensing and certification program for lawn care professionals. Urges local governments to provide information about the nitrogen content of reclaimed water to custom-ers using reclaimed for lawn irrigation.Nitrogen is the primary pollutant in Tampa Bay. Residential runoff, including fertilizer residues, accounts forabout 32% of the total amount of nitrogen carried in stormwater to the bay. TBEP research indicates that acompliance level of 50% with the ordinance could reduce the bays nitrogen burden by 84 tons per year.The model ordinance, and supporting documents, can be viewed at:http://www.tbeptech.org/Fertilizer/FertilizerHomePage.html


10/10

JOIN TAMPA AUDUBON

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

I want to join the Tampa, Florida and National Audubon Societies at the special

introductory rate of $25.

Name: __________________________________________Address: ________________________________________City: __________________________ State:____________Zip Code:_____________ Phone:_____________________E-mail: _________________________________________

Please make your checks payable to:

Tampa Audubon Society

Mail to: Tampa Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 320025

Tampa, FL 33679

Your membership supports vital conservation issues. As a member you will receivethe bi-monthly Audubon Magazine, the quarterly Florida Naturalist Magazine andhave access to the bi-monthly Avocet Newsletter at www.tampaaudubon.org.

I would like to include an additional contribution of $________ to the Tampa Audu-bon Society.

( ) I would like to help my local chapter. I have a special interest and/or skills in:( ) Local conservation issues( ) Membership promotion( ) Education/Audubon Adventures( ) Exhibits at fairs/festivals( ) Publicity/Fundraising( ) Website/Computers

National Audubon occasionally makes its membership list available to carefully se-lected organizations. To have your name omitted from this list please check here: ( )

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may-jun 2009 avocet newsletter tampa audubon society

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