April 2006 Shorelines Newsletter Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
Content
APRIL 2006
VOLUME XXXV, NUMBER 3
The Newsletter of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
NABA Choctaw Plant Sale Disabled birder fieldtrips Charlie Parkel Memorial Audubon Eventures Carl Hiaasen’s “Hoot” CAS T-Shirt Sale Finding Horseshoe Crabs
2 2 2 2 3 3 3
A P R I L 2 2 — E A R T H D AY B E A C H C L E A N U P
Earth Day Beach Cleanup April 22, 2006 8:00AM-11:00AM "Free to volunteers while supplies last: Tshirt, Soda, Snacks. Volunteers: Please wear closed shoes, gloves, cap and sunscreen. Citizen Okaloosa Environmental Council members organize a spring and fall beach cleanup each year. The Council also maintains an Adopt-A-County Road and Adopt-A-Dune litter control program.
Since 1994, Council volunteers donate their time and efforts to Okaloosa Aqualab in monthly sampling of the water quality at 22sites along Choctawhatchee Bay, with analysis by FDEP. A volunteer Okaloosa Offshore Red Tide water monitoring program tests offshore Gulf waters at the request and direction of the Florida Marine Research Institute. The Council's Coastal Cleanup efforts are sponsored by the Tourist Development Council and Okaloosa County Commission.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
CAS monthly meetings are held the First Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at OWC Niceville Learning Resources Center (LRC), Room 131. Non members are welcome. April 6: FWC fisheries and wildlife biologist Bradley Smith will present results from 2005 survey of rooftop nesting seabirds in NW Florida with a special focus on Okaloosa and Walton counties. May 4: Bird Buddy Lenny Fennimore will give us a photographic slide presentation about Eglin’s Burrowing Owls and update us on the research being conducted by USF. Sign up for a field trip to follow after the nesting season Fieldtrips April 1: Bird Walk in Bluewater Bay area and Lake Pippin. Meet at 7:30am at BWB Winn Dixie. Phil and Carole Goodyear, 8972666 April 10-23: Spring Bird Banding, Ft. Morgan AL. Car Pools can be arranged. Bob Penhollow, 729-2602 April 21-23: Alabama Ornithological Society Spring Meeting. Car Pools can be arranged. Bob Penhollow, 7292602 May 6: Bird Walk to Shoal Sanctuary Mossy Head with Bob & Chris Larsen. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Niceville’s Turkey Creek. Bob Penhollow, 729-2602 May 13: North American Spring Migration Count. Coordinator Donald M. Ware. Call Jean Williams, 897-5473 to volunteer.
Join us at the following beach cleanup locations: 1. Okaloosa Island - Beasley Park (Hwy 98 East of Brooks Bridge) 2. Beach Walk East of Surfdweller (Santa Rosa Blvd.) 3. Henderson Beach State Park (Hwy 98 East of Destin) 4. Rocky Bayou State Park (Hwy 20 W of Bluewater Bay) 5. Destin Harbor: Call Mark Walker Phone: (850) 650-3271
Event: Wakulla Wildlife Festival - Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Event Description: A fun filled day of activities, tours and displays devoted to Florida's native wildlife and their habitats. Tours also offered to other wildlife areas April 20-22. This is a county wide festival with multiple organizations participating. Event Time: Saturday, April 20, 21, 22, 9 am to 4 pm Contact Info: (850)224-5950 http://www.wakullawildlifefestival.org/
FOS Spring 2006 Meeting in Tallahassee
Reserve your rooms The Spring meeting of the Florida Ornithological Society now by calling 850-3867500 and tell the lodge will be held at you are with FOS. Tall Timbers Research Station Saturday field trips and and co-hosted by the a special evening Apalachee Audubon Society banquet presentation April 21 - April 23. by Dr. David W. A special rate of $89.00 per Johnston and provides a night, until April 7th is unique look at the offered at Cabot Lodge. history of ornithology in Florida. Space at the banquet is limited, so sign up now to reserve your spot.
Local organizers Jim Cox ([email protected]) and Sally Jue ([email protected]).
CAS is dedicated to the protection of bird and wildlife habitat, environmental education, and a greater appreciation of Northwest Florida’s natural beauty.
Page 2
VOLUME XXXV, NUMBER 3
NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLY ASSOCIATION’S CHOCTAW PLANT SALE
The Choctaw Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association is pleased to announce its Annual Butterfly Seminar and Plant Sale. NABA will join the Niceville Public Library in bringing guest author, Rick Cech, to present his new book "Butterflies of the East Coast; An Observer's Guide". The event will take place on April 15 2006 at the Niceville Community Center on Partin Drive in Niceville. The plant sale will begin at 8:00am with quality plants provided by Niceville Garden Center. All plants will be butterfly attractors that grow well in local gardens. At 9:30 plant sales will be suspended for the author's photo presentation and will resume at 10:30 until noon. Rick Cech is a highly respected author, naturalist, and photographer. He has co-authored several titles of note:The National Audubon Society Regional Guide to Florida (1998), The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior (2001), and National Audubon Society Interactive CDROM Guide to No rth American Birds (1996). H e w r o t e " A Distributional Checklist of the Butterflies and Skippers of the New York City Area" (1993) and his photos have been featured in a variety of books, magazines and exhibits. He has been a frequent contributor of articles and photographs to American Butterflies, and edited "The Anglewing," an early NABA publication. Cech will be available for book signing throughout the morning. Local gardening author and columnist, Marie Harrison, will also be on hand to sign copies of her brand new book, "Groundcovers for the South."
There will be a raffle for prizes including a "Ready-to-Plant Butterfly Garden," books and other unique butterfly items. All proceeds of the sale and raffle will benefit NABA Choctaw. NABA is a non-profit o r g a n i z a t i o n that encourages the enjoyment and conservation of butterflies through education. For more information contact MaryAnn at 729-2893 or email
[email protected].
Field Trips for Disabled Birders in Maine
The American Birding Association has become aware of the need for modified field trips designed for birders with limited mobility or limited endurance. Therefore, for the first time ever, the 2006 convention in Bangor, Maine, through the Physical Limitations Track, will offer three such trips. Two of these trips will focus on land birds. The disabled birders will join the rest of the ABA group for the third trip, which will be a boat trip.
For detailed information about this June 19-25, 2006, convention, please visit the website
www.americanbirding.org
or Darlene Smyth at
[email protected]
Charlie Parkel Memorial
We are extremely thankful for the donations we have gotten to date. CAS has set a goal of $1500 and these funds will be matched by The Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks! We will continue to accept donations for the Charlie Parkel Memorial up to and through May, 2006. The memorial committee feels that we will be able to have a very nice memorial placed at Rocky Bayou State Park. In consideration and to be decided by the committee are: A gazebo with birding information available, a plaque with Charlie's image on it, and the history of what he did for the park. A bench placed at the gazebo and possibly another at his favorite site along the trail. We will announce after May exactly what the memorial is, when it will be finished and plan a dedication ceremony. Thanks to… Pat Baker, Robin Stiles, Lenny Fenimore, Carole Goodyear, and Bob Penhollow.
AUDUBON EVENTURES
Discover the sights and sounds of nature at night with AUDUBON EVENTURE’S. Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters will be guiding FREE Night Walks for Choctawhatchee Audubon Society on the FIRST FRIDAY of the month. Excluding December, January, June and July. Programs will last approximately 1 hour. All are invited but the focus will be on ages 4 to 10. We will explore for elusive creatures such as fox, owls, frogs and even bats! Call Nonie for Times and Locations at 862-9588 or send her an email.
April 7th: Grace Brown Nature Trail, Hurlburt Soundside 6:30pm May 5th: Topsail State Park, Santa Rosa Beach 7:00pm August 4th: Fred Gannon State Park, Niceville 7:00pm September 1st: Glenwood Park, Cinco Bayou, FWB 6:30pm October 6th: Time and Location to be announced November 3rd: Time and Location to be announced
S h or e l i n e s
Page 3
Carl Hiaasen's book “HOOT” soars to theatres May 5th
Adapted from Carl Hiaasen's Newberry Award winning children's novel of the same name, "Hoot" tells the story of a young Montana boy named Roy Eberhardt who moves with his family to Florida where he uncovers a plot to systematically destroy a local populati on of endangered owls. The mystery he uncovers not only involves the owls, but also includes an assortment of other unusual creatures and group of eccentric adults. The mystery/adventure starts when Roy is riding on the bus to middle school and a bully starts picking on him. As Roy's face is smashed against the window by the bigger, older kid, he spots an unusual sight. A small boy, about his own age, is running towards the next bus stop but continues running past it. Even more unusual is that the boy is not wearing shoes and his feet are filthy. Roy makes it his mission to find out who this unusual boy is. He learns that the boy's name is Mullet Fingers, a wild, runaway boy who lives in the woods and is friends with the animals, and that Mullet is himself on a more serious mission. Mullet's quest is to save some adorable little owls that make their homes in underground burrows. The owls are in danger of losing their homes as land developers are intent on building a pancake restaurant right on the spot where the owls live. Not exactly sure how he will accomplish it, Roy decides to team up with Mullet to save the little owls. They also join forces with Mullet's protective stepsister, Beatrice Leep. Together the three middle-schoolers take on the greedy land developers, corrupt politicians, clueless cops, eccentric adults, and even some other creatures, to preserve the local population of the birds. Soon some odd things start happening at the construction site – like the porta-potties suddenly being inhabited by alligators and other apparent practical jokes. The local police and the construction crew are embarrassed at not only the pranks, but also at their inability to find the pranksters. Packed with surprising plot twists, quirky characters, and offbeat humor, "Hoot" is a classic story that's fun for all ages. New Line Cinema and Walden Media have partnered in the movie's production and distribution. "Hoot" is also produced by Jimmy Buffett, who plays Mr. Ryan, the Marine Science Teacher, who will also be writing the film's music. Shot in Florida during the summer of 2005, "Hoot" should be on the big screen on May 5, 2006. Nonie Maines
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society T-Shirts
The painting of local wildlife for our new t-shirts was done by Judy Maines, Nonie's mother-in-law. The natural color preshrunk 100% cotton shirts are printed with the painting on the front and our logo on the back. They are beautiful. They are only 10 dollars for sizes S, M, L, and XL; 11dollars for XXL. Karen Newhouse has them and will bring them to the meetings but you contact Karen or Teresa Dennis to buy one before the meeting.
Follow the link below for info: http://www.walden.com/html /pub/hoot/hoot_NWF.jsp
BIOLOGISTS NEED HELP FROM PUBLIC TO FIND HORSESHOE CRABS
St. Petersburg-Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife C o n s e r v a t i o n Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute need a little help from the public in identifying horseshoe crab spawning beaches throughout the state. The best time to find spawning horseshoe crabs is around a high tide, right before or just after a full moon. The next full moon will be Tuesday, March 14. Sharp-eyed beachgoers can report the time, date and location of horseshoe crab sightings through one of the following options. Biologists also want to know how many horseshoe crabs observers count and whether the horseshoe crabs are spawning. Horseshoe crab research benefits humans in a several ways. For instance, research on the compound eyes of horseshoe crabs led to better understanding of the human visual system, and horseshoe crab blood is useful in the b i o m ed i c a l i n d u s tr y. A special substance in their b l o o d i s a component in testing for bacterial contamination in human blood and commercial drugs. In addition, manufacturers use the material that makes up the horseshoe crab's shell (chitin) to make contact lenses, skin creams and hair sprays. Many citizens have responded to the horseshoe crab nesting b e a c h s u r v e y since it began in 2003. Biologists regularly update the survey results.
* Fill out an online survey at
Visit
Horseshoe Crab Research
to see how many reports have come from individual counties.
http://research.myfwc.com/horseshoe_crab
* E-mail information to [email protected] * or Call toll-free 1-866-252-9326
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Membership
Name:_____________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ City:____________________________________________________ State:______ Zip:____________________ Phone: ___________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________
□Introductory New Member- $20.00 □Individual Member Renewal- $35.00 □Introductory Student/Senior- $15.00 □Renewal Student/Senior-$15.00
When you join you will be part of national, state, and local Audubon groups and will receive... • Audubon magazine
Chapter Representatives
President: Nonie Maines [email protected]……....862.9588 Vice President: Thelma Phillips [email protected]…………651.0508 Treasurer: Karen Newhouse [email protected]…..897.3745 Recording Secretary: Carole Goodyear……………….897.2666 [email protected] Corresponding Secretary: Pat Baker [email protected]……….…..…678.2953 Bird Count Coordinator: Donald M. Ware………….…....862.6582 [email protected] Conservation: Josh Barbee [email protected]………..…....218.0573 Education: Nonie Maines [email protected]……….862.9588 Field trips Coordinator: Bob Penhollow………….….…..729.2602 Hospitality: Gertrude Oakman……………..314.0312 Membership: Theresa Dennis ……………[email protected] Publicity: Linda Daugherty [email protected]…..269.0665 Programs: Thelma Phillips [email protected]…..….…651.0508 Shorelines Editor: Jean Williams [email protected]
• • • •
Florida Naturalist Magazine Our local Shorelines newsletter Inclusion in Audubon of Florida's advocacy network Discounts at Audubon Sanctuaries and Nature Centers Opportunities for Audubon Ecology Camps and specially priced travel adventures
•
To join, mail this form and a check, payable to National Audubon Society, to;
NAS Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 51005, Boulder, CO 80323-1005.
CAS ONLY memberships are available and include SHORELINES NEWSLETTER ONLY.
To join CAS ONLY mail this form and a check payable to CAS to; P.O. Box 1014 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
□New Member Newsletter Only- $10.00 □Renewal Member Newsletter Only- $10.00
Chapter Code: E-11 7XCH Printed on Recycled Paper © 2006 by Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. All rights reserved. The Great Backyard Bird Count Breaks Records! To observe species lists, please go to www.birdsource.org/gbbc/, 'Explore the Results'.
The ninth annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which took place February 17–20, set new records as participation soared across the United States and Canada. From backyards to wildlife refuges, bird watchers tallied a record-breaking 623 bird species and 7.5 million individual birds during the four-day event, coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Participants sent in more than 60,000 checklists, providing a wealth of information unmatched in previous years. Complete tallies are available at the Great Backyard Bird Count web site www.birdsource.org/gbbc, along with photos and narratives about other birds -including species in southern states hit by hurricanes, the stunning invasion of Snowy Owls in the Pacific Northwest, migratory pathways of Sandhill Cranes, regional rarities such as a Black-throated Blue Warbler in Connecticut, and continued drops in counts of American Crows, which have been plagued by West Nile virus.
A great big THANK YOU to all CAS sponsors last month! General Fund Donors: Charlie Parkel Memorial Fund: Education Fund:
Donations are welcome, and all contributions are tax-deductible. Feel free to specify a particular fund/event that you’d wish to sponsor.
Contact Theresa Dennis If you would like to receive Shorelines in color with links via e-mail.
P.O. Box 1014 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Fort Walton Beach, FL Permit No. 110
We’re on the Web!
CHOCTAWHATCHEEAUDUBON.ORG
VOLUME XXXV, NUMBER 3
The Newsletter of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
NABA Choctaw Plant Sale Disabled birder fieldtrips Charlie Parkel Memorial Audubon Eventures Carl Hiaasen’s “Hoot” CAS T-Shirt Sale Finding Horseshoe Crabs
2 2 2 2 3 3 3
A P R I L 2 2 — E A R T H D AY B E A C H C L E A N U P
Earth Day Beach Cleanup April 22, 2006 8:00AM-11:00AM "Free to volunteers while supplies last: Tshirt, Soda, Snacks. Volunteers: Please wear closed shoes, gloves, cap and sunscreen. Citizen Okaloosa Environmental Council members organize a spring and fall beach cleanup each year. The Council also maintains an Adopt-A-County Road and Adopt-A-Dune litter control program.
Since 1994, Council volunteers donate their time and efforts to Okaloosa Aqualab in monthly sampling of the water quality at 22sites along Choctawhatchee Bay, with analysis by FDEP. A volunteer Okaloosa Offshore Red Tide water monitoring program tests offshore Gulf waters at the request and direction of the Florida Marine Research Institute. The Council's Coastal Cleanup efforts are sponsored by the Tourist Development Council and Okaloosa County Commission.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
CAS monthly meetings are held the First Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at OWC Niceville Learning Resources Center (LRC), Room 131. Non members are welcome. April 6: FWC fisheries and wildlife biologist Bradley Smith will present results from 2005 survey of rooftop nesting seabirds in NW Florida with a special focus on Okaloosa and Walton counties. May 4: Bird Buddy Lenny Fennimore will give us a photographic slide presentation about Eglin’s Burrowing Owls and update us on the research being conducted by USF. Sign up for a field trip to follow after the nesting season Fieldtrips April 1: Bird Walk in Bluewater Bay area and Lake Pippin. Meet at 7:30am at BWB Winn Dixie. Phil and Carole Goodyear, 8972666 April 10-23: Spring Bird Banding, Ft. Morgan AL. Car Pools can be arranged. Bob Penhollow, 729-2602 April 21-23: Alabama Ornithological Society Spring Meeting. Car Pools can be arranged. Bob Penhollow, 7292602 May 6: Bird Walk to Shoal Sanctuary Mossy Head with Bob & Chris Larsen. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Niceville’s Turkey Creek. Bob Penhollow, 729-2602 May 13: North American Spring Migration Count. Coordinator Donald M. Ware. Call Jean Williams, 897-5473 to volunteer.
Join us at the following beach cleanup locations: 1. Okaloosa Island - Beasley Park (Hwy 98 East of Brooks Bridge) 2. Beach Walk East of Surfdweller (Santa Rosa Blvd.) 3. Henderson Beach State Park (Hwy 98 East of Destin) 4. Rocky Bayou State Park (Hwy 20 W of Bluewater Bay) 5. Destin Harbor: Call Mark Walker Phone: (850) 650-3271
Event: Wakulla Wildlife Festival - Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Event Description: A fun filled day of activities, tours and displays devoted to Florida's native wildlife and their habitats. Tours also offered to other wildlife areas April 20-22. This is a county wide festival with multiple organizations participating. Event Time: Saturday, April 20, 21, 22, 9 am to 4 pm Contact Info: (850)224-5950 http://www.wakullawildlifefestival.org/
FOS Spring 2006 Meeting in Tallahassee
Reserve your rooms The Spring meeting of the Florida Ornithological Society now by calling 850-3867500 and tell the lodge will be held at you are with FOS. Tall Timbers Research Station Saturday field trips and and co-hosted by the a special evening Apalachee Audubon Society banquet presentation April 21 - April 23. by Dr. David W. A special rate of $89.00 per Johnston and provides a night, until April 7th is unique look at the offered at Cabot Lodge. history of ornithology in Florida. Space at the banquet is limited, so sign up now to reserve your spot.
Local organizers Jim Cox ([email protected]) and Sally Jue ([email protected]).
CAS is dedicated to the protection of bird and wildlife habitat, environmental education, and a greater appreciation of Northwest Florida’s natural beauty.
Page 2
VOLUME XXXV, NUMBER 3
NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLY ASSOCIATION’S CHOCTAW PLANT SALE
The Choctaw Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association is pleased to announce its Annual Butterfly Seminar and Plant Sale. NABA will join the Niceville Public Library in bringing guest author, Rick Cech, to present his new book "Butterflies of the East Coast; An Observer's Guide". The event will take place on April 15 2006 at the Niceville Community Center on Partin Drive in Niceville. The plant sale will begin at 8:00am with quality plants provided by Niceville Garden Center. All plants will be butterfly attractors that grow well in local gardens. At 9:30 plant sales will be suspended for the author's photo presentation and will resume at 10:30 until noon. Rick Cech is a highly respected author, naturalist, and photographer. He has co-authored several titles of note:The National Audubon Society Regional Guide to Florida (1998), The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior (2001), and National Audubon Society Interactive CDROM Guide to No rth American Birds (1996). H e w r o t e " A Distributional Checklist of the Butterflies and Skippers of the New York City Area" (1993) and his photos have been featured in a variety of books, magazines and exhibits. He has been a frequent contributor of articles and photographs to American Butterflies, and edited "The Anglewing," an early NABA publication. Cech will be available for book signing throughout the morning. Local gardening author and columnist, Marie Harrison, will also be on hand to sign copies of her brand new book, "Groundcovers for the South."
There will be a raffle for prizes including a "Ready-to-Plant Butterfly Garden," books and other unique butterfly items. All proceeds of the sale and raffle will benefit NABA Choctaw. NABA is a non-profit o r g a n i z a t i o n that encourages the enjoyment and conservation of butterflies through education. For more information contact MaryAnn at 729-2893 or email
[email protected].
Field Trips for Disabled Birders in Maine
The American Birding Association has become aware of the need for modified field trips designed for birders with limited mobility or limited endurance. Therefore, for the first time ever, the 2006 convention in Bangor, Maine, through the Physical Limitations Track, will offer three such trips. Two of these trips will focus on land birds. The disabled birders will join the rest of the ABA group for the third trip, which will be a boat trip.
For detailed information about this June 19-25, 2006, convention, please visit the website
www.americanbirding.org
or Darlene Smyth at
[email protected]
Charlie Parkel Memorial
We are extremely thankful for the donations we have gotten to date. CAS has set a goal of $1500 and these funds will be matched by The Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks! We will continue to accept donations for the Charlie Parkel Memorial up to and through May, 2006. The memorial committee feels that we will be able to have a very nice memorial placed at Rocky Bayou State Park. In consideration and to be decided by the committee are: A gazebo with birding information available, a plaque with Charlie's image on it, and the history of what he did for the park. A bench placed at the gazebo and possibly another at his favorite site along the trail. We will announce after May exactly what the memorial is, when it will be finished and plan a dedication ceremony. Thanks to… Pat Baker, Robin Stiles, Lenny Fenimore, Carole Goodyear, and Bob Penhollow.
AUDUBON EVENTURES
Discover the sights and sounds of nature at night with AUDUBON EVENTURE’S. Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters will be guiding FREE Night Walks for Choctawhatchee Audubon Society on the FIRST FRIDAY of the month. Excluding December, January, June and July. Programs will last approximately 1 hour. All are invited but the focus will be on ages 4 to 10. We will explore for elusive creatures such as fox, owls, frogs and even bats! Call Nonie for Times and Locations at 862-9588 or send her an email.
April 7th: Grace Brown Nature Trail, Hurlburt Soundside 6:30pm May 5th: Topsail State Park, Santa Rosa Beach 7:00pm August 4th: Fred Gannon State Park, Niceville 7:00pm September 1st: Glenwood Park, Cinco Bayou, FWB 6:30pm October 6th: Time and Location to be announced November 3rd: Time and Location to be announced
S h or e l i n e s
Page 3
Carl Hiaasen's book “HOOT” soars to theatres May 5th
Adapted from Carl Hiaasen's Newberry Award winning children's novel of the same name, "Hoot" tells the story of a young Montana boy named Roy Eberhardt who moves with his family to Florida where he uncovers a plot to systematically destroy a local populati on of endangered owls. The mystery he uncovers not only involves the owls, but also includes an assortment of other unusual creatures and group of eccentric adults. The mystery/adventure starts when Roy is riding on the bus to middle school and a bully starts picking on him. As Roy's face is smashed against the window by the bigger, older kid, he spots an unusual sight. A small boy, about his own age, is running towards the next bus stop but continues running past it. Even more unusual is that the boy is not wearing shoes and his feet are filthy. Roy makes it his mission to find out who this unusual boy is. He learns that the boy's name is Mullet Fingers, a wild, runaway boy who lives in the woods and is friends with the animals, and that Mullet is himself on a more serious mission. Mullet's quest is to save some adorable little owls that make their homes in underground burrows. The owls are in danger of losing their homes as land developers are intent on building a pancake restaurant right on the spot where the owls live. Not exactly sure how he will accomplish it, Roy decides to team up with Mullet to save the little owls. They also join forces with Mullet's protective stepsister, Beatrice Leep. Together the three middle-schoolers take on the greedy land developers, corrupt politicians, clueless cops, eccentric adults, and even some other creatures, to preserve the local population of the birds. Soon some odd things start happening at the construction site – like the porta-potties suddenly being inhabited by alligators and other apparent practical jokes. The local police and the construction crew are embarrassed at not only the pranks, but also at their inability to find the pranksters. Packed with surprising plot twists, quirky characters, and offbeat humor, "Hoot" is a classic story that's fun for all ages. New Line Cinema and Walden Media have partnered in the movie's production and distribution. "Hoot" is also produced by Jimmy Buffett, who plays Mr. Ryan, the Marine Science Teacher, who will also be writing the film's music. Shot in Florida during the summer of 2005, "Hoot" should be on the big screen on May 5, 2006. Nonie Maines
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society T-Shirts
The painting of local wildlife for our new t-shirts was done by Judy Maines, Nonie's mother-in-law. The natural color preshrunk 100% cotton shirts are printed with the painting on the front and our logo on the back. They are beautiful. They are only 10 dollars for sizes S, M, L, and XL; 11dollars for XXL. Karen Newhouse has them and will bring them to the meetings but you contact Karen or Teresa Dennis to buy one before the meeting.
Follow the link below for info: http://www.walden.com/html /pub/hoot/hoot_NWF.jsp
BIOLOGISTS NEED HELP FROM PUBLIC TO FIND HORSESHOE CRABS
St. Petersburg-Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife C o n s e r v a t i o n Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute need a little help from the public in identifying horseshoe crab spawning beaches throughout the state. The best time to find spawning horseshoe crabs is around a high tide, right before or just after a full moon. The next full moon will be Tuesday, March 14. Sharp-eyed beachgoers can report the time, date and location of horseshoe crab sightings through one of the following options. Biologists also want to know how many horseshoe crabs observers count and whether the horseshoe crabs are spawning. Horseshoe crab research benefits humans in a several ways. For instance, research on the compound eyes of horseshoe crabs led to better understanding of the human visual system, and horseshoe crab blood is useful in the b i o m ed i c a l i n d u s tr y. A special substance in their b l o o d i s a component in testing for bacterial contamination in human blood and commercial drugs. In addition, manufacturers use the material that makes up the horseshoe crab's shell (chitin) to make contact lenses, skin creams and hair sprays. Many citizens have responded to the horseshoe crab nesting b e a c h s u r v e y since it began in 2003. Biologists regularly update the survey results.
* Fill out an online survey at
Visit
Horseshoe Crab Research
to see how many reports have come from individual counties.
http://research.myfwc.com/horseshoe_crab
* E-mail information to [email protected] * or Call toll-free 1-866-252-9326
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Membership
Name:_____________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ City:____________________________________________________ State:______ Zip:____________________ Phone: ___________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________
□Introductory New Member- $20.00 □Individual Member Renewal- $35.00 □Introductory Student/Senior- $15.00 □Renewal Student/Senior-$15.00
When you join you will be part of national, state, and local Audubon groups and will receive... • Audubon magazine
Chapter Representatives
President: Nonie Maines [email protected]……....862.9588 Vice President: Thelma Phillips [email protected]…………651.0508 Treasurer: Karen Newhouse [email protected]…..897.3745 Recording Secretary: Carole Goodyear……………….897.2666 [email protected] Corresponding Secretary: Pat Baker [email protected]……….…..…678.2953 Bird Count Coordinator: Donald M. Ware………….…....862.6582 [email protected] Conservation: Josh Barbee [email protected]………..…....218.0573 Education: Nonie Maines [email protected]……….862.9588 Field trips Coordinator: Bob Penhollow………….….…..729.2602 Hospitality: Gertrude Oakman……………..314.0312 Membership: Theresa Dennis ……………[email protected] Publicity: Linda Daugherty [email protected]…..269.0665 Programs: Thelma Phillips [email protected]…..….…651.0508 Shorelines Editor: Jean Williams [email protected]
• • • •
Florida Naturalist Magazine Our local Shorelines newsletter Inclusion in Audubon of Florida's advocacy network Discounts at Audubon Sanctuaries and Nature Centers Opportunities for Audubon Ecology Camps and specially priced travel adventures
•
To join, mail this form and a check, payable to National Audubon Society, to;
NAS Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 51005, Boulder, CO 80323-1005.
CAS ONLY memberships are available and include SHORELINES NEWSLETTER ONLY.
To join CAS ONLY mail this form and a check payable to CAS to; P.O. Box 1014 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
□New Member Newsletter Only- $10.00 □Renewal Member Newsletter Only- $10.00
Chapter Code: E-11 7XCH Printed on Recycled Paper © 2006 by Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. All rights reserved. The Great Backyard Bird Count Breaks Records! To observe species lists, please go to www.birdsource.org/gbbc/, 'Explore the Results'.
The ninth annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which took place February 17–20, set new records as participation soared across the United States and Canada. From backyards to wildlife refuges, bird watchers tallied a record-breaking 623 bird species and 7.5 million individual birds during the four-day event, coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. Participants sent in more than 60,000 checklists, providing a wealth of information unmatched in previous years. Complete tallies are available at the Great Backyard Bird Count web site www.birdsource.org/gbbc, along with photos and narratives about other birds -including species in southern states hit by hurricanes, the stunning invasion of Snowy Owls in the Pacific Northwest, migratory pathways of Sandhill Cranes, regional rarities such as a Black-throated Blue Warbler in Connecticut, and continued drops in counts of American Crows, which have been plagued by West Nile virus.
A great big THANK YOU to all CAS sponsors last month! General Fund Donors: Charlie Parkel Memorial Fund: Education Fund:
Donations are welcome, and all contributions are tax-deductible. Feel free to specify a particular fund/event that you’d wish to sponsor.
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