MAR 2010 Apalachee Audubon Society Newsletter
Content
The Newsletter of the Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc.
Vol. 108, No. 6 March 2010 www.apalachee.org
March PrograM SPeaker: Donna Legare
Thursday, March 25 , 918 Railroad Avenue Social at 7:00 p.m. Program 7:30 p.m.
th
ThirTy yearS of naTive PLanTS: ThoughTS on The vaLue of naTive PLanTS To WiLDLife in The LanDScaPe
aaS fieLD TriPS
Wilderness Hike at Wakulla Springs
Sunday, March 21st 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Hosted by: George Apthorp Skill Level: Moderate physical difficulty. Cost: Park admission, $6 per vehicle. Description: Exploring numerous biological communities—upland hardwood forest, sandhill, spring run—on the north side of the Wakulla River. Hikers will get to see the park’s State Champion spruce pine. What to bring: Binoculars, field guide, water/snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, sturdy walking shoes, dress for the weather. Protect yourself against ticks. Meet Location: at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Wakulla Lodge. For more information, you can contact Elizabeth Platt at (850) 284-0963 or [email protected].
Native Nurseries owners Jody Walthall and Donna Legare with Pansy, a popular greeter at the store.
April 3rd Kayak Birding Trip see page 6.
Donna Legare has been co-owner of Native Nurseries for 30 years and earned her B. S. degrees in Wildlife Ecology from the School of Forest Resources at the University of Florida. She teaches workshops at the nursery and writes columns for the Tallahassee Democrat on subjects pertaining to nature and gardening and is co-author of the publication, Planting a Refuge for Wildlife. She volunteers at Birdsong Nature Center’s butterfly garden.
Support Apalachee Audubon’s fundraiser for education outreach. Find out how you can help on page 7.
Birdathon 2010
InsIde thIs Issue
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bird Bits: Our Ubiquitous Sparrow . . . . 3 Upcoming Programs . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Birding in East Africa . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Backyard Tour Report . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Whooping Crane Update . . . . . . . . . . 5 Kayak Birding Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Birdathon Letter & Pledge Form . . . . . 7
BecoMe
a
MeMBer
PreSiDenT’S MeSSage
by Ed Gartner
Join National Audubon Society and Apalachee Audubon!
For just $20 a year you can be a member of both National Audubon and our local Apalachee Audubon chapter. Your membership will include Audubon, our bimonthly flagship publication. Each issue of this award-winning publication features beautiful photography and provocative journalism. Our chapter newsletter will keep you informed of local and statewide Audubon and other nature-related events. You can pay for membership using a credit card by calling Audubon’s toll free membership number. (Please mention our chapter ID E–19 for us to get full credit for a new membership). 1-800-274-4201 If you prefer to pay by check for an annual membership, send your $20 check made payable to National Audubon Society and mail to: National Audubon Society PO Box 422246 Palm Coast, FL 32142-2246 Allow 4-6 weeks for arrival of your first issue of Audubon. The cost of membership is tax deductible except for $7.50 (which is allocated to Audubon magazine).
Apalachee Audubon Society (AAS) 2009 – 2010 Officers and Board Members President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Directors: Ben Fusaro Jan Bordelon Chris Borg Ann Bruce Melissa Forehand Karen Wensing Ed Gartner Harry Hooper Lynn Reynolds Harvey Goldman (850) 386-6543 (850) 668-0498 (850) 421-1074 (850) 385-5222
Bad InformatIon Is worse than no InformatIon at all.
If you follow bad advice, such as fad diets, you may hurt yourself short term, and you will certainly lose time finding the right way to impove your health (such as changing lifestyle). Regardless of what the bad info is about, it will delay getting on the desired track—and it may also have ill effects in other ways. With no informantion, you can start clean and hopefully find solutions which solv e problems. Therefore, whenever a statement begins with “People say ...”, “Someone told me ...” or any such anonymous beginning, ignore it out of hand. One time in ten, it might be true, but nine times out of ten it will be wrong and misleading. REALITIES Misinformation often covers a political agenda. Beware!
Historic Amtrak Station 918 Railroad Avenue Tallahassee, Florida Note: A reminder that Gaines Street is undergoing construction and portions of the road will be closed between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Please allow extra time for potential detours.
aaS PrograM MeeTing LocaTion
(850) 297-2052 (Past President) (850) 942-8078 (850) 893-4153 (850) 224-4760 (850) 510-4877 (850) 386-7766
Newsletter Editor: Kathleen Carr (850) 322-7910 Newsletter is published 8 times yearly (Sept.-May, except December). Webmaster: John Boutelle (850) 656-3346 Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1237 Tallahassee, FL 32303 www.apalachee.org AAS is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. All contributions are tax deductible. Inquiries can also be sent to 76 Dogwood Forest Rd., Crawfordville, FL 32327-0588. Mission Statement: Protection of the environment through education, appreciation, and conservation.
Amtrak Station
2
Apalachee Audubon Society
www.apalachee.org
March 2010
BirD BiTS: our uBiquiTouS SParroW
The sociable, cheery, and chattering bird that we walk by and pay little attention to in the garden section at Lowes, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart, the bird that we observe carrying nesting materials including man-made debris behind large signs and lights at these stores, is the House or “English” Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Our bird? Not quite! The species, a bird of the “Old World” sparrow family Passeridae, is non-native to the United States. “Our” bird, Passer domesticus domesticus, the nominate race, is native to most of Europe including the British Isles, Spain and Portugal, India, the majority of Russia, parts of northern Africa, and southwest and central Asia. Thirty-six species are represented in Passeridae, of which two have been introduced to the United States, the house sparrow and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) that was released in the St. Louis area in 1870.
by Harry Hooper
The house sparrow or “sidewalk sparrow” as nicknamed by Pete Dunne, averages 6 to 6-1/2 inches in length and is sexually dimorphic. Males and females are strikingly different in plumage or appearance. The male has gray cheeks, crown, and rump. The sides of the crown, back of the neck or nape, the back or mantle and wings are a chestnut brown. The under parts are an unmarked pale gray. The throat and breast are black. The female is primarily a soft brown streaked with buff above with pale gray below. The word “sparrow” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word spearwa which meant flutterer and “house” refers to the bird’s association with human structures. During the 1850s and 1860s, the “sidewalk sparrow” was brought from Europe and released in the northeastern U.S. and Canada to help remove two species of geometer moths, the spring cankerworm and the elm spanworm that were defoliating eastern shade trees. Though the sparrow did control these moths in the New York area, a harmful result of the release was the displacement of native avian species that controlled the white-marked tussock moth. With the reduction of native avian species, the tussock moth
Male house sparrow is on the right with nesting material (cellophane) and the female is on the left. Photo by Harry Hooper
rapidly increased in numbers and continued the damage done by the geometer moths. Additionally, the tenacious house sparrow was also discovered to be detrimental to our native cavity- nesting birds, displacing and reducing populations of house wrens, purple martins, cliff swallows, and other cavity nesters. The house sparrow is considered common and widespread throughout the United States with the exception of Alaska. This sparrow is generally found in the presence of humanmodified habitats that include commercial areas, agricultural and livestock operations and is considered non-migratory. The bird is not to be found in natural areas such as forests, grasslands, and deserts, with the exception of areas with human intrusion. Though the bird is considered an invasive species, it is here to stay. Take the time to stop, study, and enjoy the subtle beauty of the female and the humorous antics of the male during courtship this time of year.
Wild Birds Unlimited
Everything for the birds and the serious birder!
Upcoming AAS Program Speakers & Topics
April 22 Fritz Davis, Get the Facts and Then Act: How Marjorie Harris Carr and the Florida Defenders of the Environment Stopped the Cross Florida Barge Canal (Florida State Universtiy) Annual Banquet Dana Bryan, Limpkins (FL-Dept. of Environmental Protection) 3
Nature Gifts Optics ~ field Guides ~ feeders BirdBaths ~ seed ~ Nest BOxes
1505-2 Governor’s Square Blvd. (850) 576-0002 Tallahassee, FL 32301 tallahassee.wbu.com
May 27
March 2010
www.apalachee.org
Apalachee Audubon Society
BirDing in eaST africa
by
ElizabEth Platt
I was so charmed when reading Carolyn Smith’s vacation birding article in a recent AAS newsletter that I decided to tell you a little about my birding experiences in Rwanda and Tanzania last summer. I was in East Africa for several purposes unrelated to birding, but, finding myself there, I made the best of every opportunity to find birds. During the month of June I stayed at a guest house on the outskirts of Gitarama, a provincial town. At home our most constant visitor and consumer at the trash box each morning was the Pied Crow, and our alarm clock as well. Overhead there were always lots of Black Kites, called Sakabaka.
in the valley; the rest of the time they were compelled to keep their animals penned in sheds or tethered beside their homes in the hills above. Although it was almost impossible to look for birds undisturbed on the valley path because I always attracted attention, I was continually amazed at the array of beautiful small birds with their sweet calls and songs: fire finches, Cordon Bleus, Sunbirds, weavers, stone chats, and others. One particularly interesting bird was the raucous, long-tailed mousebird.
Speckled Mousebird, photo by Tom Tarrant (Wikipedia Commons)
Gitarama is located in a hilly part of Rwanda. Within a five-minute walk of the house were several paths crisscrossing a valley and up into the hills where people walked to and from the town, market or school, toting school packs, bearing produce on their heads, or driving animals ahead of them on the path. As you can imagine, a white lady looking through binoculars was quite an odd sight on that path, and people assumed I was taking pictures. On my first day of birding some curious boys and young men surrounded me, wanting to know what I was doing. Lacking good skills in Kinyarwanda, I simply gave each of them the binoculars so that they could see for themselves. After most of them had continued on, one fellow, named Alfred, began to help me flush birds by tossing small stones into the bushes. Together we looked at the pictures in the Field Guide to Birds of East Africa, identifying the birds we could. Alfred’s job was to feed two cows at the home of a widow living near the main road. On another walk he pointed out the beautiful cows grazing in the valley; these were the Bishop’s cows. The local farmers were only occasionally allowed to Birding assistant, Alfred graze on the lush grass 4
Apalachee Audubon Society www.apalachee.org
Sometimes Alfred and I were joined by another Alfred, a bright young student who spoke English, French, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda. It was from him that I was able to learn so much about the conditions of the local people living in the shadow of the mission, including the role of the church in the Genocide of 1994. Alfred II was a very personable fellow, who would encourage the children to look through the binoculars, and would ask the elders the local names of some of the birds. In Tanzania I snatched opportunities to take bird walks wherever I was. Some birds I saw in the vicinity of Lake Victoria were Pied Kingfishers in a degraded area near a brewery, Malachite Kingfishers flitting among the rocks in Lake Victoria, and marabou storks awaiting the ferry crossing. In Dar es Salaam the intrusive House Crow was a ubiquitous presence from early morning until dark; the only other bird visiting my hostess’s home was a sparrow of some kind. My Tanzanian “nephew” Mathew, and I made a brief pass through the Mikumi Game Park, courtesy of his uncle, who is the director of all the Tanzanian national parks. Mikumi is located west of Morogoro, the town where I spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer teacher in the 1960s, so it was great to visit it again. Mathew had spent a day in Zanzibar getting worn out before our trip, so most of the time he was asleep in the land rover. As we were being driven around the game park, I would wake him up to take a picture of an elephant here, or a zebra there, then watch him drift off to sleep again. I was more excited about the birds than the large game; I’d been there, done that in the 60s! And Mathew slept right through sightings of shrikes, hornbills, weavers, Marabous, a Blacksmith Lapwing, a Hammerkop, and a Lilac-breasted Roller. Some tourists we turned out to be!
March 2010
2010 WiLDLife frienDLy BackyarD Tour
For the third year, our Wildlife Friendly Back Yards Tour was a big success. This year, our hosts were: • David Copps • Donna Legare/Jody Walthall • Eleanor Dietrich • Jim Stevenson/Tara Tanaka • Molly Hocking/Joe Dodge A great big THANK YOU to all our hosts for showing your fabulous yards. It was truly a treat. Mother Nature smiled on us again with a picture perfect day and all participants enjoyed the day. A special thank you also to all our volunteers and to Elizabeth Platt and Ann Bruce for making the day run so smoothly. Once again Native Nurseries and Wild Birds Unlimited sold our tickets. Please support these businesses. They sure support us! We are taking suggestions for yards for next year. Mark your calendars for Feb 19, 2011. Please contact Pam at [email protected] if you have suggestions. Thank you to everyone that participated. See you next year!
by
Pam Flynn
Visitors enjoying their backyard birding tour. Photo by Elizabeth Platt
ST. MarkS WhooPing craneS: March 2010 uPDaTe
The ultralight-led migration of the St. Marks Ten successfully landed in the refuge on January 13th; the Chassahowitzka Ten arrived on January 20th. The St. Marks group has been settling in, acquainting themselves with the area, learning how to eat blue crabs, and dining on local seafood. Six of the ten birds have attained their adult voices. Here’s the lastest location information about the St. Marks members of the Class of 2008. (*=female bird) 805 812 813* 828 829 830 * Columbia Co. WI Columbia Co. WI Panola County, MS Meigs Co. TN Alachua Co. FL Citrus Co. FL Dec. 10 Dec. 10 Feb. 24 Feb. 12 Feb. 24 Feb. 24
by
KathlEEn Carr
Catch up and keep up with the latest OM news online at the St. Marks Refuge Association web site: www.stmarksrefuge.org/cranes.cfm or at the Operation Migration Field Journal: www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html
St. Marks Whooper learning how to eat a blue crab. The crabs were provided by Anne & Jack Rudloe of Gulf Specimen Laboratory as part of the birds foraging training. Photo from Operation Migration. See more pictures at: www.flickr.com/photos/operationmigration
March 2010
www.apalachee.org
Apalachee Audubon Society
5
Saturday, April 3rd, 8:00 a.m. - mid-afternoon Hosted by: Harry Hooper & Lynn Reynolds RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Kayak Birding on Piney Z & Lower Lake Lafayette
Contact either Harry Hooper or Lynn Reynolds to reserve a field trip slot. • Harry Hooper; [email protected] (850) 668-0498 • Lynn Reynolds; [email protected] (850) 421-1074 Begin & End Times: Arrive at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park at 8:00 a.m. Return to the boat launch early to mid afternoon. Skill Level: Easy to moderate depending on weather and water conditions. Cost: No cost, unless renting a kayak. Description: Enjoy paddling on open water and within beautiful hardwood and cypress swamp habitats. We will paddle approximately 6-7 miles with a short portage between the lakes. What to bring: kayak with associated equipment, appropriate clothing (weather dependent), binoculars, cameras, insect repellent, sunscreen, first-aid kit, hats, sunglasses, food, and water. NOTE: To participate, an approved flotation device (PFD) must be worn at all times. Meet Location: Lafayette Heritage Trail Park; Directions: From Capital Circle NE and Conner Blvd., travel east on Conner Blvd. 1.5 miles to Heritage Park Blvd. Turn left onto Heritage Park Blvd. Travel 0.6 miles to the park. Boat launch parking is on the right when you enter the park. Trip co-leaders Harry Hooper and Lynn Reynolds are AAS board members who enjoy combining birding with kayaking, hiking, and camping.
The Store for Nature Lovers For Over 30 Years
Native Plants • Wildlife Gardening • Herbs Wild Bird Shop • Organic Gardening Supplies
850-386-8882 1661 Centerville Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 www.nativenurseries.com
Massage Therapist Melissa Forehand
CranioSacral, Relaxation &Therapeutic 1102 Hays St. Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-510-4877 License #MA31638
www.apalachee.org March 2010
Dragonfly on Grass, by Rosemary Gilbert Bell
6
Apalachee Audubon Society
TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT:
Members of the Apalachee Audubon Society Birdathon Committee March 2010 Birdathon 2010
Birdathon 2010, Apalachee Audubon’s major fundraiser is rapidly approaching. This year’s Birdathon will take place between April 9th and April 25th. Teams of three to six birders choose a 24 hour period within the established Birdathon season and list as many bird species as they can see or hear. All members can participate, by sponsoring a specific team or the combined efforts of all the teams. By pledging 10, 25, 50 cents or more per bird, you will feel more like you are part of the action—a Very Important Participant. For example, if 125 birds are seen by a team, at $.10 a bird your commitment would be $12.50. At $.50 per bird, it would be $62.50. However, flat sum pledges are also welcome, for instance $10, $25, $50, $100 or any level that suits your budget. Money raised during Birdathon pays for Apalachee Audubon’s environmental education programs such as Audubon Adventures. These subscription kits, developed by The National Audubon Society, help 3rd through 5th graders form positive attitudes about nature and supports teachers with instructional content aligned with national and state standards for Social Studies (with an emphasis on Civics), Science, and Language Arts. Each Audubon Adventures kit comes with a Classroom Resource Manual and different editions of a student newspaper. The teacher’s manual includes classroom tips, hands-on activities, and background material for teachers. Each year there is a new theme, currently “Action for Planet Earth.” For more information about this program visit: www.audubon.org/educate/aa/index.html. One Audubon Adventures subscription package for 35 students costs approximately $45. Birdathon 2009 funded kits for 55 classrooms in 25 Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla county schools. In 2010 Apalachee Audubon aspires to expand the program to over 100 classrooms. If we exceed this goal, we might offer scholarships for teachers to attend an Audubon Field Environmental Camp. AAS pledges that 100% of your contribution will stay in our region for local projects. After Birdathon 2010, we will report our sightings and collect the pledged donations. Please fill out the pledge form on the reverse and return to the address given. Your gift is tax-deductible as AAS is a 501(c)3 organization and no goods or services will be exchanged for your contribution. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
aPaLachee auDuBon SocieTy BirDaThon PLeDge forM
I am happy to pledge $______________________ per species in support of team number __________ My tax-deductible gift of $___________________ is enclosed, payable to Apalachee Audubon Society From: __________________________________________ (name) __________________________________________ (street address) __________________________________________ (City, State, Zip) Mail to: AAS Birdathon Post Office Box 1237 Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1237 Team Number 1 Fran Rutkovsky, Janeen Langley, Ed Woodruff Team Number 2 Harvey/Judy Goldman, Kathy Besbekos, Ann Bruce, Karen Wensing Team Number 3 Marvin Collins, Melissa Forehand, et al Team Number 4 Pam Flynn, Tracee Strohman, Fred Dietrich, Luke DeGrotte, Bill Hudgens, Mike Tucker Write-in new team: _____________________ Combined Teams: ______________________ Thank you for Sponsoring Birdathon! Every dollar you give stays in our community to support environmental education and wildlife habitat.
March 2010 www.apalachee.org Apalachee Audubon Society
7
Apalachee Audubon P.O. Box 1237 Tallahassee, FL 32302-1237
r Thu y SDa S aTe
Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Permit No. 30
Ma 22 l • Apri 27 • ay M •
0 201 raM D og Pr rch 25
Your membership expiration date is shown at top right above your name. For problems with membership, call the National Audubon Society Office at 1-800-274-4201. For problems with mailings, contact Pam Flynn at [email protected].
aPaLachee auDuBon SocieTy caLenDar: March-aPriL 2010 Note: A reminder that Gaines Street is undergoing construction and portions of the road will be closed after 7:00 p.m.
Social begins at 7:00, meeting at 7:30 p.m. Located at the historic Amtrak Station, 918 Railroad Avenue—map on page 2. For more information, call (850)510-4877 or visit: www.apalachee.org
Chapter/Audubon Events
March
21 Wakulla Springs Field Trip: George Apthorp will lead a walking tour through several biological communities at the park. Begins at 8:30 a.m., ends around 12:30 p.m. AAS Program Meeting: Landscaping for Wildlife. Speaker will be Donna Legare of Native Nurseries. Kayak Birding Trip AAS Program Meeting: Fritz Davis will talk about Marjorie Harris Carr.
Injured Eagles Need Your Used Postage Stamps!
Yes, it’s true! The Audubon Center for Injured Birds of Prey (located at Maitland, Florida) collects used postage stamps and sells them to wholesalers for sale to collectors all over the world. All you have to do is cut postage stamps from your mail, leaving at least 1/4 inch of paper all around the stamp. (Or just bring the envelope and I will trim them.) Any postage stamp is useful—big, small, U.S., foreign—any postage stamp! There will be a box to collect them at Audubon meetings. If you have a lot of stamps, you can call to arrange for a pickup. We appreciate your help. If you have questions or want to arrange for a pickup, call Eileen Boutelle at (850)656-3346.
25
April
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See page 3 for upcoming program speakers and topics.
Vol. 108, No. 6 March 2010 www.apalachee.org
March PrograM SPeaker: Donna Legare
Thursday, March 25 , 918 Railroad Avenue Social at 7:00 p.m. Program 7:30 p.m.
th
ThirTy yearS of naTive PLanTS: ThoughTS on The vaLue of naTive PLanTS To WiLDLife in The LanDScaPe
aaS fieLD TriPS
Wilderness Hike at Wakulla Springs
Sunday, March 21st 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Hosted by: George Apthorp Skill Level: Moderate physical difficulty. Cost: Park admission, $6 per vehicle. Description: Exploring numerous biological communities—upland hardwood forest, sandhill, spring run—on the north side of the Wakulla River. Hikers will get to see the park’s State Champion spruce pine. What to bring: Binoculars, field guide, water/snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, sturdy walking shoes, dress for the weather. Protect yourself against ticks. Meet Location: at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Wakulla Lodge. For more information, you can contact Elizabeth Platt at (850) 284-0963 or [email protected].
Native Nurseries owners Jody Walthall and Donna Legare with Pansy, a popular greeter at the store.
April 3rd Kayak Birding Trip see page 6.
Donna Legare has been co-owner of Native Nurseries for 30 years and earned her B. S. degrees in Wildlife Ecology from the School of Forest Resources at the University of Florida. She teaches workshops at the nursery and writes columns for the Tallahassee Democrat on subjects pertaining to nature and gardening and is co-author of the publication, Planting a Refuge for Wildlife. She volunteers at Birdsong Nature Center’s butterfly garden.
Support Apalachee Audubon’s fundraiser for education outreach. Find out how you can help on page 7.
Birdathon 2010
InsIde thIs Issue
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bird Bits: Our Ubiquitous Sparrow . . . . 3 Upcoming Programs . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Birding in East Africa . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Backyard Tour Report . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Whooping Crane Update . . . . . . . . . . 5 Kayak Birding Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Birdathon Letter & Pledge Form . . . . . 7
BecoMe
a
MeMBer
PreSiDenT’S MeSSage
by Ed Gartner
Join National Audubon Society and Apalachee Audubon!
For just $20 a year you can be a member of both National Audubon and our local Apalachee Audubon chapter. Your membership will include Audubon, our bimonthly flagship publication. Each issue of this award-winning publication features beautiful photography and provocative journalism. Our chapter newsletter will keep you informed of local and statewide Audubon and other nature-related events. You can pay for membership using a credit card by calling Audubon’s toll free membership number. (Please mention our chapter ID E–19 for us to get full credit for a new membership). 1-800-274-4201 If you prefer to pay by check for an annual membership, send your $20 check made payable to National Audubon Society and mail to: National Audubon Society PO Box 422246 Palm Coast, FL 32142-2246 Allow 4-6 weeks for arrival of your first issue of Audubon. The cost of membership is tax deductible except for $7.50 (which is allocated to Audubon magazine).
Apalachee Audubon Society (AAS) 2009 – 2010 Officers and Board Members President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Directors: Ben Fusaro Jan Bordelon Chris Borg Ann Bruce Melissa Forehand Karen Wensing Ed Gartner Harry Hooper Lynn Reynolds Harvey Goldman (850) 386-6543 (850) 668-0498 (850) 421-1074 (850) 385-5222
Bad InformatIon Is worse than no InformatIon at all.
If you follow bad advice, such as fad diets, you may hurt yourself short term, and you will certainly lose time finding the right way to impove your health (such as changing lifestyle). Regardless of what the bad info is about, it will delay getting on the desired track—and it may also have ill effects in other ways. With no informantion, you can start clean and hopefully find solutions which solv e problems. Therefore, whenever a statement begins with “People say ...”, “Someone told me ...” or any such anonymous beginning, ignore it out of hand. One time in ten, it might be true, but nine times out of ten it will be wrong and misleading. REALITIES Misinformation often covers a political agenda. Beware!
Historic Amtrak Station 918 Railroad Avenue Tallahassee, Florida Note: A reminder that Gaines Street is undergoing construction and portions of the road will be closed between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Please allow extra time for potential detours.
aaS PrograM MeeTing LocaTion
(850) 297-2052 (Past President) (850) 942-8078 (850) 893-4153 (850) 224-4760 (850) 510-4877 (850) 386-7766
Newsletter Editor: Kathleen Carr (850) 322-7910 Newsletter is published 8 times yearly (Sept.-May, except December). Webmaster: John Boutelle (850) 656-3346 Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc. P.O. Box 1237 Tallahassee, FL 32303 www.apalachee.org AAS is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. All contributions are tax deductible. Inquiries can also be sent to 76 Dogwood Forest Rd., Crawfordville, FL 32327-0588. Mission Statement: Protection of the environment through education, appreciation, and conservation.
Amtrak Station
2
Apalachee Audubon Society
www.apalachee.org
March 2010
BirD BiTS: our uBiquiTouS SParroW
The sociable, cheery, and chattering bird that we walk by and pay little attention to in the garden section at Lowes, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart, the bird that we observe carrying nesting materials including man-made debris behind large signs and lights at these stores, is the House or “English” Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Our bird? Not quite! The species, a bird of the “Old World” sparrow family Passeridae, is non-native to the United States. “Our” bird, Passer domesticus domesticus, the nominate race, is native to most of Europe including the British Isles, Spain and Portugal, India, the majority of Russia, parts of northern Africa, and southwest and central Asia. Thirty-six species are represented in Passeridae, of which two have been introduced to the United States, the house sparrow and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) that was released in the St. Louis area in 1870.
by Harry Hooper
The house sparrow or “sidewalk sparrow” as nicknamed by Pete Dunne, averages 6 to 6-1/2 inches in length and is sexually dimorphic. Males and females are strikingly different in plumage or appearance. The male has gray cheeks, crown, and rump. The sides of the crown, back of the neck or nape, the back or mantle and wings are a chestnut brown. The under parts are an unmarked pale gray. The throat and breast are black. The female is primarily a soft brown streaked with buff above with pale gray below. The word “sparrow” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word spearwa which meant flutterer and “house” refers to the bird’s association with human structures. During the 1850s and 1860s, the “sidewalk sparrow” was brought from Europe and released in the northeastern U.S. and Canada to help remove two species of geometer moths, the spring cankerworm and the elm spanworm that were defoliating eastern shade trees. Though the sparrow did control these moths in the New York area, a harmful result of the release was the displacement of native avian species that controlled the white-marked tussock moth. With the reduction of native avian species, the tussock moth
Male house sparrow is on the right with nesting material (cellophane) and the female is on the left. Photo by Harry Hooper
rapidly increased in numbers and continued the damage done by the geometer moths. Additionally, the tenacious house sparrow was also discovered to be detrimental to our native cavity- nesting birds, displacing and reducing populations of house wrens, purple martins, cliff swallows, and other cavity nesters. The house sparrow is considered common and widespread throughout the United States with the exception of Alaska. This sparrow is generally found in the presence of humanmodified habitats that include commercial areas, agricultural and livestock operations and is considered non-migratory. The bird is not to be found in natural areas such as forests, grasslands, and deserts, with the exception of areas with human intrusion. Though the bird is considered an invasive species, it is here to stay. Take the time to stop, study, and enjoy the subtle beauty of the female and the humorous antics of the male during courtship this time of year.
Wild Birds Unlimited
Everything for the birds and the serious birder!
Upcoming AAS Program Speakers & Topics
April 22 Fritz Davis, Get the Facts and Then Act: How Marjorie Harris Carr and the Florida Defenders of the Environment Stopped the Cross Florida Barge Canal (Florida State Universtiy) Annual Banquet Dana Bryan, Limpkins (FL-Dept. of Environmental Protection) 3
Nature Gifts Optics ~ field Guides ~ feeders BirdBaths ~ seed ~ Nest BOxes
1505-2 Governor’s Square Blvd. (850) 576-0002 Tallahassee, FL 32301 tallahassee.wbu.com
May 27
March 2010
www.apalachee.org
Apalachee Audubon Society
BirDing in eaST africa
by
ElizabEth Platt
I was so charmed when reading Carolyn Smith’s vacation birding article in a recent AAS newsletter that I decided to tell you a little about my birding experiences in Rwanda and Tanzania last summer. I was in East Africa for several purposes unrelated to birding, but, finding myself there, I made the best of every opportunity to find birds. During the month of June I stayed at a guest house on the outskirts of Gitarama, a provincial town. At home our most constant visitor and consumer at the trash box each morning was the Pied Crow, and our alarm clock as well. Overhead there were always lots of Black Kites, called Sakabaka.
in the valley; the rest of the time they were compelled to keep their animals penned in sheds or tethered beside their homes in the hills above. Although it was almost impossible to look for birds undisturbed on the valley path because I always attracted attention, I was continually amazed at the array of beautiful small birds with their sweet calls and songs: fire finches, Cordon Bleus, Sunbirds, weavers, stone chats, and others. One particularly interesting bird was the raucous, long-tailed mousebird.
Speckled Mousebird, photo by Tom Tarrant (Wikipedia Commons)
Gitarama is located in a hilly part of Rwanda. Within a five-minute walk of the house were several paths crisscrossing a valley and up into the hills where people walked to and from the town, market or school, toting school packs, bearing produce on their heads, or driving animals ahead of them on the path. As you can imagine, a white lady looking through binoculars was quite an odd sight on that path, and people assumed I was taking pictures. On my first day of birding some curious boys and young men surrounded me, wanting to know what I was doing. Lacking good skills in Kinyarwanda, I simply gave each of them the binoculars so that they could see for themselves. After most of them had continued on, one fellow, named Alfred, began to help me flush birds by tossing small stones into the bushes. Together we looked at the pictures in the Field Guide to Birds of East Africa, identifying the birds we could. Alfred’s job was to feed two cows at the home of a widow living near the main road. On another walk he pointed out the beautiful cows grazing in the valley; these were the Bishop’s cows. The local farmers were only occasionally allowed to Birding assistant, Alfred graze on the lush grass 4
Apalachee Audubon Society www.apalachee.org
Sometimes Alfred and I were joined by another Alfred, a bright young student who spoke English, French, Swahili, and Kinyarwanda. It was from him that I was able to learn so much about the conditions of the local people living in the shadow of the mission, including the role of the church in the Genocide of 1994. Alfred II was a very personable fellow, who would encourage the children to look through the binoculars, and would ask the elders the local names of some of the birds. In Tanzania I snatched opportunities to take bird walks wherever I was. Some birds I saw in the vicinity of Lake Victoria were Pied Kingfishers in a degraded area near a brewery, Malachite Kingfishers flitting among the rocks in Lake Victoria, and marabou storks awaiting the ferry crossing. In Dar es Salaam the intrusive House Crow was a ubiquitous presence from early morning until dark; the only other bird visiting my hostess’s home was a sparrow of some kind. My Tanzanian “nephew” Mathew, and I made a brief pass through the Mikumi Game Park, courtesy of his uncle, who is the director of all the Tanzanian national parks. Mikumi is located west of Morogoro, the town where I spent two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer teacher in the 1960s, so it was great to visit it again. Mathew had spent a day in Zanzibar getting worn out before our trip, so most of the time he was asleep in the land rover. As we were being driven around the game park, I would wake him up to take a picture of an elephant here, or a zebra there, then watch him drift off to sleep again. I was more excited about the birds than the large game; I’d been there, done that in the 60s! And Mathew slept right through sightings of shrikes, hornbills, weavers, Marabous, a Blacksmith Lapwing, a Hammerkop, and a Lilac-breasted Roller. Some tourists we turned out to be!
March 2010
2010 WiLDLife frienDLy BackyarD Tour
For the third year, our Wildlife Friendly Back Yards Tour was a big success. This year, our hosts were: • David Copps • Donna Legare/Jody Walthall • Eleanor Dietrich • Jim Stevenson/Tara Tanaka • Molly Hocking/Joe Dodge A great big THANK YOU to all our hosts for showing your fabulous yards. It was truly a treat. Mother Nature smiled on us again with a picture perfect day and all participants enjoyed the day. A special thank you also to all our volunteers and to Elizabeth Platt and Ann Bruce for making the day run so smoothly. Once again Native Nurseries and Wild Birds Unlimited sold our tickets. Please support these businesses. They sure support us! We are taking suggestions for yards for next year. Mark your calendars for Feb 19, 2011. Please contact Pam at [email protected] if you have suggestions. Thank you to everyone that participated. See you next year!
by
Pam Flynn
Visitors enjoying their backyard birding tour. Photo by Elizabeth Platt
ST. MarkS WhooPing craneS: March 2010 uPDaTe
The ultralight-led migration of the St. Marks Ten successfully landed in the refuge on January 13th; the Chassahowitzka Ten arrived on January 20th. The St. Marks group has been settling in, acquainting themselves with the area, learning how to eat blue crabs, and dining on local seafood. Six of the ten birds have attained their adult voices. Here’s the lastest location information about the St. Marks members of the Class of 2008. (*=female bird) 805 812 813* 828 829 830 * Columbia Co. WI Columbia Co. WI Panola County, MS Meigs Co. TN Alachua Co. FL Citrus Co. FL Dec. 10 Dec. 10 Feb. 24 Feb. 12 Feb. 24 Feb. 24
by
KathlEEn Carr
Catch up and keep up with the latest OM news online at the St. Marks Refuge Association web site: www.stmarksrefuge.org/cranes.cfm or at the Operation Migration Field Journal: www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html
St. Marks Whooper learning how to eat a blue crab. The crabs were provided by Anne & Jack Rudloe of Gulf Specimen Laboratory as part of the birds foraging training. Photo from Operation Migration. See more pictures at: www.flickr.com/photos/operationmigration
March 2010
www.apalachee.org
Apalachee Audubon Society
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Saturday, April 3rd, 8:00 a.m. - mid-afternoon Hosted by: Harry Hooper & Lynn Reynolds RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Kayak Birding on Piney Z & Lower Lake Lafayette
Contact either Harry Hooper or Lynn Reynolds to reserve a field trip slot. • Harry Hooper; [email protected] (850) 668-0498 • Lynn Reynolds; [email protected] (850) 421-1074 Begin & End Times: Arrive at Lafayette Heritage Trail Park at 8:00 a.m. Return to the boat launch early to mid afternoon. Skill Level: Easy to moderate depending on weather and water conditions. Cost: No cost, unless renting a kayak. Description: Enjoy paddling on open water and within beautiful hardwood and cypress swamp habitats. We will paddle approximately 6-7 miles with a short portage between the lakes. What to bring: kayak with associated equipment, appropriate clothing (weather dependent), binoculars, cameras, insect repellent, sunscreen, first-aid kit, hats, sunglasses, food, and water. NOTE: To participate, an approved flotation device (PFD) must be worn at all times. Meet Location: Lafayette Heritage Trail Park; Directions: From Capital Circle NE and Conner Blvd., travel east on Conner Blvd. 1.5 miles to Heritage Park Blvd. Turn left onto Heritage Park Blvd. Travel 0.6 miles to the park. Boat launch parking is on the right when you enter the park. Trip co-leaders Harry Hooper and Lynn Reynolds are AAS board members who enjoy combining birding with kayaking, hiking, and camping.
The Store for Nature Lovers For Over 30 Years
Native Plants • Wildlife Gardening • Herbs Wild Bird Shop • Organic Gardening Supplies
850-386-8882 1661 Centerville Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 www.nativenurseries.com
Massage Therapist Melissa Forehand
CranioSacral, Relaxation &Therapeutic 1102 Hays St. Tallahassee, FL 32301 850-510-4877 License #MA31638
www.apalachee.org March 2010
Dragonfly on Grass, by Rosemary Gilbert Bell
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Apalachee Audubon Society
TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT:
Members of the Apalachee Audubon Society Birdathon Committee March 2010 Birdathon 2010
Birdathon 2010, Apalachee Audubon’s major fundraiser is rapidly approaching. This year’s Birdathon will take place between April 9th and April 25th. Teams of three to six birders choose a 24 hour period within the established Birdathon season and list as many bird species as they can see or hear. All members can participate, by sponsoring a specific team or the combined efforts of all the teams. By pledging 10, 25, 50 cents or more per bird, you will feel more like you are part of the action—a Very Important Participant. For example, if 125 birds are seen by a team, at $.10 a bird your commitment would be $12.50. At $.50 per bird, it would be $62.50. However, flat sum pledges are also welcome, for instance $10, $25, $50, $100 or any level that suits your budget. Money raised during Birdathon pays for Apalachee Audubon’s environmental education programs such as Audubon Adventures. These subscription kits, developed by The National Audubon Society, help 3rd through 5th graders form positive attitudes about nature and supports teachers with instructional content aligned with national and state standards for Social Studies (with an emphasis on Civics), Science, and Language Arts. Each Audubon Adventures kit comes with a Classroom Resource Manual and different editions of a student newspaper. The teacher’s manual includes classroom tips, hands-on activities, and background material for teachers. Each year there is a new theme, currently “Action for Planet Earth.” For more information about this program visit: www.audubon.org/educate/aa/index.html. One Audubon Adventures subscription package for 35 students costs approximately $45. Birdathon 2009 funded kits for 55 classrooms in 25 Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla county schools. In 2010 Apalachee Audubon aspires to expand the program to over 100 classrooms. If we exceed this goal, we might offer scholarships for teachers to attend an Audubon Field Environmental Camp. AAS pledges that 100% of your contribution will stay in our region for local projects. After Birdathon 2010, we will report our sightings and collect the pledged donations. Please fill out the pledge form on the reverse and return to the address given. Your gift is tax-deductible as AAS is a 501(c)3 organization and no goods or services will be exchanged for your contribution. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.
aPaLachee auDuBon SocieTy BirDaThon PLeDge forM
I am happy to pledge $______________________ per species in support of team number __________ My tax-deductible gift of $___________________ is enclosed, payable to Apalachee Audubon Society From: __________________________________________ (name) __________________________________________ (street address) __________________________________________ (City, State, Zip) Mail to: AAS Birdathon Post Office Box 1237 Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1237 Team Number 1 Fran Rutkovsky, Janeen Langley, Ed Woodruff Team Number 2 Harvey/Judy Goldman, Kathy Besbekos, Ann Bruce, Karen Wensing Team Number 3 Marvin Collins, Melissa Forehand, et al Team Number 4 Pam Flynn, Tracee Strohman, Fred Dietrich, Luke DeGrotte, Bill Hudgens, Mike Tucker Write-in new team: _____________________ Combined Teams: ______________________ Thank you for Sponsoring Birdathon! Every dollar you give stays in our community to support environmental education and wildlife habitat.
March 2010 www.apalachee.org Apalachee Audubon Society
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Apalachee Audubon P.O. Box 1237 Tallahassee, FL 32302-1237
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Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Permit No. 30
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Your membership expiration date is shown at top right above your name. For problems with membership, call the National Audubon Society Office at 1-800-274-4201. For problems with mailings, contact Pam Flynn at [email protected].
aPaLachee auDuBon SocieTy caLenDar: March-aPriL 2010 Note: A reminder that Gaines Street is undergoing construction and portions of the road will be closed after 7:00 p.m.
Social begins at 7:00, meeting at 7:30 p.m. Located at the historic Amtrak Station, 918 Railroad Avenue—map on page 2. For more information, call (850)510-4877 or visit: www.apalachee.org
Chapter/Audubon Events
March
21 Wakulla Springs Field Trip: George Apthorp will lead a walking tour through several biological communities at the park. Begins at 8:30 a.m., ends around 12:30 p.m. AAS Program Meeting: Landscaping for Wildlife. Speaker will be Donna Legare of Native Nurseries. Kayak Birding Trip AAS Program Meeting: Fritz Davis will talk about Marjorie Harris Carr.
Injured Eagles Need Your Used Postage Stamps!
Yes, it’s true! The Audubon Center for Injured Birds of Prey (located at Maitland, Florida) collects used postage stamps and sells them to wholesalers for sale to collectors all over the world. All you have to do is cut postage stamps from your mail, leaving at least 1/4 inch of paper all around the stamp. (Or just bring the envelope and I will trim them.) Any postage stamp is useful—big, small, U.S., foreign—any postage stamp! There will be a box to collect them at Audubon meetings. If you have a lot of stamps, you can call to arrange for a pickup. We appreciate your help. If you have questions or want to arrange for a pickup, call Eileen Boutelle at (850)656-3346.
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See page 3 for upcoming program speakers and topics.
