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June 2007 News Update
By Teddy Shuler, Education Committee

Least Terns: SJCAS Project Going Better Than Expected!

We weren’t sure what to expect. Our St. Petersburg Audubon mentors had warned us not to be disappointed, that it takes several years to get a good Beach Nesting Bird (BNB) project up and running. Wrong! Go to our new Least Tern page to see what our energetic volunteers, some cooperative agencies, and a little Audubon of Florida grant money have accomplished in a surprisingly short time. Great job!

Education
It’s those Least Terns again! Educating our members and the public about beach-nesting birds and their plight was a big part of our Audubon of Florida grant, and that is currently happening. Besides our mailings, a big feature news article is in the works. Our 15 or so beach monitors have talked to scores of beach users over the last two months. Nearly all have been interested and receptive to what we’re doing. But mostly, our volunteers themselves have learned by doing and by rubbing sandy elbows with those wonderful, hard-working agency personnel who are responsible for our threatened and endangered species.

There are No Dumb Birders. There are naïve birders. There are uninformed birders. There are birders who don’t have a clue. But dumb birders? No way. That’s what we assured a highly motivated new birding couple. They said they were feeling embarrassed about joining us on a field trip, afraid that we’d think they were dumb. Ha! Just ask a passionate birder a “dumb” question. I can guarantee she/he will tell you all you ever wanted to know, and then some. Just ask. Now that’s Smart.

 Come see Veronica’s beautiful blue board. Our new display board sets off members’ photos, and educational and promotional materials collected by our super-energetic secretary Veronica Peterson. She and Margaret Carver took the display on its maiden voyage at the Anastasia State Park Beach Bash last Saturday. It looked great and made a colorful backdrop for the items on display. This lightweight tri-fold board will be a real asset to the chapter.

 Audio-Visual Equipment Needed. As our members go out into the community to make presentations, they need quality materials and equipment. Veronica will be working on a list of needs and possible sources of these expensive items. Please let her know if you have ideas or donations we might be able to use.

 State Park Walks. Teddy and Ned Shuler have been doing nature walks and programs, some suitable for kids, at Anastasia State Park this summer. These activities are open to the public. They are NOT sponsored by Audubon, however, our members are always welcome. Email or call Teddy for dates and times. Teddys23@bellsouth.net 904-819-5860

 Expanding the Education Committee. By August, the SJCAS Education Committee will be gearing up for the year. The present members are all busily educating right now, “busy” being the operative word. We’re hoping to add to the current group. If you’d like to help out and have a little time, let Teddy know. Your interest in education is far more important than your skills. You’ll find it a very gratifying job. Current members: Teddy Shuler, Beverly Fleming, Billy Zeits, Pam Bowen, Cristy Leonard, Ned Shuler, Charles VanderKolk, advisor.

Bird Bits

 Painted Buntings: good views at Anastasia SP, one gorgeous male regularly sings from the powerline just past the Windsurfer Shelter

Roseate Spoonbills: 20 spotted on an island seen from Vilano Boat Ramp by Peggy Cook

Clapper Rails: preening and sporting young, seen from Anastasia SP boardwalk at high tide

Greater Shearwaters: normally found far out over the ocean, large numbers recently seen near shore, some showing up emaciated or dead on beaches, probably a natural die-off

Resting Birds: check Matanzas Inlet and North Anastasia Beach for large groups of summer plumaged shorebirds including Black Skimmers, Least, Royal, and Sandwich Terns, Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Willets, and even a Reddish Egret

Listservs: great way to keep informed about birds around the state, very educational, easy to join and free http://bkpass.tripod.com/FLBIRDS-SUB.htm
Audubon of Florida's 'Coastal Strand' newsletter

This edition focuses on NE Florida...
 
Audubon on the Fly

Educational Outreach Program Update

It has been a great summer! Our display board, which now includes our new banner donated by Gina Burrell, was proudly displayed at five events this summer.

We started with International Migration Day for Children at the SE Branch Library. I gave a presentation on migration, and led several bird walks around the library. We also had our display at the beautiful Anastasia State Park where we distributed chapter materials.

At the Florida Naturalist Program, we had the opportunity for to explain our chapter’s goals and opportunities that are available. Chapter President, Diane Reed, spoke about birding and led a walk around the park. Our display and outreach materials included articles on our Least Tern Chapter Conservation Project.

I assisted with the Kids Birding Workshop at Faver Dykes State Park . There were nine children aged 6 to 11 that took part in this program. They were all very knowledgeable and interested in birds and habitat. The program included assembling and hammering of wooden bird houses with a souvenir purple finger received by me in the process!

Our biggest event so far was Oct. 13th and 14th at Princess Place Preserve in Palm Coast . The Creekside Festival had around 10,000 attendees. We met lots of people, gave out tons of informational brochures and received donations for T-shirts, Critter guides and Sticker Books.

If you would like to spend some time at future events, having fun, spreading the word and enjoying nature, please contact me at veronicapeterson510@gmail.com.

     - Veronica Peterson - October 31, 2007
Latest Newsletter
The Pelican is the name of the newsletter published by the St. Johns County Audubon Society.

March - May 2008  Vol. 24, No. 2 (PDF version)

Previous Newsletters
Beginning with the March 2006 issue, all previous versions of The Pelican will be available online, simply by clicking on the links below.
  
Monthly Meetings
Upcoming Meetings: The St. Johns County Audubon Society holds monthly meetings from Fall through Spring. These meetings are normally held at the Main Branch of the St. Augustine Library.
May Member's Meeting:  "BRINGING LIFE TO YOUR LANDSCAPE"

Presentation by Renee Stambaugh, SJC Master Gardener & Florida Master Naturalist

Would you like to attract birds and butterflies to your yard? Learn how to establish a habitat that attracts and supports wildlife, bringing life to your landscape and joy to your life. It is not difficult to introduce and maintain elements that enhance and preserve biodiversity, creating harmony with nature. Make your yard come alive!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 6:30 pm
Main Library (US 1) St. Augustine

Previous News & Presentations

April 22, 2008
“Las Islas Encantadas"
Presentation by Dr. Barry Albright

March 25, 2008:
“GTMNERR"
Presentation by Joe Burgess

February 26, 2008:
“St. Johns Beach Birds and the Saltmarsh Superstars"
Presentation by Ned Shuler

January 22, 2008:
“Nature & Birding Experiences in St. Augustine"
Presentation by Zach McKenna

December 4, 2007:
“MINWR – Not Just Birds! (Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge) "
Presentation by Tom Dunkerton

October 23, 2007:
“Earth Watch Study of Andean Hummingbirds Manu Biosphere Preserve "
Presentation by Joy and Steve Urban

September 25, 2007:
 “Power Birding In Duval’s Golden Triangle"
Presentation by Roger Clark, Park Ranger/Field Naturalist - Kingsley Plantation.

This program featured birds of the fall migration and focused on the September 29th field trip route, which included Kingsley Plantation and Fort George Island, the Fort George River Inlet (including Huguenot).

May 22, 2007:
"Osprey Watch - Ospreys of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge"
Presentation Bob Montanaro www.ospreywatch.org.

April 12-13, 2007:
"The Best Birding Areas of Central Panama"
Presentation by Canopy Tower Eco Lodge and Nature Observatory, at the Florida's First Coast Birding & Nature Festival 2007.

"The Natural History of Birds in Ecuador"
Presentation by Rudy Gelis.

March 27, 2007 - "Beach Nesting Birds"
Presentation by Sarah Johnson, Assistant Regional Biologist
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Check this link for more information: www.myfwc.com/shorebirds/BNB.

February 27, 2007 - "GTMNERR - An Overview"
Presented by Linda Harrison, Park Ranger, at the February SJAS Member's meeting. Read more on her presentation.

January 23, 2007 - "Waterbird Response to Wetland Restoration at Lake Apopka"
Presented by Pam Bowen, Environmental Scientist, St. Johns River Water Management District, at the January SJAS Member's meeting.

November 28, 2006 - SJAS Web Site Presentation
 Presented by Kevin & Marie Dailey. View the slideshow here.

September 23 & 30, 2006  - Faver-Dykes Birding Workshop
 For more information, read more here.

September 24, 2006 - Beautiful and Historic Fort George Island: A Birder’s Eye View
Presented by Roger Clark, Park Ranger/Field Naturalist at Kingsley Plantation. This program was an introduction to our field trip which was followed on Saturday, September 30, 2006. We focused on many of the field trip's target species, such as fall migrants/residents. Many of the photos were of fall warblers or other birds that Roger has photographed on site. The program was very fun & interactive, with member participation in bird identification.

April 18 - May 30, 2006 - Audubon Birds At Old St. Augustine Village
On view at Old St. Augustine Village Spear House Gallery  was a newly installed exhibit of bird prints, paintings, and porcelain figures.  Included in this extraordinary exhibit was eight famous John James Audubon prints dating...(read more)

May 23, 2006 - Banding Birds: Why We Do It
Presented by Meret Wilson. Meret manages a banding station at Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach. Her first full year yielded 400 birds including recaptures.

April 25, 2006 - Adventures in the Southern Ocean – Antarctica, South Georgia Island, and the Falklands
Presented by Barry Albright. Read more
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