Apalachee Audubon

The Newsletter of the Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc.

Vol. 107, No. 8 May 2009 www.apalachee.org

Apalachee Audubon Society Annual Awards Dinner, Thursday, May 28
Lafayette Presbyterian Church, 4220 Mahan Dr.
1.3 miles east of Capital Circle NE, past flashing light at Dempsey Mayo Rd.
Social at 6 PM, Dinner at 6:30. Our dinner will be homemade Italian cuisine.

Purchase tickets either at Native Nurseries or Wild Birds Unlimited thru Wednesday, May 27
OR
If you plan to buy tickets at the door, RSVP by Wednesday, May 27 to Tim Smith at 933-5979.
This is important to help accurately estimate what quantities of food to purchase.
Tim requests that a few of us bring desserts; no RSVP required on this
In case we have leftovers, please bring along a container from home. We don’t want to waste any food.
Red Knots – On the Brink of Extinction
Guest Speaker Patricia Behnke
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
This is an opportunity to learn about the red knot, a member of the sandpiper family,
that breeds in the Arctic tundra in summer and then migrates south for the winter.
Pat will tell us about a study during the past three years focused on migrant red knots
in Florida. The red knot population has dropped dramatically since the 1980s when
scientists estimated there were 100,000 to fewer than 17,000 today.
Come and enjoy an informative evening with delicious food and visit with friends
before we adjourn from formal activities during the summer.

Special Day, Once a Year

Apalachee Audubon Society 2009 – 2010 Birdathon 2009
Officers and Board Members We are accepting donations for Birdathon
Incumbents in Bold; New Nominees in Italics throughout the summer. Two stories inside relate
Officers: to Birdathon. It’s our major fundraiser of the year
President: Ed Gartner dedicated primarily to supporting environmental
education for middle-school children in our
Vice President: Harry Hooper community and other AAS projects. Mail tax-
Secretary: Lynn Reynolds deductible donations to AAS, PO Box 1237,
Treasurer: Harvey Goldman Tallahassee, 32303.
Board Members:
Past President: Ben Fusaro Look on Page 3 for a quick summary of each of
At Large: our Birdathon teams, their members, and other
short bits.
Karen Wensing
Melissa Forehand Look on Page 4 for an account from Tracee
Jan Bordelon Strohamn, Peddling Petrals’ leader, on what it’s
C.K. Borg like to do a Birdathon. Tracee refers to Birdathon
Ann Bruce as Special Day, Once a Year. We’ve reprinted an
excerpt from her account, so visit our web site for
A vote on nominees will be taken at the annual dinner. We still have the complete piece and a fun read.
leadership needs for special projects and activities. If you are willing
to serve, or if you have questions or suggestions, please contact John Visit www.apalachee.org for complete species
Boutelle, Nominations Chairperson, 656-3346. lists and other Birdathon details.
 President’s Message May 2009
The Panama City, Bay County Airport Saga & “Bird-watchers”
Dick Fancher of the DEP, is responsible for protecting
the Panhandle, including the site of St. Joe’s Bay County
airport. There is a report* that Fancher is ready to move
against the airport contractor, Phoenix Construction, for
allowing muddy run-off to enter nearby waterways. This
mud suffocates smaller animals that support the food web
and can find its way into the shellfish beds in West Bay. This
is not the first time Finch and Phoenix Construction has run
afoul environmental regulations. Phoenix Construction was
fined $23,000 for illegally filling in more than three acres of
wetlands without a permit even after DEP officials told him
to stop.
Contractor James Finch does not think that his muddy
run-offs have done significant environmental damage. He
blames bird-watchers for generating the controversy! The
view that environmentalists are somehow responsible for
such issues is common among irresponsible developers. Let’s
take a look at St. Joe’s grand plan to bring so-called Growth-
Development-Progress to the benighted natives of the
Panhandle.
The new airport will be built on a 4,000-acre site
donated by the St. Joe Co. The number of round trip flights
of the current Panama City airport has dropped since
2001, and airlines make use of less than 40% of current
gate capacity. Does it make sense to build another airport,
especially one that is planned to be larger than Tampa
International Airport…?
According to St. Joe, Yes, once it develops its nearby
70,000, acres or about 115 square miles of planned,
despoiled habitat. Birds, bears, panthers and much of the
rest of the animal and plant life in this biodiversity hotspot
will be displaced. Wandering wildlife will turn up as road
corpses. Some will be killed as “nuisance” wildlife as they
seek new homes and forage for food.
The grand irony is that St. Joe’s promised economic
progress is delusional. Studies going back to the 1970’s show
that the dollar cost of community services (COCS) exceeds
the touted economic benefits of housing developments. On
the average, each $1,000,000 that such a development brings
in will run to, $1,300,000 in COCS – roads, schools, police,
etc. This is a “Return on Investment” of a minus 30%. Who
makes up for the loss…? We, the taxpayers, get to subsidize
such “nature-removal” projects.
* “Panama City airport builder faces environmental fine”, by
Craig Pittman, St. Pete. Times, April 28th, 2009.
Ben Fusaro 850/297-2052 fusaro@math.fsu.edu
President’s Note: Jan Bordelon points out (Page 5) that eight
panthers have been transformed into road-kill in just the first
four months of 2009. This is eight percent (8%) of the estimated
Florida panther population. To put this in perspective, that
mortality rate is equivalent to having about 1,440,000 human
Floridians perishing in 120 days. How many more panthers will
we lose in 2009 A.D.?
Become a
Member
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
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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)
2008 – 2009 Officers and Board Members
President Ben Fusaro 297-2052
Vice President Ed Gartner 386-6543
Secretary (acting) Lynn Reynolds 421-1074
Treasurer Harvey Goldman 385-5222
Board Members
Melissa Forehand 510-4877
Harry Hooper 668-0498
Past President Elizabeth Platt 385-9043
Lynn Reynolds
Karen Wensing 386-7766
Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 1237
Tallahassee, FL 32303
AAS is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
All contributions are tax deductible.
Newsletter Editor Ann Bruce 766-3061
Newsletter is published 8 times yearly
(Sept.-May, except Dec.).
Web Master John Boutelle 656-3346
www.apalachee.org
Mission Statement
Protection of the environment through education,
appreciation, and conservation.

Birdathon 2009
Pick your favorite Birdathon team or teams from below. Then
write a tax deductible check made out to Apalachee Audubon.
Send your check to:
AAS, PO Box 1237, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1237.
Team ATO (All Tuckered Out) Mike Tucker, leader;
Fran Rutkovsky; Ed Woodruff (coaxed from another team);
and Janeen Langley (first-timer).
Last year we won the Bird Day Challenge/Carpool Prize from the
Canadian “Bird Year” family, who spent a year birding/bicycling
from the Yukon to Florida and back. Their example inspired 3 of us
from last year to jump ship and form an Eco-Birdathon team (bike/
kayak only to spot birds). Another member left us to join, as she put
it, “a slower team”. We looked for birds locally in Leon County and
then at St. Marks Refuge. Our final count was 113.
Pedaling Petrels (our first AAS Eco-Birdathon team) Tracee
Strohman, leader; Fred Dietrich; Luke DeGroot; and Pam Flynn.
We met at the St. Marks Trail Head, loaded bicycles into a trailer,
piled into a car, and headed to the refuge. After a couple of birding
stops from the comfort of our car, we mounted our bikes. It was a
beautiful day of cycling, about 12 miles logged, mostly off road. Our
final tally was 117 birds.
Bitten Bitterns Harvey and Judy Goldman, leaders; Karen Wensing;
Kathy Besbekos; and Ann Bruce.
We’re the “advanced beginners” team. Previously called Terned
Stones (resisted being the Stoned Terns), Limping Limpkins (at least
2 of us had orthopedic problems that year), Six Hawks on a Lark
(Harvey vetoed Five Gulls and a Guy), and this year Bitten Bitterns
(because the mosquitoes were fierce!). On the first evening we split
up and bird various local spots; starting early next morning, we
bird together at St. Marks NWR and St. George Island, plus “car-
birding” all along the way. Final bird count for us this year was 121.
OK Ornithologists Marvin Collins, leader; Melissa Forehand; Ben
Fusaro; and D.J. Underwood.
We started in Marvin’s front yard at 6:00 AM, continued to St.
Marks NWR, St. George Island State Park, back through the
Apalachicola National Forest via SR 65 and ended at Lake Ella just
before 10 PM to sight the elusive Muscovy Duck. Clever leader
Marvin attempted to characterize males and females as separate
species but Dr. Underwood (claims a Ph.D. in medical sciences)
said this was not OK and nixed this approach to taxonomy! Final
count was 119 species.
Flicker 4 Harry Hooper, leader; Jean Quincy; Lynn Reynolds; and
Elizabeth Platt.
Others may call us the “slow team,” but we spotted 110 species!
Next year we may kick this up a notch to see what happens. Slow
and steady ALMOST won the race. Way to go gang!
THANK YOU for your support!
BIRD BITS
The Grosbeaks
By Harry Hooper
When us “Easterners” think about grosbeaks, we
tend to think of two very beautiful species, the
Rose-breasted and the Blue that visit our feeders
during spring migration. Seven grosbeak species
actually visit or nest in North America during
either the winter and/or summer months.
The 7 species are represented by 2 families,
Cardinalidae which include the Black-headed,
Rose-breasted, Blue, Crimson-collared, and
Yellow grosbeaks and the buntings, cardinal,
and dickcissel. The Fringillidae family include
the Pine and Evening Grosbeaks along with
the house finch, goldfinch, crossbills, redpolls,
and rosy finches. The Cardinalidae species have
fairly heavy to very heavy bills. The Fringillidae
species bills vary from quite large as with the
Evening grosbeak to thin as with the Pine
Siskin. Two Mexican species, the Crimson-
collared, and Yellow visit southern Texas and
the southwest U.S. during our winter months.
The Black-headed breeds from southern British
Columbia through the western U.S. and south
into eastern Mexico. The Rose-breasted breeds
in the northeast U.S. and west across central
Canada to northern British Columbia. The Blue
breeds across the southern half of the U.S. All
5 species winter south of our border. The Pine
and Evening grosbeaks breed across central and
northern Canada, Alaska, the Cascades and
Rockies in the U.S. The Evening grosbeak’s
range extends east through northern New York,
Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Irregular
winter irruptive cycles for the Pine and Evening
grosbeaks extend south to the northern third and
southern U.S. respectively.
The name grosbeak appeared to originate from
the French “grosbec”, “gros” for large and “bec”
for beak, thus grosbeak being the standard
English name for a large beaked bird. The
common names are primarily descriptive of each
species appearance - Black-headed, Blue, Rose-
breasted, Crimson-collared, and Yellow, habitat
types - Pine, and habit of singing in the evening
– Evening.
This time of year is a special time to enjoy the
brilliant colors of the 2 grosbeaks that honor
us with their presence as they migrate to their
breeding grounds to the north.
 Special Day, Once a Year
Tracee Strohman
[Editor’s Note: Following is an excerpt. Visit our web site to read Tracee’s entire story about her annual adventures as a Birdathoner.]
... We were in it for the fun and raising some suet, I mean dough, for the birdies.
We met at the St. Marks Bike Trail, just south of 319 at the reasonable hour of 7:30 AM. Our first disappointment was
scratching team member Bill from the roster. A fever kept the poor Dude in bed. We loaded all our bikes onto Pam’s handy
dandy trailer, an impressive feat unto itself. We didn’t even get out of the parking lot when we had our first Excellent Bird
Sighting of the Day: a Killdeer was in the dewy grass mere feet from us with 2 little chicks, the sun sparkling all around them.
We cruised over to Lake Munson Park just in case Limpkin decided to show, which it did not. It was surprisingly quiet so we
didn’t get many birds but Chimney Swift was a treat! As we made our way to the Refuge, I announced that I was concentrating
on getting us a turkey. Scoffs from the front seat ... After we turned off 98 I kept scanning down the dirt roads when suddenly –
BINGO! – TURKEY!! Oh yeah, I still got it...
We saddled up and headed out behind the restrooms toward Tower Pond but we had to get off our bikes almost right away, so
many cool birds lurked about! Thank goodness Luke was with us – he ID’d many birds that we would have spent a great deal
of time figuring out. Best treat to start was a Cape May Warbler with some White-throated Sparrows added for fun. At Tower
Pond we were happy to spy gobs of shorebirds, including Wilson’s and Black-bellied Plovers, a Whimbrel and the ever-amusing
Black-necked Stilt.
We pushed on, pedaling all the way to the backside of Stony Bayou. It’s so amazing back there, no speeding trucks with boats.
Just lots of quiet and water. Some cool stuff along the way: Blue Grosbeak, Blackpoll Warbler, Eastern Meadowlark and Spotted
Sandpiper. Eventually we hopped back on the asphalt and bumped into our old team, ATO, near the lighthouse. We laughed
and chatted for a while, exchanging bird sightings. After parting we went only about 30 feet when we spotted shorebirds in the
left hand channel. Resting in the sand was a – what was it? A Red-breasted Merganser! Just hanging out. The red orange beak
glowed in the sunlight. It put on a show, doing its funny foraging aqua-dance. That qualified as an Excellent Bird Sighting of
the Day.
Luke scoped out an American Oystercatcher on a sandbar in the Gulf. And all day long we’d been noting the absence of Little
Blue Heron and we finally got one as the day cooled off. Odd. And we’d never seen so many Tri-coloreds in our lives!
When we got back to the car we’d ridden 12.2 miles. Our last stop of the day was Lake Henrietta and what a sweet score
that was! Thanks to Robert Lengacher for promoting that spot. Still no Limpkin, but Loggerhead Shrike and Rose-breasted
Grosbeak were fine additions to our list.
Total car miles to and from our homes added up to about 64 miles. Biked miles added up to 48.8 and bird total was 116. The
quality of the day was immeasurable.
Watch out - next year you might have to hear from the PADDLING Pedaling Petrels!

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 The Majestic Florida Panther: Highly Endangered
by Jan Bordelon
The Florida panther, Florida’s state animal, is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. Estimated at fewer
than 100, the breeding population is found only in the southern tip of Florida, south of the Caloosahatchee River.
During April the death of a 3-year old female panther, struck by a car, brings the total of panther deaths this year
to five. Over the years, eight panthers, including the latest fatality, have been struck by vehicles along a 2.5 mile
stretch of US 41 on either side of Turner River. Four of the five panthers killed at Turner River have been young
females, which significantly impacts the breeding population.
Big Cypress National Preserve biologists report that another female
with three kittens has been tracked crossing the same stretch of US 41,
increasing the likelihood of more deaths to come. Defenders of
Wildlife in Florida are working with the Florida Department of
Transportation to design a wildlife crossing for this danger zone, but
in the interim, lowering vehicular speed and increasing speed limit
enforcement are strongly recommended.
Public meetings are to be scheduled by the Department of
Transportation and Defenders of Wildlife to discuss designs and
alternatives.
To fight for survival of the Florida Panther
Here are steps you can take:
• Send a Letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service ©Florida Panther Society
• Send a Letter to the Florida Department of Transportation
• E-mail Governor Crist at fl_governor@myflorida.com
• Get Involved with Transportation Planning
• Get Involved with the Defenders of Wildlife Habitat and Highways Campaign
Visit www.defenders.org for more information or contact AAS member Jan Bordelon at 942-8078.
GET GREEN: an FSU art project on Gaines Street
Students from Paul Rutkovsky’s GET GREEN workshop have turned two trashed-out alleys into green and
artfully decorated spaces. These paths, which connect Railroad Avenue to Gaines Street, had been abandoned,
and were overrun with trash, litter, and invasive plants. The students adopted the alleyways and have cleaned,
landscaped and decorated them.
Rutkovsky is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art at Florida State University and created the GET
GREEN program in 2008 with the goal of creating “art/plant zones” in an urban setting. The first alley renovation
took place during the spring semester of 2008. Students explored the area, researched existing green spaces and
collaborated with local businesses and landowners to determine how to create an eco-friendly environment.
The Gaines Street area used to be populated with environmentally unfriendly dry cleaners, gas stations, and storage
facilities. This past March, the City of Tallahassee and Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. excavated
an old 300-gallon oil tank and its contents from the first alley. Fortunately, soil samples showed minimal oil
contamination and no further clean-up was required.
This year’s GET GREEN workshop students transformed a larger blighted alley around the corner from the first
alley. The objective is to keep the alley clean and green over the long haul and to organize an art event, which was
held in late April.
The students call themselves the Alley Sprouts. They’re energized and excited about transforming a neglected
public area into a functional and friendly landscape that invites people into the space — to breathe more slowly
and walk more quietly. A welded sign atop a concrete block wall proclaims this as “Art Alley.”
Another GET GREEN Workshop is planned for the Fall 2009 semester. If you would like to learn
more about this project, volunteer, or make a donation, visit GETGREEN.art.fsu.edu
or e-mail Paul Rutkovsky at prutkovsky@fsu.edu.
Apalachee Audubon Non-Profit
P.O. Box 1237 Organization
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1237 U.S. Postage
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Support our Potluck Cookbook fundraising project by bringing a copy of your favorite original
recipe to the annual dinner or e-mail a recipe to clquincy@comcast.net.
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 pflynn@us.ibm.com.
APALACHEE AUDUBON SOCIETY (AAS) CALENDAR May 2009, Vol. 107, No. 8
Monthly programs are held on the fourth Thursday of the month For details visit www.apalachee.org
or contact Melissa Forehand 510-4877.
MAY
17: Related Event: – Sunday, 4 - 7 PM, Sharks & Chablis. Support the Gulf Marine Specimen Lab,
Panacea. Includes wine tasting, seafood buffet, music by Sammy Tedder and Rick Ott plus Silent
Auction. Tickets $25. Call 850/984-5297 or visit www.gulfspecimen.org/
28: AAS Annual Awards Dinner – Thursday, 6 PM Social, 6:30 Homemade Italian Dinner, at Lafayette
Presbyterian Church, 4220 Mahan Dr., Red Knots – On the Brink of Extinction with speaker Pat Behnke,
FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Celebrity Chef will be Tim Smith. Buy tickets ahead of
time or at the door. RSVP to Tim at 933-5979 if buying tickets at the door.
30: Related Event – Saturday 9 – Noon, Spring Open House: Demonstration Garden: Leon County
Extension Center. Guided garden tours, invasive plant exhibit, door prizes. Learn about wildlife habitat
creation and micro-irrigation systems. Ask Master Gardeners questions. Free. 615 Paul Russell Rd.,
Tallahassee, 32301. Call 487-3003 or visit http://leon.ifas.ufl.edu/ for more information.
JUNE
13: Related Event – Saturday, 9 AM - 5 PM, Birdsong Nature Center Open House & Attracting Native
Pollinators. Visit the butterfly garden, hike the trails, watch birds at the bird window. Attend a program
on pollinators and learn how to attract them to your yard. Located at 2106 Meridian Rd.,
Grady County, GA 31792. Free. Call (800) 953-BIRD or visit www.birdsongnaturecenter.org/
JULY
18: Related Event – Saturday, Birdsong’s Fourth Annual Winged Wonders Butterfly Festival: Celebrating
Butterflies, Birds and Dragonflies. Lots of fun and educational activites. Located at 2106 Meridian Rd.,
Grady County, GA 31792. Call (800) 953-BIRD or visit www.birdsongnaturecenter.org/