The Newsletter of the Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc.

Vol. 108, No. 6 March 2010 www.apalachee.org

March Program Speaker: Donna Legare AAS Field Trips

Wilderness Hike
Thirty Years of Native Plants: Thoughts on the Value
at Wakulla Springs
of Native Plants to Wildlife in the Landscape
Sunday, March 21st
Thursday, March 25 , 918 Railroad Avenue
th
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Social at 7:00 p.m. Program 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by: George Apthorp
Skill Level: Moderate physical difficulty.
Cost: Park admission, $6 per vehicle.
Description: Exploring numerous bio-
logical 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
ejplatt@embarqmail.com.

April 3rd Kayak Birding Trip

Native Nurseries owners Jody Walthall and Donna Legare with Pansy, a popular
greeter at the store. 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.

Inside this Issue

Birdathon 2010 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Bird Bits: Our Ubiquitous Sparrow . . . . 3
Upcoming Programs . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Support Apalachee Audubon’s Birding in East Africa . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Backyard Tour Report . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
fundraiser for education outreach. Whooping Crane Update . . . . . . . . . . 5
Find out how you can help on page 7. Kayak Birding Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Birdathon Letter & Pledge Form . . . . . 7
Become a Member President’s Message by Ed Gartner

Join National Audubon Society Bad Information is worse than

and Apalachee Audubon! no information at all.
For just $20 a year you can be a member of both National If you follow bad advice, such
Audubon and our local Apalachee Audubon chapter. Your
membership will include Audubon, our bimonthly flagship as fad diets, you may hurt
publication. Each issue of this award-winning publication yourself short term, and you will
features beautiful photography and provocative journalism. certainly lose time finding the
Our chapter newsletter will keep you informed of local and right way to impove your health
statewide Audubon and other nature-related events. (such as changing lifestyle).
You can pay for membership using a credit card by calling Regardless of what the bad info
Audubon’s toll free membership number. (Please mention
is about, it will delay getting
our chapter ID E–19 for us to get full credit for a new
membership). on the desired track—and
1-800-274-4201 it may also have ill effects in
If you prefer to pay by check for an annual membership, send other ways. With no informantion, you can start clean
your $20 check made payable to National Audubon Society and hopefully find solutions which solv e problems.
and mail to: Therefore, whenever a statement begins with “People
National Audubon Society say ...”, “Someone told me ...” or any such anonymous
PO Box 422246
Palm Coast, FL 32142-2246
beginning, ignore it out of hand. One time in ten, it
Allow 4-6 weeks for arrival of your first issue of Audubon. The might be true, but nine times out of ten it will be wrong
cost of membership is tax deductible except for $7.50 (which and misleading.
is allocated to Audubon magazine). Realities
Apalachee Audubon Society (AAS) Misinformation often covers a political agenda. 
2009 – 2010 Officers and Board Members Beware!
President:
AAS Program Meeting Location
Ed Gartner (850) 386-6543
Vice President: Harry Hooper (850) 668-0498
Secretary: Lynn Reynolds (850) 421-1074 Historic Amtrak Station
Treasurer: Harvey Goldman (850) 385-5222 918 Railroad Avenue
Tallahassee, Florida
Directors: Note: A reminder that Gaines Street is undergoing construction
Ben Fusaro (850) 297-2052 (Past President) and portions of the road will be closed between 7:00 p.m. and
Jan Bordelon (850) 942-8078
6:00 a.m. Please allow extra time for potential detours.
Chris Borg (850) 893-4153
Ann Bruce (850) 224-4760
Melissa Forehand (850) 510-4877
Karen Wensing (850) 386-7766

Newsletter Editor: Kathleen Carr (850) 322-7910 Amtrak

Newsletter is published 8 times yearly Station
(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.

2 Apalachee Audubon Society www.apalachee.org March 2010

Bird Bits: Our Ubiquitous Sparrow by Harry Hooper

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.
The house sparrow or “sidewalk sparrow” as nicknamed Male house sparrow is on the right with nesting material (cellophane) and
the female is on the left. Photo by Harry Hooper
by Pete Dunne, averages 6 to 6-1/2 inches in length and is
sexually dimorphic. Males and females are strikingly different rapidly increased in numbers and continued the damage done
in plumage or appearance. The male has gray cheeks, crown, by the geometer moths. Additionally, the tenacious house
and rump. The sides of the crown, back of the neck or nape, sparrow was also discovered to be detrimental to our native
the back or mantle and wings are a chestnut brown. The cavity- nesting birds, displacing and reducing populations of
under parts are an unmarked pale gray. The throat and breast house wrens, purple martins, cliff swallows, and other cavity
are black. The female is primarily a soft brown streaked with nesters.
buff above with pale gray below. The house sparrow is considered common and widespread
The word “sparrow” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word throughout the United States with the exception of Alaska.
spearwa which meant flutterer and “house” refers to the bird’s This sparrow is generally found in the presence of human-
association with human structures. modified habitats that include commercial areas, agricultural
and livestock operations and is considered non-migratory.
During the 1850s and 1860s, the “sidewalk sparrow” was The bird is not to be found in natural areas such as forests,
brought from Europe and released in the northeastern U.S. grasslands, and deserts, with the exception of areas with
and Canada to help remove two species of geometer moths, human intrusion.
the spring cankerworm and the elm spanworm that were
defoliating eastern shade trees. Though the sparrow did Though the bird is considered an invasive species, it is here to
control these moths in the New York area, a harmful result of stay. Take the time to stop, study, and enjoy the subtle beauty
the release was the displacement of native avian species that of the female and the humorous antics of the male during
controlled the white-marked tussock moth. courtship this time of year.

With the reduction of native avian species, the tussock moth

Wild Birds Unlimited Upcoming AAS Program Speakers & Topics

Everything for the birds
and the serious birder!
Nature Gifts
Optics ~ field Guides ~ feeders
BirdBaths ~ seed ~ Nest BOxes
1505-2 Governor’s Square Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 576-0002 tallahassee.wbu.com
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)
May 27 Annual Banquet
Dana Bryan, Limpkins
(FL-Dept. of Environmental Protection)

March 2010 www.apalachee.org Apalachee Audubon Society 3

Birding in East Africa by Elizabeth Platt
I was so charmed when reading in the valley; the rest of the time
Carolyn Smith’s vacation birding they were compelled to keep their
article in a recent AAS newsletter animals penned in sheds or tethered
that I decided to tell you a little beside their homes in the hills above.
about my birding experiences in Although it was almost impossible
Rwanda and Tanzania last summer. to look for birds undisturbed on the
I was in East Africa for several valley path because I always attracted
purposes unrelated to birding, but, attention, I was continually amazed
finding myself there, I made the best at the array of beautiful small birds
of every opportunity to find birds. with their sweet calls and songs: fire
During the month of June I stayed finches, Cordon Bleus, Sunbirds,
at a guest house on the outskirts of weavers, stone chats, and others.
Gitarama, a provincial town. At One particularly interesting bird was
home our most constant visitor the raucous, long-tailed mousebird.
and consumer at the trash box each
morning was the Pied Crow, and Sometimes Alfred and I were joined
our alarm clock as well. Overhead by another Alfred, a bright young
Speckled Mousebird, photo by Tom Tarrant
(Wikipedia Commons) student who spoke English, French,
there were always lots of Black Kites,
called Sakabaka. Swahili, and Kinyarwanda. It
was from him that I was able to learn so much about the
Gitarama is located in a hilly part of Rwanda. Within conditions of the local people living in the shadow of the
a five-minute walk of the house were several paths criss- mission, including the role of the church in the Genocide
crossing a valley and up into the hills where people walked of 1994. Alfred II was a very personable fellow, who would
to and from the town, market or school, toting school packs, encourage the children to look through the binoculars, and
bearing produce on their heads, or driving animals ahead of would ask the elders the local names of some of the birds.
them on the path. As you can imagine, a white lady looking
through binoculars was quite an odd sight on that path, and In Tanzania I snatched opportunities to take bird walks
people assumed I was taking pictures. On my first day of wherever I was. Some birds I saw in the vicinity of Lake
birding some curious boys and young men surrounded me, Victoria were Pied Kingfishers in a degraded area near a
wanting to know what I was doing. Lacking good skills in brewery, Malachite Kingfishers flitting among the rocks in
Kinyarwanda, I simply gave each of them the binoculars so Lake Victoria, and marabou storks awaiting the ferry crossing.
that they could see for themselves. After most of them had In Dar es Salaam the intrusive House Crow was a ubiquitous
continued on, one fellow, presence from early morning until dark; the only other bird
named Alfred, began to visiting my hostess’s home was a sparrow of some kind.
help me flush birds by My Tanzanian “nephew” Mathew, and I made a brief pass
tossing small stones into through the Mikumi Game Park, courtesy of his uncle, who
the bushes. Together we is the director of all the Tanzanian national parks. Mikumi is
looked at the pictures in located west of Morogoro, the town where I spent two years
the Field Guide to Birds as a Peace Corps Volunteer teacher in the 1960s, so it was
of East Africa, identifying great to visit it again. Mathew had spent a day in Zanzibar
the birds we could. getting worn out before our trip, so most of the time he was
Alfred’s job was to feed asleep in the land rover. As we were being driven around
two cows at the home of the game park, I would wake him up to take a picture of an
a widow living near the elephant here, or a zebra there, then watch him drift off to
main road. On another sleep again. I was more excited about the birds than the large
walk he pointed out the game; I’d been there, done that in the 60s! And Mathew
beautiful cows grazing slept right through sightings of shrikes, hornbills, weavers,
in the valley; these were Marabous, a Blacksmith Lapwing, a Hammerkop, and a
the Bishop’s cows. The Lilac-breasted Roller.
local farmers were only Some tourists we turned out to be!
occasionally allowed to
Birding assistant, Alfred graze on the lush grass

4 Apalachee Audubon Society www.apalachee.org March 2010

2010 Wildlife Friendly Backyard Tour by Pam Flynn

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.
Visitors enjoying their backyard birding tour. Photo by Elizabeth Platt
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
pflynn57@gmail.com if you have suggestions.
Thank you to everyone that participated. See you next year!

St. Marks Whooping Cranes: March 2010 Update by Kathleen Carr

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 Columbia Co. WI Dec. 10
812 Columbia Co. WI Dec. 10
813* Panola County, MS Feb. 24
828 Meigs Co. TN Feb. 12
829 Alachua Co. FL Feb. 24
830 * Citrus Co. FL Feb. 24
Catch up and keep up with the latest OM news online at the
St. Marks Refuge Association web site: 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
www.stmarksrefuge.org/cranes.cfm foraging training. Photo from Operation Migration. See more pictures at:
or at the Operation Migration Field Journal: www.flickr.com/photos/operationmigration
www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html

March 2010 www.apalachee.org Apalachee Audubon Society 5

 Kayak Birding on Piney Z & Lower Lake Lafayette
Saturday, April 3rd, 8:00 a.m. - mid-afternoon
Hosted by: Harry Hooper & Lynn Reynolds
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Contact either Harry Hooper or Lynn Reynolds to reserve a field trip slot.
• Harry Hooper; sn_egret@yahoo.com (850) 668-0498
• Lynn Reynolds; CLQuincy@comcast.net (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. 850-510-4877

Tallahassee, FL 32301 License #MA31638
Dragonfly on Grass, by Rosemary Gilbert Bell

6 Apalachee Audubon Society www.apalachee.org March 2010

TO: Members of the Apalachee Audubon Society
FROM: Birdathon Committee
DATE: March 2010
SUBJECT: 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 $______________________ Team Number 1
Fran Rutkovsky, Janeen Langley, Ed Woodruff
per species in support of team number __________
Team Number 2
My tax-deductible gift of $___________________ Harvey/Judy Goldman, Kathy Besbekos, Ann Bruce,
is enclosed, payable to Apalachee Audubon Society Karen Wensing
Team Number 3
From:
Marvin Collins, Melissa Forehand, et al
__________________________________________
(name) Team Number 4
Pam Flynn, Tracee Strohman, Fred Dietrich, Luke
__________________________________________ DeGrotte, Bill Hudgens, Mike Tucker
(street address)
__________________________________________ Write-in new team: _____________________
(City, State, Zip) Combined Teams: ______________________

Mail to: Thank you for Sponsoring Birdathon!

AAS Birdathon Every dollar you give stays in our community to support
Post Office Box 1237 environmental education and wildlife habitat.
Tallahassee, Florida 32302-1237
March 2010 www.apalachee.org Apalachee Audubon Society 7
Apalachee Audubon Non-Profit
P.O. Box 1237 Organization
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1237 US Postage Paid
Permit No. 30

y
r sda
0 Thu ate
s
201 ram D
o g
Pr rch 25
Ma 22
• l
Apri 27
•
Mya
•

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 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 Injured Eagles
21 Wakulla Springs Field Trip: George Apthorp
Need Your Used Postage Stamps!
will lead a walking tour through several biological Yes, it’s true! The Audubon Center for Injured Birds of
communities at the park. Begins at 8:30 a.m., ends Prey (located at Maitland, Florida) collects used postage
around 12:30 p.m. stamps and sells them to wholesalers for sale to collectors
all over the world. All you have to do is cut postage stamps
25 AAS Program Meeting: Landscaping for Wildlife.
from your mail, leaving at least 1/4 inch of paper all
Speaker will be Donna Legare of Native Nurseries.
around the stamp. (Or just bring the envelope and I will
April trim them.) Any postage stamp is useful—big, small, U.S.,
foreign—any postage stamp! There will be a box to collect
3 Kayak Birding Trip
them at Audubon meetings. If you have a lot of stamps,
25 AAS Program Meeting: Fritz Davis will talk about you can call to arrange for a pickup.
Marjorie Harris Carr.
We appreciate your help.
If you have questions or want to arrange for a pickup, call
Eileen Boutelle at (850)656-3346.

See page 3 for upcoming program speakers and topics.