Scrub Jay

Marion County Audubon Society,Inc. Non-Profit Org.

P.O. Box 5616 U.S.Postage
Ocala, FL 34478 Paid
Ocala, FL
Permit No. 255

Marion County Audubon Society Inc. Newsletter

Mark these dates
· January 2009 - Christmas Bird Count in South West Marion County*
· Saturday February 14, 2009 - Sunnyhill Restoration Area - 9:30 a. m.
· Saturday March 14, 2009 - Silver Springs Shores Park - 9:30 a. m.
· Saturday April 4, 2009 - Horseshoe Lake Park - 9:30 a. m.
· Saturday May 2, 2009 - Carney Island - 9:30 a. m.
*For more information about the Christmas Bird Counts, contact Norm Lantz. happy to hear from anyone interested in the office.  It is also important to
Visit our website for a complete list of upcoming events
at www.marioncountyaudubon.com
January 2009
WE BRING GREETINGS FROM OUR NEW PRESIDENT WHAT’S
We are happy to announce that on October 30 the Board of INSIDE?
Directors elected Conrad H. Massa, Ph.D. President of the Marion
Audubon Society. His first Scrub Jay column appears below.
Greetings.  On November 20 I was able to thank the Board for their
expression of confidence in me.   This was not a responsibility I sought this Programs
far along in my retirement.  Nevertheless my wife helped to convince me Page 2
that it was a task for which I had the appropriate preparation.  Ann and I
had been involved in environmental concerns over many years.  We shared
years of volunteer leadership in a nature sanctuary in Pennsylvania and
later were volunteer naturalists and trail guides for the Lee County Parks Bird of the Month
Page 3
and Recreation Department in Fort Myers, FL for seven years.  It was Ann
who drew me into birding, an activity in which she is far more able than I. 
However, I have been on many non-profit organization   Boards and have
led some.  This responsibility will be my primary volunteer work now.
This has been a transition year for Marion Audubon Society.  The Backyard Birding
offices of President and Vice-President have been vacant.  Still the dedicated Page 4
members of the Board have worked at their responsibilities and have kept
this Audubon Chapter engaged in its mission of ecological concern.  They
have continued to collaborate with other groups and to ensure an Audubon
Chapter presence most recently at the Ocali Days in November and at the Board Members
100th Anniversary observance of the Ocala National Forest on December 13. 
Your Board will be meeting on the 4th Thursday of January through
Page 6
April and we look forward to an Annual Meeting of the Chapter
in May.  During this time I will be proposing a planning calendar,
including some By-laws changes, to give our Chapter activity a varied Join Us!
and flexible program to meet contemporary ecological concerns. 
You will be kept informed in following issues of the Scrub Jay. 
Page 7
The office of Vice-President remains vacant.  The Board would be
renew your Audubon membership when it comes up. Members of the Board Upcoming Events
are listed in each Scrub Jay with contact information.  We wish all a happy Page 8
and healthy New Year.    
Sincerely, And much more!!
Conrad H. Massa, Ph.D.
 Birds of a feather
Programs
flock together Date__________
For information on programs, please contact Capt Erika at (352) 546-5718 or email:
Name___________________________
acruisingdowntheriver@gmail.com.
Marion County Audubon Society, Address_________________________
Reminder: Friday, January 2, 2009 - Call Norm Lance and get Inc. offers a local chapter membership
involved in this year’s Christmas Bird Count! (352) 854-5713 or City_____________ Zip____________
e-mail: villagebirder@cfl.rr.com. option to those who wish to be involved in
Phone___________ Fax____________
Marion County’s environmental issues and
Saturday, January 17, 2009 - 12:30 - 3:00 Frogs of Florida by E mail_ _________________________
activities.
Paul Moler. This is a fun way to learn how to identify some
of our frogs by sound. There will be a slide show. Special Local Audubon membership includes $10 membership paid by
thanks to the Native Plant Society’s Seedlings of McIntosh a monthly (during the winter) issue of The ____cash ___check
for hosting this program. Directions: From Ocala take Hwy. 441 ____new ___renewal
North to McIntosh. Turn right (East) on Ave. G. Go about 2 blocks. Scrub Jay, Marion Audubon’s newsletter.
The newsletter has information on Prior Audubon chapter elsewhere?
Saturday, February 21, 2009 - 12:00 to 3:00 at Rodman
Dam. Bring a picnic lunch and sit on the Dam and have discussions of pros by pros on why meetings, programs, activities, issues for _____yes____no
restoration will benefit birds, fish, humans, trees, and preserve water volume and its quality. Short your involvement and guided field trips to
boat rides will be available on the natural river. Bring binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras.
identify native birds, flora and fauna. Are you willing to serve an active role?
Saturday, March 14, 2009, - 12:30 - 3:00 “Coyotes in Florida” Learn how to live with the coyotes that Dues are $10 annually. A bargain! _____yes ____no
were once native to this area. Program by UF IFAS. Presentation by Joy Hill of Florida Fish and Wildlife
at the Silver Springs Shores Community Center located at 590 Silver Rd. Directions: Take 464 East to Three easy ways to join:
Silver Lake Rd. Turn North on Silver Lake Rd. to Silver Rd. Go left
3. Use the form above, and mail it to:
and Community Center is on the left. Bring a picnic lunch. 1. Go online and sign up at: Marion County Audubon Society, Inc.
www.marioncountyaudubon.com P.O. Box 5616
Ocala National Forest Centennial Celebration
It was great fun to talk to President Roosevelt live! Bully to those 2. Print the online form and mail it to us. Ocala, Fl 34478
that attended and Bully to Crones Cradle Conserve for all their
work in giving this great 100th birthday party. Marion Audubon

We need you now!

contributed the Pictorial Summary-Off-Road Vehicle Effects on
the Ocala National Forest, written by Margy Bielling with photos
by the late Seeber Fowler along with the new map for restricted
ORV use. Bully to Margy and Seeber! Bully to Jane Pope and
Paul Nosca for help at our Audubon Table.                         
 
Captain Erika Ritter

We are on the web at:

www.marioncountyaudubon.com

Go where the birds are . . .

www.floridabirdingtrail.com

2 7
Continued from page 5 Belted Kingfisher
the 1000 Friends of Florida 2005 Better Community Award. The award was presented to Collier County, (Ceryle alcyon)
eastern Collier property owners, and Wilson Miller, Inc.
Details about the Marion County Farmland Preservation Area and Transfer of Development The Belted Kingfisher is a common
Rights can be obtained on the county website at the Growth Management Department. I encourage site along the Silver River and other Florida
Marion Audubon members to attend some of the 2009 Growth Management seminars and workshops waterways. The Belted Kingfisher is one of the
that will be conducted throughout the year in conjunction with the updating and rewriting of the Marion most widespread landbirds in North America, but
County Comprehensive Plan. These discussions are open to the public and the result will be a plan for
remains poorly studied. Throughout the continent,
how the county grows during the next 20 years.
it inhabits diverse aquatic habitats where it typically
perches over clear open water before plunge-diving
for prey-chiefly fish, but also other aquatic animals
such as crayfish. Undigested remains of such prey
Judy Greenberg are regularly regurgitated as pellets, which fall
Conservation Chairman beneath fishing and roosting perches. Seasonal diets can thus be determined without collecting birds or
directly observing their foraging behavior.
Although the Belted Kingfisher breeds at northern latitudes, and occasionally winters there if
open water is available, most individuals migrate, some as far south as northern South America. Solitary,
except while breeding, both male and female kingfishers vigorously defend their territories along
MARION COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY, INC.
2008-2009 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS shorelines of lakes or rivers throughout the year. They do this with strident vocalizations, especially a
reverberating mechanical rattle, and by aerial chases. Indeed this kingfisher’s rattle call is given at the
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT
Conrad Massa (VACANT) slightest disturbance, and people are likely to hear this bird before seeing it.
873-2778 The availability of suitable nesting sites-earthen banks where nesting burrows can be excavated-
chm1@sprynet.com
appears critical for the distribution and local abundance of this species. This kingfisher prefers to
SECRETARY PROGRAM CHAIR MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION excavate a nesting burrow near its fishing territory, raising a single brood annually. Burrows may be
ROSALIE COYNER ERIKA RITTER JANE EBERTS
236-4036 HOME 546-5718 HOME 816-0657 reused, but site tenacity is weak.
352-229-6716 CELL CAPTAIN ERIKARITTER@YAHOO.COM JANEEBERTS@AOL.COM
ROSALIE.COYNER@COX.NET Citation:
Hamas, Michael J. 1994. Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca:
JANE POPE
Hornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/084
TREASURER FIELD TRIPS & PUBLICITY 625-0050
LARRY SUTTON CAROLYN RETEY MSJANE@EMBARQMAIL.COM
622-8655 622-2850
MFS11@EMBARQMAIL.COM FERNYFARMS@AOL.COM

SCRUBJAY CHAIR CONSERVATION DATABASE COORDINATORS

Your
TERESA DARNELL JUDY GREENBERG RON AND VICKI STAPP
465-4618 HOME 352-871-1094 694-1542 ad
850-974-2574 CELL JUDYMG@GMAIL.COM PETEANDLUCY@COX.NET

here!
DUNNMOVN@BELLSOUTH.NET

EDUCATION CHAIR Webmaster

RON BROMAN Jim Yaich
861-4560 237-9928
BERBROMAN@SYSMATRIX.NET JYAICH@MADBBS.COM
6 3

Backyard Birding
December is here along with many migratory bird species. They’re here for the
Florida warmth. What warmth? I have a flock of Chipping Sparrows feeding throughout
the day. Palm Warblers are also around in large numbers. The warblers frequent
the birdbath but do not eat seeds. Other warblers that have visited my backyard
recently were black and white, yellow butt, and yellow throated. Other recent visitors
were an Eastern Phoebe and an Eastern Kingbird. The kingbird enjoys bathing in my
swimming pool. We look forward to meeting some of you at the Christmas bird count
on January 2. If you would like to participate, contact Norm Lantz at villagebirders@
cfl.rr.com. Have a great holiday season.
Field Trips
Marion County Audubon Society Field Trips:
Field trip fee $1 per adult. Children under 12 can participate free.
To know more about the location, accessibility, time, weather conditions The Marion and Alachua county programs are designed to provide economic incentives
and carpooling options, call Carolyn at (352) 817-6715 or (352) 622-2850.
For directions to the field trip sites and more information, contact Cathy Norris at
(352) 671-8560. We will have one field trip per month as follows:  municipalities and established urban growth boundaries.
· January 2009 - Christmas Bird Count in South West Marion County*
· Saturday February 14, 2009 - Sunnyhill Restoration Area - 9:30 a. m.
· Saturday March 14, 2009 - Silver Springs Shores Park - 9:30 a. m.
· Saturday April 4, 2009 - Horseshoe Lake Park - 9:30 a. m.
· Saturday May 2, 2009 - Carney Island - 9:30 a. m.
*For more information about the Christmas Bird Counts, contact Norm Lantz.
If more field trips are planned, information will be forwarded to the members two
weeks in advance of the trip. We are hopeful of a joint field trip withAlachuaAudubon.
If you have any questions, please call me.
Carolyn
4 5
30 Acres And A John Deere Tractor:
Growth Management Marion County Style
In 2004, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved a Farmland Preservation
Area of approximately 200,000 acres and a transfer of development rights program. Establishment of
a Farmland Preservation Area to include the north- west quadrant of the county set new parameters for
future growth in this area. No longer could parcels be chopped up into less than ten acres and hamlets
are absolutely forbidden. In order to provide an economic incentive for landowners in the area to keep
the land in large parcels, a transfer of development rights program was also established.
The transfer of development rights program allows a landowner with 30+ acres to sell the
development rights from their land to developers. When the development rights are sold a conservation
easement is recorded and the land is preserved in perpetuity. Thus land is preserved for future small
farming operations and growth management Marion County style is achieved with 30 acres and a John
Deere tractor.
In 2004, The Marion County Farmland Preservation program was unique in Florida. Farmlands
have not received preservation priority. Public sympathy for pristine, ecologically significant lands
focused available government funding but this trend is changing. Concern about safe food sources
is beginning to redirect public focus toward local food production. In order to accomplish the goal of
locally grown, small farm operations will be needed. Alachua County, well known for its preservation
programs to protect ecologically significant lands adopted a transfer of development rights program in
2008 to preserve agricultural lands.
within their jurisdictional boundaries for small landowners. These programs compliment the Rural
Lands Stewardship Act adopted by the Florida Legislature in 2004 by offering small landowners the
opportunity to participate in an incentive-based preservation program. The state’s program provides
for rural land stewardship areas that are multi-county, 10,000 + acres, and that are located outside of
Prior to its adoption a pilot Rural Land Stewardship Program was conducted in Collier County
resulting in the new Town of Ave Maria. The Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Plan received
Continued on page 6
A Cruising Down the River
You are invited aboard The Anhinga Spirit.
Experience the Ocklawaha River.
The wildest Outstanding Florida Waterway.
Trips are custom designed, educational and fun!
Licensed by USCG
352-546-5718 (home) 352-817-7820 (cell)
captainerikaritter@yahoo.com