SARASOTA

THE AUDUBON
SOCIETY
PHONE:

BROWN PELICAN 941-364-9212

WEBSITE:
sarasotaaudubon.org

Volume 34, Number 7 editor:kathwren1@verizon.net April/May 2008

State of the Society
It’s time again in the year to recap where SAS is and where
it is going.
At this point—mid-year—we can recount some exciting
accomplishments. We have conducted 4 sets of birding
classes (for SAS, USF and Pieran Spring Academy)
introducing more than 80 beginners to the joy of birding.
We introduced more than 160 folks to the Celery Fields on
the “second Saturday” walks. We led more than 15 day trips
with 300+ members and non-members, including a fab day
of birding to Station 5 in Clewiston. And we took 14 folks
on a 5-day puffin trip to Maine and 28 on a 2-nighter to
Winter Park. We’ve been busy.
As part of the restoration project in North Lido Beach
Park, we planted 7 mulberry trees, funded from our raffles.
Thanks to all who bought a ticket at a monthly meeting. We
hope to see fruitful results within a few years.
Another project we repeated this year, with the help of
Sarasota Bay Buddies and SAS volunteers, was to help rid
Pinecraft Park of exotic air potatoes. On three other
occasions we supervised groups from Brookside Middle
School, Girls, Inc. and First Baptist Church of Sarasota as
they too helped in Pinecraft. Again, out of monthly raffles,
we contributed 50% of the cost of the park sign, complete
with our logo. Check it out.
We gave presentations to area groups and schools; guided
out of town birders; and continued monitoring our beaches
to help protect shorebirds—all yielding dollars to
strengthen SAS.
We did many things that did not yield any dollars but were
vitally important. Such as helping high schoolers on the
Carefree Learner in Roberts Bay, cleaning up Palmer
Boulevard, being your voice on conservation issues,
interacting with local officials and environmental groups,
watering those mulberry trees and helping Sarasota County
to better manage our wildlife environment.
Our monthly programs, newsletter, website and electronic
bird alerts all served to educate you—the membership. And
we were glad to do it.
Finances. Some of you wonder why we started an annual
appeal 3 years ago, thinking that “we have enough—we
don’t need more.” It’s true that we received an unexpected
bequest of over $100,000 in 1999. The board at that time
voted to set up an endowment fund—with restrictions on
using the money. The most we can take each year is limited
(between $5,000 and $7,000), so “we don’t have enough”
for annual operating costs without fundraising programs
and events. The board works very hard, struggling to come
up with enough money to cover costs. We’ve managed to
do it so far. Here are some salient facts:
1) In spite of the fact that we carry and service 1,000
members, we only received $1,360 from National Audubon

SECOND MONDAY ❖OCTOBER-MAY❖7PM SOCIAL PERIOD, FOLLOWED BY MEETING

AND PRESENTATION
Our Meeting Place-Fellowship Hall, First Congregational Church, 1031 South Euclid, Sarasota. Directions: US 41 to Bahia
Vista. If coming from the south, turn right on Bahia Vista:if coming from the north, turn left. Take Bahia Vista to Euclid,
then north on Euclid to the church.

in 2008. Put another way, NAS gets between $25,000 and
$35,000 on our behalf and gave us $1,360 of it! Although
NAS has never been generous, we can compare current
figures to $3,469 in 1992 and $3,113 in 1997, so we are
looking at a 57%-62% drop! In order to continue services
to our members, we came up with a local membership fee
of a modest $20 a year. (Many other chapters do the same.)
From the 200 folks who are kind enough to join at that
level, we get about $4,000 a year. I encourage all of you to
join both SAS and NAS. That way you are supporting both
local and national initiatives while supporting our basic
programs.
2) We were fortunate last year and this to have contracted
with the County to monitor Turtle Beach during its
renourishment phase. That has yielded about $5,000 in
profit over the 2 years, but that project is now ending.
3) Other ways of coming up with funds to cover operating
costs are day, overnight and overseas trips, sales of Hot
Spots, birding classes, raffles and sale items at our monthly
meetings—that’s it.
The Donation Appeal was launched 3 years ago NOT
FOR OPERATING EXPENSES BUT FOR OUR
FUTURE PLANS. As you know, we will probably be
taking leaseship of an acre at the Celery Fields in order to
have a place to call home. First of all, we will be planting a
butterfly garden, as well as trees and bushes to attract birds.
If we do nothing more with the land, we will still have to
provide some sort of irrigation system, toilets and also be
able to maintain the site in good order. We are thinking of a
modest building in the future: a place where we can provide
more educational programs for kids and a starting point for
walks in the Celery Fields. The building will be paid in large
part by grants, in-kind services and corporate donations.
Even if we get the building entirely funded, it will take
money to maintain. Just think of your own home:
electricity, telephone, water, repairs, etc. . . . you get the idea.
Many of you have designated your donations for specific
purposes: Celery Fields, Education, Endowment. Many
others have indicated that the funds can be used for general
use. As of this date, over the three appeals, you have
donated over $41,000—incredible! As a result, we have
accumulated over $19,000 for the Celery Fields and $8,900
for Education. We gave Crowley $5,000 last year, and
November 11, 2007 Volume VII
pledged $5,000 for Save Our Seabirds. We spent $3,450 last
year on scholarships and expect to spend a similar amount
this year. And, we only had to use $182.36 of these funds to
cover a small deficit for year ended 5/06. For year ended
5/07 we had a profit of $2,483 so we divided it up between
the Education and Celery Fields funds.
Expenditures from the annual appeals are investments in
the environment and in our future. For those of you who
have donated funds, many, many thanks. If you have not
sent in a donation, please take the time to do so now. We
have received donations ranging from $5 to $3,000—any
amount is welcome.
Signing up for one of our trips, forking over $2 for a day
trip, buying a raffle ticket for $1, or buying a set of note
cards (so generously produced and donated by one of our
board members), helps us do the things that we believe in:
education, conservation and advocacy. With your help, SAS
will grow and continue to be a highly-effective
environmental organization within our community.
The board of SAS is extremely proud of its
accomplishments over this past year. With your
encouragement and support we can keep on keeping on!
Jeanne Dubi, March 2008
~CELERY FIELDS CLEAN UP~
Celery Fields Clean Up, March 18 Thanks to the
following for helping at the Celery Fields Clean Up. We got
about 140lbs of garbage, a discarded tire, a 4-feet length of
board and 2 metal rods: Bob and Mary Zimmer, Karen
Jensen, Ken Pearlman, Mark Leggett, Wanda Strickland,
Naish McHugh, Kathy Stokes, Penney Rist, John Hegener,
Barb LeSueur, Joanna Bear and Jeanne Dubi. Because we
had over 12 folks (actually we had 13) we were able to hit
the entire 2-mile length. It looks great.
On another note: The move to increase the speed through
the Celery Fields from 40 to 45 mph was rejected by the
Traffic Advisory Council. Their recommendation goes to
the Board of County Commissioners for final approval, so
let’s hope it sticks.
Next Celery Fields Clean Up Day – Tuesday, April 22.
Lend a hand at helping to keep Palmer Blvd free of trash.
Meet at the gazebo (Palmer & Raymond) at 8a.m. It just
takes an hour or so with a good crew.
~APRIL/MAY CALENDAR~
Tuesday, April 8 Emerson Point This wonderful park has
woodlands, shoreline, and mangroves. Depart McDonald’s
at 7:30 a.m. Optional lunch at Crab Trap II restaurant.
Leaders: John Ginaven, 798-9829, and Stuart Hills,
922-5261.
Saturday, April 12 Celery Fields Explore birdlife with a
different leader on the second Saturday of each month.
Meet at the gazebo (Palmer & Raymond) at 8 a.m.
Coordinator: Mark Leggett, 925-7220
Monday April 14. Sarasota Audubon Society
monthly meeting at 7 p.m. SARASOTA
BUTTERFLIES - Beverly Bowen and Stu Hills
of the Sarasota Butterfly Club will show us
slides of nature’s most beautiful creatures.
General Elections- officers are elected for the
coming year.
Monday May 12. - NESTING SHOREBIRDS
WITH TED MASE - Great photos and
information about the endangered and
Tuesday, April 15 FT Desoto leader Edith Miller
(364-3637) will help us find migrants at this wonderful
birding spot. Leave the first rest area just after the
tollbooths on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (I-275) at 8 a.m.
BRING LUNCH
Sunday, April 20 Earth Day at Oscar Scherer This
annual event draws huge crowds. Check out plants and
critters. Fun for kids. Visit us at the SAS booth.
Monday, April 28 SRQ Triple Loop Join Rick
Greenspun and Jeanne Dubi in search of migrants at our
local hot spots. Meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of
Phillippi Estate Park, west side of U.S. 41 at Constitution
Blvd.
Saturday, May 3 Butterfly Walk Join butterfly enthusiasts
Stu Hills and Jeanne Dubi on a walk to locate and ID local
butterflies. Location to be determined. Meet at
McDonald’s (Bee Ridge/Cattlemen) at 10 a.m. contact:
Jeanne Dubi, 355-1705
~TRIP REPORTS~
Red Bug Slough, March 4 Over 20 birders met at the
slough today for a fun morning of birding and hiking. The
highlight of the day was the 2 pairs of nesting Red
Shouldered Hawks.
Ken Pearlman, Trip Leader
Celery Fields, March 8 - 12 hardy souls turned out in
almost gale force winds, which made it feel a lot colder than
60 degrees. I was glad of my Canadian fur-lined
windbreaker. Just before we started, we were treated to the
spectacle of a Peregrine Falcon, seemingly enjoying itself,
by making passes at various Turkey Vultures that were
battling the winds. We then headed to the rail ponds and
were treated to looks of a Virginia Rail. ! As we looked up
to the skys we saw an immature Bald Eagle, flying low
which put up hundreds of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.
November 11, 2007 Volume VII
A total of 4 immatures and 1 adult Bald Eagle mastered
the winds with ease. We ended the day with 45 species.
Naish McHugh, Trip Leader
Winter Park, March 12th thru the 14th! ! ! ! Perfect
weather was in store for 28 birders heading for the small
town of Winter Park, north of Orlando.! ! Thursday a.m. it
was Carolyn Primus who spotted our outstanding female
Yellow-headed Blackbird in a park across from the hotel.!!
This proved to be a life bird for many on the trip.! Other
species listed include one Swallow-tailed Kite, Orange-
crowned Warbler, Summer Tanager, Tufted Titmouse, and
a pair of "show off" Pileated Woodpeckers. ! Our 70th
spotting was a American White Pelican seen from the bus
on our way home.
Special tours included the Morse Museum to see an
extensive collection of Tiffany glass, then off to the
Audubon Birds of Prey center where we met the well
known eagles "Paige" and "Trouble".! Watch for them in
and around the state where they are used for teaching.! You
can visit the Eagle camera (cam) at
www.audubonofflorida.org to watch nestlings.
Day three took us to the beautiful Leu Gardens.! Here we
found acres of trees, plants and flowers!!with lots of places
to rest and take in the view.! Brown thrashers seemed to be
calling in surround sound.
Thanks to Jeanne and Karen for their expert planning.!
Hope to see you on another trip.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! Pat Delp, Tour Participant
Potter Park and Stoneybrook Trail, March 20 - Potter
Park behind the YMCA off Central Sarasota Parkway has
g r e a t paved trails
w i t h many pine
trees, Saw Palmettos
a n d Cabbage
Palms. We ventured
off the trail into the
woods where we
k n e w there was a
grove of dead trees.
We were hoping to
find a Pileated
Woodpecker nest. We found instead Red-
bellied Woodpeckers and 1 Red-shouldered Hawk. We then
went over to Stoneybrook Nature Trail, walked the trail and
boardwalk, where we spotted a Green Heron preening and a
Sandhill Crane on her nest.
Kathryn Young, Trip Leader
SARASOTA AUDUBON GIVES BACK
This year our Audubon chapter gave $206 to Operation
Migration, the Whooping Crane organization that leads the
Cranes from Wisconsin to Chassahowitzka National Wildlife
Refuge here in Florida. They travel a 1,250 mile journey and
you can track their progress each year by going to the
www.operationmigration.org .
Our Audubon also gave $200.00 to Friends of Oscar Scherer
Park. This wonderful park is one of the best places to see
Florida Scrub Jays, a threatened species found only in
Florida.
MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCMENT
Please check the expiration date on your address label. If
the date has expired, this will be the last Brown Pelican
Newsletter you will receive. If you feel the date is incorrect
or has expired - please email lynn234@verizon.net or call me
at 355-4073 and we will address it. Thanks,
Lynn Jakubowicz, Membership Chair
DUCK STAMPS
Since 1934, revenue from stamp sales has totaled over $700
million and has secured almost 6 million acres of high
priority habitat. If you appreciate habitat protection, thank
those who have purchased Duck Stamps. It's very important
that the
e v e r
increasing
numbers
o f
birders
and other
refuge
u s e r s
who are
n o t
hunters, step up to the plate and also purchase stamps.
Bonus - a $15 Duck Stamp gives you free entry to all
National Wildlife Refuges. Proudly display the stamp YOU
purchase to demonstrate you are doing your part for wetland
and grassland habitat, and bird conservation.
To order write to::
Federal Duck Stamp Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1849 C St., NW, Suite 2058
Washington, D.C. 20204.
You are also able to buy them at most post offices, K-Marts,
Wal*Marts, and sporting goods stores around the country.
To find out the location selling the stamp nearest to you, call
the Federal Duck Stamp Office at 888-534-0400, or visit
www.fw.gov/duckstamps. (Note - they also are offering e-
stamps this year.)
PINECRAFT FESTIVAL
The 3rd Annual Pinecraft Festival was a huge success, with
more than 80 people lending a hand. The largest group was
from Sarasota Bay Buddies, an organization based in
Manatee County. In addition to exotic plants we destroyed
more than 450 lbs of potatoes fewer than in previous years,
so that’s a good sign. We also gave out a dozen or so prizes
to kids in different age groups. Thanks to the following for
donating time and prizes: Carolyn Primus, Susie Bowie, Sara
King, Susan Stam, Edith Miller, Penney Rist, Veronica
Tarnowski, Ken Pearlman, Sheila & Naish McHugh, Ruth
Ellen Peipert, Bobbie Goodin, Stu Hills, Jean & Jim
Edmundson, Karen Jensen, Carole Breedlove, Wild Bird
Center, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Jeanne Dubi.
Many thanks to Barbara Singer and Mike Dubi for
organizing the event and judging the potatoes.
Our very own Sarah King, Edith Miller
and Barbara Singer.
VOLUNTEER NEEDED
!Audubon of Florida holds regional conservation committee
meetings once a quarter. We are in the Gulf Coast zone. Julie
Byrne was a regular representative at these meetings and I
have been to several of them. The Conservation Chair from
the chapters usually attends, indeed it is designed to address
conservation issues in our sector (roughly SWFMD
boundaries). When Julie was a member of the AoF board we
had strong links to the state organization. I would hate for us
to be out of the loop on some of the critical things for
which they represent all Audubons in the state.
If anyone is interested, I will send details of times and
locations. I know it is an almost all-day affair and is being
held north of Tampa this time.
CONDOLENCES. Long-time member Ish Cabe,
passed away in early March. He attended most meetings and
was a regular on field trips. Condolences to his family.
MEMBER PROFILE: Jean & Jim
Edmundson
Jean and Jim Edmundson have been members of SAS since
1986. Throughout the years, they’ve been extremely active,
assuming many duties when called upon. Jean started as the
birder; Jim got into photography as a way of enjoying the
field trips. Now they are both avid members and regulars at
monthly meetings. They formed life-long friendships with
other members and still keep in touch with those who have
moved away or no longer come to meetings. Here are some
of the things they have done to help SAS grow.
Jean: Board member, historian, hospitality, greeter, “general
factotum” (stuffing envelopes, bundling and mailing The
Brown Pelican), membership chair then membership
backup when SAS went “electronic”, nominating
committee, Roberts Bay monitor. Whew! In addition, Jean
went on almost every day and overnight trip, acting as back
up leader when necessary. Currently, Jean manages the
monthly pre-meeting dinner at Bennigan’s, where board and
SAS members can meet the evening’s speaker and catch up
on bird business.
Jim: Led two or three day trips per year for many years;
presented three slide show programs at monthly meetings
of their worldwide travels; took care of the slide projector
—setting up and taking down at each meeting; and
cataloged and maintained our extensive slide collection,
making it easier for others to find just the right slide.
Between them they have been on several overseas trips with
SAS or with SAS friends: Africa, Trinidad, Venezuela.
They’ve also been regulars on many SAS overnight trips
around Florida, with Jim always ready with the ice and
drinks.
Jim and Jean have been loyal supporters of SAS with cash
donations, prize donations, cookie donations, and of course
their own valuable time donations. Sarasota Audubon is
a better organization because of them.
REVISED COUNTY CHARTER
AMENDMENT TO PROTECT OUR RURAL
ENVIRONMENT
You may have signed one of the 12,500 SAS-endorsed
petitions that were necessary to get a vote on an amendment
to the Sarasota County Charter to require a voter referendum
before extending the Urban Services Boundary (USB) into
our rural and environmentally sensitive eastern lands. An
extended USB would mean more housing east of I-75, with
more schools, fire stations, libraries, etc., not to mention
destroying more of the natural environment of eastern
Sarasota County. By the time you read this article, the County
Commission hopefully will have endorsed and placed on a
ballot for May 6 a revised “consensus” amendment that will
more effectively protect that land from urban sprawl than
would the original amendment.
This revised amendment provides that there must be a
unanimous vote by the County Commission to extend the
USB and would include the USB for the first time in the
Charter (thereby requiring a majority vote by citizens to
remove it). The revision would also require a unanimous
County Commission vote to establish new overlay districts
outside the USB or expand existing ones. (Overlay districts
could increase allowable density or intensity of development.)
These two provisions requiring unanimous votes close
loopholes that could have rendered the original amendment
almost meaningless if a County Commission wanted to evade
it.
Business and development organizations had threatened to
put several hundred thousand dollars into defeating the
original amendment. Why then did they agree to the new
“consensus”? Recent elections show they were likely to lose
anyway. A citizen vote to expand the USB would add delay
and uncertainty to their plans while a good proposal might
get unanimous County Commission approval. Avoiding an
expensive and bitter campaign would also help their image
and their future prospects in the community. Finally, Citizens
for Sensible Growth (which sponsored this and two earlier
Charter amendments) agreed, as an organization, not to seek
other land use amendments for the next six years if the
“consensus” amendment passes. (Hey, gathering petitions is
hard work.)
This “consensus” amendment could both help preserve our
birds and other wildlife while at the same time herald a new
spirit of cooperation between local environmentalists and
developers. I hope you will consider casting your ballot for
this USB amendment—at early voting, by absentee ballot, or
at the polls on May 6.
Wade Matthews
Conservation Chair
 NESTING SHOREBIRDS

Photo of a Black Skimmer Resting on Siesta Beach

SHOREBIRD NESTING SEASON is this time of year! Birds have been laying their eggs right on the beach for hundreds
of years. Their available nesting habitat is shrinking rapidly. If you see birds attackng your kite or maybe you as you walk
along the beach, you are probably too close to a nesting area. Adult birds will try to protect their nests. Once they fly off
their nest, eggs and chicks are vulnerable to sun and predators. Moving just a bit further away from nesting areas, protects the
birds and provides continued enjoyment for all! Some of our area beaches will put up ropes to indicate an area of the beach
to stay away from because the birds have chosen this area to nest in. You may be able to see all the birds behind these ropes
sitting on nests. Last year they had roped off the north end of Longboat Key for the Black Skimmers and Least Terns.

Gulls, terns, and skimmers nest mostly in colonies, sometimes in very large ones. Within colonies, members of these species
are highly territorial, even though a territory may be only a few square feet of beach.

Nesting Snowy Plovers can also be seen on Siesta Key Beach at this time.

Credit for Article to Adventure Florida Magazine -- Photo by Rick Greenspun

.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Photo credits -- Snowy Plover (page 2), Great Egret (page 3) and Black Skimmer (page 6) were
taken by Rick Greenspun. Birds in distress (page 7) from reusablebags.com
 PLASTIC BAGS

We have all seen plastic bags stuck in trees, shrubs, fences, and waterways. These bags are not only eyesores but major
contributors to climate change. Large amounts of carbon dioxide are released during the manufacture, transportation, and
disposal of plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, they are now being used at over 500 billion per year world wide and an
estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many bags. The toxic chemical ingredients needed to make
plastic produces pollution during the manufacturing process. Plastics comprise about 60 percent of the trash found on
beaches and about 90 percent of debris found floating in the water. Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, as
they degrade they end up as tiny toxic bits in our water and soil, which eventually ends up in our food chain and our drinking
water. Sea turtles, whales and birds die every year from eating or becoming entangled in discarded plastic bags. They choke
or block the intestines leading to an agonizing death. On land, cows, goats and other animals suffer a similar fate when they
accidentally ingest plastic bags while foraging for food.
Recycling bags (paper and plastic) requires energy for the collection, hauling and processing. an estimated 8 billion pounds of
plastic bags, wraps and sacks enter the waste stream every year in the US alone, putting an unnecessary burden on our
diminishing landfill space and causing air pollution if incinerated. How can we help to reduce this plastic bag footprint?
The answer is to stop using plastic bags and start using reusable bags -bring your own cloth bags everywhere you shop (not
just the grocery store). Making the change is not easy. When I commited to using cloth bags I would get into the grocery
store only to remember my cloth bags were still in the car at check out time. I would then make myself buy one new bag
each time I forgot my bags. After a few of these episodes I had more than enough reusable bags for all my shopping needs
and it helped me to remember them when doing my shopping the next time. I have read about other ways people use to
remember their bags, voiding purchases if they forget their bags, stuffing only their pockets of what they can carry, running
out to the car to get their bags when the cashier says “paper or plastic?”
Once you start using cloth bags you will find some pleasant surprises, such as they hold more and they are easier to carry.
Cloth bags are being offered free from the chamber of commerce on Siesta Key and for a nominal fee at most grocery stores.
Look for them soon from Sarasota Audubon Society.

Kathryn Young, Editor

The following websites were used to write this article.

reusablebags.com
greenpeace.org/interntional/campaigns/oceans/ pollution/trash-vortex
audubon.org
noaa.gov (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration)
 THE
BROWN
PELICAN

Published Monthly October through May by:

SARASOTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 15423
SARASOTA, FL 34277-1423

NEW MEMBERS For Membership Information email,

LYNN@SARASOTAAUDUBON.ORG
Jerome Dimercurio Margaret Lewis
Carlo Dinapoli Marlene Liberman OR LEAVE MESSAGE AT 364-9212
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Dr. Fanny Arguello John Filchock Paige Mallory
Larry Asarch Philip Gaynes G.Penz
Armand Bonneau Joe Guth William Sondgerath
William Brady Jerry Henkel Barbara Stainbrook
John Burns Nora Hooper Cerise Terry
Chris Cantillo Ken Jenkins Lawrence Weiss
Arthur Chovnick Bernard Kaufman Jamie White
Elizabeth Degtoff Michel Lehner