Jeanne Dubi, President of Sarasota Audubon with students Amanda Hawk, Mackenzie Moore and Irian Brown

Venice High School Zoology Club presents the Sarasota Audubon with a check for $1,000 at Monday, April 9, SAS General Meeting. the funds are for Audubon’s Celery Fields capital campaign. The VHS Zoology Club raised the money by selling discount restaurant cards. Thank you VHS Zoology Club for your dedication to the environment.

BIRD NATURALIST PROGRAM

Beginning in November 2012, Sarasota Audubon will be staffing the Celery Fields with Bird Naturalists—one a day. This program is similar to the one at Myakka River SP. Owen Comora, SAS member and creator of the very successful Bird Naturalist program at Myakka, will spearhead this project. Right now, we are gathering and beginning to train volunteers who will be able to point out birds and wildlife to visitors, as well as to provide background on the stormwater facility.

Sarasota Audubon is very pleased to be able to provide this service for County visitors and citizens.

BIRD SURVEYS IN COUNTY PARKS

For several years now, a team of volunteers from Sarasota Audubon has been conducting 2-year bird surveys in County parks. So far we have a comprehensive list for Red Bug Slough, Rothenbach Park and Urfer Family Park. These surveys have been turned over to Parks & Rec personnel. We hope that they will be published and used as handouts to enrich the visitor experience.

Beginning next month, the team will start a census in N. Lido Park. This will be particularly helpful to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program since they have done massive restoration in the park—removal of exotics, extension of the mangroves, contouring of the bayou and so on—and would like to see what impact the restoration has on bird life.

BEACH NESTING BIRD PROGRAM

Sarasota Audubon is beginning its 3^rd year of ramped-up beach nesting monitoring. As of today, we are seeing much activity on Siesta Key, and N. and S. Lidos. We are actively seeking volunteers for this program, especially for Siesta Key which has the most bird activity, as well as human activity.

Jeanne Dubi, President

There are several reasons for this successful outcome: 1) Thanks to Julie Byrne for rallying the troops at that first meeting where SWFWMD heard loud and clear from Sarasota Auduboners and citizens; 2) Thanks to the foresight of the ESLAP purchases, especially in the Myakka River watershed, it made no sense to sell off any properties in the midst of a sea of green; 3) Thanks to the chair, Albert Joerger of the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and a dedicated conservationist, and a powerful voice in the decision making process; and 4) Thanks to Sarasota and Manatee County Audubons and the Native Plant Society for putting their muscle where it counted most—in the field doing surveys. This showed SWF that we were serious about preserving habitat.

Jeanne Dubi

I remember a number of years ago, when the ponds were drying up in the central cells, I saw a King Rail feeding out in the open mud with a group of Glossy Ibises. There has been a significant increase in the number of dowitchers and yellowlegs recently and some Least Sandpipers have been spotted. This is a good time of year to be on the lookout for other shorebirds too.

Recently seen at the Celery Fields: King Rail, Purple Gallinules, Sora, American Bittern, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow, and Black-necked Stilts which have returned in preparation for breeding. There was an unconfirmed sighting of a Least Bittern this week, but they should start arriving in numbers soon. Last year, at least 8 pairs bred there.  The Limpkins are thriving. We spotted a big youngster (almost as big as its parents) still being fed by its parents. The exotic apple snail they feed on are not good for Snail Kites. Apparently, young kites cannot get the snail out of the shell—they can with the native snail. I was wondering why the Limpkins were feeding such a large chick, maybe they have trouble with the exotic snail until they reach a certain age too. Snail kite parents, take a lesson from the Limpkins! It would be great to have those marvelous birds breeding here.

Jeanne Dubi

Jeanne Dubi asked Stu Wilson to organize surveys for the
seven SWFMWD tracts in Manatee and Sarasota Counties and these surveys
were successfully conducted over the period 19 Feb through 27 Feb.  A total
of 19 volunteers from Manatee County and Sarasota Audubon ultimately
participated, including SAS members Jeanne Dubi, Stu Wilson, John Ginaven,
Nancy Edmondson, Claire Herzog, Paul Newhart, Bob & Nancy Dean, and Dan
Irizarry.  All told, 88 species of birds were documented at the seven
sites.

Key or unexpected species found were Northern Bobwhite, Wood Stork,
Swallow-tailed Kite, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Merlin, White-winged
Dove, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Florida Scrub-Jay,
Orange-crowned Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Bachman’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow,
White-throated Sparrow, and Eastern Meadowlark.  Results of the surveys
have been submitted to SWFMWD personnel and will be made available to
decision-makers at a 7 March public meeting.

Stu Wilson