Welcome to the Sarasota Audubon Society!

An extremely active chapter with numerous trips and projects to engage you: monthly meetings with fascinating speakers, day trips, national and international trips, road and park clean ups, and nature walks for kids and adults. Please visit us at the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center. Our signature conservation project is the Beach Nesting Bird Program in which volunteers monitor Snowy Plovers, Least Terns and Black Skimmers as they struggle to survive on our busy beaches. We also have a scholarship program for high schoolers who will be studying environmental sciences in college.

Click the image to discover more about this bird.

Re-Wilding the Quad Parcels

Proposed look for the Southeast Quad.

In early May 2025 the Re-Wilding of the Quads Project received a $1 Million anonymous grant!

“The Celery Fields represent an exceptional wetland habitat, but what’s missing is denser trees and foliage for birds and other wildlife that depend on woodlands to thrive,” notes Jeanne Dubi, former president of Sarasota Audubon Society and current Director of Special Projects. “On the southeastern parcel, we are creating woodlands to increase habitat diversity which will attract more and different birds as well as other species. This in turn provides our community with additional opportunities for birding, wildlife viewing, and passive recreation – everyone wins!”

Read more… 
We need your help re-wilding the Quad parcels at the Celery Fields!
Learn more HERE.

Location of the Quads at the Celery Fields.

The Quads today.

Raymond Road Farm

The Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously on February 12th to deny the Rezone requested by D.R. Horton for a 126-home development. Commissioners all commented on what a “gem” the Celery Fields is and that no harm should be done to this habitat. The property is currently zoned for 10 homes, so it could still be developed. We must remain vigilant.

I would like to thank everyone for the incredible effort that went into the County Commission meeting.

Everyone who volunteers with us contributed by answering questions, providing information, writing letters, showing up to either support or speak. We represented Audubon proudly and it paid off!!!

Together we can move mountains… Thank you!

UPDATE September 11, 2025:   9 a.m. at the Sarasota County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236

This hearing is part of a FLUEDRA process in which DR Horton can try to reach an agreement with Sarasota County to resolve the issues that caused the rezone to be denied.
The meeting will open, and then DR Horton and the County will go behind closed doors to negotiate. We are not a party to these discussions and we will, most likely, not be given an opportunity to speak.

If you are available to sit for the beginning of the meeting to show that public interest in this critical fight to save the property from development has not waned, it would be greatly appreciated.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and we will simply sit and be present. A handful of us prepared with statements will remain for all 4 hours in case an agreement is made and public comment is opened up. Otherwise, it will just be sitting in the room for a short time to show this is still important and the issues that triggered the denial have not changed.

Sara Reisinger,
Sarasota Audubon President
On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Upcoming Events

News from SAS!

Read our current newsletter and be up to date with all the latest events and information.

Donate

We are able to help birds and
wildlife thrive in Sarasota County

Please click on the image above to donate money to help keep the Gazebo feeders at the Celery Fields full!

Birding in Panama February 2026

On this 8-day adventure, join SAS Board Member, Aaron Virgin, an acclaimed ecotourism birding leader, as you explore public and private reserves in both the North and South of Panama.