June 20th, 2011
The Florida Ornithological Society will be coordinating its second Breeding Bird Atlas in Florida over the next 5 years. The first Atlas project was conducted from 1986 through 1991. Florida Audubon is a sponsor of this important Breeding Bird Survey and encourages Florida Audubon chapters to participate in the survey.
For each of the five years, volunteers will be asked to survey the species of birds breeding in their given area. This data is used in ornithological research by bird conservation organizations and researchers. The state is divided into quadrants and each quadrant is divided into six 11 square mile blocks. Martin County has 11 quadrants. A volunteer county coordinator will assign quadrants to quadrant coordinators and these coordinators will recruit volunteers to survey for nesting birds during breeding season. The emphasis over the five years will be on the South East block in each quadrant. This survey monitors the species which are breeding. It does not require counting the number of birds breeding in any given area.
Audubon of Martin County would like to participate in this all volunteer survey and needs your help.
We require volunteers at all levels from county coordinator to field surveyors. Training and field guide books will be offered to all participants. As the breeding season for most Martin County birds is from February/March through June and many of our prospective field surveyors are winter residents only, we would like to partner winter and permanent residents to make sure the full breeding season is covered. If you are interested in participating in this important citizen science project, please contact Fran Stewart at vice-president@audubonmartincounty.org . We will be organizing and holding training sessions in the late fall in preparation for the surveys starting in early 2012.
Please see www.fosbirds.org/bba2news for further information or call Audubon of Martin County at 772 288-2637.
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May 26th, 2011
Pam Hopkins, PhD
Pam Hopkins, PhD, Audubon of Martin County Managing Director and Director of the chapter’s Possum Long Nature Center, has announced her resignation. Pam joined Audubon of Martin County in 2006, after returning from the UK, where she did biochemical research at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. In 2008 she assumed the newly created position of Managing Director. In addition, Pam coordinated Audubon of Martin County’s Sandhill Crane and Florida Scrub Jay Watch programs. She’s also a member of the Southeast Florida Scrub Ecosystem Working Group. Her resignation follows the Board of Directors May 16 decision to suspend contracts for her and Executive Director Greg Braun.
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May 25th, 2011
The Yellow-crowned Night Herons’ two chicks are starting to get their flight feathers and the Opreys’ youngster is making its presence felt with loud demands for food.
A.G.’s Pond has produced its first set of ducklings. May 10th a mother Mottled Duck and seven hatchlings were seen resting on one of the drought-inspired islets in the pond. Since then they have also been seen in Lake Clare. Mottled Ducks’ breeding range naturally falls just south of the more aggressive Mallard. The purity of the Mottleds’ gene pool is threatened by interbreeding with Mallard Ducks that have been introduced to Florida as ornamentals.
Last Thursday no fewer than three Black Racers were observed racing from the Hammock area toward the Wetlands. It’s the mating season for many reptiles and since female Racers are known to release pheromones that attract males, we no doubt have at least four at Possum Long.
It is certainly butterfly season too. Our native plants and ‘weeds’ are proving attractive to Zebra Longwings, Giant Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, White Peacocks and Ceraunus Blues have all been sighted nectaring and egg-laying at Possum Long.
We have no native Butterfly Orchids at Possum Long, but if we did they would be coming into bloom about now.
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May 18th, 2011
At the May 10 meeting of the Board of Directors, a motion was made to ”suspend” contracts for Managing Director Pam Hopkins and Executive Director Greg Braun. Contract for the Executive Director ends May 31 and the contract for Managing Director ends June 30.
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May 16th, 2011
Front, left to right: Kristian Yanez, 3rd place, 4th grade; Julia Andersen, 3rd place, 5th grade; Holly Atkinson, grand prize winner; Gregory De Laski, 1st place, 3rd grade; Erik Hilderman, 1st place, 5th grade; Eddy Casco, 1st place, 4th grade. Back: Linda Wishney, Education Director, Audubon of Martin County. Photo: Dean Smith.
Using science, art and originality, 454 Martin County students participated in “My Favorite Bird” Essay contest sponsored by Audubon of Martin County and chaired by Linda Wishney. The winners read their essays and received prizes and shared a pot-luck luncheon at the Awards event held Saturday May 7. Among the desserts contributed was a “Black Vulture” cake.
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May 3rd, 2011
Endangered Florida Scrub Jay, photographed at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Photo: Jim Kearman.
Robert Whitley, of the Whitley Development Group, Inc., claims “no one would notice” if they took 50 acres out of Jonathan Dickinson State Park to build a golf course. Their money line is that the park is too expensive to operate in today’s economy, and the golf course could help keep it open. We think the animals that inhabit those 50 acres would notice, but Mr. Whitley never considers them.
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April 26th, 2011
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April 17th, 2011
Audubon of Martin County hosted its first ever Birdathon Blast as both a fundraiser and fun field trip event. Nine teams scoured Martin County and surrounding areas from 6 a.m. Friday April 8 to 6 pm Saturday April 9, 2011 in the hope of identifying as many bird species as possible. Participants hiked, drove or boated to search out the various habitats where our avian friends could be located.
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March 24th, 2011
Position Paper
Regarding the Construction and Operation of Golf Courses on State Parks, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park
On behalf of the members of Audubon of Martin County, Inc. (Audubon of Martin County), the Board of Directors voted at their meeting on March 8, 2011 to oppose HB 1239 and SB 1846 or other initiatives which would require that 18-hole golf courses be created at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and at least one other course in each of the other regions of the Florida state park system. Our opposition was based primarily on the following aspects.
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March 18th, 2011
The newly-elected Officers and Board of Directors for Audubon of Martin County, will take office Thursday, April 21, during the annual meeting.
OFFICERS:
President: Lisa Fiore
Vice President: Fran Stewart
Treasurer: Debbie Clark
Secretary: Carol Newton
DIRECTORS:
Joan Bausch, Greg Braun,Tony Chatowsky, Pam Hopkins, Dan Martinelli, Bob Matheson, Bev Poppke, Louise White, Susan Whiting, Linda Wishney, Curt Wood, Susan Smyth
The following are 2011-2012 standing committees and their chairs. Please contact one or more of them to volunteer your time and/or expertise as we seek to meet the mission of Audubon of Martin County.
Conservation: Tony Chatowsky
Education: Linda Wishney,
Finance: Debbie Clark
Field Trips Coordinator: Mary Starzinski
Legal: Bob Matheson
Membership: Bev Poppke
Programs: Volunteer needed
Properties: Greg Braun
Possum Long Nature Center: Pam Hopkins
Communications: Joan Bausch
Fundraising: Volunteer needed
Joan Bausch
Audubon of Martin County
Publicity-Communications Chair
772-219-8285
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