2016 June Challenge

Calling all Brevard County birders. Breeding season is winding down and to keep up the interest as we enter into the dog days of birding how about joining me and other county birders for the June Challenge. This is a friendly contest started by a group of birders, in Gainesville, Alachua County. If you wish to participate keep track of each species seen and forward me your results at the end of June. I will compile individual as well as a total county list and forward to the June Challenge compiler. Send your lists to me and please try to have your species in taxonomic order.

Good birding,

Jim Eager
beachbirder@bellsouth.net

May 20, 2016 meeting

Join Space Coast Audubon Society for May 20th Meeting

“Potluck Dinner & Birds of Cuba”

WHO:  Space Coast Audubon Society (SCAS)

WHERE:  Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL.

WHEN:   May 20, 2016 at 6:30 pm

This will be our last meeting, for the season, until we come together again on September 16, 2016.  The May meeting, which starts at 6:30 pm this month, is a gathering of folks for a good ole fashion potluck dinner. Conjure up a new favorite concoction or bring your favorite dish and come join us for some great eats.  Swap some of your favorite birding stories whether it be that elusive nemesis bird you discovered or the one that is still eludes you after many attempts to chase.  Always great friendship and a good time had by all.

In addition, long time member Roy Book will do a photographic presentation of his birding trip to Cuba.  Since relations have been re-established between the United States and Cuba all the major birding tour companies are offering trips to Cuba so this presentation will whet many birders appetites to finally visit a new venue not previously opened to the birders of the world. 

And remember although we don’t meet in June, July and August and it’s the dog days of birding, so to speak, you never know when a trip might pop up during the summer.  So check the new revamped website at www.spacecoastaudubon.org including the Limpkin/blog, Facebook, Meetup and the listserv at www.spacecoastaudubon@yahoogroups.com from time to time.  

                                                                    

Look forward to another great turnout.

Jim Eager

Space Coast Audubon Society

Vice President

Program/Publicity Chair

April 23, 2016 Turkey Creek Sanctuart field trip

WHO:  Space Coast Audubon Society

WHERE:  Turkey Creek Sanctuary

WHEN:  Saturday April 23, 2016, 7:30 AM

Join Bill Haddad for an early morning bird walk, looking for spring migrants, at Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Saturday April 23, 2016, in Palm Bay, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd. Meet in the parking lot at 7:30am and the walk should last several hours.  Wear comfortable shoes, as this will be a walking field trip, bring hat, water and snacks.

 55

Jim Eager

Space Coast Audubon Society

Vice President

Program/Publicity Chair

Field Trip to Three Lakes Area Results

By Phyllis Mansfield, photos by Jim Meyer

Kudos to Jim Eager for leading the Space Coast Audubon Society field trip to Three Lakes area this morning. Thirteen people joined Jim on a cool windy morning. Some of us were wanting another layer, while others were in shirt sleeves!! Before long the sun warmed us as did seeing most of the target birds plus a few extras. I tallied 72 species.

 

The Whooping Crane was a miss, but The hunt camp yielded at least three RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS for close viewing, several BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCHES, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, PINE WARBLERS, finally a BACHMAN’S SPARROW viewed in the scope while singing. NORTHERN BOBWHITE was heard, as well as several EASTERN TOWHEE.  

 

Lake Jackson at Prairie Lakes was a winner for us today: WHITE PELICAN, around 60 SNOWY EGRETS, 1 PURPLE GALLINULE, 2 ROSEATE SPOONBILL. Kim showed me a photo she took of a yellowlegs, but I said it looked like a SOLITARY SANDPIPER. We soon located 2 of them a few yards from us along with a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Overhead with the vultures were 2 SWALLOW-TAILED KITE.

 

We were ready to give up on the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, but Jim Located one on a dead tree on Overstreet Rd, head bopping in and out of a nest hole. 

At the boat ramp on Lake Kissimmee there was a LIMPKIN and a SNAIL KITE was seen gathering it’s favorite-an apple snail.

 

We always enjoy this area for the abundance of BALD EAGLE, WILD TURKEY, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, SANDHILL CRANE. There were 5 species of woodpeckers, 6 species of warblers, 10 species of wading birds seen today. And for some the FOS CHIMNEY SWIFT.

 

Great day to be out looking for birds with other birders.

2015 Final Christmas Bird Count Results

Here are the detailed results of the 2015 Christmas Bird Counts.

• Cocoa
• Merritt Island
• South Brevard

April 15, 2016 general meeting

Join Space Coast Audubon Society for our April 15th Meeting “When Eagles Roar” WHO: Space Coast Audubon Society (SCAS) WHERE: Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL. WHEN: April 15, 2016 at 7:30 pm James Currie will be our speaker and will be presenting When Eagles Roar A lifelong wildlife enthusiast and native of South Africa, James Currie is fast becoming one of the most recognizable faces in birding and wildlife in North America. James hosts the popular TV show, Nikon’s Birding Adventures, now in its 8th season and currently airing on Discovery Channel’s Destination America. (Brighthouse channels 162 & 1264, Direct TV channel 286, Dish Network channel 194). He also hosted the popular action-birding show “Aerial Assassins” on National Geographic WILD, aired in the United States and worldwide in 2012. James Currie is a highly sought after public speaker and has spoken to sold-out audiences at various venues. He is an expert in the field of sustainable development and holds a Bachelor’s degree in African Languages and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Environmental Management. This fascinating talk covers James’s real-life adventures of becoming a park ranger and birding stories of from his book by the same title. From encounters with lions to coming under gunfire while birding, these stories will keep you on the edge of your seat. “ When Eagles Roar” was listed as one of the top 10 nature books of 2014 by The Guardian as well as the best birding book of 2014 by the Birder’s Library. James will have copies of his book available for purchase and will autograph. Visit the Space Coast Audubon Society website at www.spacecoastaudubon.org and check out the Space Coast Audubon Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Space-Coast-Audubon We look forward to another great turnout. Jim Eager Space Coast Audubon Society Vice President Program/Publicity Chair

April 16, 2016 Turkey Creek field trip

WHO: Space Coast Audubon Society WHERE: Turkey Creek Sanctuary WHEN: Saturday April 16, 2016, 7:30 AM Join Bill Haddad for an early morning bird walk, looking for spring migrants, at Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Saturday April 16, 2016, in Palm Bay, 1518 Port Malabar Blvd. Meet in the parking lot at 7:30am and the walk should last several hours. Wear comfortable shoes, as this will be a walking field trip, bring hat, water and snacks. Jim Eager Space Coast Audubon Society Vice President Program/Publicity Chair

April 10, 2016 Tosohatchee WMA field trip

WHO: Space Coast Audubon Society WHERE: Tosohatchee WMA WHEN: Sunday April 10, 2016 Space Coast Audubon board members Matt Heyden, Lora Losi and Jim Stahl, a retired botanist, will be leading a bird and plant field trip to Tosohatchee WMA on Sunday April 10, 2016. We will meet at 8:30 am at the Cracker Barrel at I-95 & SR 50 (Exit # 215) in the south parking lot. The trip will be from 8:30-12:00. There is a $3.00 charge per car so carpooling is highly recommended. When car pooling, it is customary to provide gas money to the driver to help with their expense of driving. Wear appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes as there will be some walking required as Jim points out various trees and plants. I would suggest bringing drinks, snacks, lunch, sunscreen and bug spray (optional). In addition, you might want to bring a bird and/or plant guide. Please RSVP Matt Heyden at mheyden@aol.com. Jim Eager Space Coast Audubon Society Vice President Program/Publicity Chair

April 3, 2016 Three Lakes WMA/Joe Overstreet Field Trip

Who: Space Coast Audubon Society When: Sunday April 3, 2016 Where: Three Lakes WMA/Joe Overstreet Field Trip Space Coast Audubon Vice President, Jim Eager, will be leading a Space Coast Audubon field trip, Sunday April 3, 2016, to Three Lakes WMA, for Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman’s Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird and Pine Warbler. Next to Peavine Rd for King Rail, Lake Marian Marina for Limpkin, Bonaparte’s Gull, Purple Gallinule and American White Pelican. From there, off to Joe Overstreet Rd for Red-headed Woodpecker, Eastern Meadowlark and if they have returned Burrowing Owls. Next stop will be Joe Overstreet Landing (lunch) on beautiful Lake Kissimmee where we should see Snail Kite and Limpkin. We will also be on the lookout for Bald Eagle and Crested Caracara throughout the day. After we leave we will stop by Double C Bar Ranch in hopes of seeing the Whooping Crane. If we don’t see Snail Kite and/or Limpkin we will make a stop by Lakeshore Marina, in St Cloud, on our way back to Brevard County. This will be an all day trip so I would suggest bringing lunch, drinks, snacks, sunscreen and bug spray (optional). Wear appropriate clothes based on the weather and wear comfortable footwear. We will meet at Sam’s Club, 450 Townsend Rd, at I-95/SR 520 and leave at 6:00 am sharp. Please email me at beachbirder@bellsouth.net, or call and leave a message at 423-593-0059 if you will be going so I can have a list of attendees. When car pooling, it is customary to provide gas money to the driver to help with their expense of driving. Look forward to a good turnout. Jim Eager Space Coast Audubon Vice President Program/Publicity Chair

March 13, 2016 field trip to Circle B Bar

NOTE: The field trip to Three Lakes, on this date, has been rescheduled to April 3, 2016 Who: Space Coast Audubon Society When: Sunday March 13, 2016 Where: Circle B Bar Field Trip Space Coast Audubon President, Mark Wallace, will be leading a Space Coast Audubon field trip to Circle B Bar, 4399 Winter Lake Rd in Lakeland, on Sunday March 13, 2016. We will meet and leave at 7:00 am sharp from Sam’s Club, 450 Townsend Rd, at I-95/SR 520. From there we will carpool to Circle B Bar. This will be an all day trip and should be back around 5:00 pm so I would suggest bringing lunch, drinks, snacks, sunscreen and bug spray (optional). Wear appropriate clothes based on the weather and wear comfortable footwear as there will be a fair amount of walking. Please email Mark at markwallace@wispertel.net if you will be going so Mark can have a list of attendees. When car pooling, it is customary to provide gas money to the driver to help with their expense of driving. Look forward to a good turnout. Jim Eager Space Coast Audubon Vice President Program/Publicity Chair

March 18, 2016 general meeting

Join Space Coast Audubon Society for our March 18th Meeting “Florida's Important Bird Areas: monitoring and stewardship by partners and volunteers” WHO: Space Coast Audubon Society (SCAS) WHERE: Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL. WHEN: March 18, 2016 at 7:30 pm Dr. Marianne Korosy will be our speaker and will be presenting Florida’s Important Bird Areas: monitoring and stewardship by partners and volunteers Marianne Korosy is Florida’s IBA Coordinator and has worked for Audubon Florida since 2009 with a focus on building volunteer-based, outdoor stewardship programs for shorebirds, seabirds, and Florida Scrub-Jays in Important Bird Areas. Marianne has bachelors and masters degrees in geology from Florida State University and a PhD in conservation biology from the University of Central Florida. Florida's IBA areas include coastal beaches, pine forests, grasslands and scrub-lands. We will take a tour of examples of each of these habitats and the bird monitoring and stewardship efforts underway by Audubon chapters, volunteers, and partners. Florida's Important Bird Area Program supports the persistence of our state's native avifauna and native habitats through sound land management, habitat preservation, and the work of volunteer citizen scientists. Florida's birds and their habitats are under continued pressure from habitat loss and fragmentation, fire exclusion, proliferation of exotic and invasive species, and various forms of human disturbance. Here In Brevard County we have 2 IBAs. Brevard Scrub Ecosystem IBA—there are over 12 sites throughout Brevard County Cape Canaveral-Merritt Island IBA-includes Cape Canaveral AFS, Merritt Island NWR & Canaveral National Seashore Visit the Space Coast Audubon Society website at www.spacecoastaudubon.org and check out the Space Coast Audubon Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Space-Coast-Audubon We look forward to another great turnout. Jim Eager Space Coast Audubon Society Vice President Program/Publicity Chair

South Brevard CBC Final Results for 2015

The following is the final tally for the 2015 South Brevard Christmas Bird Count. Our final accepted species number is 149. Thanks again to all the folks who helped out with it.

Dee

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck    52 (Graylag) Domestic Goose    10 Muscovy Duck    20 Wood Duck    1 American Wigeon    2 Mallard    9 Mallard X Mottled Duck    37 Mottled Duck    129 Northern Shoveler    5 Green-winged Teal    1 Ring-necked Duck    1 Lesser Scaup    503 Black Scoter    25 Hooded Merganser    9 Red-breasted Merganser    33 Duck species    2 Common Peafowl    1 Northern Bobwhite    6 Wild Turkey    26 Common Loon    4 Pied-billed Grebe    32 Horned Grebe    36 Wood Stork    30 Magnificent Frigatebird    3 Northern Gannet    85 Double-crested Cormorant    782 Anhinga    102 American White Pelican    217 Brown Pelican    830 American Bittern    1 Least Bittern    2 Great Blue Heron    105 Great Egret    148 Snowy Egret    60 Little Blue Heron    115 Tricolored Heron    29 Cattle Egret    404 Green Heron    15 Black-crowned Night Heron    31 Yellow-crowned Night Heron    1 White Ibis    671 Glossy Ibis    1 Roseate Spoonbill    3 Black Vulture    588 Turkey Vulture    288 Osprey    185 Northern Harrier    8 Sharp-shinned Hawk    4 Cooper's Hawk    1 Bald Eagle    21 Red-shouldered Hawk    59 Red-tailed Hawk    5 King Rail    1 Clapper Rail    1 Sora    2 Common Gallinule    25 American Coot    8 Limpkin    9 Sandhill Crane    124 American Oystercatcher    4 Black-bellied Plover    9 Killdeer    203 Spotted Sandpiper    4 Greater Yellowlegs    6 Willet    84 Ruddy Turnstone    105 Sanderling    180 Dunlin    2 Long-billed Dowitcher    10 Wilson's Snipe    21 American Woodcock    2 Laughing Gull    299 Ring-Billed Gull    205 Herring Gull    39 Lesser Black-backed Gull    11 Great Black-backed Gull    9 Caspian Tern    10

Forster's Tern    77 Royal Tern    110 Sandwich Tern    1 Black Skimmer    172 Rock Pigeon    90 Eurasian Collared Dove    42 Common Ground Dove    37 White-winged Dove    25 Mourning Dove    438 Barn Owl    1 Eastern Screech Owl    12 Great Horned Owl    4 Barred Owl    6 Ruby-throated Hummingbird    2 Hummingbird species    1 Belted Kingfisher    50 Red-bellied Woodpecker    139 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker    12 Downy Woodpecker    20 Hairy Woodpecker    2 Red-cockaded Woodpecker    11 Northern Flicker    5 Pileated Woodpecker    21 Crested Caracara    7 American Kestrel    89 Merlin    2 Eastern Phoebe    95 Great Crested Flycatcher    1 Loggerhead Shrike    28 White-eyed Vireo    20 Blue-headed Vireo    11 Blue Jay    137 Florida Scrub-Jay    23 Fish Crow    128 Tree Swallow    13517 Tufted Titmouse    1 Brown-headed Nuthatch    17 House Wren    36 Sedge Wren    8 Carolina Wren    75 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher    50 Ruby-crowned Kinglet    5 Eastern Bluebird    2 Hermit Thrush    1 American Robin    6796 Gray Catbird    201 Northern Mockingbird    130 European Starling    145 Cedar Waxwing    99 Black-and-white Warbler    7 Orange-crowned Warbler    3 Common Yellowthroat    39 Palm Warbler    211 Pine Warbler    371 Yellow-rumped Warbler    1031 Yellow-throated Warbler    6 Prairie Warbler    10 Eastern Towhee    30 Bachman's Sparrow    16 Chipping Sparrow    17 Vesper Sparrow    5 Savannah Sparrow    39 Grasshopper Sparrow    6 Swamp Sparrow    6 Northern Cardinal    106 Painted Bunting    15 Red-winged Blackbird    77 Eastern Meadowlark    31 Common Grackle    963 Boat-tailed Grackle    250 Brown-headed Cowbird    1 American Goldfinch    135 House Sparrow    15 Mute Swan    2

Upcoming Events

Unless otherwise noted, all general meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Calvin Hall at the Rockledge Presbyterian Church, 921 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge, FL. For additional information, send an e-mail message to Dee Fairbanks Simpson at DeeFairbanks@yahoo.com.


IMPORTANT: Due to the West Nile virus threat, be sure to bring mosquito repellent along on all field trips.


All field trips are open to the public and are free unless there is an admittance fee to the park. They are generally geared towards the beginner and intermediate birder, but all levels are welcomed. Binoculars are essential; insect repellent is a great idea to bring, note book and field guides may be helpful. Always dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Bring snack and fluids as needed. When ever possible, we try to carpool to the birding sites, so come prepared to drive or to easily transfer to another vehicle. For more info on our events follow Space Coast Audubon on Meetup.com.


Note: Some of our upcoming field trips are going to be on shorter notice and will be announced via our list serv.  If you do not already receive these emails and wish to subscribe to them, simply sign up, there is no cost.  You may go to our website under “contact us” and find the link at the bottom of the page

• February
• 5-7: Birds of a Feather Fest
• 19: SCAS General Meeting: Big Year: Lake County vs Osceola County presented by Gallus Quigley and Chris Newton
• 20: Field Trip: Palm Beach Wetlands
• 20: Orlando Wetlands Park Festival 
• 27: Samsons Island Nature Park Open House
• 27: Field Trip: MINWR/Black Point wildlife drive
• March
• 13: Field Trip: Three Lakes WMA/Joe Overstreet
• 18: SCAS General Meeting: Speaker: TBA
• April
• 9010: Orange Audubon Society - Flamingo Quest
• 15: SCAS General Meeting: Speaker: TBA
• 23: Women in the Outdoors at Quail Creek Plantation
• May
• 20: General SCAS Meeting: TBA

Take Action: Urge Brevard County Commissioners to Reconsider a Destructive New Landfill in the St. Johns River Floodplain

Reprinted from the Audubon Advocate

Image courtesy Orlando Sentinel.

This photo, provided courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel, shows why Brevard County’s quarter-century old proposal to build a landfill in wetlands on the St. Johns River Floodplain is a bad idea. Hundreds of acres of wetlands, including the cypress tree where the Bald Eagle is perched, would be destroyed. In addition to destroying important wildlife habitat for Bald Eagles and Threatened Species like Crested Caracara, Wood Storks and many other wading birds that use the site, placing a landfill there is harmful to water storage and water quality in the entire St. Johns River ecosystem.

The 3,000-acre landfill project, still being pursued in the environmental permit process by county staff, is located on property the County condemned from the Deseret Ranch back in 1991, just west of the St. Johns River, and just north of U.S. 192. Deseret Ranch proposes to retain the eastern part of its property surrounding the site in conservation and cattle ranching.

None of the current Brevard County Commissioners were in office when the landfill in the St. Johns River wetlands was first proposed. Advancements in solid waste disposal and opportunities for more recycling over the last 25 years have already extended the life of Brevard’s existing landfills, and suggest that today’s Brevard County leaders should take another look at alternatives before their staff launches into a long and expensive fight to gain approval of an antiquated plan from state and federal environmental agencies. While the state Department of Environmental Protection has indicated the intent to approve a permit, Deseret Ranch and others may challenge that permit – and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, backed by federal agencies has already signaled serious concerns about the County’s 1991 era proposal.

There is plenty of time for Brevard County to consider and implement alternatives at other sites to avoid a massive landfill in the St. Johns River wetlands. Current Brevard landfill capacity for construction debris and other non-garbage wastes will last until at least 2023. Brevard’s existing Class 1 Landfill which receives household garbage has 20 – 30 years of additional capacity.

Your voice is needed. Contact Brevard County Commissioners and ask them to take a pause in the permit process at the Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Ask Commissioners to get personally involved rather than leaving things to their staff, and to demand consideration of other solid waste management alternatives and sites to avoid placing a landfill in floodplain wetland areas important for water storage and water quality. Suggest that Commissioners consider regional partnerships and collaborative efforts - perhaps with other counties – to implement state of the art solutions. Click the red button below to send an email using our easy form.

For additional coverage on this issue, please see the following links:

• Orlando Sentinel (Editorial)
• Orlando Sentinel (Article)
• Florida Today (Article)

Watch a Mesmerizing Migration Map

Reprinted from the Cornell Lab eNews Click on the map to start the animation showing 118 bird species migrating. Map by Frank La Sorte, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Watch the wonder and spectacle of bird migration captured on a single map. Using millions of bird observations from participants in eBird and the Great Backyard Bird Count, scientists at the Cornell Lab generated an animated map showing the annual journeys of 118 bird species. Watch how the routes change in spring and fall as birds ride seasonal winds to their international destinations. See the map in motion and read more.

Audubon Advocate Updates

Reprinted from the Audubon Advocate

Senate Refuses to Take a Vote on Bonds for Land Conservation

Audubon's Eric Draper addresses the media on Sen. Altman's Florida Forever amendment.

The Florida Senate passed a budget SB 2500 with $52 million for land conservation but refused to take a vote on an amendment offered by Senator Thad Altman (R-Cape Canaveral) to authorize $220 million in bonds for land conservation through the existing Florida Forever program. Altman had lined up a bipartisan coalition to support the amendment but did not have the necessary votes to waive the rules. Thank you to the more than 1000 people who responded to Audubon Florida’s request to contact Senators.  

Audubon's Eric Draper joined Senator Altman in a press conference before the vote and noted that with Florida’s economic and population growth it is time to invest in saving natural Florida.

Senate Committee Adds Springs to Everglades Funding Bill

SB 1168 now locks in for ten years 25% of Amendment 1 funds for Everglades restoration and 7.6% for springs protection. The bill advanced in the Senate Environment Preservation and Conservation Committeeon Wednesday. The bill now puts significant resources into both South Florida’s biggest water-related concerns and North Florida’s biggest concerns. While House and Senate offer different amounts of money for Everglades and springs, the bill sets a floor for that spending.  

The House passed its version of the bill through the Appropriations Committee this week. The House bill does not have a springs provision.

Local Government Environmental Financing

HB 447 passed its second of three committees this week, moving it one step closer to passage. This good legislation will provide a much-needed $25M annual commitment for 10 years that will fund land acquisition and water quality improvements in the Keys. SB 770 by Senator Wilton Simpson (R-New Port Richey) has two committees remaining. Audubon thanks Representative Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo) and Senator Simpson for their efforts to protect the Florida Keys.

State Park Fee Discounts for Senior Citizens

HB 677 by Representative Cynthia Stafford (D- Opa Locka) passed its last committee in the House this week. The bill has been amended to provide for a one year, 25% discount for state park annual passes for senior citizens. The fiscal impact is estimated to be $200,000 and the bill provides an appropriation for this amount to protect the state parks budget and cover the cost of the discount. The companion measure, SB 1000 by Senator Geraldine Thompson has not received a hearing.  However, SB 570by Senator Charlie Dean (R-Inverness) is a broader bill that provides a one year fee holiday for most state parks. It contains a $27.3M appropriation, which would protect the state parks budget as well. We anticipate that the House and Senate may reach a compromise on this issue, but both chambers have worked to ensure that any fee holiday or reduction will not end up harming parks. Audubon thanks the bill sponsors as well as House and Senate leaders for their thoughtful consideration of this issue.

State Lands

SB 1290 by Senator Wilton Simpson (R-New Port Richey) passed its first committee this week. Senator Darren Soto (D-Kissimmee) filed an amendment to preserve the existing definition of “water resource development project” for Florida Forever purposes, which sparked a good discussion regarding this issue. We appreciate his efforts to clarify this issue and help protect against a negative policy shift. Senator Simpson reiterated his commitment to work with the stakeholders on this legislation. We have provided several comments and suggestions for changes to both sponsors and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  While Audubon does have several significant concerns with the legislation, our initial meetings have been productive and encouraging.  The companion, HB 1075 by Representative Matt Caldwell (R-Lehigh Acres), is in its last committee, State Affairs.

DEP Reorganization

HB 561 by Representative Neil Combee (R-Auburndale) passed its last committee this week. This bill previously gave the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary broad authority to create and abolish Divisions of the agency and removed the mandate to have a Division of Recreation and Parks. The bill has been amended with language supported by Audubon Florida that restores the Division of Recreation and Parks and other important Divisions, while still giving the Secretary authority to create other Divisions as needed. We appreciate Representative Combee and DEP’s willingness to work out a viable solution for this legislation. SB 400 by Senator Alan Hays (R-Umatilla) is in its last committee, Appropriations.

ELC's 20th Annual EcoFest: Unplug, Explore, Discover

By Nance Hatch, Environmental Learning Center Director of Marketing Communications

“Unplug, Explore, Discover” is the order of the day for the Environmental Learning Center’s 20th annual EcoFest, coming up on Sunday, March 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. This free admission family event features hands-on exhibits, crafts and other activities that emphasize the recreational and therapeutic benefits of nature.

Wildlife will be on display and music once again offered by the River Rats. Weather permitting, canoeing and paddle boarding will be available for those 6-years-old and up. You can attend a workshop or two about outdoor photography, container gardening and nature journaling, and watch local artists do their plein air painting.  Or just unplug for the day and enjoy the surroundings.
New to EcoFest this year is a chalk art contest titled “A Healthy Lagoon: Let’s Chalk about it.” Winners in a variety of age groups will be announced at 3:30 pm on the main stage.
The Vero Beach Power Squadron will provide and prepare the hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, donating all proceeds to the ELC for the 8th year in a row. Popcorn, desserts and hot and cold beverages will also be available for purchase at family-friendly prices.
All projects from the ELC’s “Making a Difference in MY World” elementary school contest will be on display in the Lagoon Room. Winners of the kindergarten through second grade categories will be announced at 12 noon and winners in the third through fifth grade categories at 2:30 p.m., both on the main stage. ELC volunteers Patty and Walter Garrard once again oversee the contest.
The Treasure Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association is this year’s Premier Sponsor. Says spokesman Barry Balavender, “This is a great opportunity for our association to give back to the children in our community, to show our commitment to being environmental stewards and to continue and strengthen our relationship with the Environmental Learning Center.” Other sponsors include the Press Journal/TCPalm and the Vero Beach Newsweekly, Publix, and the Association of American University Women, Vero Beach Branch.

Co-chairs Linda Clerch and Maureen Kane are aided by a volunteer committee made up of Liz Fox, Jan Garrison, Liz and Alan Northcott, Paige Visser, Janet Kerney, Ginger Heller, Carol Edwards and Jean Taber. Additionally, special thanks go to the Sebastian River High's Navy JROTC members and some 180 volunteers who will make it all happen on March 6.
Look for signs marking the free parking location at the southeast intersection of US 1 and CR510. Complimentary shuttle buses will run continuously from there to the ELC from 10:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m.

The complete day’s schedule can be found online at www.discoverelc.org or call (772) 589-5050 ext. 114.

The Environmental Learning Center is located north of Vero Beach off County Road 510 at the end of the Wabasso Bridge. Its 64-acre island campus includes winding boardwalk trails, exhibit areas, native plant gardens, picnic facilities, a gift shop and visitor center. ELC membership benefits and a list of its many land and water excursions, can be found at www.discoverelc.org.

February 27, 2016 MINWR/Black Pt Dr

WHO:  Space Coast Audubon Society

WHERE:  Merritt Island NWR/Black Point Dr

WHEN:  Saturday February 27, 2016

Space Coast Audubon member Marilyn Taylor will be leading a field trip to Black Point Dr at Merritt Island NWR on Saturday February 27, 2016.  Meet at 8 am at Sand Point Pk, 101 N. Washington Ave, Titusville.  Sand Point Park has restrooms, and is on the NE corner of Garden St/Washington Ave (US 1) before you cross the bridge, on the left, heading out to the refuge.  Finish time: 11:00 am, back at Sand Point Park.  For those interested, bagels and coffee will be served at our host's condo across the street.  You can bring a packed lunch if you prefer.  We need a head count, so an RSVP is needed.  Please contact Marilyn at operacrazed39@gmail.com to let her know if you plan on attending. 

 

Jim Eager

Space Coast Audubon Society

Vice President

Program/Publicity Chair