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A Snail Kite's Delight

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A Snail Kite's Delight Marsh Trail - Photo by Arthur Jacoby A Snail Kite’s Delight Naturalist Observations of The Marsh Trail Impoundments By Bradley Rosendorf, Education and Outreach Associate A hike around the Marsh Trail impoundments provides opportunities for Refuge guests to observe a stunning array of unique Everglades wildlife. The Refuge is an ecological gem and one of the precious jewels of the National Wildlife Refuge System. On the Marsh Trail, visitors regularly observe species such as the American alligator, white- Bradley tailed deer, Everglade Snail Kite, Sandhill Crane, Wood Stork, Glossy Ibis, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Pileated Woodpecker, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Red- shouldered Hawk and Roseate Spoonbill. There seems to be a big increase in Roseate Spoonbill activity in the area this year! In the fall and winter months, Northern Harriers can be seen, and in the spring and summer, Swallow-tailed Sandhill Cranes - David Kendall Kites are observed. Bald Eagles can also be seen, but they are very elusive. Florida bobcats are sometimes seen stalking the water’s edge for a bird to catch for dinner. The Roseate Spoonbill - Bradley sunsets are a magical sight to behold – in the Real Everglades of Palm Beach County. Every hike on the Marsh Trail offers the possibility of a surprise. At the Refuge, people from all throughout the community unite to support wildlife conservation and be inspired in nature. The Marsh Trail impoundments include 7.6 miles of hiking trail as well as the LILA area – Loxahatchee Impoundment Research Assessment – where you can learn about tree islands and Everglades restoration collaborative research. While hiking through the Marsh Trail impoundments, you can experience an Everglades landscape and habitat that reflects the greater River of Grass ecosystem. The eastern lubber grasshoppers are a bizarre and Limpkin - Bridget Lyons amazing insect species to observe! Watch your step! At night, you can sometimes hear the sound of the intimidating and elusive Great Horned Owl, hooting from far away cypress trees. For families in Palm Beach County, visiting the Refuge and going for a hike on the Marsh Trail is a great way to connect with nature and have fun experiencing the Everglades! Ultimately, the most spectacular wildlife observation opportunity is the chance to see a remarkable Everglade Snail Kite balancing in flight over the water as it readies to dive down Eastern Lubber - Donna Korb Gator Tales is a publication of the Friends, (Continued on page 3) a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. If you would like to sign up for our email newsletter, For financial information, please visit or if you have any other questions, www.LoxahatcheeFriends.com/finance/finance.html please contact us at [email protected] Summer 2019 | Page 1 www.LoxahatcheeFriends.com Friends’ Board Notes Cathy Patterson Peter McKelvy After the much-needed retirement of What a year for the Friends ! I am proud Elinor Williams from the presidency of of the accomplishments of the Friends’ the Friends, Peter McKelvy and I will be Board of Directors. Due in large measure co-leading the Board of Directors. It’s a to our success in securing a number of daunting task to be sure as Elinor did grants we have been able to significantly such terrific job, and now it will take two enhance existing programs and embark or more of us to fill her shoes! on exciting new initiatives. I have been on the Board two terms, in addition to the Our funding for the Education and Outreach Associate volunteer tasks that come up on a weekly basis: the position has brought new audiences into the refuge and Nature Store, tram tours, International Coastal Clean Up, continues to develop innovative partnerships within the Great American Clean Up, photo contest, assisting with diverse communities that are Palm Beach and Broward school groups, and invasive plant removal. Country. The funding of the position was made possible Lox has been a favorite place of mine to visit since I was with the strong leadership of the Development a teenager (back in the olden days). It has changed for Committee, who secured over $37,000 in Grants to fund the position. the better over the years, due to the dedication of Refuge staff and the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to Additionally your Development Committee also secured preserve our last corner of the Everglades. grants to allow the Friends to significantly increase funding for transporting school groups to the Refuge to Plan to visit, or re-visit the Refuge soon. Bring your family and friends, cameras, binoculars, hats, and sun participate in on-site learning opportunities. We also screen. Take advantage of the many guided tours, received a grant to ensure continued funding for Everglades Day. lectures, special events, hiking, biking, and canoeing. You just may catch a glimpse of something wonderful! While the entire Board of Directors is proud of our success over the last 12 months we are mindful that a Cathy is one of the busiest volunteers around! She was financially secure Friends organization is a continuous named our Outstanding Friend of the Year in 2017 and effort. There remains a number of programs and capital selected by Refuge staff as Volunteer of the Year in 2018. projects that we are seeking funding for. You can help secure the financial security of the organization by making your tax-deductible donation today. It’s easy, simply go to the Friends website www.LoxahatcheeFriends.com and Elinor Williams look for the Friends tab, click on the tab and scroll down After 13 years on the Friends' Board to CONTRIBUTIONS. There you will find information of Directors, six of them as president, about how you can help support the Friends. it's time for me to step down and let We wish to thank our partners who have awarded the the energy and enthusiasm of some of Friends grants: the other outstanding board members take us in new directions. Cathy and Peter have spent The Jim Moran Foundation countless hours as board members, in addition to their The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation many other volunteer activities, and I am very grateful to The Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County them for agreeing to "power share" to lead this board The National Wildlife Refuge Association into the future. I won't be going far, in fact I won't be The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation going anywhere at all. I plan to continue most of the The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company volunteer activities that I've always been What Peter failed to mention is that he is almost single-handedly involved in. Just not the presidential ones! responsible for the Friends’ success in securing these grants. He was named Outstanding Friend of the Year in 2019 in recognition of his work on behalf of the Friends. - Editor Visit the Refuge! The Refuge main entrance and Would you like to make a Donation to Visitor Center are located at Help the Friends Help the Refuge? 10216 Lee Road, just west of U.S. 441, Go to www.LoxahatcheeFriends.com two miles south of Boynton Beach Blvd. and select Contributions. The Refuge is open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Like Us on Facebook! except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Join our growing community of fans Entrance fee is $5.00 per vehicle. www.facebook.com/LoxahatcheeFriends A variety of annual passes are available. Summer 2019 | Page 2 www.LoxahatcheeFriends.com Weekly Activities Sierra Club Donates Bird and nature walks, Water Bottle Filling Station guided canoe trips, tram tours and other activities occur on a weekly basis. Visit www.LoxahatcheeFriends.com or call the Visitor Center at 561-734-8303 for more information. (Continued from page 1) and grab an apple snail for a meal! Now that’s a Snail Kite’s delight! The Snail Kite is a very endangered and unique bird of prey that resembles a medium-sized hawk. The juvenile birds are difficult to distinguish male from female, while the adult male is uniformly black or dark gray and the adult female is golden brown and lighter gray with a white patch on its face. The Refuge has a generous amount of snail prey available for the Snail Kites to hunt. Interestingly, both native and invasive snails are hunted, and the Snail Kite seems to be adapting to the larger invasive snails as the birds are being born with Rolf Olson - Refuge Manager, Mary Cassell - Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group President, Elinor Williams - Friends President Emeritus, larger beaks to access meat from the larger snails. The Elle Rappaport - Sierra Club Finance & Publicity Chair - Ira Rappaport birds are also getting slightly larger in overall body size. Thanks to a generous $2,500 donation from the Sierra This is an amazing story of adaptation to an invasive prey Club Loxahatchee Group, a new Elkay Water Bottle item. Sometimes Snail Kites will stalk Limpkins as they Filling Station has been installed in the Visitor Center. look for snails, and then dive in and steal the snail – a The Friends of the Refuge also contributed to the rarely observed but verified behavior recorded on the installation. The ezH2O water station dispenses cold, Marsh Trail impoundments. The Snail Kite is quite literally filtered water while digitally tracking the number of plastic the most specialized bird of prey on Planet Earth in its water bottles saved from being used. So, bring your typical hunting behavior and prey selection. They perch water bottle next time you visit, and check out the count! low along the edges of the water, watching for snails to come up for air, barely breaking the surface of the water.
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