MARION AUDUBON SOCIE TY

MARION AUDUBON SOCIETY OUR RICH, NATURAL HERITAGE SUTAINS OUR F UTURE

found shelter from the sun under WHATS IN A a sparse canopy of oak and AUDUBON IN NAME? understory of large shrubs. This MARION COUNTY shelter provided ample habitat By Judy Greenberg November 2016 marks During my vacation to San for a variety of nesting and song the Diego in August, I discovered birds. Hummingbirds and 30th Anniversary for the new places, new friends and the butterflies darted among name, San Diego Audubon. flowering native plants in the San Diego County is rocks. The birds moved easily Marion Audubon geographically large like Marion around the habitat in a Society. County, boasting diverse natural spectacular display of agility. I The original objectives areas: swamp marshes, arid observed the Western Scrub adopted by the Jay, and deserts and organization have The mission of the National hardwood committed to Audubon Society is to conserve and changed very little forests. I visited make time restore natural ecosystems by since 1986. special places this year to focusing on birds, other wildlife, and How the organization attend a Jay with names their habitats for the benefit of goes about foreign to me: humanity and the earth’s biological Watch accomplishing its Anza Borrego diversity. Training with Desert State Park, Cuyamaca Marianne Korosy. Stellar Jays, objectives changes State Park and San Elijo Lagoon. Acorn Woodpecker, sparrows with the times to better Overlooking a valley of dry, and warblers were abundant for meet the needs of the gritty brown soil, mounds of rock, my birding pleasure. membership, to gain It seems that at every turn the brown grasses, and sparse more knowledge from clumps of the native gypsum presence of Audubon was citizen science, and to weed, I was amazed, and at evident. Bits of birding utilize the latest times dizzied by the bird activity knowledge gleaned from technology for getting surrounding me. My birding Marion Audubon ran through experiences with Marion my head as I experienced these the job done. Audubon had prepared me to new places. A copy of the San We Invite you to identify a Red - tailed Hawk as it Diego Audubon newsletter, participate in the swept across the vast open Sketches was among the many journey with us. spaces. free materials I gathered during Read More about the trip. On the flight home I While visiting new friends at Membership on Page 2. the Cuyamca State Park, we read an informative article by 1

MARION AUDUBON SOCIE TY

their Communications Chair, Grinnell. He was known National Committee of David Stump: We are Audubon. during his lifetime as the Audubon Societies, father of American His writing inspired me to share conservation. National Association of the following facts about the 2. At least 16 states had Audubon Societies for Audubon name with you: Audubon societies by the Protection of Wild 1899. 1. In 1886 the Audubon 3. Over the years the Birds and Animals, and Magazine and New York alliances of Audubon National Audubon Audubon Society were Societies have been Society; the name since created through the organized under a efforts of George Bird variety of names: 1940 still in use today.

Audubon in Florida  Audubon Florida had its first meeting in March 1900 in Maitland, Florida  In 1901 the Audubon Model Law was passed to protect water birds from plume hunting in the state of Florida.  In 1905 Guy Bradley, an Audubon Warden near Flamingo, Florida was shot and killed by plume hunters poaching nesting birds.  The National Audubon Society has about 150 sanctuary properties in the United States and Bird Island on Orange Lake was the first. Purchased in 1911, O.E.Baynard was the first Audubon Warden. Alachua Audubon Society closely monitors that Bird Island today.

Membership Renewals come once a Year.  Reminders are Mailed in November for January 1st Membership Effective Date Membership Forms can be found at www.marioncountyaudubon.com

Florida Audubon Assembly happens once a Year! All Marion Audubon Society members are invited to attend this assembly.  October 28 & 29, 2016 in St. Pete Register at www.audubonflorida.org

Zebra Swallow Tail By Carolyn Retey

2

Marion Audubon Society

Monthly Nature Walks by Carolyn Retey “Lake Apopka Wildlife D Informative walks each month September – April. Citizen Science

No walks in December. Seasonal Counts All Walks Begin at 9:00 AM Dec. 19, 2016 – SW Christmas Bird Count

Contact: Judy Greenberg Cohadjoe Park – Last Monday - Meet at Picnic Pavilion Dec. 14, 2016 – Emeralda Christmas Bird

Count Fort King National Historic Landmark Park – 2nd Saturday – Contact: Peg Linsay Meet at the Visitors Center Feb. 20, 2017 – Great Backyard Bird Count At Silver Springs State Park Tuscawilla Park – 3rd Wednesday – Contact: Barbara Swartz Meet in Lobby of Discovery Center

Ongoing Specific Species Monthly Programs Florida Scrub Jay: Halapta Tastanaka Contact: Steve & Darcy Shaddix All Programs Begin at 6:30 P.M. Chimney Swift: Tuscawilla Park

Fort King National Historic Landmark Park Contact: Carolyn Retey

Visitors Center

3925 E Fort King Street, Ocala.

Come early and socialize. Refreshments will be served.

Programs are open to the public. Focus on Youth

Contact: Mary Pead: 352-875-2742

*Member Meeting Dates* include brief business items at

beginning of the evening as noted below. Volunteer Hours for Students

If you know of a student who likes to be out of door s put them in contact with Mary. Thursday September 8, 2016 She will get them involved with one of these “Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive” by Rosi Mulholland, Land activities:

Management Specialist for the Lake Apopka Restoration Area.  Jay Watch Training

 Bird Surveys

*Thursday October 13, 2016* “Meet, Greet and Share” - Bring  Festival Booth Volunteer your best shots on a thumb drive to share with the group. *Meeting  Special Projects Using Technology Skills to create newsletters, mapping of Members to Adopt New Bylaws* Review Proposed Bylaws at conservation areas or designing bird www.marioncountyaudubon.com located at the Membership habitats. Button

Thursday November 10, 2016 “Snow Birds ” by Sandra Maraffino Conservation Festivals/Events Grand Opening of Tuscawilla Art Park : *Thursday January 12, 2017* “Sweetwater Wetlands” by Debra October 15, 2016 Segal from Wetland Solutions Inc. *Annual Meeting for Election of Chimney Swift Tower Conservation New Officers* Review Proposed Slate of New Officers at Project Site www.marioncountyaudubon.com - Membership Button 2017 Florida Springs Festival Thursday February 9, 2017 “Scrub Jays in Marion County” by Silver Springs State Park: Marianne Korosy, Florida Audubon’s Jay Watch Program. March 4 & 5, 2017

Thursday March 9, 2017 “Florida Insects” by Tom Miller - Special 2017 Earth Fest interest to those of you who are new to Florida. Tuscawilla Park: April 22, 2017 3 Details at www.marioncountyaudubon.com

Marion Audubon Society

Marion Audubon Society PO Box 5616 Ocala, Florida 34478

Local Chapter Members Newsletter – Fall 2016

Marion Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society

What’s Inside

What’sWhat Inside Nature Walk & Program Calendars Citizen Science & Conservation Activities

Focus on Youth

Membership Highlights rceswww.marioncountyaudubon.com

Great Egret on Beemat by Carolyn Retey www.audubonflorida.org 4