Laura Reynolds Native Plant Sale & Book Sale
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5530 Sunset Drive; Miami, Florida 33143 (305) 667-7337 March/April 2008 A Message from TAS’ New Executive Director Laura Reynolds have recently missing from their experiences and heaters, energy-saving appliances I been appointed the curriculum and I am saddened such as front loading washers and your new Executive that environmental education is not a dryers; even use solar panels instead Director and I higher priority within our community. of generators for hurricane back ups. would like to take We cannot become environmental If these ideas seem costly, you can this opportunity to stewards if we have never experi- look at GREEN ways to save money: introduce myself enced nature. I will work hard to cre- and share with you some of my goals. ate partnerships with local organiza- Open your windows in your home I became involved with TAS first as a tions to help improve this deficit in our for at least six months out of the year. member and then as a board member community. I will also work hard to You may have to dust more and listen in 2005. I feel that one of the most im- facilitate our partnership with George to noise pollution, but you will be portant responsibilities we all have as Gann and The Institute for Regional amazed by how you will adjust and conservationists and stewards of the Conservation to quickly restore the adapt. Purchase a digital thermostat environment is to invest in environ- land under our stewardship and to and allow the temp to go up to 80 mental education. We are currently use this land to facilitate learning for when you are not at home. forming a new committee to reinvent future education endeavors. If you have not done so already, TAS’ education and outreach pro- get rid of anything that produces la- gram, and as members I encourage We are also now faced with uncertain tent heat that you are not harnessing. you to become involved. For me, edu- times where climate is changing rap- Exchange incandescent bulbs with cation has always evoked an internal idly, sea levels are rising and avail- compact florescent. Your average energy that continues to empower able clean water becomes one of our savings per household is approxi- me. I think it is the key to creating a biggest challenges. We all must be- mately 1500kWh for a 2000 square movement of change. come informed green citizens that foot home. That is about $200 per strive to reduce our overall human year at current prices (Florida Solar What I have realized since moving footprint. This subject overwhelms Energy Center, 2006). here in August 1999 from Jackson- everyone as well it should; I have Reduce your use of appliances. ville, Florida, is that most of the prob- found the most important thing to start The best way is to plug everything lems we face in conservation is a lack with is yourself, the old adage, into a surge protector or a strip with of exposure to the issues. Of the "practice what you preach." Donate to an on-off button so you can easily many students that I have had over the appropriate organizations; buy a manage the amount of energy you the past ten years I have found sim- hybrid; support green technologies are consuming. This way it will not plistic environmental information such as solar or on-demand hot water (Continued on page 4) Sat.-Sun., Feb 23 & 24 Native Plant Sale & Book Sale at the Doc Thomas House Go Native! Kick-start conservation at home by purchasing some native plants at the next Tropical Audubon Society Native Plant Sale. Plants available for sale are perfect for creating bird, butterfly and wildlife habitat and also help to conserve water. Experts will be on hand for advice. All proceeds support TAS. The gate opens both days at 9 am. Saturday we close at 5 pm, Sunday at 3 pm. 2 ver 100 birders from across North but this bird could not be re-located by moved to nearby Cutler Wetlands in O America visited the area in No- conference participants or trip leaders. mid-November. Franklin’s Gulls were vember during the American Birding seen around the wastewater treatment Association’s Regional Con- Conference participants who visited facility, as well as at nearby Black Point ference, held in Plantation, Tree Tops Park prior to the start of the marina during the month. Sacred Ibis, in Broward County. Daily conference reported a Townsend’s War- origin uncertain, were also found at Cut- trips to local hotspots were bler, but this bird was not re-located by ler Wetlands during this period. A Snow led by some of Tropical local birders. The Townsend’s Warbler Goose was spotted there in early De- Audubon’s best field trip found at Kendall Indian Hammocks cember. Other birds seen at the wet- leaders, as well as birders Park in mid-October continued until al- lands included Gadwall, American Avo- from Broward Audubon, most the end of the month. A Philadel- cet, Common Tern and large numbers Audubon of the Everglades, phia Vireo was seen in this park in mid- of Wood Storks and Roseate Spoon- Hendry-Glades Audubon October; another was found a few days bills. Clapper Rail, a species difficult to and the Caloosa Bird Club. later at Lucky Hammock, on Aerojet find in Miami-Dade, was seen and pho- Participants were treated to Road near the entrance to Everglades tographed at nearby Dump Marsh in a number of Florida’s spe- National Park. Other birds reported early December. cialty birds, including Mag- from this area during October included nificent Frigatebird, Great Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo In mid-November, a few local birders par- White Heron, Reddish and Wilson’s Warbler. In late October, ticipated in a pelagic trip that sailed from Egret, Snail Kite, Short- A MacGillivray’s Warbler was found Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach in Volu- tailed Hawk, Limpkin, near the Green Turtle Inn on Islamo- sia County. An amazing selection of sea- White-crowned Pigeon, rada. A Willow Flycatcher was heard birds was found during this trip, including Smooth-billed Ani, Red- and seen near Lucky Hammock during Red-billed Tropicbird, Manx, Cory’s and whiskered Bulbul, Common a TAS field trip in early November. A Audubon’s Shearwaters, Pomarine, Para- Myna, Painted Bunting, singing House Finch was discovered at sitic and Long-tailed Jaegers, Bridled Tern and Red Phalarope. During the return to Shiny Cowbird and Spot- the Coe Visitor Center of Everglades Ponce Inlet, a Purple Sandpiper was spot- breasted Oriole. As would National Park during this same field trip. ted on one of the inlet’s jetties. During be expected when so many Another House Finch was found at early December, a number of sea ducks birders are covering so Shark Valley later in the month. Lesser were reported from Volusia, including Surf much territory, a few unex- Nighthawks were reported around Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Common pected birds were seen Lucky Hammock beginning in late No- Eider. The eider was found near Daytona along the way. During a vember and were seen in the Flamingo Beach, wrapped in monofilament line and pre-conference trip to campground of Everglades National with fishing hooks imbedded in its tongue Stormwater Treatment Area Park beginning in early December. and left foot! The bird was treated at a 5 in Hendry County, two Both Saltmarsh and Nelson’s Sharp- local rehabilitation center and was ex- Greater White-fronted tailed Sparrows were seen along the pected to fully recover. In 2003, TAS part- Geese were spotted. A Coastal Prairie Trail during this period. nered with Florida Sea Grant to bring the Red-necked Phalarope was Wintering Western Kingbirds and Scis- Monofilament Recovery and Recycling discovered among resting sor-tailed Flycatchers were found in the Program to Miami-Dade County. For shorebirds during a visit to Flamingo area; these two species also more information about this statewide pro- Crandon Beach on Key Bis- returned to SW 312 Street, near SW gram, and to see what you can do to pre- cayne. A very late Gray 217 Avenue in Homestead, in spite of vent sea bird encounters with monofila- ment, check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Kingbird was found near the new house construction on formerly Conservation Commission’s MRRP web entrance to Everglades Na- overgrown fields at this location. page at tional Park. A Short-eared Owl was also seen in this The Cutler Bay area produced several http://fishinglinerecycling.com/ area; this bird was re-found fall sightings of note. In late October, a later in the month. Local Eurasian Wigeon was discovered at Brian Rapoza’s Birding Report birders reported a Western Lennar Flow-way, a property adjacent Spindalis from the Long to the area’s wastewater treat- Pine Key campground in ment facility. The Wigeon, Everglades National Park, a first for Miami-Dade County, Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) is a group of dedicated citizens 3) Enjoyment: as a society of members with compatible Drive; Miami, Florida 33143. The phone number is (305) 667- who care about the quality of South Florida’s environment. interests, to enjoy together the study and protection of nature. 7337. Membership rate, $20 per year. Please make your checks Established in 1947, we are a chapter of National Audubon We believe in the wisdom of nature’s design. We seek to foster payable to Tropical Audubon Society, and mail to our office Society and Florida Audubon Society. Our headquarters, the and promote ecological conscientiousness in our community.