EVERGLADENEWSLETTER OF THE KITE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF THE EVERGLADES Serving Palm Beach County, Volume 55, Number 2 November 2014

CALENDAR Monthly MEETING and LECTURE November 4 Wading Bird Science and Monitoring: The Cornerstone of Everglades Restoration Nov 1 Sat. 7:45 am STA 1E, Contact [email protected] or Linda 586-854- Mark Cook 0145 to register. PRE-REGISTRATION Join us Tuesday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m. (earlier meeting time this year) as Mark Cook, REQUIRED. PhD begins his 4-part Everglades Series with “Wading Bird Science and Monitoring: The Nov 7 Fri. 9 am Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Cornerstone of Everglades Restoration.” (Check ASE web site for his Nov 9, Dec 6, and Delray Beach, 13206 Jog Road. Meet at top of March 14 field trips/lectures that complete this series.) boardwalk (Dorothy Brindle) Nov 8 Sat. 7:30 a.m. Tropical Audubon invites Dr. Mark Cook is Lead Scientist for the Everglades Systems Assessment Section of the South you to . Leader: Florida Water Management District where his research focuses on wading birds, with a John Boyd. Details in Kite and website. Entry particular focus on how wetland processes such as water levels and nutrient run-off affect fee per car. Meet in parking lot at Coe Visitor wading bird foraging and reproductive success. This research will help restore and manage Center wading bird populations in the Everglades. Mark has studied the ecology of wild birds Nov 8 Sat. 8 am District, Jupiter, 2500 Jupiter Park Drive (Jim Howe) for over 20 years, including as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of California, Nov 9 Sun. 3:30 pm ARM Loxahatchee NWR Berkeley studying nesting strategies of a Neotropical passerine, the Pearly-eyed thrasher, in Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape the rainforests of Puerto Rico. He has spent the past ten years studying wading birds in south Assessment (LILA): “Getting the Water Right Florida, where he has authored and co-authored 22 peer-reviewed scientific publications in the Everglades” & Bird FLY-IN (Mark Cook) and 20-plus professional reports on birds, fishes, crayfish and exotic animal species. He is Meet at Boat Launch parking area. the chief editor of the South Florida Wading Bird Report, collaborating with other wading Nov 12 Wed. DEADLINE for Airfare & Deposit bird scientists in south Florida, including those from Audubon Florida. He has a PhD in for March Panama Trip Contact Claudine Avian Ecology from Glasgow University, Scotland, and a Master’s Degree in Ecology from Laabs 561-655-9779 the University of Durham, England, where he studied, respectively, the nesting behavior of Nov 13 Thur. “2nd Thursday Leader’s Choice”. See Facebook, Yahoo groups or ASE website nesting Black Guillemots and Atlantic Puffins on remote Scottish islands. His Bachelor of 48 hrs before for details. Science is in Marine Zoology from the University of Bangor, Wales. Nov 15 Sat. Green Cay Wetlands Migration Join us for this entertaining and educational program in the gallery, right before our regular Day Festival, Boynton Beach, 12800 Hagen rooms 101 and 102 at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd, Ranch Road. Meet outside Nature Center main door. Call Debbie to volunteer 561-779- (near Jog Road) in West Palm Beach. Refreshments at 6:30 pm. Meeting is free and open 3736 to the public. Nov 15 Sat. 8 am Riverbend “Bike & Birds”, Jupiter, 9060 Indiantown Rd. Bike trips meet Bird of the Month for November: Northern Shoveler in parking lot in front of bike rental trailer November’s bird of the month is another duck in the subfamily Anatinae, Anas clypeata. (Vicki Rogerson/Linda Humphries) The ducks in this subfamily are all dabbling ducks or “puddle ducks”; the diving ducks Nov 16 Sun. 7 am STA 1E, Contact asetripinfo@ gmail.com or Linda 561-742-7791 to register. are in the subfamily Aythyinae (your ring-necked, scaup, etc., are all in the genus Aythya). PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Ducks in the genus Anas are the prototypical duck: it’s the Latin word for duck! Clypeata Nov 18 Tues. 4:00 pm Wakodahatchee means “furnished with a shield” which, depending on your source refers to the “shield- Wetlands, BEGINNERS Walk. Meet as above shaped” bill or possibly the red patches on the sides of the male. Whatever the translation (Paton White) of the Latin name, though, the large shovel-shaped bill (the previous genus for this duck Nov 21 Fri. 10:30 am “Birds & Lunch at South was Spatula clypeata) is easy to recognize, even at a distance. That, along with its nearly Cove Natural Area,” Downtown West Palm worldwide distribution makes it, as Bent wrote back in 1951, “one of the best known Beach. Meet at entrance to boardwalk, north of the Royal Park Bridge and adjacent to and the most widely distributed ducks in the Flagler Drive (Paton White/Linda Humphries) world.” See website for more details. Northern Shoveler is an expected (but listed as Nov 22 Sat. 8:30 am John D MacArthur Park, “Birds & Mangrove Ecology” North Palm “uncommon” on our bird list) winter resident Beach, 10900 FL A1A (Jack Nicklaus Blvd) in Palm Beach County, “seen each year but Meet at Nature Center. $4/$5 single/multiple not expected on most field trips.” Despite its occupancy car entry fee (Clive Pinnock) rather large bill, black in the drake and yellow Nov 23 Sun. 3:30 pm Wakodahatchee in the hen, this is still only a medium-sized Wetlands. Meet as above (Valleri Brauer) duck (average length 19”; Mallard is 24”). Nov 29 Sat. 8 am Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, 12800 Hagen Ranch Road. Come to our November meeting to hear more Meet outside Nature Center main door. (Ben about this distinctive winter resident of our Kolstad) marshes and STAs. Northern Shoveler drake & hen. Photo by Susan McKemy President’s Column The Everglade Kite Paton White is the newsletter of the Audubon September finally brought the start of both fall migration and our field trips. And best of all, Society of the Everglades, published our northern friends will be returning soon, too. 10 times a year. September was also a very busy month on the conservation front. The Ag Reserve issue President 561-818-7574 that Pam and Russ Martens wrote a great article about in the October Kite, had its all-day Paton White [email protected] Roundtable on September 29. I am proud to report that ASE had eleven members there to support Russ, who had one of the seats at the table. Most of our members were able to spend 1st Vice President 742-7791 the whole day and spoke out for holding the line in the Ag Reserve. The only real consensus Linda Humphries [email protected] that came out of the day was that we need to find a way for agriculture to succeed in the 2nd Vice President 644-8830 Reserve. We look forward to hearing from the Inspector General on ASE’s request for an Susan McKemy [email protected] investigation of how GL Homes has been able to expand its residential developments by as much as 70 percent without public comment and with questionable transfer of development Secretary 498-0996 rights. Currently, another Roundtable is anticipated before the matter goes before the Board of Alan Parmalee [email protected] County Commissioners in March of next year. It will be very important for ASE members to Treasurer 689-2530 attend both the Roundtable and the Commissioners’ vote; I’ll be sure to give everyone ample Janet Schreiber [email protected] notice when the dates are firmed up. Corresponding Sec’y 379-9465 We also signed on to several letters with the Everglades Coalition. This is a group of 55 Judy Munro [email protected] environmentally friendly organizations that ASE belongs to. Go to our conservation section on the website and follow what your chapter is doing. We will also be joining the Climate Field Trips 385-9787 (M-F AFTER 5:30 pm) Action Coalition (CAC) this month. This group both follows and initiates action with the Valleri Brauer [email protected] governmental agencies in PB County that have signed onto the South Florida Regional Climate Membership 969-7567 Change Compact. This four-county coalition’s goal is to pioneer climate resiliency through Gail Tomei [email protected] regional action. Bird ID 233-1400 In late September ASE wrote a letter to advocate prevention of building a town, Sugar Hill, Clive Pinnock [email protected] consisting of over 43,000 acres that would allow up to 18,000 homes and 25 million square Library 601-8007 feet of commercial space in Everglades restoration land in Hendry County. A week later, Anne Hoctor [email protected] SFWMD surprisingly recommended AGAINST the development project as detrimental to Everglades Restoration! Quick, forceful action by the conservation community helped create Conservation 965-2420 this outcome. Rosa (Cissie) Durando Please help ASE’s conservation effort. We need several people willing to attend one or two Education 627-7829 meetings a month. Just tell me you are interested, you don’t need a conservation background, Susan Snyder [email protected] just an interest. We are all learning together! Outreach 779-3736 Debbie Smith [email protected] Audubon Faces Climate Change: Volunteers Needed Publicity 629-7516 NAS released their Climate Initiative on September 9 with the launch of “Audubon’s Birds Sheila Elliot [email protected] and Climate Change Report.” Check out www.climate.audubon.org to see birds in your area threatened by global warming, download maps, and read FAQ about the research. At Large ASE NEEDS VOLUNTEER(S) WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE CAUSE. For example, Stella Rossi 732-4786 rising ocean and increasingly acidic and/or brackish water and stress on our coral reef are Hospitality climate change issues especially important for Palm Beach County. We need advocates who Jill Harrold 964-9531 are passionate about the subject, will study and become knowledgeable but also be able Kite, Webmaster 367-7689 to relate climate change issues not to politics and controversy, but to clear local needs and Ben Kolstad [email protected] things we can effectively do. Please call Paton White 561-818-7574. ASE on the Internet PANAMA ADVENTURE - March 4-11 http://www.auduboneverglades.org Eight days-seven nights Panama city on the causeway near the new Facebook: Audubon Society of the ($1995 if booked in November) biomuseum Everglades Panama has the reputation for the best Includes round trip airfare from Miami, Yahoo Group: auduboneverglades rainforest birding in the world! hotels with breakfast, domestic flights Three days in the rain forest at Gamboa, Meeting Saturday, November 15 at 11AM Audubon Society of the Everglades, incorpo- Three in the cloud forest - Resplendent - location TBA, call Claudine 561-655-9779 rated in 1966, serves communities in Palm Quetzal 99% guaranteed! One night in Beach County. Our mission is inspiring people to conserve wildlife, especially birds, and the PAPER COPY OF THE KITE environment that supports them. ASE has converted our Kite subscription list from paper delivery to electronic delivery (email) because of the monthly expense. If you are a CHAPTER MEMBER OF ASE you are receiving your copy in YES ON 1 the form (email or paper) as you requested and do not need to contact us. If you are a NATIONAL What draws ranchers, and city dwellers in Miami MEMBER and want to continue to get your Kite (email or paper) and have not already contacted us, and suburbanites around the state together? you must contact Gail Tomei (561-969-7567/[email protected]). You will always be able Amendment 1. Why? Because it is good for to read the Kite on our website, www.auduboneverglades.org everyone! Yes it is time to vote by absentee ballot, ARE YOU A NEW MEMBER OF NATIONAL AUDUBON? or early voting or on November 4th for Florida’s We are delighted to have you as a member of the Audubon Society of the Everglades as well. We Constitutional Amendment 1. Just make sure hope you will join us at our meetings and trips. If you wish to continue to get the Kite, please contact you VOTE YES FOR 1! Gail Tomei and let her know if you prefer to receive your Kite by mail or by email. Gail Tomei (561- 969-7567/[email protected]) Annual Appeal Judy Munro It is time to take a look at what the Audubon Society of your donation is tax deductible. This is because the general the Everglades means to you. Our Annual ASE Appeal for operation of ASE is funded by memberships and volunteerism. donations comes only once during the year, so now is the Through the hard work of the ASE Board, willing folks who time to consider all the wonderful things your donation helps share great knowledge of current environmental/conservation support. issues, our unpaid terrific speakers at monthly meetings, Your donation, with the support of others, will be used to the volunteers who lead our exciting birding trips; we take promote the conservation of wildlife, the natural environment, seriously our mission. For the beginner to the long time and help people connect with nature. Donations help us birder, Florida is one of the most consistent birding areas in with our many programs, including educating people about the country. . . you can always count on seeing bird life year the wonders of the Everglades through sponsorship of the ‘round at Green Cay Wetlands, Wakodahatchee Wetlands Everglades Day Festival. We also support environmental and other nearby areas. Our volunteers make access to education programs for students: ASE funds a scholarship at birding here possible. the Pathfinder Awards to help a worthy graduate continue It is the significant legacy of nurturing projects and events that studying in the environmental field. We fund the renowned need your help. Do check your employer as they might have a Audubon Collection housed in the main branch of the Palm matching gift program. Donations can be easily accomplished Beach County Library. We preserve and maintain a wild by using PayPal at www.auduboneverglades.org/donate mangrove property in Palm Beach. These are just a few of our or mailing a check (marked “donation”) to ASE, P.O. Box programs and goals which your donation will enhance. 16914, West Palm Beach, FL 33416. Audubon Society of the We thank you for your serious consideration. Fully 100% of Everglades is a 501 c-3 organization # 59-6019854. More ideas for Donating to ASE Do your part for conservation One way is to donate to ASE FOR FREE while you AUDUBON ALERTS & CITIZEN SCIENCE shop through Amazon. First, link to smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com and log into your account. On Audubon has developed a free ALERTS process which makes the screen on the right you will be able to select a charity. it easy to add your name to urgent advocacy petitions . Go to Fill in Audubon Society of the Everglades (case sensitive). http://chapterservices.audubon.org/news-announcements. If Then shop as normal. The next time you shop through you select the newsletter option, you will be able to request smile.amazon.com, the program will remember that not only the newsletter but also action and citizen science you selected ASE to receive the donation from Amazon. alerts. If you select Action Alerts, you provide your city, state, While individually the donation from smile.amazon.com and zip code so you will receive only alerts and invitations is small, together it can really add up for our chapter. that affect you most directly. You do not need to be an NAS Please also ask people you know to join us in this FREE member to participate in either of these options. donation program - they do not need to be an ASE or Nov 1 Saturday 9am-1pm. Lake Worth Lagoon Festival NAS member to help our cause. Consider also making ASE a beneficiary of your IRA, Come visit the Audubon Society of the Everglades exhibit 401K or any asset where you name a beneficiary: and enjoy the Festival! Call Debbie Smith 561-779-3736 to •Ask your provider for a “Change of Beneficiary Form” volunteer for 2 hours during the event. (or download it from their web site) •Fill out the form naming AUDUBON SOCIETY OF THE EVERGLADES 501-c-3 TAX-ID 59-6019854 as a VOTE YES For 1 full or partial beneficiary It is time to vote on November 4th for Florida’s Additionally, ASE will gratefully accept legacy gifts of Constitutional Amendment 1. This amendment does not assets, securities, and personal property to help support raise taxes and is for land acquisition and clean water our important conservation and education initiatives. preservation. More than one third of Florida’s residents, Please consult with your financial advisor or attorney. including all of us in Palm Beach County, depend on the Finally, an In Memoriam donation to ASE is a touching Everglades to replenish the drinking water supply. way to memorialize a departed one.

Bird of the Month Photos Please send December Bird-of-the-Month Ring-necked Duck pictures (jpg format) to be posted on the AudubonEverglades. org web site to [email protected]. Identify the name for credit, and if there is anything specific to look for in your picture (like banded, in molt, etc) feel free to add a few words for the caption. Meanwhile please enjoy our growing on-line gallery of member pictures on the web site (click Bird of the Month on left side scroll-down topic list). Audubon Society of the Everglades PO Box 16914 Nonprofit Org West Palm Beach, FL U.S. Postage Paid 33416-6914 Permit 46 West Palm Beach, Florida

Dated Material -- DO NOT DELAY

ATTENTION: This could be your last issue of the Kite! See inside for details. The Everglade Kite is published 10 times a year by Audubon Society of the Everglades, P.O. Box 16914, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33416-6914. Also available on the web: www.auduboneverglades.org. AUDUBON SOCIETY OF THE EVERGLADES is a 501 c-3 organization #59-6019854. We gratefully accept any donations or bequests. http://www.auduboneverglades.org/donate/ Articles NEEDED! Send to [email protected] by the 10th of the month.

Join Audubon Society of the Everglades Audubon Society of the Everglades (ASE) There are now two ways to join ASE: Chapter-only membership, and membership through the National Audubon Society. YES! I want to become a chapter-only member Chapter-Only Membership of ASE. Enclosed is my check made payable to When you become a member of the Audubon Society of the Audubon Society of the Everglades for (Or to use Everglades by using the form at right, all of your membership PAYPAL go to auduboneverglades.org): fees are put to use supporting local projects: Everglades Day; ___ Regular $20 ___ Senior (62+)/Student $15 Education Programs such as model schools and field trips; Scholarships; and Conservation activities. Audubon Society of ___ Household $25 ___ Patron $50 the Everglades members also receive 10 issues of the Everglade ___ I would like to save ASE postage and printing Kite newsletter. Send your check, payable to ASE, along with costs; please send my Kite via email. this form to I would like to donate an additional Membership, Audubon Society of the Everglades $20 $50 $100 $______P.O. Box 16914 West Palm Beach, FL 33416-6914 Name ______Phone ______National Audubon Society Membership Address ______If you join ASE through the National Audubon Society, you will receive 6 issues of Audubon Magazine, and membership in City ______State ____ Zip ______Audubon of Florida, but unless you give us your email, you will e-mail ______not receive the Kite. For details, visit www.audubon.org. To join the National Society, send your information and check to I would like to volunteer for: National Audubon Society Membership Center Education Everglades Day PO Box 422450 Monthly Meetings Fundraising Palm Coast, FL 32142-2250 Conservation Finance Committee Be sure to include the code C9ZE000Z with your application Community Outreach Communications so NAS will know how to process your payment.

Audubon Society of the Everglades general meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. (refreshments at 6:30) at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, located on Summit Blvd, near the intersection of Summit and Jog, in West Palm Beach. The public is welcome to attend.