Wildlife Matters Quarterly newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association Route 159 / P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL 32315 - (850) 386-6296 www.stfranciswildlife.org St. Francis Wildlife is a local, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of native wildlife through the rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and public education since 1977. v.4, No. 1 Winter 2006

photos and sound files are still needed and how to keep detailed records.

Mystery A wild fling My personal (and as yet unsubstanti- bird ated) hunch is that Maya is the result of a wild fling between a flammulated owl and screech owl, a hybrid. She has the lands in weight and call of a screech owl but the brown eyes and smaller stature and ear tufts of a flammulated owl. Tallahassee Screech and flammulated owls used From Florida to New to share the same genus, "Otus." Just a York, a tiny owl causes a few years ago, taxonomists (scientists who classify living things) decided to stir among birders and reclassify them into two different gen- scientists. era. So now the screech owl is Megascops asio and the flammulated owl is (still) Otus flammeolus. by Sandy Beck These eastern screech owls are all members of our Wild Classroom. Both the According to the Cornell Lab of red phase owl in the middle ("Red') and the brown phase owl on the right Ornithology's Birds of North America Recently, Dorothy Kaufmann, ("Otus") have yellow eyes. The gray phase owl on the left ("Maya") has dark Online, two reasons for this change are director of the Wildlife Sanctuary of brown eyes. PHOTO BY DEAN JUE Northwest Florida in Pensacola, stopped their very different calls and mitochon- drial DNA. by for a visit. We had just transferred a Rocky Mountains and are not native to tographs but reserved judgment. We Only animals that share the same permanently disabled Mississippi kite to Florida or our neighboring states. They also invited our friend, New York's genus can interbreed, like wolves and the Pensacola sanctuary, and now they eat insects and migrate south in the win- renowned wildlife photographer, Lincoln domestic dogs or barred owls and spot- had a permanently disabled screech owl ter to follow their food supply. Karim (palemale.com) to photograph ted owls. While these the screech and that needed a good home. The screech The eastern screech owl, Florida's Maya. flammulated owls do not currently owl had been hit by a car in Gulf Shores, smallest owl, is found in three colors – After looking at photos and listening ' share the same genus, they did up until Alabama. We d been thinking about red, gray and brown, but its eyes are to her (screech owl) call that Barbara just a few years ago. acquiring another screech owl for our always yellow or yellowish-green. Sullivan recorded, Dr. Gary Graves, Wild Classroom education programs. So, Look carefully at the photo above, Research Scientist and Curator, after the required paperwork had been and you'll notice that the two yellow- Department of Vertebrate Zoology at See for yourself So, while this mystery continues to sent to U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Dorothy eyed owls on the right also have longer the Smithsonian's National Museum of unravel, if you would like to see our brought us the little owl. ear tufts or feathered "horns." Natural History, wrote in an e-mail, " " beautiful little anomaly for yourself, We gently carried Maya, named by "This is definitely a strange bird. Based you are invited to St. Francis Wildlife's education volunteer Barbara Sullivan, to The plot thickens on the photographs you sent, if it ' 3rd Annual Wildlife Baby Shower at the the screech owl/kestrel enclosure to Maya s brood patch (an area of skin weren't for the unusually large body ' Downtown Marketplace, Saturday, meet her new friends; however, when on the female s belly that loses feathers mass, I would have no problem consid- March 11. Maya will be joined by one of we removed her from the travel cage, during incubation) indicated that she ering it to be a flammulated owl. her yellow-eyed buddies. Also greeting and I looked into her dark brown eyes was a female. "There are several possible solutions admirers will be the other three owls for the first time, my mouth dropped. Female owls are larger than males of to this mystery. This strange little owl " " native to North Florida – a great horned This a flammulated owl! the same species; however, Maya was could represent (1) an unusually fat and owl, barred and barn owl, as well as a not only considerably smaller than Red, robust flammulated owl [Upon exami- beautiful red-tailed hawk and some The eyes have it our female screech owl, but also smaller nation, she is not overweight.]; (2) The flammulated owl looks very simi- lovely reptiles. Please see Page 3 for than Otus, our male screech owl. some exotic species of Scops owl that lar to the eastern screech owl, but is a details. But after weighing Maya (at 130 doesn't normally occur in North distinctly different species. At 60 grams, If you miss the Wildlife Baby Shower, grams, twice as heavy as the typical America; (3) a bizarre screech owl with the grayish flammulated owl is about please see our calendar on Page 4 for flammulated owl), we were no longer brown eyes [There has never been a half the weight of an eastern screech more wildlife encounter opportunities. positive that she was a flammulated owl. brown-eyed screech owl on record]; or owl and has shorter ear tufts and dark (4) a hybrid between the western brown eyes. In fact, the flammulated For photos of Maya, log on to our Scientifically noteworthy screech owl [which lives west of the owl is the only little owl in North web site, www.stfranciswildlife.org, We e-mailed local ornithologists, a Rockies] and the flammulated owl. Any " " America with dark brown eyes. Its col- " select Photos and scroll down. few of whom flew over to see this one of these possibilities is scientifically oration is also a little different. For one " screechulated owl, (my humor) for noteworthy. Two outstanding resources for thing, this species has some reddish themselves. A couple immediately pro- "I have studied these sorts of phe- more information on owls are: The facial and body feathers . . . hence, claimed her a flammulated owl. Others, nomena for 30 years. This is indeed an Owl Pages, www.owlpages.com "flammulated," meaning "flames." like Sally and Dean Jue, with the Florida interesting case!" and Birds of North America Online, Flammulated owls live west of the Ornithological Society, took many pho- Dr. Graves went on to explain what http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.

Winter 2006 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 2

Friends flock to Native Brian Bryson. Koren Taylor held the Special thanks to winning ticket. Nurseries garden "Brian did a great job on " Veterinary Hospitals the pond! Koren wrote in party an e-mail she sent with = Bevis Veterinary Hospital " = On October 6th, this photo. I still can Bradfordville Animal Hospital Native Nurseries hardly believe I won P.O. Box 38160 = Lakewood Animal Hospital hosted their 2005 the pond! Thank you Tallahassee, FL 32315 = North Florida Animal Hospital Garden Pond and Native Nurseries (850)386-6296 = Northhampton Animal Health Benefit for St. for that wonderful www.stfranciswildlife.org = " Northwood Animal Hospital Francis Wildlife. benefit idea. = Hostess Donna BOARD OF DIRECTORS Quincy Animal Hospital Guests enjoyed = Legare plucked several Laura Phipps, Seminole Animal Health Clinic organic, shade- = other tickets out of the President Shannon Lakes Paws & Claws grown coffee and basket that night that John L. Brennan III, Esq. delectable, homemade = won dinners for two at Chez Vice President Kathy Archibald and The desserts baked by Pierre, Kool Beanz Cafe and Elenita Gomez, Esq. Archibald Foundation, Inc. for a very Maryann Bryson, Audrey Cabo's as well as wildlife art prints and Secretary generous grant for our general Alessi, Donna Legare, Mary McMullen, other prizes. David Arnold won two Peter G. Munroe, CPA operating funds. Marianne Duvall, Liz Marshall, Norma nights at the Old Carrabelle Hotel. Treasurer Skaggs, Ann Morrow and Linda Mills. = Thanks and big, bear hugs to Native George W. Simmons, DVM Rick Clevenger, Clevenger Members of the Leon High School ' – Nurseries and all our wild friends who Louis Hill, Jr., MD Woodworks and Tim OBriien, steel-drum band Ross Holcombe, ' donated prizes and purchased drawing Guyte P. McCord III, Esq. O Brien/Silvestri Construction for our Johanna Yarbrough, Hunter Daws and – tickets. The event raised $6,100 for St. Thomas B. Woodward Wildlife Hospital. John Frank filled the candlelit = Francis Wildlife! James R. Kiser, Jr. Allen Thompson and the Nursery with cool island sounds. Kathy Lindsay Downtown Marketplace for donating The highlight of the evening was PHOTO: Koren Taylor and buddy Taffy Ron Foltz our booth and hosting SFW events! the drawing for a Garden Pond, relax by their beautiful new pond. Jo Ann Fletcher = Jan Collier and the TLC Animal custom-designed and installed by Shelter for lending tables for our events. = STAFF Modern Mailers for their invalu- Happy anniversary, Kate Stratton! able mailing services! Jon Johnson = " ElectroNet for hosting our web site Kate loves animals, we know Executive Director and e-mail addresses. you do great work and I want- = Durra Quick Print for donating ed to do something memorable " VOLUNTEER STAFF printing services. for our 10th anniversary, = beamed Scott Stratton. Sandy Beck A Dent in the Attic on N. Monroe " " In appreciation of Scott's very Education Director, for storing our stuff. = ' Newsletter Editor & Web Mistress Native Nurseries Donna Legare generous donation in honor of and Jody Walthall for hosting the the love of his life, Kate Betty Bender received a framed certificate Bookkeeper Garden Pond drawing & Open House & donating the garden pond & Bryan and a visit by Jamaica, a perma- Barbara Sullivan Bryson for his creativity & installation. nently disabled red-tailed hawk. Technology and Education Support = Kool Beanz Cafe, Chez Pierre and PHOTO: (L to R) Benjamin, Kate, April Arrington Cabo's for donating dinners for two to Nathan (holding a stuffed vulture Baby Squirrel Volunteer toy)& Scott Stratton admire Jamaica. Coordinator the Pond Event drawing. = Skip and Kathy Frink for donating a weekend at their Old Carrabelle Elipidia Gruber MEMORIALS From Wildlife Wish List Hotel, www.oldcarrabellehotel.com Mr. and Mrs. George D. Prettyman = We have been honored to receive - Gift certificate to Panhandle Pet Cornell Lab of Ornithology for Edward Carnes Please see "Baby Shower," Page 3. donations in memory of the following Supply donating a subscription to their Birds From - Heating pads who dearly loved wildlife. Upward Elementary School, Flatrock, NC - Plastic dog carriers of North America Online, a necessary Dean Derbonne Judith Kenyon Duvall - Large parrot cages resource for the serious birder! From From - Humane, live traps http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/ Susan D. Fristoe Marsh Creek Country Club - Paper towels = Lorelei Ennis for her technical help Misses Irene and Marlene Roach Mr. & Mrs. Walter Faulk - Unsalted peanuts in the shell Admiral Philip F. Ashler & Elise Duvall Ashler with this newsletter. Ms. Marjories Derbonne - Sunflower seed The Gillian Unit of Florida Abuse Registry Mr. & Mrs. Richard Portman - Wild bird seed Hotline Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Zavon - Cracked corn The District School Board of Leon County - Ms. Maggie Gilbert = Special thanks to the Gulf Winds - Laundry detergent Lincoln High School Grace Collins - Bleach, unscented Track Club, which held their annual Purvis E. Ponder From - Liquid anti-bacterial hand soap Prefontaine Forest Run at the Silver From Kelley & Linda Phillips - Carpenters to make repairs Lake Recreation Bobbe W. Hammond Michael & Donna Eldridge -Checks and cash Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Brown Area on Sept. 24, Marion Hoffman Judith Blumsack Mr. & Mrs. David Warfel Big Items and race direc- Mr. & Mrs. Daryl Glasser Patricia Ann Garrett - Vinyl Floor Covering for Hospital tor/ organizer Mr & Mrs. Paul Lewis The Office of Medicaid Contract Management - Air Compressor Jeff Neilsen Ms. Arlene Vause Mr. Alan R. Strowd - Incubator for dedicating the Mr. & Mrs. Gideon Jones Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Crabb - Brooder Judy Strauss-Schwartz - Golf Cart proceeds to St. Mr. Jamie M. Smith A donation has been made Francis Wildlife Ms. Susan S. Lowry Cars for Critters and raising over Mr. & Mrs. Ken Hinrichsen IN HONOR OF Please consider making a tax-deductible $1,000 for Ms. Carol Evans Ms. Laura Phipps donation of your used car, truck or boat. wildlife! Mr. & Mrs. Charles Crozier From St. Francis will turn it into cash for critters! Mr. & Mrs. Larry Cook Ms. Myra A. Hart

Winter 2006 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 3 THIS IS BABY BIRD SEASON!

You found a baby bird on the ground. What should you do? If it is a nestling, naked or with mostly downy feathers, like the baby blue jay in this photo . . . Replace a fallen nestling in its nest. It is a myth that once you touch a baby bird the parents will not accept it. Most birds have no sense of smell. If the baby is cold, first warm it in your hands. If you can't locate or reach the nest, use a small, plastic berry basket or margarine container. Cut drainage holes, add grass or pine straw and use wire to attach it to the shady side of the clos- est tree or bush, then gently place the warmed baby bird in the new nest.

If it is a fledgling, covered with body feathers but its tail feath- ers are still short and stubby . . . Fledglings exercise their flight muscles by hopping on branches near the nest. Sometimes these "branchers" will fall. Parents pro- tect and feed them on the ground until they can fly. If it is not in immediate danger from pets or traffic, a fully feathered bird with a short tail hopping on the ground should be left there. Don't put it back in the nest; it will jump out again and may injure itself.

When to take a baby bird to St. Francis Wildlife Whether it is a nestling that you've replaced in a nest or a fledg- ling you've left on the ground, observe it from a distance for an hour or two. If the parents do not return, or if the baby is injured, place it in a small box, punch air holes in the top and cover it. Keep it warm and quiet and do NOT give it food or water. Birds breathe through a hole in their tongue. Water placed in its mouth will be inhaled. Do not try to raise it yourself. Every species requires a special diet with feedings every 20 minutes! Improperly raised baby birds may imprint on humans, which is a serious, dead-end condition. It is also illegal to possess a wild bird, even a baby, with- out state and federal permits. At this point, take it to St. Francis Wildlife as soon as possible. Call us at 850.386.6296, or take it (day or night) to the Northwood Animal Hospital, 1881 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.,Tallahassee (across from the Northwood Centre).

To learn more about how to help orphaned wild birds and animals, please come to our WILDLIFE BABY SHOWER!

Panhandlle Pet Supplly We're The Experts Who Love Animals 3rd Annual WILSaDtuLrdIayF, EMa rBchA 11B, 8Y a. mS. H- 2 Op.mW. ER At The Downtown Marketplace, Ponce de Leon Park at Park Ave. & N. Monroe This spring and summer, St. Francis Wildlife will receive more than 1,500 orphans. Wild babies need huge quantities Four Convenient Tallahassee Locations of special foods and around-the-clock feedings. 3661 N. Monroe Next to the Post Office 562-4100 YOU CAN HELP! 400 Capital Circle SE Please donate a GIFT CERTIFICATE Harvey's shopping center 656-7181 to Panhandle Pet Supply. 4500 Shannon Lakes Dr W Killearn The good people at PPS give us a deep discount, and your gift 894-4100 certificate enables us to buy what babies need, when they need it. 1700 N. Monroe Publix/Lake Ella Shopping Center 224-3456 Gift certificates available on March 11th Locally owned and operated for 15 years. at our Wildlife Baby Shower and at PPS stores. Or call PPS to purchase a gift certificate for us by phone!

NANCY F. PHILLIPS, D.D.S. General Dentistry St. Francis Wildlife Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID 428 E. College Association Tallahassee, Florida 32301 P.O. Box 38160 Tallahassee, Florida Telephone 224-1213 Tallahassee, FL 32315 PERMIT NO. 50

The best little spot 2701 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL in Tallahassee to store 850-385-5141 all your stuff www.nfah.petplace.com 2424 Monticello Dr. 850-385-7266

Lynne Liska 2911 Thomasville Rd. 850.980.7559 cell 850.386.6160 office (1 mile south of I-10) 850.386.1797 fax In the Gardens at Esposito 850.385.2162 [email protected] 2748 Capital Circle - 531.9001 M-F 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 Coldwell Banker Present your St. Francis Wildlife WILD CARD Hartung & Noblin for a 10% discount on new shoes & clothing!

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Vinyl Soffit & Fascia l Aluminum Screen Rooms Nature Books & Gifts Free Estimates, Licensed & Insured, 20 years. 386.8882 4815 Woodland Cir., Ste. 100,Tallahassee 1661 Centerville Rd. = Talllahassee, FL 32308 850.514.7444 Inspiring our community for 26 years. 3rd Annual On-lineEve calendarnts at Cwwawl.setfrnancdiswaildrlife.org Please join St. Francis Wildlife at these events. Wildlife Art in the Park Live birds of prey and reptiles, unique wildlife art and more. Saturday, May 13 = Saturday, March 11 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wildlife Baby Shower Downtown Marketplace, Ponce de Leon Park, Park Ave. & N. Monroe St. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Downtown Marketplace. This annual gathering of Tallahassee’s finest wildlife and Details on page 3. nature artists is held each spring to benefit the St. Francis = Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8 Wildlife Association and their UNcivilized friends. Pinewoods Bird Festival Also, close-up wild encounters with . . . Historic Pebblehill Plantation St. Francis Wildlife’s hawks, owls, falcons and reptiles. Field trips and special programs fill up fast. To reserve Pettable animals from the Tallahassee Museum. your place, log on to www.pinewoodsbirdfestival.com or A saltwater touch tank full of amazing aquatic creatures! call 850.893.4153. Details on page 3. Wonderful, adoptable pets from the TLC Animal Shelter. = Saturday and Sunday, April 15th - 16th A silent auction and drawings for unique wildlife art. Conference: "The Value of Animals Great Food, Live music! Free admission to the Park. in Children's Lives." Tallahassee Community College Please renew your St. Francis Wildlife annual membership today! A Conference for Parents, Educators, Counselors, and Animal Professionals. Hosted by Catalytic Services, Inc. Membership Form Mail To: St. Francis Wildlife Association Engaging national and local speakers For more (Winter 2006) P.O. Box 38160, Tallahassee, FL, 32315 information, contact Colm McAindriu: Name ______E-mail address [email protected], (850) 893-8503 or (850) 591-2757. or log on to: www.csivisions.com/conferences.html Address______City ______= Friday and Saturday, April 21 - 22 State ______Zip ______Date ______Phone______Wakulla Wildlife Festival Please check the appropriate boxes and return this form with your tax-deductible donation. Wakulla Springs State Park Membership Levels: c Chickadee, $25 c Cardinal, $35 c Barred Owl, $50 c Great Blue Heron, $75 " " Celebrate Earth Week with live animals, programs and c Great Horned Owl, $100 c Peregrine Falcon, $150 c Bald Eagle, $200 exhibits at beautiful Wakulla Springs. Details at: www.wakullawildlifefestival.org/ Please contact me about: c Volunteering. c Business Partnerships. c Education Programs.

Winter 2006 Wildlife Matters, Newsletter of the St. Francis Wildlife Association page 4