Naturalist Summer 2014 Protecting Florida’s Special Places Forever Photo by Christina Evans 2014 Florida Audubon Society Leadership John Elting, Chairman, Eric Draper Executive Director, Audubon Florida Photo By Ralph Arwood Florida Audubon Society President, Florida Audubon Society Board of Directors Dear Audubon Members and Supporters, John W. Elting, Chairman Jud Laird, Vice Chairman This November 4, Florida residents will vote to secure the Water and Land Legacy Cam- West McCann, Board Secretary paign - Amendment 1 on the ballot. At about the same time I will be stepping aside as Michael Sheridan, Treasurer your chairman after four very enjoyable and productive years. I am extremely proud of the Lisa Boyce work that has been done by our members, chapters, board, staff, and citizen scientists. I Jim Brady Jennifer Johnson Duke will defer from praising individual contributions as Audubon is the sum of all efforts. Reid Hughes Robert B. Keim Last month I returned to my roots exploring parts of northern Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. Alan Keller Sarah Joyce King It was a disquieting trip. Industrial agriculture on a grand scale has decimated hedge rows, Randy LaBauve rivers, creeks, ponds, and virtually all vestiges of undisturbed land. What remains is one Stuart Langton, Ph.D. great, uninterrupted carpet of green. Teenagers no longer have summer jobs of detasseling Steve A. Lynch, III Charlie Margiotta corn; people scratch their heads as they watch honey bee colonies collapse; and migrating West McCann birds and butterflies find no sanctuary, including the long distance runners such as the John Orcutt, Jr., PhD Artic Terns and the Monarch Butterflies. Lida Rodriguez-Taseff Michael Sheridan Katie Sproul The acquisition, retention, and reclamation of public lands are critical to our survival. In Robert Stamps, Ph.D. counter-point to my mid-western observations, private equity is now taking on a role in Scott Taylor Bill Warren environmental concerns. Ecosystem investment partners are earning credits on a huge George W. Willson scale. Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is making investments expecting a reasonable return. Doug Young Other public and private funds will emerge and regardless of project profitability, they will Board Members Emeritus: bring a new focus to the importance of public lands. Joe Ambrozy Sandy Batchelor All told, and in comparison to other states, we are doing a pretty good job in Florida. John Flanigan Given the size and political clout of our adversaries, we are holding our own - battles won, Doug Santoni wars yet to be determined. I thank you all for your efforts and your determination and may they continue unending. Fight hard and enjoy the battles. Best to all, Cover photo by Christina Evans www.cgstudios.smugmug.com The Kissimmee Prairie is one of the last remaining natural strands for the Burrowing Owl, a state listed species of special concern. John W. Elting, Chairman, Florida Audubon Society YOUTUBE LOGO SPECS PRINT on light backgrounds on dark backgrounds standard standard main red gradient bottom PMS 1795C PMS 1815C C0 M96 Y90 K2 C13 M96 Y81 K54 white black WHITE BLACK no gradients no gradients StayC0 M0 Y0 K0Connected:C100 M100 Y100 K100 Join Audubon Florida Online fl.audubon.org watermark watermark GivetoAudubonFlorida.org fl.audubon.org/signup stacked logo (for sharing only) stacked logo (for sharing only) facebook.com/AudubonFlorida twitter.com/AudubonFL youtube.com/AudubonFL Learn more at www.GivetoAudubonFlorida.org Audubon Florida Staff Audubon Florida fl.audubon.org 4500 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 205 Miami, FL 33137 305-371-6399 Key Contacts Eric Draper, Executive Director Eric Draper, Executive Director 305-371-6399, ext.123 Audubon Florida [email protected] Margaret Spontak, Development Director 352-229-2887 [email protected] Victoria Johnston, Donor Relations Manager 305-371-6399, ext. 134 Make 2014 a Big Year for Conservation [email protected] Every time I hike or walk on public lands, or swim in a spring or from a public beach, I take a Public Policy Office http://fl.audubon.org/conservation-efforts moment to remember that at one time someone worked hard to protect that place. 308 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301 Jonathan Webber 850-222-2473 I love the legacy of Florida conservation and never forget that we walk in the footsteps of [email protected] people who gave a great deal in time, energy and money to create the laws and programs that Local Audubon Chapters have preserved so much of our beautiful state. We owe it to those who came before us to http://fl.audubon.org/audubon-locations continue their work in order to pass on an even better Florida. Jacqueline Sulek 850-251-1297 [email protected] We have a chance to do something this year that will completely shape the future of Florida conservation. Amendment 1 will direct $18 billion over twenty years to protect and restore EVERGLADES CONSERVATION water and land. We must do everything in our power to get 60% of the vote on November 4. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Jason Lauritsen, Sanctuary Director 375 Sanctuary Rd. West, Naples, FL 34120-4865 Nearly one million Florida voters signed the Water and Land Legacy petition to put 239- 229-8170 Amendment 1 on the ballot. Audubon members gathered nearly 40,000 signatures and Everglades Policy Audubon helped raise the budget to fund the campaign. To those who gathered signatures Julie Hill-Gabriel, Director of Everglades Policy and contributed, please accept our hearty gratitude. You helped create an historic moment 305-371-6399, ext. 136 for Florida conservation. Everglades Water Quality Charles Lee, Director of Advocacy Long ago efforts to make water a public resource and create a land acquisition trust fund are 407- 620-5178 the legacy of changes to the state’s constitution. We owe every mile of undeveloped shoreline Lake Okeechobee Watershed Program Paul Gray, Ph.D., Science Coordinator and water and every inch of public parks, forests and wildlife lands to those decisions. 863-655-1831 Southwest Florida Collier Audubon Policy Office The need for money is shifting toward restoring water resources. Along with protecting those Brad Cornell, Big Cypress Policy Associate special places targeted for public land acquisition, Florida has yet to figure out to how to pay 239-643-7822 the long-term costs of springs’ protection and restoring the Everglades and coastal Everglades Science Center estuaries. The Legislature has systematically diverted funds away from water and land Jerome Lorenz, Ph.D., State Director of Research protection. Amendment 1 will reverse that trend and force legislators to spend money to 305-852-5318 protect our environment. BIRDS AND COASTAL STEWARDSHIP Coastal Wildlife and Habitats The 2014 Audubon Assembly on October 17-18 will help rally people to vote in favor of Julie Wraithmell, Director of Wildlife Conservation Amendment 1. I hope that you will join us – all Audubon members and supporters are 850-222-BIRD (2473) welcome. We keep the costs low so you can learn and help shape Audubon’s conservation Important Bird Areas agenda. See page 14 for details. Marianne Korosy, Florida IBA Coordinator 727-742-1683 Even if you cannot make the Audubon Assembly this year, you can volunteer to help get out Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Ann Paul, Tampa Bay Area the vote by getting in touch with your local Audubon chapter or the Amendment 1 campaign Regional Coordinator at VoteYeson1FL.org. With your help, this generation will follow in the steps of those who 813-623-6826 came before and leave a Florida better equipped to deal with the countless pressure on our FLORIDA SPECIAL PLACES lands and wildlife. Center for Birds of Prey Katie Warner, Center Manager 1101 Audubon Way Maitland, FL 32751-5451 407-644-0190 Full a full directory of staff and locations go to Eric Draper http://fl.audubon.org/audubon-locations Executive Director, Audubon Florida Learn more at www.GivetoAudubonFlorida.org Audubon Florida Summer 2014 3 Forever Florida Expanding Bald Cypress Restoration Efforts The stories that follow tell about lands Warbler, Wood Duck, Swallow-tail Kite, The mission of the Allen Broussard purchased with public funds. Bald Eagle, Anhinga, Barred Owl, Conservancy at Forever Florida is to Pileated (and other) Woodpeckers,Wood preserve and protect the fragile ecosystems This is a story about a 47,000 acre Storks, and a variety of herons and egrets. of Florida’s native wilderness, to provide private eco-ranch and wildlife conserva- a permanent protective habitat for wild- tion area, created under the leadership In addition to benefitting nesting birds, life, to maintain the historical ranching of Allen Broussard Conservancy. The species including wood ducks and turkeys, operation and to educate the public property encompasses nine distinct as well as many native mammals such as about the importance of conservation and ecosystems. squirrels, eat Bald Cypress seeds. In the the preservation of our unique heritage. water, catfish will spawn in submerged Rescued from developers, hunters, and hollow cypress logs. Some cypress For more information, contact: ruthless loggers, Forever Florida stands as a domes are also important refuge for shining example of successful preservation alligators and other aquatic animals. [email protected]. of Florida’s native wilderness. More than Preservation of cypress domes and 160,000 cypress trees have been planted strands is vital for many of these native on this private site. Many of the original and endangered species. cypress trees were poached by illegal logging before persistent legal action How You Can Help Support this Conservation Site finally ended logging in Forever Florida, hopefully for good. The Allen Broussard Conservancy is in the process of purchasing contiguous lots within the area. This venture is funded in part by But the battle continues to repopulate Forever Florida–Ziplines & Adventures in the Wild, the concessionaire the area’s Bald Cypress trees, home to so many birds and other wildlife species.