MAY 2016 • 1 OASOAS Is Is Orange Audubon Society the Voice of Conservation in Central Florida Vol
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MAY 2016 • 1 OASOAS is is Orange Audubon Society The Voice of Conservation in Central Florida Vol. 51 Issue 9 • May 2016 This Month’s Program: May 19, 2016 The Secret Life of Dragonflies Dragonflies were flying 300 million years ago, pre-dating dinosaurs by 100 million years. With eggs laid and immature stages Barn Swallow at Charles H. Bronson State developing in water, dragonflies and Forest. Photo: Mary Keim their close relatives, the damselflies, are an important part of wetland eco- Monthly Field Trip: systems. The adults are aerial preda- May 21, 2016 tors that devour mosquitoes, gnats, and other pests. Charles H. Bronson State With so many different species, Forest Field Trip dragonflies are challenging and fun to On Saturday, May 21th, Orange learn to identify. Audubon will visit the Joshua Following the cancellation of our Creek Trailhead (south entrance) of originally scheduled speaker, Orange Charles H. Bronson State Forest near Audubon Society’s (OAS) May 19th Christmas. This 11,672-acre forest program will be presented jointly by borders the St. Johns River in Orange Deborah Green and Mary Keim of the and Seminole counties. OAS Board. Meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot for the Mary has taken great photos of most Joshua Creek Trailhead of the forest of the species of local dragonflies located at the northern end of Phillips and damselflies and, along with Rd. off Ft. Christmas Rd. in Orange her husband Randy Snyder, has County. For a map, see this link. become expert in their identification. Day permit fee for the forest is $2/ Deborah, a former entomologist, person. Bring correct change, plenty created an entomology slide series to drink, sun protection, insect pro- while in grad school, with insect pho- tection, birding gear, and lunch (for tographer Patrick Craig. She will share after the hike). information on “the secret life We will walk about four miles at a of dragonflies” from that series. pace to observe plants and animals Deborah and Mary are both retired along the way. No registration is community college biology professors required. No facilities. and dedicated to interpreting the nat- ural world. Join us May 19th at 7 p.m. If you have questions about the trip, for a fascinating program. See box at contact us at [email protected] or left for location details. (407) 851-5416. We hope you join us! Mary Keim, Field Trip Chair Brook Rohman, Programs Chair Orange Audubon Society programs are free and no reservations are necessary. Programs are the 3rd Thursday of each month (September–June) and all but June start at 7:00 p.m. Photos from top to bottom: A Face Only a Mother Could in the Camellia Room at Love, 2015 Chertok Photo Contest, Honorable Mention. Photo: Alan T. Dart; Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly on Harry P. Leu Gardens Broad Scale Yellow-eyed Grass, 2015 Chertok Photo 1920 North Forest Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 Contest, Honorable Mention. Photo: Jennifer Krigsner; Rambur’s Forktail Damselflies, Photo: Mary Keim; For map and directions, visit: Rambur’s Forktail Damselfly, 2014 Chertok Photo www.leugardens.org/plan/directions/ Contest, Honorable Mention. Photo: Steven Long MAY 2016 • 2 OAS is Habitat Conservation Conservation land acquisition for habitat for wildlife (and recreational spaces for humans) is close to the mis- sion of Orange Audubon Society (OAS), and our chapter has asked our legisla- tors to follow the intent of the voters in implementation of Amendment 1. What else can we do? Promote The Wekiva-Ocala The purpose and dedication of Greenway Orange Audubon Society (OAS) is As you probably know, Florida For- to promote public understand ing of, ever projects are submitted and and an interest in, wildlife and the ranked by a committee of biolo- environ ment that supports it. gists and recreation specialists, and OAS’ education programs foster the rankings approved first by the the recognition of the tangible and Acquisition and Restoration Council intangi ble values in the remaining and then by Florida’s governor and natural areas of Flor ida and the cabinet. world, and our responsibility for the Above, Wild Turkey at Rock Springs Run conservation of the Earth’s natural The Wekiva-Ocala Greenway Florida State Reserve. Below, Bottlebrush Threeawn ecosystems and the services that they Forever Project is fourth in priority on at Hal Scott Preserve. Photos: Mary Keim provide for the health of the planet. the approved 2016 list, due to the rich natural resources to be protected. Florida Forever law (Ch.259 Florida Orange Audubon Society P.O. Box 941142 Its springs, rivers, lakes, swamps, Statutes) states that landowners can Maitland, FL 32794-1142 and uplands stretching north from be paid up to the full amount of the Orlando to the Ocala National Forest www.orangeaudubonfl.org lowest of two appraisals. Typically are recognized as an important landowners receive only a little over refuge for the Florida Black Bear, Bald President and OASis Editor: 1/2 the land’s value, according to Deborah Green Eagle, Swallow-tailed Kite, Florida Audubon Florida’s Charles Lee. [email protected] Scrub-Jay, wading birds, and others. If anyone knows a landowner in the (407) 637-2525 The area is also important for aquifer area north of the Wekiva River Basin The OASis (Orange Audubon Society recharge for spring flow and drinking state lands and south of the Ocala water and for protecting water information source) newsletter is National Forest, there is an oppor- published monthly from quality. Willing sellers and landowners tunity up until mid May to submit agreeing to sell conservation ease- September through June. The an application for a conservation newsletter is posted on the OAS ments have been identified. We need easement. Please point them to this website, and a link is e-mailed to all to advocate for purchase of iden- link to submit a simple preliminary OAS members. tified parcels in the Wekiva-Ocala application. Projects should be over Greenway, before owners take devel- 200 acres to be considered in this Address Change or E-Delivery: opers’ offers. round, but there should be additional Mike Daley Promote Conservation funding cycles for these now politi- [email protected] (407) 417-7818 Easements cally acceptable easements. In trying to create wildlife habitat cor- Take Educational Opportunities ridors, we normally focus on conser- OAS’ April program was about wildlife JOIN OAS’ MEETUP GROUP vation land acquisition, but attention corridors (see p.3), and our chapter is LIKE OAS ON FACEBOOK is now being turned to conservation a sponsor of a showing of The For- easements. This newer mecha- gotten Coast in an event to promote A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRA- nism pays a landowner to continue conservation of wildlife corridors (p.3). TION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION ranching or other agriculture, as long MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVI- as wildlife habitat is maintained. Encourage Environmental SION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY Voting CALLING TOLL-FREE, 1-800-435-7352, Conservation easements are being WITHIN THE STATE. FROM OUTSIDE OF purchased under the Rural and Family Please make sure everyone in your FLORIDA CALL 1-850-410-3800. VISIT Lands Protection Program, adminis- family makes the environment a top www.800helpfla.com FOR HELP. REGIS- priority when voting this year and TRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSE- tered under the Florida Department MENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDA- of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, every year. Thank you. TION BY THE STATE. using Amendment 1 funds. The Deborah Green, President REGISTRATION NO. CH2330 MAY 2016 • 3 OAS is In Case You Missed the Forgotten Coast Premiere Program.... May 10, 2016 Florida Wildlife Corridor The Central Florida premiere of The At the April 21st meeting Orange Forgotten Coast: Return to Wild Audubon Society (OAS) members and Florida will be held in the IMAX the- atre of the Orlando Science Center at guests viewed a film, The Florida Wild- 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2016. Fol- life Corridor Expedition: Everglades to lowing in the footsteps of a wandering Okefenokee. Florida black bear, three friends leave Completed in 2013, this engaging film civilization and become immersed in a documents highlights of the 1000-mile, vast and unexplored wildlife corridor 100-day trek of four friends who trav- stretching from the Everglades to the Florida-Alabama border. The rugged eled from the Everglades to Okefenokee thousand-mile journey by foot, paddle, and bike traverses Florida’s For- National Wildlife Refuge in southern gotten Coast. Georgia in 2012. In collaborating on this premiere, local environmental groups wish to pro- mote the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway, a project under the Florida Forever land acquisition program that will preserve critical missing portions of a wildlife corridor. Orange Audubon Society has joined The Florida Wildlife Corridor, Center for Earth Jurisprudence, Friends of the Wekiva River, Seminole Audubon Society, Sierra Club-Central Florida, and League of Women Voters--Semi- nole and Orange County chapters to sponsor this event, in which proceeds will go to the Florida Conservation Voters Education Fund. The film screening at the Orlando Science Center will begin at 6:00 p.m. Carlton Ward and Joe Guthrie paddling through the with a welcome reception. The 1-hour documentary will begin at 7:00 p.m. Everglades. Photo: Florida Wildlife Corridor with a short introduction, including a few words by Friends of the Wekiva The film was presented by Maddie River president Jay Exum on the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway, and finish with a Southard, program manager for the Q&A with Expedition team members. non-profit group The Florida Wildlife Due to tremendous demand for tickets for the first screening, through pub- Corridor, which is led by filmmaker Elam licity on Facebook, a second film screening has been added, starting at 8:30 Stoltzfus.