NOVEMBER 2019 • 1 OASOAS is is Orange Audubon Society The Voice of Conservation in Central Florida Vol. 54 Issue 3 • November 2019 This Month’s Program: November 21, 2019 November Monthly Field Trip Nature Photography Tips by Jack Rogers Lighthouse Point Park, Ponce Inlet November 23, 2019 Orange Audubon Society’s Saturday, November 23rd field trip will be to Lighthouse Point Park. Note changed location from that listed on the brochure. This Volusia County park in Ponce Inlet has a nice boardwalk where we will look for late migrant songbirds in the hammock. When we exit onto the well-preserved dunes, we’ll observe beach birds. We will bird the Ponce Inlet jetty and mouth of the Halifax River, looking for gulls, terns, shorebirds and wading birds. Park entry is $10 per car, so we will carpool from Port Orange Plaza, 4064 S. Ridgewood Ave. at the SW corner of US 1 and Dunlawton Blvd. We will meet there at 8:30 a.m. The trip is free and no registration is required. For Top left, Bobcat. Right, Young Roseate Spoonbill. Bottom left, Black Skimmer chick with fish. Photos: Jack Rogers information, contact me at lmartin5@ Orange Audubon Society’s (OAS) 32nd Annual Kit and Sidney Chertok Florida msn.com or (407) 647- 5834, or (407) Native Nature Photography Contest has a deadline of April 16, 2020. Each year 252-1182 on day of the trip. OAS hosts a nature photographer to present on Nature Photography Tips, Larry Martin, Field Trips Chair allowing plenty of time for people to get out and take photos. This year we are proud to host Jack Rogers, a widely published nature photographer who has been photographing birds and other wildlife for decades. Jack leads workshops and presents a variety of seminars each year, including nature photography classes at Valencia College where he is a full-time Geology professor. He is a great supporter of Florida’s conservation organizations, including OAS, and his images may be seen on their websites, pamphlets, and signposts across the state. He has won the Chertok Photo Contest several times as well as other photo contests. Ponce Inlet saltmarsh. Photo: Deborah Green Jack will be sharing his in-depth knowledge of where and how to successfully Charitable Distributions photograph birds and other wildlife across Florida and elsewhere. Young If you are or will be age 70 1/2 by photographers considering entering the Youth category of the Chertok photo 12/31/2019, have a traditional IRA contest are welcome, as well as adults. account and wish to donate to Non-photographers too will enjoy this program. We look forward to seeing you Orange Audubon Society (OAS), on November 21st at 7:00 p.m. Location below. Rick Baird, Programs Chair consider making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). Orange Audubon Society programs are free and no reservations are necessary. When properly structured, distributions made directly from a traditional IRA to Programs are the 3rd Thursday of each month (September–June) a 501(c)(3) like OAS are tax-free. Work and all but January and June start at 7:00 p.m. with your IRA fund manager to meet in the Camellia Room at QCD requirements, and please contact Harry P. Leu Gardens me at [email protected] or (407) 1920 North Forest Ave., Orlando, FL 32803 644-0796 if I can answer questions on For map and directions, visit: behalf of OAS. Thank you! Teresa Williams, OAS Treasurer www.leugardens.org/plan/directions/ NOVEMBER 2019• 2 OAS is Survival by City of Orlando Degrees Recognized by Audubon On October 10, 2019 Mayor Buddy Dyer has joined more National Audubon Society than 120 other mayors from across released Survival by Degrees: 389 the country as part of the Sierra Club’s Bird Species on the Brink, an in-depth Mayors for 100% Clean Energy. The report shedding much-needed light on City of Orlando has committed to 100% how 389 out of 604 North American clean, renewable energy by 2030! At bird species are being affected by this year’s Audubon Assembly, Chris climate change. Castro, Director of Sustainability & The range of bird species will be Resilience, accepted the prestigious Guy greatly reduced and modified if global Bradley award on behalf of Mayor Dyer and the City. Orange Audubon Society (OAS) temperatures continue to rise at the mission: To promote public current rate. Birds are the canaries in Orange Audubon Society is part of understanding of, and an interest in, the coal mine for human life. If we lose the First 50 Coalition of environmental wildlife and the environment that our bird species at this rapid rate, we groups that continues urging the City to supports it; foster the recognition of have a peek into what our future will be. take positive steps toward clean energy. the tangible and intangible values in the remaining natural areas of Florida A current priority of the coalition is and the world, and our responsibility convincing the City’s Orlando Utilities for the conservation of the Earth’s Commission (OUC) to close one natural ecosystems. of the Curtis Stanton coal-burning Orange Audubon Society power plants in East Orange County. P.O. Box 941142 As natural gas has become cheaper Maitland, FL 32794-1142 (through environmentally damaging www.orangeaudubonfl.org fracking), the “bridge” from coal to President and OASis Editor: renewables has been gas. Deborah Green The coalition wants to be sure that [email protected] natural gas does not become the (407) 637-2525 The report consisted of Audubon long-term energy source, due to The OASis (Orange Audubon Society scientists’ observations and studies, as the environmental problems with its information source) newsletter is well as heavy citizen science. Climate extraction, transport and combustion published monthly, September–June, models were used to project how each (natural gas doesn’t contain the and posted on the OAS website. A link species’ range will change as climate pollutants of coal but still produces announcing new issues is e-mailed to subscribers. change and other human activity CO2). We would like OUC to expand continues based on the current trends. its growing solar use. Never miss out on OAS happenings. Add or update your email address The report’s findings are devastating Again, congratulations City of Orlando by contacting newsletter@ and thank you for listening to your and hard to digest, but with this new orangeaudubonfl.org. information more rigid plans can be environmentally-concerned residents For other membership information, implemented to curb climate change and striving to become “one of the most environmentally-friendly, contact: Mike Daley and bird loss. [email protected] Florida has 29 bird species in the economically and socially vibrant (407) 417-7818 communities in the nation.” moderately and highly vulnerable at- JOIN OAS’ MEETUP GROUP risk categories specified in the report. Climate Change Now OK LIKE OAS’ FACEBOOK PAGE Most of these are Eastern forest birds to Say in Tallahassee and waterbirds. Vulnerable species An unwritten policy to not use the Orange Audubon Society, Inc. is a that live in Central Florida year-round term “Climate Change” went into or in migration include Fish Crow, Florida not-for-profit organization, tax effect after Governor Rick Scott took exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Bobolink, Yellow-throated Warbler, office in 2011. The policy has finally Internal Revenue Code. and Brown Thrasher. ended, enthusiastically states Senator A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL If we can’t step up to save vulnerable Linda Stewart, who represents part REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL species, humankind is in more trouble of Orange County and serves on the INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED than we even know. Responsible Committee on Infrastructure and FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER developmental practices will help Security. Stewart has asked Governor SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, reduce habitat loss. Transition to clean 1-800-435-7352, WITHIN THE STATE. Ron DeSantis’ newly appointed Chief FROM OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA CALL energy, reducing waste, and continually Resilience Officer Julia Nesheiwat if 1-850-410-3800. VISIT www.800helpfla. educating the public are other the governor has set a timeline for com FOR HELP. REGISTRATION DOES important actions we can take to thwart transitioning Florida to clean energy as NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL climate change and bird loss for the a means to slow down climate change. OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION NO. CH2330 benefit of our own existence. We will be watching with hope as Marah Green, Climate Chair events unfold. Deborah Green NOVEMBER 2019 • 3 OAS is It’s Fiesta Time!! — Easy to find? The Eastern Bluebird Since Eastern Bluebirds live year- declined. Eastern Bluebirds often Volunteers Needed November 2 and 3, 2019 will be round in the Southeastern U.S., they select old woodpecker holes in dead the Lake Eola Fiesta in the Park should be easy to find. Or not? pine or oak trees up to 50 feet off the Arts and Crafts Festival, which is A lovely small thrush, these birds ground. Fortunately these birds also Orange Audubon Society’s (OAS) perch on wires or fences in open will nest in manmade boxes and prefer biggest public outreach event. City woodlands along pastures, agricultural snug ones about four-inches square. of Orlando gives us a great spot and fields, suburban parks, and golf A male Eastern Bluebird attracts a we have the chance to speak with courses. I first saw them flying swiftly female to his nest site by transporting many new people. If we have enough through the pines at Tosahatchee material in and out of a cavity then volunteers, we can do the Kids Art Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in perching and fluttering his wings.