February 2010 Laughing Gull Newsletters St. Lucie Audubon Society

Dr. Joan Morrison is arriving in St. Lucie County on February 4, 2010 to speak on “Caracaras” at the St. Lu-cie Audubon’s Monthly Meeting. The Meeting is taking place at the Oxbow Eco-Center, 5400 NW St. James Dr., Port St. Lucie, at 7:00 PM on February 4, 2010. Dr. Mor-rison received her Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Conser-vation from the University of Florida and has conducted research on Crested Caracaras in Florida since 1992. Previously, Dr. Morrison worked as a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service in Alaska, Colorado, Washington, and New Mex-ico. Currently a Professor of Biology at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, she teaches courses in Conservation Bi-ology, Global Bio diversity, Environmental Science, and Avian Ecology. Her research program continues to focus on Florida’s caracara population and an urban popula-tion of Red-tailed Hawks. Admission is free. Contact: Liz Dunleavy - 772-489-9050.

Bud Adams Ranch Breakfast, February 20th at 8 a.m. • $25 per person. Our annual trip to the ranch is almost full, which in-cludes a full hot breakfast and a tour of the ranch. If you are interested in going please call Anjula Smith at 772-924-8778 for reservations. We will be meeting at the Home Depot parking lot, which is on the east side of II-95, Extension 129 Okeechobee Road at 7:30 a.m. We will caravan from there to the ranch. Painted Bunting Trip, February 27th at 8 a.m. • $10 per person. This is a tour to a private residence to see Painted and Indigo Buntings. This trip is nearly full at this time, so if you would like to attend please call Anjula Smith at 772-924-8878 for reservations. We will meet in the Sears parking lot on St. Lucie West Blvd. at 7:30 a.m. and car-pool from there.

www.stlucieaudubon.org

President’s Message

Laughing GullM A Y 2 0 0 9V O L U M E 3 3 , I S S U E V I I I

Calendar of Events

The Newsletter of the St. Lucie Audubon Society

As “An Advocate for the preservation of the Earth’s diverse ecosystems”, this society shall be engaged in educational, scientific, investigative, literary, historical, philanthropic and charitable pursuits.MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS has monthly meetings, open to the public, which are entertaining,informative and educational.MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS has monthly field trips, open to the public, led by experienced, volunteerbirders.MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS offers annual bird identification classes combined with field trips.MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS members saved the lives of many Gopher Tortoises by moving them froman area about to be developed to a safe habitat.MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS sponsors Audubon Adventures, an elementary teaching program and anannual Environmental School Science Project Award.MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS has informative and educational exhibits at Heathcote Holiday, Party in thePark, Naturefest and others.Members support this work and many other projects which protect our environment, protect our wildlife and preserve ourland and waters. Why not join the Audubon Society and help us make a difference.

Thanks for your support Dan Walma


MeetingThursday, May 7th

Jim David, St Lucie Mosquito Control.

Field Trip

Saturday, May 9th,Sebastian Inlet State Park ( Spruce Bluff trip cancelled )

(more details at meeting)

Special Thanks

Meeting PlaceOxbow Eco-Center

5400 NE St. James Drive, Pt St. Lucie, Fl 34983Located 1.5 miles south of Midway Road / 1.5 miles north of Airoso

A special “Thank You” to The Water Lilly Cruises for sponsoring May's Meeting.

The Water Lilly CruisesDaily Cruises leaving from the

Rivergate Marina

For moreinformation

or reservationsplease call

772-489-8344.

VOLUME 35 • ISSUE 2 • FEBRUARY 2010

Laughing GullThe Newsletter of the St. Lucie Audubon Society

President’s Message The conversation corner of the December SLAS newsletter had an informative article by Ed Bowes (Conservation Chair) on environmental pollutants. This carried on the theme of the presentation on de-tection of pollutants in the Indian River given at the November SLAS general meeting. I recently read an article about feminizing male large and smallmouth bass written by Eric Hages-man. He notes that a nine year study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that up to 91% of male lar-gemouth and up to 100% of smallmouth bass were intersex in the hardest hit area, the Southeastern U.S. The intersex bass were sampled in the Apala-chicola, Savannah and Pee Dee rivers. Feminized fish may not be able to reproduce; this could drive the bass into extinction. Hormones (estrogen from birth control pills), endo-crine substances and pharmaceuticals flushed from our toilets into rivers appear to be the most likely

culprit. Agricultural run off loaded with growth hor-mones is also high on the list. In September the EPA identified nine hormones in our water. At this time we have no idea what they might do to humans. Hagesman closes his article with this thought. “We can hope that the thought of drinking water that turns male fish into females will spur us to clean up our rivers.” Federal regulators have now listed some drugs as contaminants in our drinking water and have now launched a nationwide survey to check for pharma-ceuticals at water treatment plants, Join SLAS to help clean up our environment not only to protect our wildlife but also protect our-selves. Thank you for your support. Remember to renew your membership and pay your dues. Dan Walma

Calendar of Events

February Meeting: February 4, 2010 Speaker Dr. Joan MorrisonMeeting Place: Oxbow Eco-Center • 5400 NE St. James Drive, Pt. St. Lucie, FL 34983

Located 1.5 miles south of Midway Road • 1.5 miles north of Airoso

www.STLUCIEAUDUBON.ORg FEBRUARY 2010

By Camille S. Yates

To those who participated in the 110th Christ-mas Bird Count, thank you for a huge suc-cess! This year, we saw 133 different species and counted 18,340 individuals. Of note were 2 rare sightings – 6 canvasback ducks and a great white heron, a broad-winged hawk, and a short-tailed hawk. We could not have done so well without the following 41 participants: Jane Brooks, Eve Hanson, David Melton, Dan Walma, Bill Horvath, Dylan Horvath, Liz Dunleavy, Terri Brown, Scott Godfrey, Mary Giles, Sandy Bogan, Mike Woodward, Amy and Mike Dahan, Julie Ad-ams, Deena and Dana Wade, Bobbi and Walter

Deemer, John and Ann Dowset, Chuck Olson, Di-ane Goldberg, Liz Sapia, Marge and Norm Neu-berger, Ruth Neese, Ed Bowes, Jennifer Piercy, Allie and Sam Comer, George Love, Priscilla Mal-ley, Kathy Mayshar, Tom and Carol Hays, Billi Wagner, Hart and Jewel Rufe, and Phil and Julie Lounibus.

Christmas Bird Count a SuccessP A G E 2 W W W . S T L U C I E A U D U B O N . O R G M A Y 2 0 0 9

L A U G H I N G G U L L

ST.LUCIE AUDUBON SOCIETY 2009OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Reduce!Recycle!Reuse!


President Dan Walma [email protected] President Ruth Neese eddie_ruth@msn,comRecording Secretary Elsa Millard [email protected]

CorrespondingSecretary

Millie Estersohn [email protected]

Treasurer Liz Dunleavy [email protected]

Directors-at-Large Terri Brown [email protected]

Directors-at-Large Peggy Silletto [email protected]

Parliamentarian Peggy Silletto [email protected]

Newsletter Veronica Berrones [email protected]

Program Co-Chairs Grace Stock [email protected]

Program Co-Chairs Liz Dunleavy [email protected]

Membership Chair Peggy Silletto [email protected]

Special Events Chair Anjula Smith [email protected]

Field Trip Chair Dorothy Schultz [email protected]

Conservation Chair Ed Bowes [email protected]

Education Co-Chairs Terri Brown [email protected]

Bird ID Classes Elsa Millard [email protected]

Hospitality Chair Adella Blacka [email protected]

Chapter Historian Judy Gersony [email protected]

Webmaster Mary Dodge [email protected]

Directors-at-Large Ed Bowes [email protected]

*** SPONSORS WANTED ***St. Lucie County has a new policy of charging Non-Profits

for use of County facilities.Our cost is $45.00 per month payable in advance. We are

looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost of usingOxbow-Eco-Center.

In return we will acknowledge individual or companynames in our Newsletter several times

during the ensuing year. If you are interested in sponsoringSLA’s ongoing program please

send checks to :

ST. LUCIE AUDUBON,P.O. BOX 12474,

FORT PIERCE, FL 34979

Below is the copy of the letter presented to Dotty & Hank Hull at the April board meeting and all members of the Board present signed it.

April 9, 2009

Dotty and Hank HullPalms of St Lucie West501 Cashmere Blvd Apt 214Port St Lucie, FL 34986 Phone: 772-340-2226

Dear Dotty and Hank:The members of the St. Lucie Audubon Society were very sorry when you had to resign from your many duties on the Board ofDirectors in February 2009. While we try to understand the reason we want you to know how much you both will be missed. All themembers say how much you have inspired them and furthered their education and love of birds by being withyou on so many occasions.

Shortly after you joined the Society when Grace Stock was president in 1989, you became leaders of this group. Hank served aspresident in the 1990’s for two terms.You both led the Birding Education classes for many years. Dotty served as Membership Chairman, Adams Ranch BreakfastPlanner and kept the Christmas Bird Count accurate for years. Dotty edited the Laughing Gull and wrote the Feathered Friendscolumn. Hank served on the Board and was Field Trip Chairman and showed us many different birds.

You have given many years and hours of your life for the members of this Society. For which we all are so grateful. Today theMembers join their Members of the Board of Directors to thank you and honor you both with a

“LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD”In your beloved St. Lucie Audubon Society.

Dan WalmaDan Walma, President

Pat Bounds [email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected] Dunleavy

Thanks to the Following SponsorsJohn and Nettie Brolman

Deena and Dana wade - “River Lilly”Ed Bowes & Ruth Neese

Treasure Coast wildlife CenterBilli wagner

Adella Blacka [email protected]

Jay Wise [email protected]

Judith Whittemore [email protected]

Lifetime Members of SLASBob Bangert

Liz and Bob Dunleavy

Hank and Dotty Hull

Dan and Donna Walma

FEBRUARY 2010 www.STLUCIEAUDUBON.ORg PAgE 3

Submitted by Ed Bowes

St. Lucie County Growth Management staff and the Western Lands Study Project are begin-ning implementation of the Western Lands Study Scope of Services (WLSSS). This project began in August 2009 in conjunction with the University of Florida with the purpose of developing a plan for sustainable agriculture in St. Lucie Co. that respected private property rights while promot-ing rural lifestyles and environmental conserva-tion. As reported in the WLSSS, there are seven key elements in the process:

1. Consideration of a natural (or green) systems plan.

2. Resolving the definition of open space in ag-ricultural developments.

3. Transportation and other services to rural lands.

4. Assessment of programs that utilize the trans-fer of environmental credits or development rights.

5. Use of ecosystem payments for rural land-owners that provide needed environmental ser-vices.

6. Economic and land value analyses of alterna-tive rural land uses.

7. Significant public participation through edu-cational forums and the Western Lands Assem-bly.

The next educational forum is scheduled for February 11 and the Western Lands Assembly is scheduled March 6. If you want a voice in the future of growth and land conservation in St. Lu-cie Co., please attend these sessions! The county commissioners are doing their best to plan for a sustainable green future. Failure of this process could have disastrous consequences, like Port St. Lucie annexing all land south of Midway and west to the county line. Make your voice heard in favor of a sustainable future for St. Lucie Co. The details are available on the county Web site at http://www.stlucieco.gov/growth/western_lands.htm

Conservation CornerP A G E 2 W W W . S T L U C I E A U D U B O N . O R G M A Y 2 0 0 9


ST.LUCIE AUDUBON SOCIETY 2009OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Reduce!Recycle!Reuse!


President Dan Walma [email protected] President Ruth Neese eddie_ruth@msn,comRecording Secretary Elsa Millard [email protected]

CorrespondingSecretary

Millie Estersohn [email protected]

Treasurer Liz Dunleavy [email protected]

Directors-at-Large Terri Brown [email protected]

Directors-at-Large Peggy Silletto [email protected]

Parliamentarian Peggy Silletto [email protected]

Newsletter Veronica Berrones [email protected]

Program Co-Chairs Grace Stock [email protected]

Program Co-Chairs Liz Dunleavy [email protected]

Membership Chair Peggy Silletto [email protected]

Special Events Chair Anjula Smith [email protected]

Field Trip Chair Dorothy Schultz [email protected]

Conservation Chair Ed Bowes [email protected]

Education Co-Chairs Terri Brown [email protected]

Bird ID Classes Elsa Millard [email protected]

Hospitality Chair Adella Blacka [email protected]

Chapter Historian Judy Gersony [email protected]

Webmaster Mary Dodge [email protected]

Directors-at-Large Ed Bowes [email protected]

*** SPONSORS WANTED ***St. Lucie County has a new policy of charging Non-Profits

for use of County facilities.Our cost is $45.00 per month payable in advance. We are

looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost of usingOxbow-Eco-Center.

In return we will acknowledge individual or companynames in our Newsletter several times

during the ensuing year. If you are interested in sponsoringSLA’s ongoing program please

send checks to :

ST. LUCIE AUDUBON,P.O. BOX 12474,

FORT PIERCE, FL 34979

Below is the copy of the letter presented to Dotty & Hank Hull at the April board meeting and all members of the Board present signed it.

April 9, 2009

Dotty and Hank HullPalms of St Lucie West501 Cashmere Blvd Apt 214Port St Lucie, FL 34986 Phone: 772-340-2226

Dear Dotty and Hank:The members of the St. Lucie Audubon Society were very sorry when you had to resign from your many duties on the Board ofDirectors in February 2009. While we try to understand the reason we want you to know how much you both will be missed. All themembers say how much you have inspired them and furthered their education and love of birds by being withyou on so many occasions.

Shortly after you joined the Society when Grace Stock was president in 1989, you became leaders of this group. Hank served aspresident in the 1990’s for two terms.You both led the Birding Education classes for many years. Dotty served as Membership Chairman, Adams Ranch BreakfastPlanner and kept the Christmas Bird Count accurate for years. Dotty edited the Laughing Gull and wrote the Feathered Friendscolumn. Hank served on the Board and was Field Trip Chairman and showed us many different birds.

You have given many years and hours of your life for the members of this Society. For which we all are so grateful. Today theMembers join their Members of the Board of Directors to thank you and honor you both with a

“LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP AWARD”In your beloved St. Lucie Audubon Society.

Dan WalmaDan Walma, President

M A Y 2 0 0 9 W W W . S T L U C I E A U D U B O N . O R G P A G E 3

Membership Application


A one-year chapter membership extends from January to January. Youmay use the coupon below to begin or renew your membership.

SLAS is now offering a Chapter-only annual membership for those whowant to financially support their local chapter. The following dues options

apply:

□ Individual: $20 per year □ Family: $25 per year

(for 2 or more people in same household)□ Sponsor: $50 per year□ Patron: $100 per year□ Lifetime: $500

Each local membership includes a subscription to the monthly newsletter“The Laughing Gull”. You may receive “The Laughing Gull” via standard mail or electronically via email. Please indicate your preference below.

Please make checks payable to and send to:St. Lucie Audubon Society, P.O. Box 12474,

Fort Pierce, FL 34979

Name: ______________________________________Address: ____________________________________City: _______________________________________State: _____________ Zip: _____________________Phone: ________________________________ ____E-mail: _____________________________________New membership: ______ Renewal: ______

Please send my “Laughing Gull” by: Email _____ or Standard mail: _____

Thanks for your support.

Submitted by Ed Bowes

This should clear up the confusion surrounding the “See Insert” message in the last newsletter. This information is from Cornell Labof Ornithology.You hear a loud thud at your living room window. Looking up, yousee a few tiny feathers stuck to the glass. Others drift slowly to theground. One more bird has been struck down in a collision with aplate-glass window. Bird-window crashes are an all-too-commonphenomenon. These collisions usually involve small birds, such asfinches, that fall unnoticed to the ground. Sometimes the birds are merely stunned and recover in a few moments. Often, however, theydie. The number of birds killed by collisions with windows isstaggering—estimates range as high as 100 million per year. Does thismean that you should stop feeding birds? Not at all. It means that ifyou notice birds striking your windows, you should take steps toeliminate the problem.

Some Solutions1) Move feeders to new locations. Usually bird strikes occur at one ortwo windows. Moving feeders away from them may solve the problementirely.2) Place feeders closer to the glass. If a feeder is just a foot or twofrom a window, panicked birds may still fly into it, but probably won’t have enough momentum to injure themselves.3) Alter the window’s appearance. If you don’t want to move your feeders, or if relocating them doesn’t solve your problem, you’ll need to alter the appearance of the offending windows. But to do this,you’ll need to figure out why the collisions are occurring. Are birds confused because the window is reflecting the landscape behind it? Is the glass so transparent they think it isn’t there? To find out, you’ll need to get a bird’s-eye view.

See-Through GlassGo to your feeder and look at your window. Can you see through it? Ifso, the birds can, too. Is there a plant inside the house that might beattractive to birds? If so, try moving it. Is there another window on theopposite side of the house, creating the illusion of a fly-throughpassage? Try making your windows less transparent by changing thelighting inside the house—pull a shade or open or close a door. Youcan also make glass less transparent by taping paper to the inside ofthe panes. This is unsightly, but it’s a good temporary measure until you can find a better solution. Commercially available hawk silhouettes are effective at deterring window strikes, as long as youuse several. They work not because they look like hawks, but becausethey break up the window’s appearance. Another solution is to put up a commercially available decal that is a replica stabilimentum or whitezig-zag from the center of an orbital spider’s web. It is thought that spiders create the highly visible zig-zag so birds and large insects willavoid flying into and destroying their webs. Note: Do not attach objects directly to thermopane windows without consulting themanufacturer.

Conservation Corner Reflective Windows Windows that mirror the outside habitat present a different problem. Ifyou see branches or sky reflected in the glass when you look at your windows, you’ll understand why the birds are confused. Changing the lighting inside the house or fastening objects to the inside of the glasswon’t help. Instead, you’ll need to alter the window’s appearance by placing something on the outside. As a temporary measure, you canrub a bar of soap on the window (the streaks can be easily removed).Other solutions include attaching strips of paper or cardboard to thewindow, hanging ribbons, streamers, colored string, festive garlands,or even mobiles in front of it.

Screens and NettingAnother solution is to place some kind of screen or netting over thewindow. This won’t obstruct the view; birds will continue to fly into the window. They should bounce off relatively unharmed. Fruit-treenetting, pulled tightly over a window should reduce or elimi-nate injured birds.

Submitted by Ruth Neese

Have you noticed more Glossy Ibis (Pl-

egadis falcinellus) in your local pond or ca-

nal? According to the Florida Fish & Wild-

life Conservation Commission, the Glossy

Ibis population has increased, and more

birds are breeding on Florida’s east coast.

The Glossy Ibis is the most widespread

ibis species in the world, with populations

found on every continent except Antarctica.

Despite its range, the Glossy is a recent ar-

rival in North America, first recorded in the

late 19th Century. It is presumed to have

arrived from Africa in much the same way

as Cattle Egrets. The first breeding popula-

tion was recorded in Florida in the 1920s.

The Glossy Ibis is a wading bird, prefer-

ring shallow freshwater ponds, canals,

marshes, and swamps. It eats by prob-

ing mud and soft soil with its long down-

ward-curing beak. Foods include worms,

gastropods, snails, crayfish, frogs, toads,

small fish, seeds, and grains. In breeding

plumage, the Glossy Ibis is a very colorful

bird. A mature adult has iridescent chest-

nut feathers on its head, neck, chest, and

underparts with lower back, wings, and

tail covered in metallic shades of bronze,

purple, and green. We are approaching

breeding season now, so watch for the dull

brown Glossy Ibis to transform into a mag-

nificent shining wader marching along St.

Lucie Co. canals.

Feathered FriendsInside This

Issue

PAGE 1

President’s

Message

PAGE 2

Officers &

Committee

Chairs

PAGE 3

Membership

Application

Conservation

Corner

INSIDETHISISSUE:

President’s Message

1

Officers&CommitteeChairs

2

MembershipApplications

3

ConservationCorner

3

Meeting:Thursday,May7th

JimDavid,St.LucieMosquitoControl.Hewillspeakaboutthecontrolsystemandthebirdsassociatedwiththearea.

LaughingGullSt.LucieAudubonP.O.Box12474FortPierce,FL34979

Non-profitOrganizationU.S.POSTAGEPAIDFortPierce,FL.PermitNo.442

FieldTrip:SaturdayMay9th

SebastianInletStatePark(SpruceBlufftripcancelled)

Ourfinaltripoftheseasonisgearedtoour"non-migratory"members!SebastianInletStateParkisontheGreatFloridaBirdingTrail......shouldgiveusampleopportunitytobrushuponseagullsandothershorebirds.

WewillmeetattheHomeDepotparking-lotinFortPiercebetween7:15am--7:30am......weleaveat7:30sharp(itisabouta1hourdrivefromFtPierce).....carpoolingencouragedsincethereisa$5percarfeetoenterpark.WewillentertheNorthEntranceofthepark(goovertheinletbridge)...Iwillhavedirectionstogiveout...bringyourownsandwiches/drinks...ANDofcourseyourguide-books.Anyquestionsgivemeacall.....DorothySchultz----Home#879-1617(leaveamessageifIamatworkandIwillgetbacktoyou).

GetyourLaughing

Gullbye-mail

Do the “GreenThing” and help our chaptersaveprintingandmailing

costsbygettingyournewsletterbyemail.Nospecialprogramisneededtoopenit,andyoucanprintitoutifyouprefertoreadifoffline.Tosign

up,sendyournameandemailaddressto

[email protected]

February 2010 Laughing Gull Newsletters St. Lucie Audubon Society

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