January-February 2010 Wings and Things Newsletter Venice Area Audubon Society

8/9/2019 January-February 2010 Wings and Things Newsletter Venice Area Audubon Society

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Wings&ThingsThe neWsleTTer o The Venice AreA Audubon socieTy | va. Founded in 1965

Jan/Feb 2010

A u d u b o n S o c i

e t y

V e n

i ce Ar e A

MessAge roM The PresidenT - M l. ct

2010. Hard to believe another year has slipped by…

As another year closes, let’s take some time to thank the hardworking,

dedicated, and driven individuals that are the backbone o VAAS.

• Our Building and Rookery Volunteers - Gene Stover, Arlene Kelpsh,

Joanne Robertson, Barbara Brigham, Lynn and Jay Koths, Herb Krauch, Rose

Krause, Martin Himmelarb, Phyllis Courter, Celia Calderon, Bonnie Hurley,

Karen Pasternak, Joan Klein, Gardner Jones, Janie and Dennis Dancho, JoanShimerda, George Cooper, Lorraine Cooper, and Vaughan Abbott.

• CindyJulius,RobertDuncan,CarolVeits -and the many volunteers

who give their time to lead eld trips. What more can be said that will

adequately describe their devotion to VAAS.

•MartyShirley - who is always searching or new and interesting venues

to provide members entertaining and inspiring presentations. Te Holiday

Party was a blast!

• BrendaBossman- With her keen eye or detail that keeps us all in line and

out o debt—major tasks. Looking orward to the Mardi Gras Event.

• JulieMorris-For sharing her scientic knowledge and providing grantassistance.

• KenReamy-Oh, i only his gentle demeanor could be bottled and sold.

VAAS would be rich. Ken has been a steadast and patient contributor to

VAAS or many years.

• BobandCynthiaVance-For their incredibly strong organizational skills,

and to think they come as a pair! Both have been instrumental in organizing

the eorts o the Conservation Committee and are orchestrating a strong

climate change campaign.

• CarolHayden- Who strives to make it through the publicity maze.

• BillFairbank-Speaking o mazes, try unraveling the membership roster.

Bill calmly accomplishes this goal and makes it look like child’s play. We all

know it isn’t.

• BarryRossheim-His outgoing and cheerul manner, willingness to help out,

and wealth o knowledge he so willing shares. VAAS would be lost without him.

• KathyUpton- Willingly plugs through the mail system, and keeps us on top o

necessary correspondences. It may seem like a thankless job, but know it is impor-

tant and appreciated.

• RettandPriscillaOren- What more can be said about the people willing

to organize the CBC? Tank you!

President’s Message continued on page 3

inAl noTice ToconTinue receiVingWings & Things

As you all know, the VAAS Board

o Directors is attempting to reduce

our carbon ootprint and “Go Green”

by sending our Wings & Things

newsletter via email versus snail mail.

In addition to saving trees, VAAS will

save money by reducing printing andmailing epenses.

However, we have not yet

received email addresses or many

members o our chapter. And, we

realize that many VAAS members

do not have email. Please know that

we do not want any member to go

without their newsletter.

Thereore, we have included a

postcard in this issue o Wings &

Things and t request that you

f your email address and ma t

back to Venice Area Audubon Society

(VAAS) by the end o January.

I you t av ma, please

put ta in the bo on the

postcard marked “Send Wings &

Things by U.S. mail” and give us

your mailing address.

i VAAs t av

t ma a a

ta pta qt t

W & T u.s. ma, w t v t

t wtt. I you have any

questions please contact Bill

Fairbank by calling 941-412-1610 or

emailing [email protected].

W ra ratat

Wildlie cenTer o Venice

941-484-9657



2 Wings&Things | Jan/Feb 10

TreAsurer’s rePorT - ba bma We have received some inquiries rom a ew about the appearance o an abundance

o unds in the VAAS treasury. From my experience in participating in non-prot

organizations a ew inquiries mean that many o you had the same thoughts but

won’t comment verbally. Te nancial statement included in the previous newsletter

was a snapshot o our scal solvency and did not include an explanation o how our

unds may be distributed.

Te bulk o our assets are in an endowment und managed by the Venice

Community Foundation. Our bylaws are specic on how the unds may be accessed

Te last amendment to our bylaws state:

“Annually, a percentage o the Endowment Funds shall be made available or disburse

ment to the Board. Unless otherwise directed by a donor, the Board is empowered to make

use o these disbursements within the Society or the purpose o ulfllment o this Society

stated mission goals. Te Board is also permitted to grant all or part to other environmen-

tal groups whose work contributes towards ulfllment o this Society’s stated mission goals

Te amount disbursable shall be up to a maximum o 5% o the assets o the Endowmen

Funds as calculated at the end o the calendar year. Such distribution may not exceed the

growth o the asset value rom the end o the previous year. In the event that the asset value

has declined rom the previous year, then no distribution can be made. Te treasurer is

directed to report on the condition o the Fund at each year’s February Board meeting and

to make available the specifed amount.”

In the last scal year we did not have an increase in the Endowment Fund. Tereore

we cannot take any unds rom that account in accordance with the bylaws.

We are acing some large expenses with the VAAS Center. We have an air condi-

tioning unit that is leaking Freon and must be replaced. Our best estimate received

to date is over $6000.00. Tat expense will deplete the $10,704.11 currently in ou

savings account. Checking account balances will not cover our operating expenses

or the coming year. Please remember VAAS in your git-giving. We have cut back

on our programs, but want to continue to be a powerul orce in environmental and

avian education and conservation.

uPcoMing ProgrAMs ATVenice coMMuniTy cenTer

red Tide And youJauary 26 • 7:00 p.m.

Solutions To Avoid Red Tide (START)

is dedicated to promoting eorts or

control and mitigation o red tide in

an environmentally responsible man-

ner and is committed to education

outreach as its primary mitigation

strategy. They will present a pro-

gram eaturing Jan Landsberg, Ph.D.,

a research scientist in the division o

Fish & Wildlie Health o the Florida

Fish and Wildlie Conservation

Commission. Dr. Landsberg will dis-

cuss red tide and its impact on people,

wildlie and the environment.

nATure’s gPs: MigrATionusing The eArTh, sunAnd sTArs

Fbruary 23 • 7:00 p.m.Je Rodgers, Director o the Bishop

Planetarium, admits that he doesn’t

know as much as he could about

migration routes. But he does know

something about Earth’s magnetic

eld and the seasonal patterns o

the Sun and the stars. Join Je

or a look into how these naturalphenomena may infuence when

and where species migrate.

holidAy PArTy A success!Mat s

The Center was ull o holiday cheer and

decorated or the season. Christmas

music played in the background and

VAAS members enjoyed lots o good

ood and visiting with riends. The

Silent Auction, presided over by Bill

Fairbank, was a hit with everyone

and brought in $259.00 or VAAS.

Special thanks or making this event

a success goes to Missy and Bob

Christie, Brenda Bossman, Norma Lee

Rhines, Joan Shimerda, Cynthia and

Bob Vance and, o course, auctioneer

Bill Fairbank.

• Jan.10,EmersonPointParkSee

upland and shore birds along the

Manatee river

• Jan.15,RobinsonPreserve

Conestoga wagon ride with guide

through preserve (Waiting list only)

• Jan.24,SleepingTurtlesBirding ata Sarasota county preserve along the

Myakka river

• Jan.29-30,STA-5 Florida’s best

hot spot or ducks and waterowl

(rip ull)

• Feb.3,DingDarling See shore

birds and wading birds along

the amous Wildlie drive on

Sanibel Island

• Feb.13,HarnsMarsh See rare snail

kites and shore birds as we drive the

dikes o the marsh

• Feb.24,ShellCreek Look or

barred owl and swallow tail kites atthis Charlotte county preserve

See the Calendar o Events on page

one o Wings or the date and time or

these eld trips. Additional details are

given in the 2009-2010 VAAS rip &

Program Guide on the Venice Audubon

website at www.veniceaudubon.org.

uPcoMing TriPs - b aa



Jan/Feb 10 | Wings&Things 3

President’s Message continued from page 1

• PaulineAdamsandBobBlasczak-

Another great pair who have proven

invaluable in their quest or green

initiatives. We will get there!

•NormaLeeRhines- Always willing

to help out in a pinch and on short

notice. Great support.• GinnyKossandGailPigeon- Ou

VAAS greeters!

• CharlieSample-So many hats worn

by this man: Audubon Center manager

newsletter editor, Rookery developer

trip leader, and on and on. Not sure

where VAAS would be without him.

•Ellen King - Her commitment to

saving the Florida scrub-jay.

• Claire Norton -Te buttery gar-

den volunteers who make our world

a brighter place.

• Alena Capek, Lori Stover and the

many volunteers that make sure uture

generations are aware o birds and the

environment.

• Carolyn Edmunds - Newslette

designer and so much more. Another

member that provides behind the

scenes support and guidance.

• And not to be orgotten, the man who

quietly supports VAAS endeavors rom

the sidelines;myhusbandBob.

I apologies up ront or any names le

o this list. Tere are so many people that

contribute to this organization: Tank

you. Your support is appreciated.

Cheers and best wishes or a healthy

and happy 2010!

dues deAdline - b aa We request that all VAAS members who have not yet paid their chapter dues do

so as soon as possible. Chapter dues were due on September 1. Te deadline or

payment o this season’s dues is February12.

We have been sending Wings & Tings to many members who have not yet paid

their dues with the expectation that they would. However this cannot continue.

Venice Audubon needs your dues so that it can pay its bills. Ater the deadline any

member who has not paid their dues will be dropped rom the chapter memberroster and dropped rom the distribution list or Wings & Tings.

o receive Wings & Tings and other communications rom the chapter each

member must either have an up-to-date Venice Area Audubon Society membership

or a National Audubon Society membership. I you have any questions about the

status o your membership please call Bill Fairbank at 941-412-1610 or email him

at [email protected].

nw Mm Wm!Please welcome the ollowing new members who joined VAAS in November and

December: John and Janice Armstrong, Joe and Nancy Czarnecki, Jake Harper,

Stanley and Marilyn Johnson, Karen Joss, Lynne Pedlar, Fred and Edith Staton.

gat baab ct (gbbc)

Te annual GBBC will be held

between February 12-15, 2010. It is

easy or all to participate in this bird

count sponsored by Cornell Lab o

Ornithology and the National Audubon

Society. Here’s how it works: 1) Visit

www.birdcount.org or instructions and

a checklist o birds in your area. 2) Count

the birds you see, wherever you choose

to count. 3) Ater at least 15 minutes

o watching in one place, report your

results online at www.birdcount.org.

4) You can repeat your count each day o

the GBBC, or you can visit other loca-

tions. Submit a new checklist or each

day that you count. Your participation

enables scientists to track populations o

birds during the count dates.

2010 cAlendAr o eVenTs

JAnuAry

9 Carlt Rsrv Brd Walk, 7:30 a.m.

9 Audubon Regional Conservation,

Audub Ctr, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

13 Shamrck Brd Walk, 7:30 a.m.

19 Csrvat Cmmtt, 3:00 p.m.

19 Bard Mtg, 5:00 p.m.

20 Center/Rookery Volunteer

Training, 10 a.m.21 Caspersen Beach/Service Club

Park Brd Walk, 7:30 a.m.

nOTE ChAngE: Capere BW 1/20 to 1/21

26 Gral Mtg, 6:30 p.m.,

Venice Community Center

28 Center/Rookery Volunteer

Trag, 10:00 a.m.

ebruAry

3 Shamrck Brd Walk, 7:30 a.m.

7 Carlt Brd Walk, 7:30 a.m.

12-15 Great Backyard Bird Count



20 Slpg Turtls Prsrv, 7:30 a.m.

23 Gral Mtg, 6:30 p.m.,

Venice Community Center

MArch

10 Dr Prar Crk BW, 7:30 a.m.



sAVe The dATesATurdAy, MArch 6

AirboATs & AlligATors

And corkscreW sWAMP

sAncTuAry TriP

cAll 941-497-6463 or sign uP AT

JAn/eb generAl MeeTing



4 Wings&Things | Jan/Feb 10

2009 chrisTMAs birdcounT resulTsrtt o, cmp 2009

We had 132 species total. The

species count was in line with our

“average” or the last 10 years. The

total (20,600) number o birds were up

rom last year but still the 2nd lowestin the last 10 years. The increase over

last year o 18,000 can be attributed

to more Tree Swallows which remain

our most seen bird. Drought is

undoubtedly a big contributor leading

to our count results.

Sm gd brds wr rprtd:

Clapper Rail, Northern Bobwhite,

Gray and Eastern Kingbirds and many

thrs. Mssg spcs clud:

Ring-necked Duck, Wild Turkey, Red-

headed Woodpecker, Reddish Egretand Red Knot.

May thaks t th 75 VAAS

participants. The ull report o birds

can be viewed on our web site.

cAll or VolunTeers - ca samp VAAS is gearing up or the 2010 season. We need your assistance in order to make

our mission eective. We need volunteers at the Audubon Center to assist visitors and

volunteers at the Rookery to answer visitors’ questions, provide binoculars and have

a scope available. School volunteers are needed to assist our teacher in the education

programs. Various committees such as Center Maintenance, Rookery, Conservation,

Membership and Finance are also in need o volunteer assistance. I you can spare

a couple o hours a week or a month, please contact Charlie Sample, VolunteerCoordinator at 941-497-6463 or [email protected]. I we work together, we

can make Venice Area Audubon Society a uture “Audubon Chapter o the Year.”

Won’t you help?

Volunteer training for Center and Rookery volunteers is being held on

Wednesday,January20andursday,January28at10:00a.m. You only need to

attend one session to learn the volunteer responsibilities at the Center and Rookery.

VAAs cenTer buTTerly gArden VolunTeers neededI you enjoy gardening, nurturing plants, love butteries, and have a couple hours

a month to spare, pleasejoinourbutterygardenwork-partyontherstTuesday

ofeverymonthat10:00a.m.attheVeniceAudubonCenter. Tis is also an educa-

tional opportunity to learn about Florida riendly plants, especially those that attract

butteries as larval host or nectar sources.

For more inormation, call Claire Norton at 941-493-7835 or email her at

[email protected].

A Fund Raiser or

Venice Area Audubon Society

Mardi Gras Night

$35 “Lie” Player (Includes $5 Play Money)

$75 Poker table Player

($25 Re-Buy – Texas Hold’em and Black Jack)

Game able sponsorships available for $250

Includes one drink and hors d’oeuvres!

Black Jack Craps Rafes Texas Hold‘em

Slot Machines Roulette Wheel Cash Bar

Saurday March 20 7–10 p.m.

Venice Audubon Center 4002 S. Tamiami Trail

(at Annex Road, behind Anderson Admin. Building)

For more inormationor to reserve your seat

at a poker table,call Brenda Bossman

at 941-474-8528or 941-270-2961



Jan/Feb 10 | Wings&Things 5

conserVATion coMMiTTee rePorT - b VaTe Conservation Committee has been very active this year! In the all the

Committee determined there were our primary priorities we wanted to work on

and other things will be considered as they come up.

Te rst priority is caring or our well-known Rookery and in particular creat-

ing a second rookery across the road. Charlie Sample arranged to have the County

dredge around the island so now the water surrounding the island is deep enough to

discourage predators rom interering with nesting.Te second priority is monitoring beach nesting shorebirds. Most o this work

is complete and the nesting season is over. Te shorebirds are greatly stressed by

both human activities and changes on the beach. Missy Christie oversees this

arena, with monitoring work conducted by hersel, and members Marty Shirley,

Brenda Bossman, om and Gayle Duch, Bob Christie, and Kevin Edwards. Should

you wish to help in monitoring beach nesting birds you should contact Missy at

941-321-7886 or [email protected].

Te third priority is the beautiul Florida scrub-jay. Tis ascinating bird, a specie

unique to Florida, is under considerable pressure rom habitat loss. VAAS members

are attempting to assist with planning that could enable the species to maintainitsel. Bob MacMonigle, Ellen King and Steve Freedman are actively involved in

regular monitoring, reporting, and coordinating with County Sta in habitat man-

agement eorts.” Ellen King oversees this project and you may contact her to help at

941-488-6818 or [email protected].

Te nal priority is working to address issues stemming rom Global Climate

Change. o this end, two major eorts are underway. Te rst is to enroll as many

members as possible or Audubon o Florida’s Climate Action Network (CAN). Once

you are registered, AOF will periodically send you an email notice when there is a

timely issue to which you may wish to respond. I you choose, you may create your

own letter or AOF provides a ormat that you can quickly send to the appropriate leg-

islative ofce. Over 40 persons have newly registered in the last couple months.

VAAS will be hosting a workshop on climate change sponsored by Audubon o

Florida. On January 9 at the Audubon Center, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Te work-

shop will highlight ways to become more energy efcient.

Another important initiative we are investigating is ways to make the Audubon

Center a model green and sustainable (energy efcient) building. o this end

a detailed 12-page energy audit was done by an engineer, donating his time. In

November, our o our members (Pauline Adam, Bernis Williams, Alena Capek and

Cynthia Vance) attended Sarasota’s Sustainability Conerence and received some

helpul inormation and made some important contacts. In January, our President

and some committee members will be meeting with each County commissioner to

discuss how this model green building might be created.

Finally we are encouraging people to call our state Senator Nancy Detert at her

local ofce (941-480-3547) to urge her to support banning oshore oil drilling. Asthe legislative session gears up in January to discuss this issue, your phone

calls will be most helpul.

Te next Conservation Committee meeting is January 19 at 3:00 p.m. (3rd

uesday o the month.) All are welcome to join us.

2009 beAch nesTing birdsM l. ct

On March 31, the nesting season

began with the rst nest produced by

a snowy plover. All total, nine snowy

plover edge were documented.

Least terns did not air as well this

year. Unortunately, only ve edged

rom Palm Island with no activity on

Stump Pass.

Wilson’s plovers did not disappoint usthis year. 15 edglings were documented

and kept monitors and stewards busy

keeping track o their development.

Te greatest event o the season was

the successul edging o two black

skimmers—a rst or this project. A

solitary pair o skimmers produced two

young. Development o the young was

slim and ears o doom ran high. Tis

amily became icons or the StewardProgram as well as a antastic out-

reach tool. Te community became a

pseudo-colony. Shorebird and sea turtle

monitors and stewards, resort sta, vaca-

tioners, and homeowners rallied around

the pair. Many volunteers banded

together to educate beach-goers on the

impacts caused by human disturbance,

dogs on the beach, and how to maintain

a sae buer. Te eorts paid o and theyoung took ight! We are hoping this is

the start o something big.

Shorebird Stewards are needed. Please

contact [email protected]

i you would like to join a great team

o dedicated volunteers promoting the

success o shorebird nesting. Tese birds

need all the help they can get.



our Mission: T pmt tt w a t t a vat wt mpa a t atat

V A ct(haqat) a r

4002 S. Tamiami Trail(at Anne Road, behind the R. L.Anderson Administration Building)Venice, FLPh: 941-496-8984

Malg addrss:

Venice Area Audubon SocietyP. O. Bo 1381Venice, FL 34284-1381

Wings&Things is published by theVenice Area Audubon Society (VAAS).As a member o VAAS you receive veeditions o Wings & Things per year,inormation on our eld trips, chaptermeetings and programs. Individualmemberships are $20 per year andamily memberships are $30 per year.A lietime amily membership is $1500.All membership dues go to theVenice Area chapter o the NationalAudubon Society.

rtba dt

Pt Missy L. Christie941-321-7886 [email protected]

1t V PtMarty Shirley941-496-4494 or [email protected] Chair

2 V PtKen Reamy

941-493-1042 r 941-408-6278 [email protected] Chair

r sta Don [email protected]

cp sta Kathy Upton941-408-9357 [email protected]

Ta Brenda Bossman

941-270-2961 [email protected] and Means andEducation Chair

dtBill [email protected] Trips and Membership Chair

dt Carol [email protected] Chair

dt Julie Morris941-234-7201 [email protected]

dtVacant

hptat cat Virginia Koss

941-493-8812nwtt cat Charles Sample, EditorCarolyn Edmunds, Designer941-497-6463

Vt cat Arlene Kelpsh941-486-9022

yt eat cat Alena Copek941-429-8725

Venice Area Audubon SocietyP. O. Bo 1381Venice, FL 34284-1381

A u d u b o n S o c i

e t y

V e n

i ce Ar e A NON-PROFIT ORG.

P. O. BOx 1381

U. S. POSTAGE

PAidVENICE, FL 34284-1381

MAnASoTA, FL PeRMiT no. 917

January-February 2010 Wings and Things Newsletter Venice Area Audubon Society

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Transcript of January-February 2010 Wings and Things Newsletter Venice Area Audubon Society