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The Limpkin Times
Apalachee Audubon Society Mission Statement:
Protection of the environment through education,
appreciation and conservation.
September 2017
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Many programs, field trips, training, and volunteer opportunities are coming up. We hope you will join us!
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September Program:
An Overview of the Condition of the Apalachicola River and Bay and an
Update on the Litigation and Restoration
Dan Tonsmeire, Apalachicola Riverkeeper,
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Social 7:00 PM, Program 7:30 PM
The King Life Sciences Building
319 Stadium Drive, Room 1024
Dan Tonsmeire has served as the Apalachicola Riverkeeper since 2004. He is passionately committed to saving the Apalachicola River, an American treasure, and restoring Apalachicola
Bay, one of America’s last great estuaries. “There are a lot of places in Florida that would be as pretty as Apalachicola; but they’ve all been developed and covered up. People here still make a living from the water. It’s not only a beautiful place; it’s a real place.”
Dan’s talk will touch on the health of Apalachicola Bay which depends on freshwater flow from the Apalachicola River, a resource which is connected to both Alabama and Georgia, and originates in the north Georgia mountains. The Apalachicola River and Bay Ecosystem, an extraordinary ecological system, was one of the most productive estuaries in the northern hemisphere. The Apalachicola River and floodplain was designated as the most biologically diverse river systems in North America. The ecosystem has suffered great damage because of water management practices in Georgia, in part due to the decisions of the Army Corps of Engineers, the population growth of the metropolitan Atlanta area and agricultural growth in Georgia. In 2016
American Rivers
designated the Apalachicola River as the most endangered river in the United States. Today, the seafood industry, and most noticeably oyster production, is a mere shadow of itself.
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Sunday, September 24
Apalachicola River Kayak Eco-Tour
We will explore about 8 miles of the beautiful Apalachicola River and its side channels. The trip will last approximately 3-4 hours, and will be guided by RiverTrek volunteers. We recommend bringing clothes that can get wet, along with a hat and sunglasses. Snacks will be provided.
Meet at the Bristol Boat Landing at 9:00 AM Eastern Time.
The trip cost is $45 with boats, and can be paid with cash or card the morning of the trip or
can be paid online
with a credit card ahead of time.
Space is limited to 12 participants, so register soon
. Contact Georgia Ackerman at (850) 321-6262 or at [email protected] if you'd like to join.
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Friday, September 29
Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines
Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Pilot Gas station at the intersection of US90 West and I-10. There should be some good Fall wildflowers to see and our guides, the Schmidts are always so helpful. We will be carpooling, so please indicate if you are a willing driver. We will finish early afternoon, and some may want to eat lunch on the way home.
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Saturday, October 13
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
It's that time of year again with migration in full swing and the arrival of our winter residents. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the St. Mark's Rails to Trails main parking lot on Woodville highway OR meet directly at the Visitor Center parking lot at 8 a.m. We will be carpooling, so please indicate if you are a willing driver. There is a fair amount of walking required.
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Sunday, October 22
Spring Canyon
This field trip heads to Spring Canyon, land owned and managed by Audubon members Tom and Helen Roth. Their property is in the Apalachicola River Basin and is being restored ecologically by the owners.
Meet at the entrance to the property at 9 a.m. (see directions). Or carpool from the DEP/Commonwealth Coppertop Building parking lot, leaving at 8:15 a.m. Helen Roth will go early to the property to greet people at the gate. Donna Legare will meet the carpoolers. The field trip is free, but please call Donna at (850) 386-1148 to sign up so we know how many to expect and how many plan to carpool.
For more information about Spring Canyon and its owners,
click here
.
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Saturday, October 28
Eastern Lake Jackson Landings
A few months ago we explored the western landings of this large lake. This time we will tackle the Eastern landings. Meet at 8 a.m. at Rhoden Cove Landing,located off Meridian Road. We will be carpooling, so please indicate if you are a willing driver. Also, there will be minimal walking required.
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Please email Helen Jelks King at
[email protected]
if you plan to attend or want more information.
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AAS To Begin New Youth Programs
Apalachee Audubon is partnering with an school on the south side, Pineview Elementary, to offer lessons about birds and birding to 3rd to 5th-grade students during their after school program. Members, along with volunteers from FAMU and Volunteer Leon, will teach hands-on lessons, lead field trips, and, hopefully, inspire future birders.
We are still finalizing details but please email Peter Kleinhenz at [email protected] if you are interested in working on this new initiative.
As always, we welcome volunteers to the iGrow garden on Orange Avenue on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons. Please contact Elizabeth Platt at [email protected] or Peter Kleinhenz at the email above if you are interested in helping care for our pollinator garden.
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Become An Upland Habitat Expert!
Leon County Extension and the Tallahassee Museum are offering an upland habitats course from October 6-December 8, 2017.
This 40-hour course with Lead Instructor – Rosalyn Kilcollins, includes classroom videos and presentations, field trips and completion of group projects. Topics include general ecology, habitats, plants, wildlife, and conservation issues. The program also develops naturalist interpretation skills.
The fee for the course is $230 to $275 and registration is required by October 2.
Register here
and help grow the number of habitat experts in our community.
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Wanted! Binoculars and/or field guides you're no longer using
We are beginning a big initiative to give more kids from under-served communities the chance to discover birding, and the many benefits that come with it. Help us accomplish that goal by donating any extra pairs of binoculars or field guides you no longer use to Apalachee Audubon. You'll be making a huge difference with these kids!
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We want to hear from you! Send us your reports from the field, your photos, and birding/conservation related events in the community.
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