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The Limpkin Times
Apalachee Audubon Society Mission Statement:
Protecting the rich biodiversity of the Florida panhandle through education, appreciation, and conservation.
January 2022
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Female Vermilion Flycatcher in a residential Tallahassee yard. Maybe this western bird made the proverbial wrong turn at Albuquerque! Photo by Harry Hooper
Happy New Year! First, I need to announce that we’ve canceled our January 20 program. Due to unexpected events, Natasza Fontaine is unable to give her presentation, "Acoustic Escapades from the Field." We plan to resume our in-person program schedule in February (see program schedule below) and hope to livestream the programs as well. We are also resuming our Wildlife-friendly Yard Tour this year. Tickets go on sale on January 29 at Native Nurseries and Wild Birds Unlimited.
I do want to alert you to the Climate Up Close event that is taking place Saturday, January 8, 11:00 AM at Temple Israel. They and the Tallahassee Scientific Society are sponsoring a group of scientists who will be participating in a panel discussion and answering questions from the audience. See the article below for more information and registration information.
What was your first bird of the year? Mine was a Great Horned Owl. January 1 is the official Christmas Bird Count day for Tallahassee, an activity I’ve been participating in for the past four years. Before dawn, groups of us were scattered across town listening for owls before we started our daylight observations. My group of three started in the parking lot of Lafayette Heritage Trail Park. In the darkness, we heard nothing and wondered if the 71° temperature (30° higher than usual) was keeping them quiet. Typically, we hear at least Barred Owls. As the sky lightened, we strolled out one of the fishing fingers on Piney Z Lake to start our count, and that’s when I heard the soft "hoo-hoo, hoo" of a Great Horned Owl. It continued to vocalize as the daytime birds began their morning chorus.
It was an unusual day, the unseasonably warm weather likely affecting bird behavior. We didn’t see as many birds as we've seen in previous years in the lakes at the park or the various ponds in our survey sector, but we identified 61 species, three more than last year’s count! That included a group of 24 White Pelicans in Upper Lake Lafayette AND we had two rare species for our area! The first was a Roseate Spoonbill that was roosting in a cypress tree out in Piney Z Lake. While they can be seen near the coast, it is unusual to see them in town.
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The fuzzy pink blotch in this image is a Roseate Spoonbill roosting in a cypress tree at Piney Z Lake. Phone-scoped (smart phone + spotting scope) over a half-mile away by Kathleen Carr
The second rarity was a female Vermilion Flycatcher in residential Tallahassee! Normally, this species is seen in the western United States and Mexico, but occasionally they find their way to our area. We’ve seen an occasional Vermilion Flycatcher at St. Marks NWR. Famously, a male spent a number of winters at the refuge in recent years. This year, a female Vermillion Flycatcher has been overwintering at the refuge. Then we happened across this one hanging out on the backyard fence of a house, flying down to the lawn to hunt insects and back to her fence post. We were so surprised! (NOTE: Since the other bird was documented as being at the refuge when we made this sighting, we know it’s another individual.) Out of respect for the homeowner’s privacy, this bird’s location will not be disclosed, but you can still visit SMNWR to see one!
It just goes to show—sometimes, home is where the birds are! You just never know what might show up in your yard during migrations or in the winter. Best wishes for a healthy 2022 with wonderful birding experiences for you and yours.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Carr
President, Apalachee Audubon
In this Issue:
Chapter Programs
Upcoming Chapter Field Trips
February 19, Wildlife-friendly Yard Tour
A Bluebird Trail Collaboration Planned by our AAS Intern
January 8, Climate Up Close
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January: CANCELED
Our apologies, but due to unanticipated events, our January 20 program speaker had to cancel. In person programs will resume February in the auditorium of the King Life Sciences building. We expect to livestream the programs as well either via Zoom or YouTube. We will have more information about that in the next Limpkin Times.
Upcoming Programs
Thursday, February 17, 2022, 7:00 pm: Conservation Lands in Florida and Benefits to Birds: A Panel Discussion
Thursday, March 17, 2022, 7:00 pm: Conservation Ecology of Short-tailed Hawks, Swallow-tailed Kites, and Snail Kites with Gina Kent
Thursday, April 21, 2022, 7:00 pm: Declining Insect Populations and the Effect on Birds with Dr. Bob Cooper
Sunday, May 15, 4:00 pm: Potluck Picnic at Tall Timbers: Firebirds and the History of the Stoddard Bird Program with Jim Cox
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Upcoming Chapter Field Trips |
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NOTE: There will be no birding social during the month of January due to ongoing Christmas Bird Counts. We are limiting our field trips to 15 participants. Please email levy.heather789@gmail.com to reserve your spot. If you have reserved a spot but are unable to attend, please us know as soon as possible so we can give the spot to someone else.
Ducks and More at St. Marks NWR with Dana Bryan
Sunday, January 9, 2022 | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
SORRY, THIS FIELD TRIP IS FILLED.
We will slowly caravan in our own vehicles down the Lighthouse Road, stopping at open water vistas to see what ducks we can find. The refuge bird diversity is about at its peak now, so we will also look for any rarities that have been reported, or maybe find one or two of our own.
We will gather at the refuge visitor's center and push off at 8:00 AM, returning at about noon. Because you will be in your own vehicle, you can drop out at any time.
What to Bring: Check the forecast and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars, field guides, spotting scopes, snacks and drink, and maybe even lunch to bring back to your favorite picnic table. If you need loaner binoculars, please let us know as soon as possible.
The spaces are limited to 15. Please reserve your spot by emailing levy.heather789@gmail.com. If you have reserved a spot and are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can give the spot to someone else.
Birding by Ear at Ochlocknee River State Park (tentative)
Sunday, January 23, 2022 | 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
*Please note we may have to cancel this field trip if we are unable to find a trip leader*
We will meet at the main parking lot and walk the ~3 mile loop through the pinewoods and by the river. The loop is mostly flat and considered an easy hike. We will focus on identifying wintering birds via their vocalizations.
We will meet in the main parking lot at 8:30 and bird until about 11:00.
What to Bring: Check the forecast and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars, field guides, spotting scopes, snacks and drink, and a camera if you'd like. If you need loaner binoculars, please let us know as soon as possible.
The spaces are limited to 15. Please reserve your spot by emailing levy.heather789@gmail.com. If you have reserved a spot and are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can give the spot to someone else.
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Wildlife Friendly Yard Tour
February 19, 2022 — 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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Wintering American Goldfinches in a Tallahassee yard. Photo by Tammy Brown
Make plans now to join us for our 13th Annual Wildlife-Friendly Yards Tour and fundraiser to benefit Apalachee Audubon. We invite you to take a self-guided tour of five local yards that are wildlife havens. Tickets are still only $10 and go on sale January 29 at Native Nurseries and Wild Birds Unlimited.
Each yard has unique features to attract a variety of birds and other wildlife such as wintering hummingbirds, orioles, tanagers, finches, and pine siskins, as well as our year-round residents. This year, we have our usual wide variety of sizes and features from our yard hosts, plus some new ideas for inspiration for your own wildlife-friendly yard.
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A Bluebird Trail Collaboration Planned by our AAS Intern |
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Cierra Nelson, AAS intern from Florida A & M University, has worked with conservation educator Patty Brown and camp director Meghann Dawkins to design and implement a bluebird trail at the Joe Budd Youth Conservation Center (YCC) in Midway. She arranged for members of the FAMU Outdoor Club to build eight nest boxes in November.
Native Nurseries donated the materials for the nest boxes including the labor to cut the wood for the nest box building workshop. Staff members taught the FAMU students how to build the cedar nest boxes step by step. Joe Budd YCC is providing the poles and predator guards as well as labor to help install the houses, along with Cierra and the Outdoor Club students in January.
The staff at Joe Budd will utilize the trail to teach school children and families about bluebirds and other cavity nesting birds. Fifty third graders from Pineview Elementary, where AAS has an after-school bird club, will be visiting the center in March. Cierra plans to create a PowerPoint presentation about the project to present to our membership at our April meeting.
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Climate Up Close
Saturday, January 8, 2022 11:00 AM
Sponsored by the Tallahassee Scientific Society and Temple Israel of Tallahassee
Location: Temple Israel
2215 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(850)-877-3517
Join the Tallahassee environmental and science community on Saturday, January 8 at 11:00 AM for a panel discussion with "Climate Up Close," a group of climate scientists from all over the USA. This event is free, but registration is required.
Click here to register for this free event. Masks and COVID-19 Vaccination are required for attendance. This event will be capped at 100 attendees. The sponsors are following COVID-19 data and will increase this number if possible. Depending on new information, this cap may also decrease.
At this panel discussion, you can learn from climate scientist professionals and get answers to questions like:
- Where is the boundary of climate knowledge?
- How has climate change impacted extreme weather?
- What does the future hold?
Climate Up Close is a group of climate scientists who believe Americans should reach their own judgments about climate science by seeing the evidence for themselves and putting their questions directly to climate scientists. Our presenters include scientists from NOAA, UC Berkeley, NYU, and Harvard University.
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