Happy Owloween!
If you hear a spooky call at night, fear not. It may be the trill or whinny of an Eastern Screech-Owl. This robin-sized raptor is a common nocturnal neighbor. It likes to hide in tree nooks, but will also nest in backyard tree boxes, so consider putting one up if an avian nocturne holds appeal.
Click
HERE
to listen to the whinny and trill of an Eastern Screech-Owl.
Click
HERE
to learn how to build a nest box for an Eastern Screech-Owl.
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Join us on our Greynolds Park Bird Walk for a chance to see an Eastern Screech-Owl.
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#TASBirding
Greynolds Park Bird Walk
Saturday, October 6, 7:30-11am
Brian Rapoza will lead birders through Greynolds Park, 17530 West Dixie Highway in North Miami Beach. Meet at 7:30am in the parking area just past the tollbooth at the 22nd Avenue entrance (fee). No pre-registration required.
Kendall Indian Hammock Park Bird Walk
Sunday, October 7, 7:30-11am
Stephen Paez (bilingual) will lead birders through Kendall Indian Hammock Park. Meet at 7:30am at the parking area at the east end of the ballfields. No fee. No pre-registration required.
Corkscrew Swamp / Ft. Myers Beach Birding
Saturday, October 13, 7am-6pm
Brian Rapoza will lead an all-day carpool trip to Collier and Lee counties. Meet at 7am at the Government Road/Snake Road service station (Exit 49 on I-75) in Broward County. There is an admission fee for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (discount for Audubon members) and a fee for beach parking. Bring lunch and beach footwear.
Walkie-talkies are recommended. No pre-registration required.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Bird Walk
Sunday, October 14, 7:30-11am
Robin Diaz will lead birders through Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne. Participants are asked to meet promptly by 7:15am at the exit gate of the park and carpooling is encouraged. The gate will close at 7:20am. Assemble at No Name Harbor (proceed into the park, take your first right and drive west to the parking area), where park fees will be collected. The walk will begin at 7:30am, returning at approximately 11am. If you miss the early entrance, join us after the park opens at 8am. Costs include an entrance fee to the park and the Rickenbacker Causeway toll. No pre-registration required.
Shark Valley/Big Cypress Birding
Saturday, October 20, 8am-3pm
Paul Bithorn will lead this carpool trip. Meet at 7:30am at the S-334 Water Control Structure on the north side of Tamiami Trail, 1.3 miles west of Krome Avenue. There is an entrance fee to Shark Valley. Bring lunch. No pre-registration required.
A.D. Barnes Park Bird Walk
Sunday, October 21, 7:30-11am
Bill Boeringer will lead birders through A.D. Barnes Park. Enter on SW 72nd Ave. just north of Bird Road. (SW 40th St.), turn left at the T intersection and park in spaces on either side of the road. Meet at 7:30am. No fee. No pre-registration required.
Bird & Wildlife Weekend at Fairchild
October 27 & 28, 7:30am
Explore Fairchild and the wildlife that calls the garden home! Take a bird walk, sit in on informative lectures about birds, bees, butterflies, aquatic life and even the lizards that inhabit the Garden! TAS
Field Trip Coordinator
Brian Rapoza will lead a bird walk through the gardens at 7:30am each day. Meet at the Visitor Center.
Click here
for details.
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Save the Date
Colombia: Birding the Central Andes
February 8-16, 2019
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TAS Field Trip Coordinator Brian Rapoza (together with a local guide) will lead this 9-day tour to Colombia, a birder’s paradise with 1,900+ avian species – more than any other country in the world. The tour is being arranged through Holbrook Travel, and will focus on the Central Andes region, famed for its high level of species diversity, and will include the Rio Claro Natural Reserve, Nevado del Ruiz, Rio Blanco Reserve and Otún Quimbaya Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. High-elevation mountains, humid tropical forest, páramo, wetlands and highland savanna habitats will be explored in search of an array of tropical avifauna, including flycatchers, hummingbirds, tanagers, toucans and more. Participants will meet members of the local community along the way and learn about conservation efforts tied to Birding as a sustainable development resource.
Fee: $3,295 per person double occupancy; $450 single supplement. Fee includes all ground transportation, lodging, meals, entrance fees, excursions and the services of your skilled leaders. Not included are international airfare from your city of departure to Medellin, return international airfare from Bogota, tips, laundry costs and other incidental expenses.
Limited spaces remain available. Reservations are required; application and fee are due by November 4, 2018.
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Doc Thomas House Guided History Tours @ TAS
Y'all Come!
Saturday, October 6, 1 & 3pm
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Photo: Arden Hayes "Doc" Thomas and his mother, Margaret, perched on the house's then-unscreened front porch.
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Visit the historic Doc Thomas House for a captivating, 45-minute guided tour led by a Tropical Audubon Society docent. Learn about the Birds' benefactor Arden Hayes “Doc” Thomas and Robert Fitch Smith, the architect Thomas commissioned to design the house. Tour the distinctive, wood-and-limestone structure with its many ornamental and built-in features. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, named a Florida Heritage Site and designated a Dade County landmark, the charming 1932 cottage is an architectural gem. Gain insights into local South Miami and Audubon history, too. Tours include a stroll through our Steinberg Nature Center grounds, weather-permitting.
Save the dates: First Saturdays of the month, October 2018 - June 2019.
Times: 1pm & 3pm Tours / House and Grounds Open 12:30-4pm
Admission FREE: Donations Welcomed
REMEMBER: Follow us on
Twitter
, to tag us on Historic Facts and on
Instagram
, to share your photos in a post or story!
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First Edition Audubon Royal Octavo Print Exhibit & Sale
Preview by Appointment: Thursday, October 11, 6-8pm
Opening Reception: Friday, October 12, 6-8pm
(Hangs through December)
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TAS members, invited guests, collectors and art lovers will have the opportunity to view a rare and comprehensive collection of framed and unframed John James Audubon Royal Octavo Prints being offered for purchase.
The opening night exhibit and sale will take place in our historic Doc Thomas House headquarters just east of downtown South Miami. Enjoy libations from the donation Bird Bar. Thirty percent of the proceeds from the sale of all art will benefit TAS. Based on availability, the exhibit will hang (with the opportunity for purchase by appointment) through December. Buyers/collectors only may make a private appointment for the pre-sale preview on Thursday, October 11.
RSVP to events@tropicalaudubon.org
Tropical Audubon Society: 5530 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143
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Year of the Bird
Monthly Action:
Participate October 6 in October Big Day
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Expanding on the success of its annual Global Big Day in May, The Cornell Lab is launching the first October Big Day. Join birders from around the globe on October 6, in this 24-hour quest to collectively record as many bird species as possible across the world and support conservation worldwide.
You won’t need to commit to the full 24 hours, though. Just an hour or even ten minutes will do. While traditional birding “big days” focus on teams of birders, anyone can participate in the inaugural October Big Day. Visit your favorite spot or search for a new location. Go solo or bring friends or family. Then simply look for birds, record your sightings at eBird.org and help sent a benchmark for future events.
How to participate: Get an eBird account. The program eBird is a worldwide bird checklist used by hundreds of thousands of birders. Enter birds that you see and hear on October 6. October Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone.
Watch the sightings roll in: During the day, keep an eye on how the lists are growing in different parts of the world. Stats will be updated in real-time on the
October Big Day page
.
What is Year of the Bird? Year of the Bird is about celebrating the wonder of our feathered friends, examining how our changing environment is driving dramatic losses among bird species and learning what we can all do to reverse this trend. Audubon, National Geographic, Cornell, BirdLife International and, most important, bird lovers everywhere are taking a year of action for birds! Timed to honor the 2018 Centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, our country's most important bird-protection law, the Year of the Bird platform encourages us all to remain vigilant about protecting birds in our own backyard.
Sign the pledge to build a better world for birds and Audubon will send you one simple action you can take each month to make a difference for birds and for the planet.
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Become
an Audubon Ambassador @TAS!
October 20 & 27, 10am-Noon
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Be inspired by South Florida's leading Environmentalists! The Audubon Ambassador Program is designed to make you a more engaged, educated and effective advocate conservationist.
Learn from leaders in their fields and become a strong advocate for the water we drink, the air we breathe and the habitat that nurtures, shelters and sustains our region’s birds and other wildlife. You’ll come away knowing more about South Florida ecosystems, environmental challenges, sea level rise and hurricane resilience issues— and, most important, practice making a difference.
Ted Talk-length primers on issues will be followed by advocacy exercises — and field trips!
Earn your wings — The Audubon Ambassador Program is open anyone 18 years and older who is curious to learn more about the environment.
Audubon 101 & Intro to South Florida Ecosystems
Smart Growth: Was draining the swamp a good idea? + Field Trip to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Save these upcoming Program Dates:
Resilience and Justice in South Florida & Bipartisan Climate Action
Intro to Biscayne Bay Ecology + Field Trip on Biscayne Bay
COST: $50 for all classes, will earn your wings
Or attend individual workshops ($12 per day).
The Audubon Ambassador Program was hatched by Tropical Audubon Society, and underwritten by Audubon Florida, Everglades Foundation and National Audubon Society.
Ride: Bike to TAS or take the Metro-rail. TAS is just a 10-minute walk east from the South Miami Metro Station.
Park: Limited on-site parking via our 55th Avenue auto gate. Nearby metered, valet and garage options.
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Audubon Photography Exhibit @ TAS
Hangs Through October 10
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National Audubon's traveling road show of 2018's “Best Bird Photography" has alighted at TAS with the stunning images gracing the historic Doc Thomas House red cypress walls. The winning bird photos are the standouts among the 8,000+ images submitted to the annual Audubon Photography Awards contest.
To select the finalists, judges sifted through the thousands of captivating entries, ranking the images based on technical quality, originality and artistic merit. The winners were published in the Summer 2018 issue of Audubon magazine, and the physical exhibit is now on a national tour of Audubon chapters and centers.
The traveling exhibit’s stopover at TAS, courtesy of Audubon Florida and co-hosted by Leica Store Miami features 12 photographic prints that represent a range of species and geographic locations. Seven of the images are the 2018 award-winning and honorable mentions and five have been selected from the 2018 gallery of top 100 photos.
Tropical Audubon Society: 5530 Sunset Dr., Miami, FL, 33143
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Florida Keys Hawkwatch
Through October 31
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The Florida Keys Hawkwatch is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and conservation of birds by committing to the long-term study of their migration through the Florida Keys. The project currently monitors the migration of all avian species, with a focus on diurnal birds of prey from Curry Hammock State Park (56.2, Overseas Highway), and the morning flights of migratory land birds from Long Key State Park (67.5 of the Overseas Highway).
Contact taspublisher@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.
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Get Outside with TAS & Hridayam
Wellness Classes & Workshops inspired by Nature
Fall Schedule
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Hridayam Yoga, a wellness company specializing in self-care and natural wellness therapies, has partnered with TAS to design and stage a series of cooking classes, outdoor yoga, full-moon nights, bird walks and pop-up apothecaries at our little urban oasis. Join us on our near-native campus for natural wellness, stress management and the latest conservation news. Check out the Fall schedule, starting with Outdoor Yoga Nidra. We believe you will love it as much as we have enjoyed creating this symbiotic programming.
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Relax with Yoga Nidra under our Chickee
Thursdays, October 4 - December 31, 7:30-8:30pm
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Join Hridayam Yoga instructor Carol Jamault for outdoor Yoga Nidra, a guided practice that leads to a state of deep relaxation and increased awareness. Yoga Nidra is a great tool to manage stress, improve sleep quality and regenerate the nervous system. Classes include gentle asanas, pranayama and exercises for the joints.
Prices: $20 per class or $180 for a 10-class pass.
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Cooking for Health @ TAS
Thursdays, October 4 - December 20, 10am-12pm
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Learn the principles of Ayurveda and how to apply them to make delicious, healing meals. Explore simple techniques that will help you shift to a healthier diet for improved energy, prevention of chronic diseases, faster healing of minor ailments such as colds and flu, and rejuvenation. Price: $180 for the Fall Session (3 classes).
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Hyridayam Pop-up Apothecary @ TAS
Sunday, October 7, 10am-2pm
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Join Hyridayam at TAS every first Sunday of the month from 10am to 2pm for a pop-up apothecary. Discover the best quality spices, herbs, oils, incenses, skin-care products, rejuvenating jams and more. An event for the whole family, the pop-up sessions offer an opportunity to learn about the healing powers of food, the importance of plant-based organic diets and alternatives to reduce harmful chemicals in your food, cosmetics and home.
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Florida Trail Association Meeting @ TAS
Tuesday, October 9, 6:30-9pm
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Join the FTA for an evening with FTA Trail Maintenance Coordinator Ralph Duarte, who will speak about an upcoming FTA trip to Big Cypress National Preserve.
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Eco Restoration Day @ TAS's Porter Russell Pine Rockland
Saturday, October 13, 8:30-11:30am
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Help TAS steward our Porter Russell Pine Rockland, an 8-acre property in South Miami-Dade County, and one of the few remaining tracts of globally imperiled Pine Rockland habitat remaining outside of Everglades National Park.
We will provide water. Please bring sunscreen and your refillable water bottle; wear closed-toe shoes.
Eco-restoration days take place on the second Saturday of every month. Groups welcome!
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Rise Up Florida Environmental Committee Meeting @ TAS
Thursday, October 18, 6:30pm
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Rise Up Florida! is a grassroots group of engaged citizens whose goals are to mobilize people, activate them to protect our community from unfair and unjust policies, and work toward electing representatives who reflect the core values of equal rights and opportunity for all.
Pot-luck — bring something delicious! Please be mindful and refrain from using disposable items to make, carry or serve your dish. No plastic bags, single-use plastic or styrofoam, please.
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Audubon Florida Assembly
(West Palm Beach)
Rising Tides – Building Common Ground for Climate Change Solutions
October 19-20
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Reddish Egret. Photo: Bob Howdeshell / Great Backyard Bird Count
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Join Audubon chapters from across the state for expert-led birding field trips, engaging sessions, conservation celebrations and more for the annual Audubon Assembly in West Palm Beach.
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Eco-Restoration Day @ TAS's Steinberg Nature Center
Saturday, October 20, 8:30-11:30am
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Photo Credit Tom E. Smith
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Learn about indigenous plants and help TAS maintain the near-native landscape at our Steinberg Nature Center campus. We need you! Restoration Days are held on the 3rd Saturday of every month. We're flexible — show up between 8:30 and 11:30am — you will meet conservationists, birders, plant lovers and gardeners just like you lending a hand.
Please bring sunscreen and your refillable water bottle; wear closed-toe shoes. We will provide water.
Eco-restoration days take place on the third Saturday of every month. Groups welcome!
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Urban Oasis Full Moon Night
Wednesday, October 24, 6:45-8:45pm
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Experience the full moon with Hyridayam and TAS at our recently inaugurated monthly full moon events.
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Miami Pine Rocklands Coalition Meeting @ TAS
Thursday, October 25, 7-9pm
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Federally Endangered Pine Rockland Resident: Bartram's Hairstreak Butterfly
Photo Credit: Al Sunshine
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Get the latest information surrounding the Walmart/Coral Reef Commons Development plans now set in motion at the former University of Miami South Campus.
Learn about how to better protect the region’s remaining Pine Rocklands, and how you can participate.
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Eco-Art Day Camp @ TAS
Friday, October 26, 8:30am-3pm
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No school, no problem! Children ages 5-12 can enjoy nature and art adventures at TAS. The Steinberg Nature Center is teeming with plant and animal life. Participate in fun games, environmental science activities and arts & crafts in an inspiring subtropical setting. Presented by Create Miami.
This month’s camp theme is "Pumpkin Carvings and Creepy Crawlers.” Meet the lizards, snakes and spiders of the Steinberg Nature Center. Embark on a nature hunt. Design and carve a real pumpkin!
$55/day, $45/day for TAS members. Register for a minimum of four days throughout the balance of the 2018 school year and get a fifth day free!
Email info@createmiami.org after you register for the extra day of your choice. Includes all materials, pizza lunch, drinks and snacks. Bring a water bottle for water refills!
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Bird & Wildlife Weekend at Fairchild
October 27 & 28, 7:30am
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Explore Fairchild and the wildlife that calls the garden home! Take a bird walk, sit in on informative lectures about birds, bees, butterflies, aquatic life and even the lizards that inhabit the Garden! TAS
Field Trip Coordinator
Brian Rapoza will lead a bird walk through the gardens at 7:30am each day. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Save the Date:
Walk in the Woods with Wine & Whisk @ TAS
Wednesday, November 14, 7pm
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Experience this enchanting, biannual alfresco dinner party staged under the Audubon chickee. The fall edition features Old World Italian wines courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company paired with dinner by Whisk Gourmet. A Joy Wallace Catering will again help us set the convivial table! Seating is limited. Suggested minimum donation $125 per person. Net proceeds benefit capital improvements to our historic Doc Thomas House and near-native Steinberg Nature Center grounds.
Tropical Audubon Society: 5530 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143
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Go Solar!
Join a Solar Co-op Information Session Near You
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Miami-Dade residents have come together to form a neighborhood-centric Miami-Dade Solar Co-op with the help of Solar United Neighbors of Florida. The co-op makes it easier to save money on the purchase of solar panels, while building a community of local solar supporters. Attend an information session in your neighborhood to learn more about how the Southern Miami-Dade Solar Co-op is streamlining the going solar process and is earning a discount through bulk purchase power.
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T
he Birds Thank Leticia de Mello Bueno, our irrepressible, indefatigable, outside-the-box Communications Director whose creative passion for Birds, Birding and the Environment has elevated our messaging to a level much admired in her field of endeavor.
Indeed, her considerable talents has had her in National Audubon Society’s scopes, and it recently tapped her as its Communications Manager Grassroots & Chapters. So, “Little Bird,” as Leticia is fondly called by her closest colleagues, has fledged the TAS nest and migrated to New York City for the greater good of Birds, Wildlife and Habitat. From her new perch in the West Village, she now has nearly 400 chapters under her wing. Leticia’s cheerful presence will be much missed, but our board and staff could not be more proud.
Ana Lima, a communications volunteer since 2010 who has worked closely with Leticia over the past year, has seamlessly assumed the Communications role. The Birds express gratitude in spades to both women for so effectively and elegantly conveying our Conservation Mission to you, our reader. Thanks to your engagement and responsiveness to their Calls to Action, TAS is able to better protect and enhance quality of life for the wildlife
and
humans inhabiting South Florida. To welcome Ana click
here
.
On a related note, our female readers will be interested to know that both Leticia and Ana are founding members of the Phoebes (PhoebesBirding.com, @phoebesbirding), a birding club that connects women to nature. Consider joining them for #BirdLikeAGirl day at Hawkwatch, or on a bird walk coming soon! Invite friends on
Facebook
. Click
here
to learn more.
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