Nov - Manatee County Audubon

The Night-Heron
November 2013
Volume R, Number 3
The monthly newsletter from
Manatee County
Audubon Society.
Committed to protecting the environment in
our community, our state, and our country
… and connecting people with birds &
the places they live.
©Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos
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From the President’s Pen...
W
ell, well, well! It's been another busy Manatee Audubon Month. A
whole lot of birding and a whole lot of petition signing. Dee Hanny
did a stellar job of both collecting signatures and representing MCAS at the Native
Plant Society's plant sale which Tom Heitzman sponsored at Sweet Bay
Nursery.
At both Sweet Bay and the Anna Maria Island Bayfest, we sported the magnificent new collage of
bird pictures taken and mounted by Billie Knight and the fabulous posters including the new mile high
banner which Lori Roberts has so creatively provided us. Katie Kole, Carmenza Stephenson and
volunteers from the Land and Water Legacy pitched in and staffed the booth at the Bayfest. The
food and the neighbors in the surrounding booths, including our friends at Turtle Watch, were great.
We'll be out at the Sarasota Bay Water Festival on Saturday, November 2nd (Ken Thompson Park,
down by Mote Marine from 10 to 5, Live Music from noon until sunset.) Check it out at http://
sarasotabaywaterfestival.com . The quest for petitions to put the allocation of Stamp Tax Funds on
the Ballot continues. We now have more than 600,000 signed petitions. It would be heart breaking to
not get enough to do the job. If you have not signed a petition yet and are registered to vote in Florida,
please sign a petition soon. In fact, come on out to the Water Festival on the 2 nd and have a blast (and
sign a petition). If you've already signed a petition, come on out and say hi! We had a table there last
year and really enjoyed the day. Again this year, we'll be sharing the booth with Sarasota Audubon.
In between the booth set ups, we managed to get out for a grand tour of Duette Park with Billie and
Jerry Knight. It was a gorgeous day, and we saw a lot of birds including the Duette Scrub Jays. Billie
and Jerry had a real nice turn out for the day.
Audubon Assembly was the 25th and 26th of October. The programs were
very thought provoking and we got a lot of good ideas for making Audubon life
interesting. I caught a snap of Mark Rachal of Audubon Florida, Karen
Fraley (Around the Bend Nature Tours) and the Comeaus enjoying the
reception. Senator Charles Dean was presented with the Theodore Roosevelt Award for Resilience, Resolve and Courage on Behalf of Florida's Environment. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart was recognized as Champion
of the Everglades. Nice to know who's fighting for our special places!
While some of us were enjoying the hospitality of the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Clubs, the Deans, the
Mayberrys and Steve Black were educating Girls Scouts, their leaders and families at Camp Honi
Hanta; (article in this newsletter.)
Since space on the wagon will be limited for the Oscar Scherer trip on Friday, Nov. 1, you will need
to sign up in advance. You can do so online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZJwW0ggEi9omMtMrTERc2coX4TmZXHu7IsG23_x29E/viewform or by calling me at (301) 466-1973.
We've got some really fun field trips coming up so check out the website.
Happy Birding!
AND, don't forget to check how your County Commissioner votes on
conservation issues and take that into account when you go to the polls.
Front Cover Photo of Bee Hummingbird in Cuba used with permission. ©Rich Wagner | WildNaturePhotos (Arizona-based).
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November Speaker — Monthly Audubon Meeting
Amazing Birds of Cuba
Date: Thursday, November 21
Location: 1st United Methodist Church of Palmetto (330 11th Ave. W. Palmetto)
Fellowship: 6:30pm.
Featured Speaker starts at 7pm.
Barry Rossheim shares insights about this previously closed ecotourism destination. With more than 350 species of birds including 22 endemics, Cuba is well
worth a visit for birders. Get ready for your “virtual” birding tour this month!
ABOUT BEE HUMMINGBIRDS (...found in Cuba)
B
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ee hummingbirds are the smallest known living birds in the world - being
comparable in size to bumble bees and are lighter than a Canadian or U.S. penny.
Males average 2.17 inches or 5.51 cm long and
weigh about 0.07 oz or 1.95 g.
The slightly larger females average 2.4 inches or 6.12 cm long and weigh about 0.09 oz or 2.6g
Average wingspan: 1.28 inches or 3.25 cm.
The straight bills are rather short beaks compared with other species of hummingbirds .
The breeding male has a glossy red-pink head, chin and throat, and an iridescent gorget
(throat patch) with elongated lateral plumes. His upper plumage is bluish, while the rest of
the under plumage is mostly greyish white. His colorful plumage can only be seen during
breeding season and is shed shortly afterward.
The non-breeding male looks like the female, but their outer tail feathers are black-tipped
(rather than white). There also have blue spots on the wingtips.
The adult female's upper plumage is bluish-green; and her plumage below is whitish / pale grey. Her outer tail feathers
are white-tipped.
They primarily feed on nectar taken from a variety of brightly colored, scented small flowers of trees, herbs, shrubs and
epiphytes -visiting up to 1,500 flowers on an average day. They favor flowers with the highest sucrose concentrations 15 to
30 percent - their favorite feeding plant being the Solandra grandiflora (Cup of Gold Vine, Chalice Vine).
These hummingbirds seek out, and aggressively protect, their favorite feeding areas. They use their long tongues to retrieve the sweet nectar while hovering with their tails cocked upward as they lick at the nectar up to 13 times per second.
At times, they are observed hanging on the flower while feeding. They spend most of the day feeding as they have to eat
half their total body mass and drink eight times their total body mass in water each day to support their high metabolism.
The males will perform various songs to attract females. A single male may mate with several females in one season. Mating can occur on a perch or while hovering in the air. He will separate from the female immediately after copulation. The
males do not participate in choosing the nest location, building the nest or raising the chicks.
The female is responsible for building the small cup-shaped nest out of plant fibers (about 1 inch or 3 cm in diameter),
woven together and green moss on the outside for camouflage in a protected location in a shrub, bush or tree. The average clutch consists of two pea-sized white eggs, which she incubates alone for 14 to 16 days, while the male defends his
territory and the flowers he feeds on. The young are born blind, immobile and without any down. The chicks are brooded
only the first 1-2 weeks, then are left alone even on cooler nights after about 12 days. They fledge when 18-38 days old.
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November Bird Walks & Field Trips
Conservation Update
Nov. 1 — Oscar Sherer - Jim Stephenson (301-466-1973)
Meet at Lowes (5750 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota, FL) straight out from entrance far enough to not block parking for customers. We will leave
Lowes at 8:30. Join us on a wagon ride of Oscar Scherer with Scrub Jays
and many other species. Get out and walk, stop and photograph or ride all
the way. Bring a lunch. The Grill at the park is not open on this day.
M
anatee Audubon and several other environmental organizations are still keeping watch
on the progress regarding the Long Bar Pointe development. Recent reviews at the by the County Planning
Commission resulted in approval of a proposal that
would exclude environmentally-sensitive areas from the
“fast-track” development granted to Urban Service Areas. This means Long Bar Pointe developers would
have to endure a more vigorous review.
Nov. 2 — Felts Preserve Open House—Come
join our hosts to learn about Felts Audubon Preserve; 4600 24th Ave E,
Palmetto. 8am-noon with 9:30am bird walk led by Audubon member.
Migrants should be plentiful.
Nov. 2 — Sarasota Bay
Water Festival - At Ken Thompson
Park (1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota).
Parking is tight so consider using the free water
taxi from the Sarasota Marina. We'll have a
table at the Water Festival and solicit signatures
on the Florida Water & Land petitions. Come
out, help conservation in the state of Florida
and Enjoy the Festival from 10am—5pm. http://
sarasotabaywaterfestival.com
As you probably remember, Almost 1,000 people attended a hearing last summer about the Long Bar
Pointe project plans, which in their original form would
have affected sensitive ecological areas overlooking
Sarasota Bay.
Read this article concerning the Planning Commission
and Long Bar Pointe and plan to attend the County
Commission Meeting if possible on November
7th at 9 a.m. in the Commission Chambers, at 1112
Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton.
Nov. 14 — Siesta Key Bird Walk - Leaders Rick
Greenspun (284-2055) & John Ginaven will look for migrating birds. Meet
in the main parking lot by the concession stand, Beach Rd on Siesta Key.
Learn how to identify those small birds of similar shapes and colors.
Nov. 16 — Junior Audubon — Steve Black (376-0110)
SAVE STAMPS TO HELP CONSERVATION…
AUDUBON STAMP PROGRAM.
leads young people on fascinating journeys into our environment. Learn
about animals, birds and various types of ecology . Great field trips, too.
Felts Audubon Preserve; 4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto. 9am-noon.
Nov. 19 — Celery Fields Reservations required; contact
Nancy & Bob Dean (792-9235). Meet in the Lowe’s parking lot (on SR70
westbound from I-75); park away from doors to leave room for customers. We'll be looking for Cinnamon Teal, Purple Gallinule, American Bittern, Northern Harrier. Lunch at nationally known Linger Lodge.
Nov. 26 — Laurel Landfill — Carol Webster (7477295). Meet at Starbucks, 5485 University Pkwy (which is on the NORTH
side of University, west of I-75), Sarasota. Car birding using Walkie Talkies will help you share bird IDs on this Bird Watch by Car. Little Walking,
Rain or Shine.
Nov. 30 — Felts Preserve Work Day– Come on
out to Felts, meet your fellow Audubon Members and help preserve and
maintain one of Florida's very special places. 4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto.
8am-noon.
IMPORTANT — Field trips & bird walks are free for Manatee Audubon
members and $3 per person per trip for non-members, plus any park
entrance fees, tolls.
Birding Tips: Notify leader in advance that you’ll be participating. Bring
water. Wear a cap/hat, comfortable shoes, bug spray, sunblock. Since
birds see color, Audubon recommends wearing subdued earth tones that
will blend in with the surrounding environment. Birds may perceive white
clothing as the existence of a threat. Check individual trips for any special
instructions. Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure time. Check for
event updates online at: www.ManateeAudubon.org . Drivers will suggest
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your share for riding in their vehicle when car pooling.
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Scenes from October Field Trips & Bird Walks
D
uette Preserve was the site of
this gaggle (21 total) of birders in
search of a Florida Scrub Jay on Saturday,
Oct. 5th. The pre-trip scouting by leaders
Billie & Jerry Knight paid off... our checklist
included: Florida Scrub Jay, FOS Northern
Harrier, flocks of Eastern Bluebirds and Pine
Warblers, and a singing Bachman's Sparrow.
(LOWER RIGHT) - At Robinson Preserve, John
Ginaven and Stu Wilson lead the birders on a great walk Tuesday, October 8th.
T
End of Year — Financial Planning
By Jack Schneider, Asst. Treasurer
his tax year of 2013 appears to be the last year that folks
who are required to make IRA withdrawals can roll over
part or all of this distribution directly to an approved charitable organization. By doing this, not only can one receive a tax deduction
for the donation, but the rolled over amount is NOT included in
your taxable income.
The Barbara Singer Felts Endowment Fund with the Manatee
County Community Foundation is such an organization. It has been established so that, eventually,
the Felts Audubon Preserve can be maintained in perpetuity, and this environmental jewel will be there
always for Bay area residents and their families. So, if you have all or part of your
IRA withdrawal that you don't need, contact Cassandra Holmes at the Foundation (ph: 556-5446) to get the proper paperwork and instructions for your donation to be transferred directly to the fund.
Not only will you be honoring the memory of Barbara Singer who gave so much to Manatee Audubon,
but it will help us preserve Felts and the joy of seeing our signature bird, Barbara's favorite, the Painted
Bunting.
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Community Outreach
Dee Hanny (above left) staffed the Manatee Audubon table at The Florida Native Plant Society’s annual plant sale
hosted by MCAS past-president, Tom Heitzman at his Sweet Bay Nursery in Parrish.
Jim Stephenson arrived early at Anna Maria Island to get ready for the Bayfest celebration on Oct. 19th.
Posters, banner, multiple bird species on a great tabletop display were all used to gain attention. It worked; lots
of Florida’s Water & Land Legacy petitions were signed in our effort to get this on the election ballot in 2014.
Girl Scouts + Audubon
O
By Nancy Dean
n 26 OCT 2013, MCAS members Steve Black, Bob and Nancy
Dean, as well as, LaDonne & Ron Mayberry provided workshops to Girl Scouts and their adult mentors at Camp Honi Hanta,
which is located along the Braden River in Bradenton, FL. All led three, 45minute workshops during the afternoon hours.
 Steve led nature walks identifying and discussing plants, trees, birds and
wildlife of all kinds.
 LaDonne explained the programs available at Felts Audubon Preserve
 Ron used a photography program designed for children to enhance an
appreciation for nature.
 Nancy & Bob showed
participants how to safely
and properly use binoculars
to see birds, which was practiced on a dock overlooking
the Braden River.
Coordinator for this event
was Amy Gainy, a pathway
Specialist for the Girl Scouts
of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc..
Thanks for the opportunity
to inspire these Girl Scouts!!
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W
Felts Preserve Corner
By Billie Knight
hether you want to look for birds, butterflies, or just enjoy nature you will want to get out to Felts Preserve this fall. With the arrival
of fall, it also signals the arrival of some of our returning favorites: Bald Eagle,
Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird, House Wren, Indigo Buntings, and our Painted Buntings. All of these birds are being seen
now at Felts.
Fall Migration was great at Felts Preserve. Following some of our heavy September rains, visitors included
Swainson's Thrush, Veery, Red-eyed and White-eyed
Vireos, Summer Tanager, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and
many warblers - notably Prothonotary, Magnolia, Blackburnian (image in Open House article below), and Orange-Crowned.
The Indigo Buntings have arrived in great numbers and are feeding in the grasses on the west side of Felts amongst the beautiful
Narrowleaf Sunflowers. Bald Eagles can be seen sitting on
the poles on the south end of Felts, and late afternoon will find
our pair of Great Horned Owls sitting on their favorite snag
by the Bird Blind bridge.....and if you're lucky, you may see the
otter scamper across the bridge. Male & female Painted Buntings
White-eyed Vireo (Image by Larry Gridley)
have been coming regularly to the feeders for the past week.
Hope you will make the time to get over to Felts and enjoy your Preserve. — Happy Birding :)
Early Oct Migrants at Felts Preserve
By Fred Allen
Felts migrants are picking up.
Yesterday (Oct. 8th) there were
a number, Warblers, Redstarts,
Summer Tanagers and Flycatchers in the Oaks. Best time
to observe is between 11:00 and
3:00. According to Badbirdz the
bulk of the migrants are still in
northern Florida.
T
October Open House at Felts Preserve
he start of the birding season at Felts Preserve began on
October 5th. It was a beautiful and successful day. About 15
people attended the first Open House with Liz & Chuck Kercher
as hosts and Fred Allen leading the bird walk.
 Volunteers are always greatly appreciated.
Some birds seen on Saturday were a Great Egret, Wood Stork,
Red Shoulder Hawk, Great Horned Owls, a Red-bellied
and a Pileated Woodpecker. Also seen were a Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal and Redwinged Blackbird.
The next Open House will be November 2.
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By Amy Miller
T
FOS Fall Meeting
he Florida Ornithological Society held their Fall meeting at
the Hilton St. Petersburg – Carillon Park from Oct. 11-13.
President Dave Goodwin opened the conference, which was well attended by a mix of professional and amateur birders; Manatee Audubon
representatives included Dick & Deb
Comeau, Billie & Jerry Knight,
and Lori Roberts.
Participants came from throughout
the state to hear the featured speakers, including Cameron Cox and
Cam Cox
Jon Greenlaw. Cameron, who recently co-authored the new Petersen
Reference Guide to Seawatching, gave an opening night presentation based on his months of work in
Alaska, and he also was the keynote speaker for the Saturday evening banquet. Jon’s slide presentation
focused on his research with sparrows inhabiting freshwater and saltwater marshes, and specifically how
to identify the differences between the various species.
FOS worked with St. Petersburg and Clearwater Audubon to provide a wide variety of field trips:
Fort DeSoto County Park (Ron Smith from St. Pete & Clearwater was the leader),
Sawgrass Lake Park
Honeymoon Island State Park (Paul Trunk from Clearwater Audubon served as leader)
John Chestnut Sr. County Park (Nicky Armstrong of Clearwater was the leader on Saturday and Paul
Trunk led the group on Sunday)
 Possum Branch mitigation area (leader was John Hood of Clearwater Audubon),
 Shell Key Preserve (to flush out sparrows with Ron Smith, Lauren Deaner & Jon Greenlaw)
 Sarasota Celery Fields (led by Lori Roberts, with additional stops at the eagle watch on Lena Rd.
and Tom Bennett County Park in Manatee County).
More outdoor fun involved a neotropical migratory bird banding demonstration by Jim
McGinity, Laura & Jason Guerard at Dunedin Hammock Park’s banding station.
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Fascinating research papers were presented by 8 students on Saturday afternoon:
1. “Foraging preference of an extreme dietary specialty” – Rebecca Wilcox’s work on the
Snail Kite
2. “Scaring the eggs out of Eastern Bluebirds: Non-lethal effects of predation on reproductive
output in an urban environment” – Amanda Powell
3. “Floating nesting platforms for Least Terns: a possible antidote to sea level rise and loss of
gravel rooftops” – Jenna Sciarrino
4. “Identifying small and large scale patterns of avian malaria parasites recovered at migratory
breeding grounds” – Claudia Ganser
5. “Dynamics of an urban vulture roost in SW Florida and responses to diverse roost dispersal management efforts” – Betsy Evans
6. “Do actual and perceived landscapes of risk align?” – Jessica Burnett
7. “A model of wading bird nest effort in south Florida” – Michelle Petersen
8. “Wading bird prey selection and colony survival as a function of hydrologic patterns” –
Jessica Klassen
An additional presentation was
made by Lauren Deaner on
her research about Wilson’s
Plovers.
The location for the spring 2014
FOS meeting will be announced
soon. Be sure to attend!
Bird skins ID quiz
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Jon G.
Registration Open for 2014 Bird Watching Course
I
f you talk with virtually any of the folks who have
previously taken this Manatee Audubon Basic Bird
Watching Course, you will learn this is a fabulous deal.
A similar class hosted by Atlanta Audubon costs $200,
and doesn’t offer the variety of habitats (and thus the
variety of species seen) during full day field trips. The
printed materials, opportunities to test out birding gear,
and the sheer experience from someone with over 4,100 species on their life list as an instructor simply
cannot be matched!! — But this is your last chance learning from Nancy Dean in this course.
Don’t Miss Out… Registration is Limited to only 36 Participants
Reservations are being taken for the 2014 Beginning
Bird Watching Course, offered by Manatee County
Audubon Society (MCAS). There’s usually a waiting list,
so don’t wait. This course includes 4 classes on:
 FRI, JAN 17th
 THU, JAN 23rd
 MON JAN 27th
 THU, JAN 30th.
Each class begins at 6:3O PM and lasts until 9:00 PM. All
are held in the fellowship hall at the First United Methodist Church of Palmetto, 330 11th Ave, West, Palmetto, FL.
Also included in this course, are two full-day field trips,
which begin at 7 AM,
 Saturday, JAN 25 and
 Saturday, FEB 1, 2014.
About 100 bird species will likely be seen and identified
on these two field trips, probably including Painted Buntings, the signature bird of Felts Audubon Preserve, an
MCAS property in Palmetto, FL.
In recent years, several rarely seen birds have been seen in
Manatee and Sarasota counties. Help locating these birds will be provided.
We have 11 spare binoculars, so binocular purchase is unnecessary until selection criteria & use are covered in class. Prior classes suggest that you purchase our recommended bird ID field guides:


Pranty, et al. Birds of Florida. Lone Pine Publishing International (for initial use)
Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Field Guide To Birds of Eastern North America. Alfred A. Knopf (for later use).
Always buy most recent edition. Both are available from www.Amazon.com ; (use the Amazon.com link
here or on the Manatee Audubon website and Manatee Audubon earns up to 5% back...without any additional cost to
you!). We
strongly suggest reading the introduction to both or at least one of these books before the first
class session, which will add clarity when intense instruction begins in class one.
Fee is $50, each, plus the 2014 MCAS membership fee ($20/household). No fee is paid until the first
class; you may combine fees for multiple attendees on one check payable to Manatee County Audubon
Society. To participate, contact Nancy Dean at 941-792-9235 or nancybobdean@juno.com (best
choice). — You’ll need to confirm your registration during the week ending Wed, Jan. 15th.
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Voters’ Choice — October Photography Winner
C
ongratulations to Mattie
Watson who received
the most votes for BOTH of these
images she submitted in the October
photo contest. The Rose-breasted
Grosbeak won top honors, and the
Mergansers 2nd. Looking forward to
seeing more great images!
International Appeal
J
im & Steve welcomed Edward Hutchings
(far left) from Wales, UK who was on assignment in the US for less than 10-days representing the UK’s best-selling industry publication: Bird Watching magazine. Ed specifically
wanted to check out Felts Audubon Preserve to learn about the history, the ongoing restoration, and to see
the variety of species during early migration.
Ed, Steve & Jim at Felts
CONTACTS — Manatee Chapter Board meetings are on the 2nd
Wednesday of the month at the Manatee County Library downtown
Bradenton branch.
CHAPTER OFFICERS 2013-2014
President — Jim Stephenson 301-466-1973
Vice Pres — Deb Comeau
752-1835
Secretary — Patty Petruff
747-1789
Treasurer — Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Don Bansen
794-0255
Steve Black
376-0110
Dick Comeau
752-1835
Dee Hanny
745-1553
LaDonne Mayberry
795-4685
INJURED BIRD HELP:
Amy Miller
Carole Munro
Lori Roberts
Connie Zack
2013-2014 STANDING COMMITTEES
Beach Nesting Bird Stewardship …….. Dee Hanny
745-1553
Christmas Bird Count ……………….. Dick Comeau
752-1835
Conservation ………………………… Jim Stephenson
301-466-1973
Education …………………………….. Deb Comeau
752-1835
Field Trips ……………………………. Connie Zack
758-2929
Felts Audubon Preserve ……………..
Tom Heitzman
737-3169
Felts Open House …………………… Amy Miller
758-7478
Historian ……………………………
Don Bansen
794-0255
Hospitality …………………………..
Betty Sartin
747-0908
Junior Audubon …………………….
Steve Black
376-0110
Membership ………………………….
Lucette Wombacher
776-8424
Newsletter Editor …………………… Lori Roberts
404-941-4365
758-7478
Newsletter Mailings …………………. Betty Benishek
254-7662
896-6102 Programs …………………………….. Jim Stephenson
301-466-1973
404-941-4365 Publicity ……………………………… LaDonne Mayberry
795-4685
758-2929 Strategic Alliances ……………………. Lori Roberts
404-941-4365
Webmaster ………………………….. Collaborative
343-8267
Call 778-6324 for what to do. Someone will call you back.
PHOTO CREDITS:
Front Cover: Bee Hummingbird in Cuba. Photographer: Rich Wagner, www.WildNaturePhotos.com (Arizona-based).
Manatee County Audubon Society
P.O. Box 14550, Bradenton, FL 34280
Ph: 941-729-2222 www.ManateeAudubon.org
Manatee County Audubon Society is a chapter of National Audubon Society Inc.
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