april-may 2010 skimmer newsletter francis m. weston audubon society

8/9/2019 April-May 2010 Skimmer Newsletter Francis M. Weston Audubon Society

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The Nature Conservancys Perdido RiverNature Preserve

April-May, 2010

Vol. XXXVI No. 6

Continues on page 3.

By Adlai Platt, Manager,Perdido River Nature Preserve

This very special place was protected through a gift from the BCR

Foundation, creating a living memorial to its founders Betty and

Crawford Rainwater. Its intent was to preserve these lands and create

the opportunity for others to experience the wonders of natural

Florida. The Rainwaters had owned these same lands as part of their

Perdido Ranch in the 1940-50s, and thenduring the next 45 years it was owned by

three different timber companies.

Among Betty Rainwaters most treasured

books was a volume calledPlanting a Refuge

for Wildlife, and Francis WestonsA Survey

of the Birdlife of Northwestern Florida, along

with many more books on flowers, trees,

plants of all kinds, nature study and nature

appreciation.

The Perdido River Nature Preserve

protects more than 7.5 river miles and

2,331 acres along Floridas western border,especially pine flatwoods, bottomland

forests, xeric uplands, marshes, estuaries,

blackwater creeks, streams, the river, titi

swamps, baygalls and river islands. The

mission of the Nature Conservancy is to

preserve the plants, animals, and natural

communities that represent the diversity

of life by protecting the lands and waters

they need to survive. In keeping with that

mission, the Conservancys primary focus on

the altered portions of the property is to

restore longleaf pine and healthy ground cover in all its natural

diversity (typically over 200 species).

Human uses of these landsfrom forest to pasture to

plantationinfluence opportunities for nature observation.

As these areas are restored, a system of hiking trails is being

developed that will showcase the Preserve

and our progress. Early restoration areas

can often be exciting places to find many

species of overwintering sparrows, and

the winding blackwater aquatic trails

access the preferred habitats of Northern

Parula and Prothonotary Warblers, Marsh

Wrens, and a diversity of wildlife. The

intent is for this Preserve to become that

increasingly rare place where people can

still move through nature at natures

pace, focusing on hiking and paddling

trails rather than motorized travel.

In the next year we want to create

opportunities for self-guided nature

hikes so that more of our community can

learn about this worthy place and the

natural world, and join us in support of

this Preserve.

To quote from Dr. Reed Noss, who

directs the Science and Planning

in Conservation Ecology Lab at the

University of Central Florida, the Florida

Quietly, step by step, a wonderful new nature preserve is taking shape along the Perdido River.

You may have visited this property even before the Nature Conservancy owned it, but for

those who will be making their first visit to the Preserve, I wanted to share with you a brief

background on how this came to be and what we are working towards.

Reflections in Black Creek echo thetranquility of The Nature ConservancysPerdido River Nature Preserve.

Photo

byVaughn

Hedrick


2/8

CAL

EN

DA

R

o

f

EVEN

TS

Chapter Meetings

Pensacola Junior College, Main Campus, 7 p.m., Baroco Science

Center, Room 2142, unless otherwise noted. Guests are welcome!

Thursday, March 25, 7 p.m. Blackwater River State Forest

(BRSF)Two Presentations. Peggy Baker will share insights and

photographs accumulated in theState Forest Survey that she lead

David Creamer, Recreation Director for BRSF, will present recreatioopportunities within the forest.

Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m. Identifying Environmental Trend

George Kish from the USA National Phenology Network will detail

how citizen scientists, government agencies, non-profit groups

and students can monitor and identify environmental trends. The

Longleaf Pine Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will join

FMWAS as Mr. Kish shows us how we can contribute observations

from field trips to this program.

SAVE THE DATEThursday, May 27, Annual meeting and

awards banquet,Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts at the

PJC main campus. A cash bar and silent auction will be open priorto the dinner catered by Nancys Haute Affairs. Our guest speaker

David Simpson whose informative talk will focus on eBird and bird

of South Florida. Registration to attend, and information on dinne

entrees and cost, as well as the time the meeting begins will be

mailed to members.

Board of Directors Meetings

Thursdays, 7 p.m., April 1, May 6 at the Baskerville-Donovan

Building, 449 West Main Street, Pensacola. Open to all members.

Other Events Saturday, April 17, Volunteer Day at the Hyatt Environmenta

Center

Thursday, April 22, Earth Day Environmental Symposium

hosted by the University of West Florida. The Symposia will be

held on the traditional Earth Day date, April 22, from 9 to 12 a.m

the University Commons Auditorium. Admission is free and open t

the public. The Environmental Symposium is in addition to the Ea

Day Pensacola Festival, which will be celebrated on April 24 from

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bayview Community Center and Park.

Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Earth Day Pensacola

2010. Come celebrate with us at Bayview Community Center

and Park to enjoy music, animals, birds, plants and gardeninginformation, displays, and arts and crafts. This event is designed a

a fun day for the entire family! For more informationhttp://ww

earthdaypensacola.org/

Field Trips

Saturday, April 17, Nokuse Plantation and E.O. Wilson

Biophilia Center Native Plants. James Burkhalter will lead

us on a walk to observe native plants and spring wildflowers

along nature trails within the Nokuse Plantation and the

E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center located in eastern Okaloosa

County. A visit to a steephead system along Seven Runs

Creek will be included. Expect moderate walking with somesteep trails. Insect repellent may be needed. Bring a picnic

lunch. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot in front of the

Target Store located near the intersection of University

Parkway and Nine Mile Road. We plan to return by early

afternoon.

Saturday,April 24, The Betty and Crawford Rainwater

Perdido River Nature Preserve Birding. Preserve Manager

Adlai Platt will lead us through this newly established

preserve located west of Pensacola adjacent to the Perdido

River. Bob and Lucy Duncan will be our birding guides to

find and identify the birds using the Preserve during this

peak time of spring migration. Expect some moderate, non-strenuous walking. Insect repellent is always a good idea.

Bring a picnic lunch. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of

the Publix store located on the corner of Nine Mile Road and

Pine Forest Road. We plan to return after lunch.

Saturday,May 8, North Escambia County Birding.

Morris Clark will lead us through parts of northern Escambia

County in search of breeding birds. We will visit some areas

bordering the Escambia River and especially search for

several species that should be establishing territories or

nesting at this time. Expect some moderate walking. Bring

a picnic lunch, which we will eat next to a lake or river.

Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Winn Dixie parking lot located at

Hwy. 29 and Old Chemstrand Road. We plan to return early

afternoon.

Saturday,May 29, Ft. Pickens Native Plants. James

Burkhalter will lead us along the Blackbird Marsh Nature

Trail and the Dunes Nature Trail to observe the native plants

and spring blooming wildflowers. Expect easy walking in

sand. Bring a picnic lunch and beverages for the day. You

may wish to wear sunscreen and a hat. Meet at 7:30 a.m.

in the Pensacola Visitors Center parking lot located at the

north end of the Pensacola Bay Bridge or at 8:00 a.m. in

the sound side parking lot at the

entrance to Ft. Pickens. We plan

to finish by early afternoon.

2

How to Become a Member of FMWASFill out the form on page 8 to become a member of the National

Audubon Society. With membership you will receiveAudubon Maga

zine, the Florida Naturalistand the Skimmer. Mail your check

to Francis M. Weston Audubon Society, P.O. Box 17484, Pensacola,

FL 32522. Thank you.


3/8

Official Number of Protected Migratory Bird SpeciesClimbs to More than One Thousand

The special Panhandle Lily(Lilium iridollae Henry)returned after fire was appliedto the savannah habitat at theBCR Perdido Preserve.

U

nited States Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) Acting Director Rowan Gould

announced revisions to the list of bird

species protected under the Migratory Bird

Treaty Act (MBTA) on March 1. Species

appearing on this list are governed under

migratory bird hunting and permitting

regulations concerning most aspects

of possession, transportation, sale, purchase, exportation, and

importation of protected species. The list, last updated in 1985,

incorporates the latest taxonomic and scientific data for

migratory birds. The changes include 186 new additions

and 11 subtractions, bringing the total number of species

protected under the MBTA to 1,007.

This update to the list of federally protected birds

reflects the best available science on bird taxonomy

and distribution, and will help us improve management

of our nations migratory birds, said Gould. The new

list benefits researchers, hunters, conservationists,

state agencies, tribal governments, and birdwatchers

by extending federal protection to all migratory bird

species native to the United States, while highlighting

advances and changes in bird taxonomy that have

accumulated since the list was last published.

The USFWS is the primary federal agency responsible

for managing migratory birds. Federal migratory bird

regulations, including the list, implement the Migratory Bird

Treaty Act of 1918, which in turn implements treaties with

Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia. All species included on the

list are considered federally protected, and governed by federal

regulations limiting take (from the wild), possession, and

other use.

The newly revised list reflects the addition of species based

on new evidence of their occurrence in the United States or its

territories. The revisions also remove species no longer known

to occur within the United States and change some

names to conform to accepted usages.

The changes also reflect taxonomic revisions to

the bird taxa of North America published by the

American Ornithologists Union, and changes in the

Migratory Bird List incorporate name changes and

revisionsmoving some species from one taxon toanother. The final rule can be found online at http://

migratorybirds.fws.gov .

USFWS is both a leader and trusted partner in

fish and wildlife conservation,known for scientific

excellence, stewardship of lands and natural

resources, dedicated professionals and commitment

to public service. For more information on its work

and the people who make it happen, visit http://

www.fws.gov/.

The mission of

the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife

Service is

working

with othersto conserve,

protect and

enhance fish,

wildlife, plants

and their

habitats for

the continuing

benefit of

the American

people.

3

Perdido River Nature Preserve, continued from front page

environment we know was shaped over eons by fire, big animals,

and bad weather. Thus, one of our most important restoration

tools is fire, because so much of Florida was long shaped by fires,

typically ignited by the high frequency of summer lightning storms.

For the decades this property was owned by timber companies, no

controlled burning was conducted, and bad weather periodically

occurred. These tropical events contributed to massive fuel loads

and set the stage for two very intense, but natural, wildfires that

caused considerable concern to the surrounding community. To

restore a more natural fire regime to this landscape, we rely on

the careful use of prescribed fire by our certified professional burn

teams. It is always a wonderful surprise to see what the first fire

in a long suppressed area awakens in the seed bank, and how it

gradually tilts the balance away from domination by volatile waxy

shrubs, and promotes more grasses, herbs, and flowers.

Though The Perdido River Nature Preserve is not yet open to the

public, we have been able to host an increasing number of visitors

scheduled around busy restoration activities. There is a growing

list of opportunities for community involvement: native wildflower

surveys, support for prescribed burning (for those who have met

National Wildfire Coordinating

Group training requirements),

wildlife surveys, trail develop-

ment and maintenance, facility

restoration, creation of a native

plant garden, and more.

We invite you to join us on

an Audubon field trip and bird-

ing hike at the Preserve onApril 24th led by Bob and Lucy

Duncan. The timing of this visit

should be excellent for spring

migration and abundant wild-

flowers, and we look forward

to showing you our progress.

See the Skimmer calendar for

details.

Photo

byVaughn

Hedrick


4/8

by Bob Duncan

F I E L D N O T E S

BRUTALHow else can one describe the weather this winter?Who wants to go birding when the wind is howling outside and

the temperature is in the forties? Either that or its pouring rain or

threatening to do so. Nonetheless, in spite of a really bad winter so

far (early March), some birders braved the elements and came up with

great birds.

LEFTOVERSThe Green-tailed Towhee* and Lark Sparrowsfound by the Bob and Lucy Duncan at Ft. Pickens on 1 Nov. continued

to delight birders from near and far through 10 March. Birders from

all over the Southeastern U.S. have come to add this rarity to their

life lists. Based on the amount of internet chatter monitored by Bob

and Lucy Duncan, we would estimate more than 100 birders have seen

the green gem. At the Ft. Walton Beach Spray Fields (FWBSF) the

Vermilion Flycatcher found in early fall continued to thrill observers

as of 4 March. The Says Phoebe* also at the FWBSF, continued

through 15 January, last seen by Alex Harper. Alex and Alicia Gerrety

spotted the Pacific Loon* reported earlier in the season at Ft. Pickens

on 10 January.

NORTH VENTURESix Sandhill Cranes at an overgrown catfishimpoundment in north Escambia County were reported by Max Griggs

on 15 January, and were seen by the Duncans on 8 February. That

same trip rewarded us with 18 Greater White-fronted Geese, 6 of

the declining Rusty Blackbirds* and 21 Brewers Blackbirds plus 58

other species. There are avian surprises to be had in the lightly birded

northern areas of our counties.

YARD BIRDSA first year male Western Tanager* visited Gretaand Bill Bremsers yard in Gulf Breeze 2528 Jan. Another brightened

David and Chris Forsters feeder in Pensacola 1015 February. A

Dickcissel* and an Indigo Bunting were also present in the Bremsers

yard through 17 February. A male Summer Tanager was a surprise

in Mike Schellers yard in Milton on 9 January. Another was at Morris

Clarks yard in north Pensacola 118 January. The guest that came to

stay, the Baltimore Oriole* in Betsy Tetlows yard and reported earlier,

continued through 25 February.

MYSTERYThe status ofBoat-tailed Grackles* in our areacontinues to be as much of a mystery as it was in F.M. Westons

time. Boat-taileds are found almost exclusively at a small park in

Floridatown with the exceptional few that are infrequently reported

elsewhere. There is no confirmation of breeding, and they are seen

primarily in winter. They are common in the Mobile Delta and in the

Appalachicola area. Our Boat-taileds are light-eyed birds, Alabamas are

dark-eyed, and the Atlantic coasts population are light-eyed. Do

the Floridatown grackles breed here? If not, from whence do they

come? They were monitored by Bill Milmore for many years before

his passing, always at the Floridatown location. Lucy and I found

24 there on 19 January, all males, creating another puzzle, and

Larry Goodman found 5 males there 25 February.

FIELD TRIPOn a cold, crisp but clear 13 February, PeggyBaker and Jan Lloyd led the F.M. Weston Audubon Society field

trip into the wilds of Blackwater State Forest, where some of us

had not ever ventured before. Underneath long distance Gulf

Power transmission lines were unending rows of planted millet,which attracted sparrows by the hundreds. As we walked the rows

of stubble we flushed dozens ofChipping, Song, Field, Vesper,

Swamp, White-throated and Grasshopper Sparrows. If youre

into sparrows, or want to learn sparrows, thats the place to be.

MISCELLANEOUSAt the Fort Walton Beach Spray Fields Ifound a Yellow Warbler* on 11 January, providing a first local

record for that month. James Pfeiffer found a Lark Sparrow in

Pensacola on 18 February. I found a first cycle Glaucous Gull*

near Milton on 18 February. A rare Arctic visitor, it was about the

eighteenth area record. As I write this, the skies are peppered

with returning Purple Martins, a few Green Herons have

returned from the tropics, and a few White-eyed Vireos that

either wintered or just arrived are starting to sing. By time the

Skimmeris in your mailboxes, spring migration will be well

under way.

*Species with asterisks require

documentation so that they may

be processed to become part of the

ornithological record. TheSkimmer

welcomes reports of noteworthy

birds. If you have something to

report, please call Bob or Lucy

Duncan at 932-4792.

4


5/85

Tripping through Nature with Gwen Frost ic By Ann Forster

This Earth with its great green trees,

its infinite life and boundless beauty,

the only earth therell ever be.

These waters of deep springs, of rivers and lakes, drops of dew,

and clouds aboveall the water there has ever been;

all there ever will be.

The air all around that everything must breathe

over and overforever and ever.

Love this earth. Love it as much as life itself. Earth from which

all life has come.

Earth to which all life returns. Love its waters and keep them

clean

Water on which all life depends. Love clear air. Care enough to

keep it clearclear enough to see the stars.

And earth will remain Beyond Time.

I thought about the places we had visited with friends

and how they fit into this poem. We visited piney woods

in Blackwater and Apalachicola Forests, the ancient

cypresses of Wakulla Springs and admired the oaks of

Naval Live Oaks. We searched the Gulf and St. Marks for

wintering ducks and gannets; showed them the bays

and marshes, blackwater lakes and rivers, and clear, cold

springs. Our friends were thrilled to know that so many

good habitats were safe for nowtheir trees, water, and

air. More important, they are our trees, water, and air to

love and protect.

The Francis M. Weston Audubon Society CenterCommittee received permission from the Escambia

School District to build a birding trail at the Roy HyattEnvironmental Center to honor Curtis Kingsbery, longtime

chapter field trip leader.

The first planned bench site along the trail was

recently constructed by Morris Clark, Richard Mason,and a team of sophomore students from the ZookeeperClass at Pensacola Junior College (PJC). The siteconsists of a pergola-shaded wood bench and brick pad

built facing the water feature and bird feeders near thebird bus. It is situated to permit observation of the

same birds viewed by students, without intruding on thenatural features or distracting occupants of the bird bus.

Jim Brady

Students from the PJC Zookeeper Class celebrate completion

of the first phase of the Curtis Kingsbery Memorial at RHEC.

Pictured left to right seated: Kathia Vandentillaart, Carmen

Bowling, Amanda Rigby, and Mary Kate Renfroe; standing:

Ashley Smith, Jim Brady, and Graham Northup.

Photo

byMorrisClark

Birding Trail at the Roy HyattEnvironmental Center (RHEC)Honors Curtis Kingsbery

Ihave been lucky enough to have discovered some small but beautiful books by a Michigan woman named Gwen Frostic. She

literally created these booksthe art, the poetry, even the paper itself. The one I am reading now is named Beyond Time. The

opening page resonated with me because we have just hosted some birding friends from Washington State whose comments

reminded me to appreciate what we still have. Here is her introductory poem:


6/8

ARMCHAIR BIRDING

6

J

oan and I were in Mexico recently, hasten-

ing the spring after too long a winter. Our

favorite place here for doing nothing, or

nearly nothing, is Ajijic, a colorful village

on Lake Chapala, forty miles south of Gua-

dalajara. Its usually filled with Americanand Canadian migrs, but the annual influx of snowbirds

hasnt tarnished its native charm, probably because the mi-

grs soon enough fall under that charm, stuffing their bags

with native folklore and turquoise jewelry, and their straw

baskets with fresh fruit from the mercado.

We always stay at Los Artistas, a six-room posada with

a large, luxuriant garden, enclosed by high walls and

flowering shrubbery, and a burbling fountain that creates

its focusand draws the birds. As we arrived two ladies,

encumbered with binoculars, bird books and cameras, were

stalking its perimeter. Then they noticed me. One was from

Detroit, I learned, and the other from Toronto, and they had

met there, in the garden, while searching the flowers for

hummers. And it seemed they were beginners, determined to

turn our migrant warblers and orioles into Mexican species.

Thats an Altamira Oriole, right?

Uh, no. Its a Hooded. Altamiras larger.

The lady from Detroit put down her cigarette. Funny, a

birder looking through binoculars smoking a cigarette, I

cant remember ever having seen that before. Look at those

bitty birds pecking at those big pods!

Lesser Goldfinches.

I didnt have binoculars, and had to fall back on naked-

eye birding, an interesting challenge, as well as a vexing

disadvantage when being tested by well-equipped amateurs.

Are you sure?

Well, pretty sure, yes.

What about that

little brown bird, bobbing

through the grass?

A wren, I believe.

What kind?

A Happy Wren. Of course I couldnt say for sure, but it

seemed happy enough.

Happy?

Wouldnt you be?

The fountain continued to draw in birds, and from the

comfort of my lounge chair, I found myself wondering who

the first really lazy birder might have been, who devised

a scheme for bringing the birds to him, rather than the

other way round. Or maybe its the kind of thing we

learn automatically with age, as the love for adventure

is being replaced by a gradually growing appreciation for

the familiar. I guess its why Joan and I come back to this

quiet spot, where we can walk to restaurants and shops,

read our books, and watch the birds splashing in the

fountain.

The younger folk at Los Artistas were dashing here and

there, making plans for dinner, reservations and appoint-

ments for whatever, trying to take in as much color and

culture as their short stays allowed outside our garden

wall. But were content to stay inside and let the people

with their entertaining stories and their daily adven-

turesand the birdscome to us.

Skimming by Jere French


7/8


8/8

C H A P T E R C O N T A C T S

Presidents Council Peggy Baker .................934-3242

Jim Brady ....................456-5083

Morris Clark ..................968-5498

Annelise Reunert ..........492-4389

Dana Timmons ..............934-4521

Recording Secretary Jan Lloyd ....................453-1660

Corresponding Secretary Ann Forster ..................456-4421

Publicity Sue Timmons ................934-4521

Treasurer Betsy Tetlow ................438-3703

Directors at Large Larry Goodman .............433-5135

Sharhonda Owens ..........944-5655

Membership Annelise Reunert ..........492-4389

Field Trips Morris Clark ..................968-5498Programs Dana Timmons ..............934-4521

Fund Raising Position open ............................

Conservation Lynn Ogden..................512-3187

Hyatt Center Committee Jim Brady ....................456-5083

Education Peggy Baker .................934-3242

Outreach Position open ............................

SkimmerEditor Lucy Duncan ................932-4792

SkimmerArt Director Lynn Gould

Webmaster Debra Jones

Francis M. Weston Audubon Society

P.O. Box 17484Pensacola, FL 32522

NONPROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPENSACOLA, FL

PERMIT NO. 821

Our online edition of theSkimmerisin full color at www.fmwaudubon.org

INTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY

Individual/family $20 for one year$30 for two years

Student/senior citizen $15 for one year

Make checks payable to the National Audubon Society.

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C O R P O R A T E S U P P O R T E R SArmstrong World Industries

Baskerville-Donovan, Inc.International Paper Company

Pfizer

Ascend Performance Materials (formerly Solutia, Inc.)

The Green-tailed Towhee continues to befound at Ft. Pickens on the hiking trailbetween the wall and bridge.

photobyKen

Schmidt.

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april-may 2010 skimmer newsletter francis m. weston audubon society

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