Scrub Jay

Non-profit
Audubon of Martin County Organization
U.S. Postage
621 S.E. Palm Beach Road, Stuart FL 34994 Paid
Permit #57
Stuart FL 34995
The
Florida Scrub-Jay Art Logo
by Brian Sylvester
A publication of Audubon of Martin County
A 501(c)3) non-profit organization based in Stuart, Florida
audubonmartincounty.org ‹ 772-288-2637
_________________________________________________________________________________
March 2008 Audubon of Martin County

Program Meeting, Thursday, March 20

Office hours area generally 10am–2pm,
Monday through Friday.
Panthers, Skunks, Owls, and More……..
Please call ahead at (772) 288-2637.
David Hitzig, the Director of the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, will
be our guest speaker on Thursday, March 20. Mr. Hitzig will introduce us to
the ongoing work the Sanctuary is doing to help care for sick, injured, and
orphaned wild animals and educating children and adults about Florida's
environmental issues, wildlife, and natural resources. This presentation is
one you will not want to miss as David always travels with a variety of ani-
mals. It will be a great opportunity to see some of Florida's wild creatures
up-close. Rumor has it that there will be lots to see from panthers to skunks,
owls, and more! David will give us an up-close-&-personal introduction.
Bring your camera…….

If you don’t drive at night, or are interested in car-pooling, call us at the

office at 288-2637 and we’ll try to find a ride for you. Social at 6:30 Meet-
ing starts promptly at 7 PM. Remember, we have a new location – detailed
map page 7…. See you there !
Mark Your Calendars !
March 2008
Field Trip Saturday, March 22 to Riverbend Park 4 Cranewatch Orientation 10am at AoMC
and Busch Wildlife Sanctuary office
Thank you WELCOME Our field trip will be Saturday, March 22nd. We’ll meet at the east end of
8 Cranewatch excursion—call to register
the parking lot of the Cracker Barrel restaurant (I-95 at Kanner Highway), in
AoMC Sponsors ! NEW time for a 7:00 a.m. departure. We’ll carpool to Jupiter for an approximate 3 15 Growth Management Forum

Roseate Spoonbill
MEMBERS ! hour birding and outdoor learning experience at 680-acre Riverbend Park.
Pam Murphy, PBC’s Naturalist at Riverbend Park, will give us a tour includ-
20 Program Meeting, David Hitzig, Busch
Wildlife Sanctuary
Caryl Vignoli ing the history of the area during the Seminole Wars. We’ll then visit the
Dianne & Bill Dwyer Joan Bausch Busch Wildlife Sanctuary for a personally guided tour by David Hitzig. Call 22 Field Trip—Riverbend Park and Busch
Elisabeth Blease our office to sign up. Wildlife Sanctuary
Great Blue Heron Bonnie Gallagher
Marie McLure Patricia Jebb
Shawn Marques April 2008
Michelle Murray
Patricia McAlarnen
Janice Popek 4-6 Audubon Academy in Vero Beach
David Robatan
12 Annual Birdathon Fund Raiser
Maria Rodriguez
Happy Birthday Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Roleke 17 Program Meeting, Jim Egan, Marine
Photo—Gene Scholl Gale Ryan Resources Council
to Hummingbird feeding on Coleus flowers. Tom Tomlinson
Betty McLure 19 Field Trip—South Fork Natural Lands
Penelope Treat
Caryl Vignoli including Delaplane peninsula
26 Annual Picnic & Student Essay Awards.

8 www.audubonmartincounty.org 1
 Board Members 2007-2008 New Meeting Location
Message from our President
Executive Director – Greg Braun
561-575-2028
~~~ Laurie Odlum Treasure Coast Hospices is located at 1201 SE Indian
Street, Stuart. Call (772) 403-4500.
President Laurie Odlum 772-223-0339 We hear a lot about native versus exotic plants in Hospices’ entrance is located on the north side of Indian
Vice-Pres Volunteer Needed the home landscape and whether they are wildlife
friendly or not. Since we in Martin County are Street East of Willoughby and West of US 1. Meetings will
Treasurer Bob Gordon 772-546-2206
lucky enough to have migratory birds come through be in their public room in the main building which is the
Secretary, Recording Joan Bausch 772-219-8285
twice a year it behooves us to provide adequate and first building as you enter the campus. We are in the room
Conservation Bob Matheson 772-283-5999 proper food sources for these long distance flyers. to the right side as you enter on the main building entrance.
Education Nathalie Browne 561-747-6042 There are invasive native plants as well as inva- See you there.
Field Trips Volunteer Needed sive exotic plants. Do your homework before you
take shovel to ground. I am sure many of you have discovered through
Resource Development Doug Warns 772-452-3751
“happy accidents” that hummingbirds like to sip the nectar from blooms
Membership Curt Wood 772-546-5435

Programs Ed Fielding 772-288-2622

on Coleus plants (red leaved varieties), from the blooms of the tall
“wheat” blooms on varieties of bromeliads and from Hong Kong Orchid
Scrub–jay Surveying - not for the faint-hearted!
Properties Ric Berger 772-286-0634 tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) a sterile triploid (it forms no seeds). None of By Pam Hopkins
Public Relations Tom McNicholas 772-219-1719
these are native to Florida nor are they invasive.
Here is my list of criteria for landscape plants for wildlife. These crite- White sand Scrub is my favorite habi- days, get a rough idea of the composi- Great Horned Owl area having checked
Nature Center Susan Smyth 772-692-3489 tat and the Florida Scrub Jay (FSJ) is tion of the families and their territorial carefully to make sure it was napping
ria should be used for shrubs, under-story trees (under 12 feet) and land-
Newsletter Editor Volunteer Needed scape size trees. one of my favorite birds so I was boundaries. The monitoring protocol is somewhere else. We seemed to have a
Wildlife Center Dan Martinelli 772-286-6200 Plant if: thrilled to be asked to help with the 1 minute of jay calls followed by 3 min- local family of three which included a
1) It provides high energy food sources such as blossoms, seeds, berries Scrub Jay Survey at Jonathan Dickinson utes of silence during which surveyors juvenile from this year and several oth-
Water Resources Patrick Hayes 561-747-6397
and fruit. 2) It provides high protein sources by being a source of bugs, State Park (JDSP) last summer. JDSP’s watch and listen. This procedure is ers who crossed over from another
Youth Liaison Devon Green 772-283-3024 scrub is home to a number of endan- carried out three times at each monitor- team’s study area. We again had sight-
caterpillars, etc. We often refer to these plants as being “buggy” but the
Garden Club Liaison Louise White 772-283-4416 birds love them. 3) It provides shelter around your feeders. Remember gered species and it must be carefully ing site. Observations are recorded. ings of the pair that lived both inside
IRL & Speakers Bureau Bill Hudspeth 561-667-5123 that small birds hide from the predators in your shrubs. managed to maintain optimum condi- We were specifically interested in: the and outside the park boundary. Our
Don’t plant if: tions. This requires long term planning number of birds, what, if any leg bands observations on the third day more or
OTHER IMPORTANT COMMITTEE CHAIRS 1) It is invasive – is self-seeding and spreads quickly without you doing and at times fairly intensive land man- individuals had, the
Eaglewatch Liaison Clare-Rue Morgan 772-286-9833 anything to encourage its growth. OR when you break off a branch and it agement techniques. The best way to number of juveniles, and
Librarian Tatyana Sorokina 772-546-8444 roots by just laying it on the ground. 2) It seeds “naturally” through the maintain 'scrub' is by burning it every gender. Information on
birds or other wildlife depositing the seeds along the tree line and fence 10 to 20 years. Our mission was to map predator sightings as
Cranewatch Coordinator Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153
line. This is how the Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) has been the distribution of FSJ in a portion of well as time and weather
Cranewatch Co-coordinator Carol Spinney 772-545-7987 spread. JDSP that would require burning within conditions was also re-
Jaywatch Coordinator Pam Hopkins 772-408-6158 Be sure to check the Invasive plant list from University of Florida the next year or two. Nearby areas had corded. Our team div-
Home Extension Service, along with the Master Gardeners program that been burned in earlier years and were vied up the jobs: Rob
Jaywatch Co-coordinator Clare-Rue Morgan 772-286-9833
can give you assistance on non-invasive plants, and/or go to: reaching optimum conditions. was the time keeper, I
Christmas Bird Count Liz Hailman 561-746-7293 Rangers had flagged observation posi- played the tapes, Clare-
www.FLEPPC.org. The Martin County chapter of the Florida Native
Webmaster Ed Fisher edaudubon@yahoo.com Plant Society can assist with native plant selections. Remember to aug- tions at 100 yard intervals along several Rue was record keeper
ment your plant based food sources with bird-species specific seed in trails throughout the study area. We and roaming spotter.
AUDUBON HOUSE DOCENTS your feeders. were assigned to one of three teams. Our first day started
Clare-Rue Morgan, George Mirka, Beverly Poppke, It is unfortunate that many nurseries and big box store garden centers Each team was to look for Jays at each off well with the sight-
LaWayne Niedzielski, Mary Ann Woidt, Ed Fisher, offer many plants that do not provide any of the above wildlife friendly of 10 posts on three separate mornings ing of two FSJs just in-
Carol Coyne attributes and require large quantities of water to keep them alive for their over a one week period. Clare-Rue side a park gate but well
short lives. When you plan your garden plants for wildlife take into ac- Morgan and I drew the longest of away from all of our
Open board seats: straws: we got to go out with Rob Ros- official positions. After
Vice President, Scrub-jay Editor, count the plants normal life span (perennials are best), its natural growth
habit and its water requirements before making that commitment. One manith, the Park Biologist, and Rob had two hours we had only
and Fieldtrip Chair
Contact Laurie Odlum or Greg Braun popular writer in Miami is fond of preaching “Do Your Homework be- a truck-- so we did not have to walk! sighted one other pair who were just less confirmed what we had seen on the
fore you plant!” As we head into what is predicted to be another hot, The survey followed a set protocol outside the park boundary and heard a previous days.
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be
rainless summer, plan ahead for a successful, well-designed bird friendly that takes advantage of FSJ behavior. few calls in the distance. Monitoring at We had been hoping for a higher den-
obtained from the division of Consumer Services toll-free within Flor-
ida 800.435.7352. Registration does not imply endorsement, yard. Plan for a yard that requires lower water usage as well so you, the Jays live in family groups that are seri- our last two posts had to be abandoned sity of birds but our alarm call tape left
approval, or recommendation by the state. birds, and the environment will enjoy it more. ously territorial. Boundaries are strictly because Clare-Rue spotted a Great much to be desired: even to a human
defended by all members so if a non- Horned Owl flying into some nearby ear the calls seemed imperfect. I per-
The Scrub Jay is published seven times a year on
recycled content paper with soy-based ink.
family jay is seen, or heard, inside or slash pines. Because the owl was a po- sonally suspected that some of the birds
Help the birds Audubon of Martin County. near a boundary line all members are tential predator, we decided that it were sitting not far away, in the shade,
Call Bob Matheson mustered for a display of force. By would be unwise to distract the FSJs laughing behind their wings at the
Contact your U.S. Senators in Washington DC at the and (772) 283-5999 playing tapes of the jay alarm calls we with false source of danger or attract
following numbers: sweaty humans and their ridiculous
Senator Mel Martinez: 202.224.3051
their environment. were able to draw the local jays 'out of them into harms way. On subsequent alarm calls.
Senator Bill Nelson: 202.224.5274 hiding'. By watching the direction of days these two positions turned out to Our thanks to the folks at JDSP and
Please consider a bequest to flight and the color sequence on any be among of our most interesting sites. the Nature Conservancy and all who
banded birds we could, over several On the second day we started in the participated in this project.

2 www.audubonmartincounty.org 7
Conservation Corner - Greg Braun
The CBC Results are in !!
Update on the Land Acquisition Selection Committee Preservation Initiative. AoMC Executive Director
Greg Braun, who serves as chair of the committee Our compiler, Liz Hailman reported that 21,464 individual Downy Woodpeckers, European Starling and Common
noted the Committee’s appreciation for the work birds were counted during this years’ Stuart Christmas Bird Grackles. Is this a true trend, or reflection of better weather,
The 7-member public Land Acquisition Selection Committee that the County Environmentally Sensitive Land staff is doing in Count. We had a good Christmas count this year, with 13 more participants, or the count being one week later - who
continues to work to evaluate the proposals that have been sub- searching for state and federal funds to match our local money. more "countable" species than last year (127 vs 114) and 85 knows? We also had species seen in only one or two other
mitted for properties to acquire under the ½ cent sales tax that It’s tough, though that we don’t have enough money to buy participants in more than 20 parties. The following had twice years: Stilt Sandpiper, Barn Swallow and Northern Rough-
was approved by the voters in November 2006. In addition to many of the well-deserving projects. as many of the species as last year: Magnificent Frigatebird, Winged Swallow. Thanks to one and all who participated.
continuing acquisitions within Pal-mar and the purchase of sev- Evaluating small east-county scrub properties, including one Glossy Ibis, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied and
eral contiguous ocean-to-lagoon parcels on Hutchinson Island, on which a scrub jay has been seen, in comparison to large tracts
the LASC recently agreed to forward to the County Commission located at more remote westerly sites is a challenging endeavor,
# Species # Species # Species
a recommendation to purchase a key tract located in the headwa- but overall, the committee is faced with the delightful challenge
ters of Kitching Creek. The cost for the property will be of using locally-generated funds to acquire conservation lands 44 Pied-billed Grebe 1 *Peregrine Falcon 1 hummingbird sp.
matched with funds appropriated by the Loxahatchee River for permanent preservation. 55 Northern Gannet 1 Northern Bobwhite 55 Belted Kingfisher
310 Brown Pelican 1 Purple Gallinule 112 Red-bellied Woodpecker
234 Double-crested Cormorant 156 Common Moorhen 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
March 15 Speakers will include: Maggy Hur- 259 Anhinga 60 American Coot 38 Downy Woodpecker
challa; Richard Grosso, Esq. of Ever-
Citizens Growth glades Law Center; Charles Pattison,
6
153
Magnificent Frigatebird
Great Blue Heron
3
63
Limpkin
Sandhill Crane
2 *Hairy Woodpecker
3 Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker
Management AICP, of 1000 Friends of Florida; Greg 227 Great Egret 43 Black-bellied Plover 8 Pileated Woodpecker
Braun of Audubon of Martin County;
Forum - Open to the Virginia Sherlock of Littman, Sherlock
149 Snowy Egret 1 Semi-palmated Plover 26 Eastern Phoebe
181 Little Blue Heron 2 Piping Plover 29 Loggerhead Shrike
Public and Heims.
83 Tri-colored Heron 428 Killdeer 3 White-eyed Vireo
Sponsored by: Martin County Conser-
vation Alliance, 1000 Friends of Florida, 461 Cattle Egret 2 American Oystercatcher 7 Blue-headed Vireo
Where: Morgade Library on Salerno and Everglades Law Center, Inc. 6 Green Heron 17 Greater Yellowlegs 175 Blue Jay
Road Please RSVP if you can join us. Tell 5 Black-cr. Night-Heron 1 Yellowlegs species 18 Florida Scrub-Jay
When: Saturday, March 15 from 10 and handouts. Contacts: Donna Melzer
us the name and phone # for each person 286-9845 or elzer@gate.net or Joe Florio 4 Yellow-cr. Night-Heron 42 Willet 51 American Crow
a.m. to 1 p.m. refreshments are provided. attending so we can plan refreshments 3 night-heron. imm. 21 Spotted Sandpiper 2050 Fish Crow
joenjensen@gmail.com.
1325 White Ibis 68 Ruddy Turnstone 2059 Tree Swallow
465 Glossy Ibis 105 Sanderling 48 *Northern Rough-winged Swallow
2 Roseate Spoonbill 25 Western Sandpiper 2 *Barn Swallow
April 4 - 6, 2008 63 Wood Stork 20 Dunlin 19 Carolina Wren
235 Black Vulture 1 *Stilt Sandpiper 2 House Wren
514 Turkey Vulture 5 Short-billed Dowitcher 21 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Pelican Island Audubon is proud to host the 2008 Audubon Academy here in Indian 50 Muscovy Duck 23 Wilson's Snipe 65 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
River County. Go to: pelicanislandaudubon.org to download registration forms. 31 Wood Duck 359 Laughing Gull 2910 American Robin
2 American Wigeon 32 Bonaparte's Gull 132 Gray Catbird
Audubon Chapters: Champions for a Better Florida 13 Mallard 406 Ring-billed Gull 258 Northern Mockingbird
1 Mottled-Mallard hybrid 80 Herring Gull 643 European Starling
Chapters are the crucial link to the community in taking actions PROGRAM: A selection of participatory workshops plus field 345 Mottled Duck 12 Great Black-backed Gull 586 Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler
that will protect Florida birds and their habitats. Chapter leaders trips and social events 45 Blue-winged Teal 3 Caspian Tern 14 Yellow-throated Warbler
must become knowledgeable about the birds that live in their area 4 Green-winged Teal 107 Royal Tern 48 Pine Warbler
in order to advocate for their protection. Chapters must become WHO: Participation is open to Florida chapter officers and direc- 12 Ring-necked Duck 9 Sandwich Tern 11 Prairie Warbler
aware of four conservation outcomes that will make the differ- tors, committee chairs, other volunteers and future leaders. 795 Lesser Scaup 32 Forster's Tern 284 Palm Warbler
ence in saving Florida birds: 31 Hooded Merganser 87 Black Skimmer 3 American Redstart
OBJECTIVE: Our communities need the voice of strong Audu- 8 Red-breasted Merganser 317 Rock Pigeon (Rock Dove) 18 Common Yellowthroat
• Stabilize and increase populations of at-risk species of birds. bon chapters throughout Florida to define and shape a better Flor- 138 Osprey 92 Eurasian Collared-Dove 9 Eastern Towhee
ida, where natural lands, clean air and water are protected, and
• Prevent persistent declines or range contractions in popula- where native and migratory birds and other wildlife are part of
1 Snail Kite 38 White-winged Dove 149 Northern Cardinal
tions of common native birds. 10 Bald Eagle 914 Mourning Dove 19 Painted Bunting
what it means to live a quality lifestyle.
• Protect and restore sites essential for vulnerable species. 3 Northern Harrier 18 Common Ground-Dove 43 Red-winged Blackbird
Improve and protect the health of landscapes that support or COST: The Academy is supported by the Florida Chapters, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 Monk Parakeet 975 Common Grackle
could support birds of Florida. Audubon of Florida, and National Audubon. This allows us to 13 Cooper's Hawk 2 Eastern Screech-Owl 306 Boat-tailed Grackle
have a registration fee for participants of only $25 for the three 38 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 Great Horned Owl 61 Brown-headed Cowbird
WHERE: Vero Beach Community College and Old Court days. Participants are also responsible for their travel, meals, and 22 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Barred Owl 25 American Goldfinch
House, 2266 14th Ave., Vero Beach, Florida. accommodations. 167 American Kestrel 2 *Ruby-throated Hummingbird (male) 32 House Sparrow
2 Merlin 1 Archilochus sp. 5 Egyptian Goose (exotic)
* unusual species that require documentation

6 www.audubonmartincounty.org 3
Bird of the Month food of choice is in vertebrates Glossy Ibis JOIN Audubon of Martin County Write your check in favor of “Audubon” and
By Susan B. Whiting (bugs, beetles, worms and the (Plegadis falcinellus) mail to: Audubon of Martin County
like) as well as small mollusks Attn: Membership
You all know the White Ibis, the white bird with a down curved such as mussels and clams. Name
621 S.E. Palm Beach Road
red bill that probes your lawn. Well, the bird of the month is the Glossy Ibis are cosmopolitan and are found in more countries Stuart, FL 34994
kissing cousin of this bird, the Glossy Ibis. Standing about two than any other ibis. In the United States they are primarily found Address Select your membership level:
feet tall, the Glossy Ibis appears totally black at first glance, that in the east section of the country. Ornithologists figure that the
O Individual or family…………………….$20
is, save the horn colored bill. The combination of the decurved Glossy Ibis arrived in the United States in the early 1800’s. There O Senior (over 62) or Student…………….$15
bill and dark appearance is undoubtedly the reason this bird is are no records of the Glossy Ibis breeding in Florida until 1913, City State Zip
O Scrub Jay Newsletter only……………...$15
also known as the “black curlew”. This black appearance disap- but by the 1940’s 95% of the breeding population was found in
pears in good light and now you find yourself looking at a bird Florida and mainly around Lake Okeechobee. The Glossy Ibis Chapter Code: 7Ch-E26
Phone Email
that has a rich chestnut head, breast and back. The lower back, population reached its highest numbers in the 1970’s and ‘80’s
wings and tail however, are a glossy combination of green, but has declined since then due to habitat destruction.
bronze and purple. Next time you are birding in a freshwater wetlands environment
Although both the White and Glossy Ibis look for the Glossy Ibis and make sure Audubon of Martin County Sponsorship Become an Audubon of Martin County
are found in wetlands, you would rarely you see this stunning bird in good light.
find the Glossy Ibis on your lawn. The If you know of a nesting area of Glossy Levels and Benefits Sponsor
“black curlew” can be found in both inland Ibis in Martin County, please give us a Yes! I want to be an AoMC Sponsor
and coastal marshes, although they prefer call at the AoMC office. In addition to the basic membership, $ 500 Osprey Your tax-deductible contribution will help us sustain
you can become an AoMC sponsor. our programs, projects and conservation efforts.
sweet water wetlands. The Glossy Ibis are P.S. Make sure you check the leg and Sponsorship provides funding for pro- Wood Stork benefits plus a natural
gregarious; they like to hang out with other eye color of the ibis you are watching. If grams, projects, field trips and history tour led by an AoMC Board
AoMC’s important conservation work. Name
ibis. Their feeding behavior is fascinating. the bird in question has a red eye and red member to the nesting colony at Bird
They are tactile foragers which means they legs you are seeing another cousin, the $ 50 Great Blue Heron Island in the Indian River Lagoon. Select your sponsorship level:
probe their long decurved bills into the White-faced Ibis. Special recognition in the Scrub Jay and O Scrub Jay $ 5,000
ground or water and when the bill “feels’ a certificate of appreciation. $ 1000 Bald Eagle O Bald Eagle $ 1,000
Osprey benefits plus a natural history O Osprey $ 500
something it captures and eats it. Their Good Birding! Map Courtesy of Cornell $ 100 Roseate Spoonbill
Photo—PeterWallack tour led by an AoMC Board member to a O Wood Stork $ 250
Lab of Ornithology
Recognition in each Scrub Jay , a local birding destination of your choice. O Roseate Spoonbill $ 100
certificate of appreciation, an AoMC
O Great Blue Heron $ 50
T-shirt and one complementary member- $ 5000 and more Scrub Jay
O Other $
ship for a person of your choice. Bald Eagle benefits plus a natural history
Field Trip Report: Warm, sunny and windy weather accom- giving us several good views during the 90- tour led by an AoMC Board member to Enclose your donation with this form and mail to:
$ 250 Wood Stork
panied AoMC field trip participants during minute boat excursion. Ospreys, pelicans
Spoonbill benefits plus one copy of the Everglades National Park, Merritt Island Audubon of Martin County
our recent excursion to the and most of the herons and egrets were out
Sibley Field Guide to Birds and a lunch- National Wildlife Refuge, Ding Darling Attn. Treasurer
Manatee Education and searching for a mid-day meal. Approxi- eon briefing with the AoMC president National Wildlife Refuge or Arthur Mar- 621 S.E. Palm Beach Road, Stuart, FL 34994
Observation Center and a mately 20 bird species were seen. Our and executive director. shall Loxahatchee NWR.
boat trip on the Indian thanks to all who participated, and to Jim
River Lagoon. Two mana- Kearman for keeping the bird list for the
tees were present, but day, and recording the day’s activities using
played “hide-&-seek” too his digital camera.
well to give us good views. Between venues, we also took in a visit to 2008 Birdathon is Coming ! ! Warblers, Warblers, Warblers!!!
The bottle-nose dolphins the A.E. Backus gallery, where we enjoyed
were more cooperative, his Florida art and that of the Highwaymen. Confused about those northern visitors who, twice a year,
APRIL 12, 2008
inhabit your shrubs? You know they are there because of
Your Participation and Support is critical for this
those little chirpy sounds and are so very busy hunting for
Annual Fundraising Event
insects among the leaves; but you just catch a glimpse of
them..? Well then, take this opportunity to learn more.
On April 12 teams from Audubon of Martin County will con-
Eaglewatch Update Eaglewatch Coordinator Clare- watch in Florida. duct a "Birdathon" to seek out as many bird species as possi-
Greg Braun will be presenting
Rue Morgan reports that the bald There seems to be only ble in one day as a measure of the ecological health of our
eagle nesting season appears to be progressing well for most of one chick at nest MT-018, “Warblers of the Treasure Coast”
community.
our eagles in Martin County. The Tesoro eaglets, in St Lucie at the Hobe Sound Nature Center on US 1 South of Bridge
and although the Atlantic Audubon of Martin County leaders, members
Road, Hobe Sound, at 7:30 pm on Thursday, March 13.
County, have been a great hit with the media, with great views Ridge pair got off to a late and community volunteers will strike out in the
available on the web-cam. start with nest building, wilds of Martin County to find, identify and record
See pictures taken from we’re hopeful that they’ll Call the Hobe Sound Nature Center for directions; reserva-
wild bird species. Yours and the collective efforts
web-cam off a computer make up for lost time and tions required at:
of this generous community will provide for very
screen. The pictures have a successful nesting 772 546 2067.
vital conservation and education initiatives that
show 2 healthy and hun- season. will help keep the birds vibrant and alive.
gry chicks being fed fre-
Bring in or send in your pledge forms !!
quently by both adults.
The Bird of Prey Centers’ eagle webcam can be accessed at: (they are in the February newsletter or
Thanks to Ginn Resorts
http://www.audubonofflorida.org/friendsoftheeagle/cam.html. on our website)
for supporting Eagle-

4 www.audubonmartincounty.org 5