Non-profit

Audubon of Martin County Organization

U.S. Postage Paid
621 SE Palm Beach Road, Stuart FL 34994 Permit #57
Stuart FL 34995

Florida Scrub-Jay Art Logo

By Brian Sylvester

audubonmartincounty.org  772-288-2637

November 2009

Program Meeting: Thursday, November 19th; Mark Your Calendars !

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Re-introduction
Office hours are generally 10 am—2pm
Monday through Friday.
Our special topic is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Re-introduction at Du-
Please call ahead at 772.288.2637 Puis Wildlife Management Area(WMA). Join us to hear Florida Fish and November 2009
Wildlife Conservation Commission wildlife biologist Valerie Sparling de- 11 RCWs at DuPuis. Meet at DuPuis Visitor
scribe the initiative to re-introduce RCWs to Martin County. Populations of
Center, 23500 SW Kanner Hwy, Canal
RCWs in Martin County disappeared in the late 1980s, but after their absence
for 15-20 years, the SFWMD and FWC joined forces to improve habitat, in- Point, FL 33432 at 5:30 AM for predawn
stall nest-box inserts and then bring in RCWs to re-establish a local popula- excursion.
tion on the 21,875-acre DuPuis WMA. We will hear about habitat manage- 11 Eaglewatch Orientation, 10 AM JDSP
ment, the use of controlled burns, the results of monitoring and recent im- 19 Program Meeting, Red-cockaded Wood
provements for public access and recreation. pecker re-introduction with Valerie
Meeting Location Sparling, of FWC
This year, we're having the monthly program meetings at 21 AoMC Fund Raiser! John Pierson’s
our AoMC office, at 621 SE Palm Beach Rd., Stuart, Toyota of Stuart Duck Derby
33494. Hospitality at 11:00 AM; program begins at at Indian RiverSide Park
11:30. Bring your own brown-bag lunch.

December 2009
Field Trip : November 11, Wednesday, 10 Pre-Christmas Bird Count Seminar, 7:00
DuPuis Wildlife Management Area PM at the AoMC office. Contact Liz Hail-
man 561-746-7293
Come join us to see the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker at the
17 Program Meeting, “Lesser Known Birds of
DuPuis WMA. In a cooperative venture by multiple agencies, five pair of
South Florida with Claudine Laabs
100 Volunteers needed on Duck Derby Day! juvenile woodpeckers will be released each year for 5 consecutive years to re-
establish this native bird at Dupuis. This early am time will allow us to see 18 Field Trip—Jim Kearman leads a trip to
local Audubon Properties. Meet at Knights
Call Debbie Clark to see where you can help! the new active cluster of RCW‘s at/near their nesting sites before they leave
to forage for the day. of Columbus at 7:30 AM.
We will carpool to the site with Valerie Sparling, and walk a short distance
to the man-enhanced nests. Come prepared for mosquitoes and wet feet! January 2010
We will then return to our cars and bird along the various habitats including
ponds, wet prairies, cypress domes, pine flatwoods and remnant Everglades 2 2009 Christmas Bird Count
JayWatchers Meeting Held marsh. Expect to bird specifically along the cypress boardwalk, the oak ham- 14 Program Meeting, , STA-5 Creating Habitat
mock and the fishing pier. with BJ Kattel of SFWMD, and Election of
JayWatchers kicked off their season of Florida Scrub-Jay (FSJ) surveying with a Pack a lunch as we will return to the VC to eat. This will be followed by Officers
meeting on October 20th to review last year‘s work and to plan the 09/10 survey sea- birding this area in the hopes of seeing fall migrants. Arrival time at DuPuis
19 CraneWatch Orientation 10 AM at AoMC
son. Last year we were unable to visit all the historical sites so these will be included may change proportional to bird behavior. Please register at AoMC in
advance to reserve your place. We will contact all participants of any time Office.
in 09/10 schedule together with visits to new areas in which the presence of FSJs has
been reported. We will also re-visit known Jay families. Our aim is to identify and change—so please leave a phone number where you may be reached. 30 Field Trip—STA-5 Reservations required.
monitor all families on private lands. JayWatchers conduct surveys every Tuesday Meet at the DuPuis WMAVisitors Center (Gate 5) at 23500 SW Kanner Meet at Knights of Columbus at 6:00 AM.
morning between 8 and 10 a.m. If you know of any FSJ families in the Martin County Highway, Canal Point, FL 33438 at a predawn 5:30 am. This location is
area or are interested in helping with our weekly surveys please contact the Audubon Office WEST of the Beeline Hwy (Rt 710) and Rt 76 Junction —continue west un-
(772-288-2637) or Pam Hopkins (Man-Dir@AudubonMartinCounty.org). der that bridge. Allow for a 20 minute plus drive from I-95. Our usual field
trip fees of $5/members $10/guests will be collected in the DuPuis VC park-
ing lot.
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 Board Members 2009-2010 Message from our President Laughing Gulls don‘t have and have lost the black tip on their
Executive Director – Greg Braun ~~~ Laurie Odlum
Bird of the Month the jet black head and bright white tail. Finally in the spring of their
red bill that they wear during third year the Laughing Gull looks
561-575-2028 Office by Susan B. Whiting their spring and early summer right-black head with white eye-ring,
561-575-0042 fax
If you are expecting a pithy environmental breeding season here in Mar- red bill, grey wings and white tail.
Staff Members piece from me this month…. I regret you will be tin County. Instead their bills are black and their heads white Now they are ready to breed and raise
disappointed. with a grayish smudge on the nape. ―Laughers‖, as birders are a family.
Managing Director Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153
wont to call these gulls, are smaller than Ring-billed, Herring and Laughing Gulls nest in large colonies
Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Clark 772-545-2404
This Month I am focused on just one thing. Great Black-backed Gulls but have, in my opinion, a more inter- on beaches as well as dredged spoil
Executive Board Members esting call. The laughing gull‘s call has been described in many islands. They prefer to be in cover so
ADOPT A DUCK! ADOPT MANY DUCKS! ways-hah-ha-hah—hah, hah, hah or their shorter version cheer-ah they locate their nests amongst beach
President Laurie Odlum 772-486-2837
or ka-ha. No wonder they are called Laughing Gulls. grasses and plants. In the Northeast the
Vice-President Doug Warns 772-462-3751
Volunteer in our time of need! There are goodly numbers of Laughing Gulls in Martin County Laughing Gulls join Herring Gull or
Treasurer Bob Gordon 772-546-2206 during the summer, but that population increases vastly in the tern colonies. Both male and female
IT IS NOW TIME FOR ALL AoMC MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TO winter months. Just like the human ―snowbirds‘ the Laughing gulls participate in constructing the Laughing Gull
Secretary, Recording Carol Schaming 772-341-5336
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL AUDUBON CHAPTER. Gulls are migrating to areas of better feed and warmth. The in- nest and then the female lays three Larus atricilla
Conservation Bob Matheson 772-485-0944 crease in ―laughers‖ starts in October and continues until Novem- olive, buff or brown eggs. Again both
Education Catherine Hilton This season we have embarked on a new journey with new friends who ber. The migrants come from as far north as Nova Scotia. sexes take turns incubating the eggs for about twenty days and
have similar goals—to make a better life for the children and families in Laughing Gulls are considered three year gulls. That means that feeding the youngsters until they fledge about five weeks later.
Field Trips Mary Starzinski 772-221-9953
Martin County. Big Brothers/Big Sisters and AoMC have different ap- it takes three years for a ―laugher‖ to mature and breed. This Laughing Gulls only breed in the Americas from the Cana-
Resource Development Doug Warns 772-462-3751 makes identification a bit tricky as each of those three years their dian Maritimes to Granada. They winter as far south as Brazil!
proaches on our goal but end up with a shared mission of improving life
Membership Curt Wood 772-546-5435 for families. Both groups want to see more children out of doors and plumage is slightly different. As a teenager the Laughing Gull‘s Their love of warmth makes them true snowbirds. If we were
Programs Ed Fielding 772-286-6131 learning about the natural world. Audubon works to make the environ- feathers are basically brown (back and head), black (wing tips able to color mark the Laughing Gulls that breed around Martin
Properties Jim Kearman 772-708-0677
ment better for wildlife which will make the lives of all humans better and tail) and white (belly). They lack the black head, white breast County, we would probably find they spent their winters in the
too. It is time for a joining of hands and efforts so both organizations can and belly and red Caribbean or South Amer-
Public Relations Joan Bausch 772-219-8285
be successful. bill. The first win- ica and the ―laughers‖ from
Nature Center Susan Smyth 772-692-3489 ter they boast a the Northeastern United
Newsletter Editor Lisa Fiore 772-528-9707 The Duck Derby Duck Adoptions and Sponsorship costs being paid for dirty grey and States move to Martin
Wildlife Center Dan Martinelli 772-286-6200 by local businesses, are how BBBS and AoMC will garner much needed white head, a County and other parts of
funding to continue their work with Martin County‘s children. black bill and Florida for the winter.
Garden Club Liaison Louise White 772-283-4416
white belly and Not a bad life!
Youth Liaison Jessie Green 772-283-3024 tail which is
It is time to do your part. It‘s easy….! 1) Write the check…………..
Even in these economically challenging time…………… a grouping of tipped with black.
OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS small checks can make a BIG difference in the lives of everyone. By the second
Eaglewatch Liaison Clare-Rue Morgan 772-286-9833 winter these gulls
2) VOLUNTEER! I donate, on average, over 15 hours per week to have a dirty white
Blue Bird Coordinator/ Bev Poppke 772-286-0061
Librarian AoMC. How about you ?! head and breast
First Winter Plumage Early Third Year Plumage
Cranewatch Coordinator Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153
3) Adopt my little friends! And finan-
Cranewatch Co-coordinator Carol Spinney 772-545-7987 cially support AoMC. Use the en-
Jaywatch Coordinator Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153
closed Adoption form—mail in, drop EagleWatch Orientation
off at our office or use the internet.
Christmas Bird Count Liz Hailman 561-746-7293 AoMC EagleWatch Coordinator Clare-Rue Morgan an- project, we encourage your attendance at the EagleWatch orienta-
Webmaster Ed Fisher edaudubon@yahoo.com
Just Do It—Do it now. nounces the Eaglewatch Orientation seminar to be held on Wed., tion seminar.
Nov 11th at the Elsa Kimbel Education Center at Jonathan Dick- We‘re having the Eaglewatch orientation on Veteran‘s Day in
inson State Park. The program starts with a Meet-&-Greet with honor of our men and women who are serving or have served in
―Sparky‖ the eagle from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary from 10:00 to the armed forces‖ says Clare-Rue Morgan. Come out and join us
AUDUBON HOUSE DOCENTS
10:30, which will be followed by a presentation about the local to learn more about bald eagles and how you can help.
Beverly Poppke,
Ed Fisher, Carol Coyne
bald eagle population and information about the eagle nest moni- Call 772-286-9833 or clarerue@aol.com for more information
toring program. or to register.
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be
obtained from the division of Consumer Services toll-free within Florida
800.435.7352. Registration does not imply endorsement,
Welcome New Members! The population of eagles in Martin County has been doing
pretty well, with several new nests being found in recent years as
approval, or recommendation by the state. young eagles that fledged from nests in Martin County are now AoMC EagleWatch
Allergy & Asthma Kristin Helser Mike Shadel
The Scrub Jay is published seven times a year on entering their reproductive years. Through the EagleWatch pro- Coordinator Clare-
Care Carole Hemeleski Mel & Sharon Sherman
recycled content paper with soy-based ink. gram, volunteers monitor nests at locations on public lands and Rue Morgan, Busch
Westa Delagi Sally Hetzel Marie Smith
private lands where we‘ve got approval from the property owner. Wildlife Sanctuary
Sheldon Dorf Robert P. Katz June Stone
Contact your U.S. Senators in Washington DC Nests are visited at least twice per month for as long as it takes to Outreach Director
William T. Dougherty Cathy Lenaghan Joanne M. Taylor
at the following numbers: understand what is going on (which may vary anywhere from 15 Amy Kight, and
Eleanor Fowler Nancy Lombardo Douglas Vesper
min to a couple hours). Whether you are an experienced Eagl- "Sparky" the ea-
Senator Bill Nelson: 202.224.5274 Eddie Grant Valentine Martin Ely White
watcher who just wants to hear how ‗your‘ nest fits into the big gle. Photo by J.
Senator George LeMieux: 202.224.3041 Lillian Graves Lauren Palmero
picture, or a newcomer who wants to become involved with the Kearman.
Representative: Tom Rooney 772.288.4668 Veronica Halverson David Schwartz
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 JOIN Audubon of Martin County Write your check payable to ―Audubon‖ and
Mail to: Audubon of Martin County
Name Attn: Membership
621 SE Palm Beach Road
Stuart, FL 34994
Address Select your Membership level:
O Individual or family…………………….$20
O Senior (over 62) or Student……………. $15
City State Zip
O Scrub Jay Newsletter only……………...$15

Phone Email Chapter Code: C92E260Z $ 5.00

Audubon of Martin County Sponsorship
Levels and Benefits
Become an Audubon of Martin County
Sponsor
Yes! I want to be an AoMC Sponsor
Adopt a duck!
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.
Sponsorship provides funding for pro- Wood Stork benefits plus a natural
grams, projects, field trips and history tour led by an AoMC Board
Win the GRAND PRIZE of a 2010 Scion
Name
AoMC’s important conservation work.
member to the nesting colony at Bird xB. The owner of the First Adopted Duck to
$ 50 Great Blue Heron Island in the Indian River Lagoon. Select your sponsorship level: cross the finish line will be able to customize
Special recognition in the Scrub Jay and O Scrub Jay $ 5,000
a certificate of appreciation. $ 1000 Bald Eagle O Bald Eagle $ 1,000
the features and choose the color of their new
$ 100 Roseate Spoonbill
Osprey benefits plus a natural history O Osprey $ 500 Scion!
tour led by an AoMC Board member to a O Wood Stork $ 250
Recognition in each Scrub Jay , a local birding destination of your choice. O Roseate Spoonbill $ 100
Other prizes include: a Royal Caribbean
certificate of appreciation, an AoMC
t-shirt and one complementary member- $ 5000 and more Scrub Jay
O Great Blue Heron $ 50 cruise, a beachfront hotel weekend, a laptop
ship for a person of your choice. Bald Eagle benefits plus a natural history
O Other $ computer and an aquarium.
$ 250 Wood Stork tour led by an AoMC Board member to Enclose your donation with this form and mail to: To Adopt a Duck or 2 or 3, get event more
Everglades National Park, Merritt Island Audubon of Martin County
Spoonbill benefits plus one copy of the
National Wildlife Refuge, Ding Darling Attn. Treasurer
information or for details on all the prizes, go
Sibley Field Guide to Birds and a lunch-
eon briefing with the AoMC President or
National Wildlife Refuge or Arthur Mar- 621 SE Palm Beach Road, Stuart, FL 34994 to:
shall Loxahatchee NWR.
duckderbymartin.com
Executive Director.

John Pierson‘s Toyota of Stuart, in partnership with Big Brothers

ADOPT A DUCK / Big Sisters of Martin County and Audubon of Martin County join
Thank you Sponsors for the 2009 Duck Derby. The Duck Derby is the first event of its
kind in Martin County and is designed to raise funds and increase
awareness to benefit both Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Audubon of
Roseate Spoonbill Sponsor Martin County. For additional details you can contact Duck
Derby Central at BB/BS 772-283-8373 in Stuart.
Kathy Petteruti
CALL DEBBIE CLARK AT 772-545-2404 TO VOLUNTEER
TO HELP ON DUCK DERBY RACE DAY

DUCK DERBY RACE EVENT

SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 21
10:30—1:00
INDIAN RIVERSIDE PARK

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Properties Updates Give us a call at the AoMC office if you
can help. Audubon of Martin County’s Third Annual Photo Contest!
Many thanks to AoMC properties chair- All entries will be judged on how well they express the wild and natural en-
man Jim Kearman who was the presenter Our thanks to Bev Poppke, Tom Fritz, vironment of Florida. Images will again be displayed with the help of the Elli-
at AoMC‘s September program meeting. Tom Tomlinson, Pam Hopkins and Greg ott Museum.
Jim provided aerial photographs and Braun who recently spent an interesting
slides of our various properties, which day attacking Brazilian pepper trees at There is a $5 fee for each entry into the Photography Contest. All entries
vary from small unbuildable wetland lots AoMC‘s Hidden Bay property in Palm should be works completed from January 1, 2009 through March 1, 2010.
to large tracts that provide a variety of City. As part of our commitment to im- Competition categories include: A) Flora, B) Fauna, C) Up Close Wildlife,
habitats for native flora and fauna. Jim‘s prove the condition of our properties for and D) General Enviro-scape.
talk included information about the value birds and other wildlife, we‘re working to
of small tracts for birds and other wildlife, eliminate invasive pest plants from sev- Watch this space for future updates on exact submission dates and rules.
and accounts of eral waterfront tracts. need for Tom Tomlinson and Pam Hop-
AoMC‘s land stew- AoMC has owned broadcast kins work on Brazilian pepper
ardship initiatives at the Hidden Bay pre- spraying, tree removal in the Hidden Bay
our Possum Long, serve, a ~2-acre wet- which wetland forest.
Maplewood, Hidden land for over a dec- could have
Bay and South Fork ade, and although adverse impacts on desirable vegetation. design. You don't want to have just one thing.
properties. As we we‘ve done several Our timing was set to attack the peppers
If You Build it they ……………… !
(Part one) Good habitat gardens can be of any style. No one expects you
administer grants for inspections and site before they go to seed, and we were glad to have a wilderness It's totally fine if you want a neat, organized
various habitat im- visits, this was the to find that the extent of pepper infesta- garden — even in a rigid, formal structure, your garden can still
provement projects, first time we‘ve set tion was primarily limited to the southern Gardening and bird-watching naturally go hand in glove: The feed the birds.
we could use more foot into the densely- part of the property. While there, we fall migration season is an ideal time to spot unusual birds, and a Bird feeders are useful supplements to natural fruits, berries
volunteers to help forested wetland par- added to the inventory of flora and fauna.
pretty garden full of sparkling berries, handsome seedheads and and seeds, especially in the fall, says Steve Kress, vice president
with everything cel. Using chemicals We expect to have more excursions to
bright blooms will attract a lively crowd of colorful, winged visi- for bird conservation at the National Audubon Society. Migrating
from field work to AoMC Hidden Bay property. Waterfront specially developed Hidden Bay and several of our other prop-
tors. birds may stop at feeders for oil-rich sunflower or thistle seeds,
computer work. view with mangroves and pond apples as a basal-bark treat- erties over the next several months. If
ment prevents the you‘d like to help, please give us a call. Trees and shrubs known for their abundant berries are all great and they'll stick around for a few days while they build up their
choices for a bird-friendly garden. Bird feeders also attract birds, strength to travel on.
of course, but well-chosen plants bring even more birds to any Bird feeders also are particularly helpful for young birds just
garden. The reality is, only a few bird species will visit a feeder learning to find their own food. Look carefully when you see
The Wendesday Group rain. They have worked hard to remove many invasive trees & — the ones on the bold side. The best way to help the birds is to several cardinals or wrens in the garden, and you may notice that
The Friends of Possum Long ‗Wednesday Group‘ (volunteers : plants in the areas around our office on Palm Beach Road. They really focus on the planting, then supplement with a feeder." the group is a family, the parents introducing their young to your
are eagerly looking forward to the re-planting phase of their Berries are an especially important food for migrating birds. Ber- feeders or to the fruits and seeds on plants in the flower beds.
Doug Arbeau, Ralph Mallery, Mike Pascarelli, Mary Ann
Ganns, Jim Stewart, Robin Beckett, Debra Matten, Gaby Guet- summer project….. and to some cooler weather! If your ries that are high in fat and yield a lot of energy for the fall mi- To attract the greatest variety of birds, Kress recommends using
Wednesday afternoons are free, and you like working with gration are the best. . several kinds of bird feeders, at different heights and at more than
tler and Carol Schamming ) continue their work to improve the
habitat quality at Possum Long. This dedicated group of volun- plants please contact Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Clark for Native plants are among the best choices when you're landscap- one location around the garden.
teers has met throughout the summer through all the heat and more information. ing with birds and wildlife in mind. These plants naturally sup- Having several feeders also reduces competition somewhat, and
port the native insects our birds depend on, especially in spring allows small and large birds their own spots. You'll want to place
when they're feeding their young. Native plants also supply nec- feeders where you can see them from the windows inside, and
include the gathering of historical informa- sioners have exclusive power to make tar for butterflies and hummingbirds, and seeds for wintering within about 20 feet of a tree or fairly large shrub, so the birds
Conservation Corner songbirds. Wherever you live, regional native plants thrive in the will have a place to perch while they're waiting for a turn at the
tion and the filming of a video about the changes to their Comp Plans. Rising taxes,
Martin Grade Scenic Highway Desig- roadway corridor. If you have information increased housing densities, gridlocked local climate and conditions; they're great choices for low- feeder, as well as a place to escape to when a hawk drops down
nation to share, contact Mary Dawson at 772-708- roads, degraded surface water, dwindling maintenance gardens. suddenly or a cat sneaks by. Hanging
Many of you will remember AoMC‘s 3021 or medawson@usa.net. If you would populations of native flora and fauna and When you're selecting trees, shrubs feeders directly over shrubs, where cats
support last spring for the initiative to have like to help by conducting bird surveys, disappearing natural habitats are just some and flowers for a bird garden, try to can lie in wait, is not a good idea, he
the westerly 7-mile segment of Martin contact Greg Braun. of the consequences of Florida politicians' think like a bird: The finches, bluebirds, says.
Grade between CR 609 and the Beeline habit of approving almost every applica- chickadees and nuthatches in your gar- A good general backyard feeder assem-
Hometown Democracy
designated as a scenic highway. During tion for Comp Plan changes. den are looking for bugs, seeds and ber- bly could contain a tube feeder for black-
the summer, AoMC did a follow-up bird The AoMC Board of Directors has voted Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 ries. They are attracted to gardens with oil sunflower seeds, a hummingbird
survey to add to the species we observed. to support the Hometown Democracy ini- changes all that by giving voters veto plants of different sizes and textures. feeder while they are in town and a suet
We‘re beginning to get a better under- tiative – Amendment 4 - which will be on power over these changes to our Compre- They need tree limbs to perch on, leaf feeder in the cool wintertime months
standing of the diversity of birds that in- the November 2010 general election ballot hensive Plan. Amendment co-author Les- litter to scatter and turn over, and lots of only. They attract lots of birds, but just
habit the wetlands, pastures and forested as an amendment to the Florida Constitu- ley Blackner says ―Our opponents say we nooks and niches to explore. Flower being in the garden every day, if only for
areas along the road, and we‘re planning to tion. Over 1,000,000 Florida voters have live in a representative democracy and just beds and shrub borders should be full a few minutes, can help you (your fam-
signed the Florida Hometown Democracy Swallow with prey
do additional surveys. have to elect better officials. My response: and lush, not spotty. Groves, hedges and ily) to connect with nature and to experi-
Our work is in support of the application petition to get it on the ballot. Been there, tried that. By the time they
We all have a stake in the local growth mixed shrub borders are attractive to birds. Wide-open lawns ence bird life up close.
for the scenic highway designation, and we hand out the comp plan changes, it's too
attract few birds; make room for flowers, grasses, vines and Focus on plants as a way to feed all the wildlife. That's the way
are interested in hearing from any one who decisions, particularly because a vote by a late; the damage is done.‖ For more infor-
groundcovers. nature does it, and it's a lot more long-term and sustainable than a
would like to be involved in this ―Save the majority of existing county commissioners mation see:
Trees‖ initiative. Other parts of the nomi- can alter our community's future forever. www.floridahometowndemocracy.com Diversity is important for wildlife, and it's just good garden bird feeder. Article Synopsized from NAS
nation process that are currently underway Currently, elected city and county commis-
4 5