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

January 2010

Program Meeting: Thursday, January 14th

Mark Your Calendars !
Office hours are generally 10 am—2pm Brown-bag luncheon beginning at 11:00 at the AoMC office. Join us to
Monday through Friday. learn more about the birding opportunities at Stormwater Treatment Area
Please call ahead at 772.288.2637 #5. STA-5 is located in eastern Hendry County, and consists of approxi- January 2010
mately 7,680 acres of low-elevation wetlands. One of many STAs that are 2 Christmas Bird Count
being constructed as filtering marshes to remove high concentrations of 14 Program Meeting, STA-5 Creating Habitat
nutrients from surface waters, STA 5 has become a great location for birds
and birding. At the program meeting, South Florida Water Management
with B.J. Kattel of SFWMD, and Election of
Districts‘ Bijaya ―B. J.‖ Kattel will give us an overview of the bird life at Officers
this STA to prepare us for our field trip on Saturday, January 30 th. 19 CraneWatch Orientation 10 AM at AoMC
Office.
Meeting Location 30 Field Trip - STA #5 Reservations required.
This year, we're having the monthly program meetings at our AoMC of- We leave Knights of Columbus at 6:00 AM.
fice, at 621 SE Palm Beach Rd., Stuart, 33494. Hospitality at 11:00 AM;
program begins at 11:30. Bring your own brown-bag lunch.
February 2010
18 Program Meeting, “Creating Urban Oases
for Migrating Flocks”. John Ogden,
Field Trip : Saturday, January 30 Audubon of Florida Ornithologist
(STA-5) Stormwater Treatment Area #5 20-21 Field Trip—Indian River County Wetlands
Facility, Viera Wetlands and Merritt Island
Audubon of Martin County’s Third Annual Photo Contest! Through a partnership with Hendry Glades Audubon, the South Florida NWR—reservations required. Overnight.
Water Management District will offer us an escorted birding tour of the
South Florida Birding Trail Stormwater Treatment Area #5. The 7,680 acre
All entries will be judged on how well they express the wild and natural environment of Florida. Images will again be March 2010
displayed with the help of the Elliott Museum during April. Because of limited space during the Elliot‘s construction site is about 20 miles south of Clewiston in rural eastern Hendry County.
project they will, therefore, have limited space to hang images this year. Submitted images will STA-5 is one of the premier birding sites in South Florida. For the 2008 18 Program Meeting, Green Cay and Wakoda-
be juried and their selections will then be displayed. Great Backyard Bird Count, Clewiston and STA-5 had the highest number
hatchee with Donald Campbell of PBC Parks
of birds tallied in Florida (143,748).
We will meet our guide at STA-5 and be provided with a short overview Dept
What's a Juried Show? The annotation ‗juried’ means your photographs will be reviewed by a 24 Field Trip— Green Cay and Wakoda-
jury (a knowledgeable committee) prior to being displayed. The cream of the crop images, in this of the area. We‘ll then carpool along the levees and stop and bird when an
opportunity presents itself. A $5 donation/person is suggested for our host hatchee Wetlands. Meet at KoC 6:30 AM.
case, will be displayed based on their composition, color, image sharpness, accuracy to nature, 26-28 Audubon Academy—Gainesville
and how well it reflects the Natural Florida. Awards will be given to this group of images only. from Glades Audubon in addition to our standard fee of $5/members and
$10/non-members. Donations and consent forms will be completed when
we meet at the STA-5 lot. We will meet and leave from the Knights of Co-
There is a $5 fee for each entry into the Photography Contest. All entries should be works
completed from January 1, 2009 through March 1, 2010. Competition categories include: A) Flora, B) Fauna, C) lumbus (Cove and Kanner) parking lot by 6 am sharp. For those who prefer
Up Close Wildlife, and D) General Enviro-scape. to avoid the early am drive to STA-5, lodging is available at the Clewiston
Inn (800-749-4466) or the Holiday Inn Express (877-863-4780).
Please register early as the trip is limited to 40 participants. Walkie talk-
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010.
RULES for submission of images can ies are used to communicate between the many cars as we travel the dikes.
be found on our website: Spotting scopes very helpful. Let us know if you can bring any. Bring
Images will be accepted at the AoMC office between Monday, March your lunch and water—we may be gone all day. Call the office (772-288-
AUDUBONMARTICOUNTY.ORG
22 and Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Call AoMC office in advance for Just look for our little photographer. 2637) or email fieldtrips@audubonmartincounty.org to make your res-
alternate hours delivery. ervation. Please try to reduce the use and carpool from the KoC lot. International Migration Flyways

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 Board Members 2009-2010 Message from our President John Pierson Toyota First Annual Duck Derby Event Report CONGRATULATIONS
Executive Director – Greg Braun ~~~ Laurie Odlum Duck Derby WINNERS !
561-575-2028 Office About 300 very excited and anxious event goers were witness to the First Annual
561-575-0042 fax Duck Derby Drop! We could not have asked for a more beautiful day on the Indian Grand Prize - Toyota Scion
River Lagoon although a little more wind would have been nice. Tracy Caisse
Staff Members
Duck Adoptions (sales) continued up to the last minute so all who wanted could
Managing Director Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153 It‘s a new year and time to renew your commit- First Prize - Cruise Sails Jan 10
adopt a cute yellow racer. At the appointed hour of NOON and a hearty 1 —— 2—
ment to the environment. Shirley Parker
Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Clark 772-545-2404 -3, the large red refuse container, which stored the ducks on the barge, was hoisted
Second Prize - Computer
Executive Board Members high into the air and all the ducks were dropped into the water! There were a few George Hart
Why do ―Auduboners‖ do what we do? Because
who refused to go willingly; they were encouraged by members of the 27/80 Kayak- Third Prize - Marriott weekend
President Laurie Odlum 772-486-2837 we are for the Birds as we have said many times
ers that swimming was FUN! Delores Burch
Vice-President Doug Warns 772-462-3751 before. What that really means is we are here to
A lack of wave action made the race go slowly but, after what I am sure seemed Fourth Prize - Aquarium
make sure that wildlife, and specifically birds, has a place to live—proper
Treasurer Bob Gordon 772-546-2206 like forever for some onlookers, the ducks found their way to the clear Plexiglas tube Janet Horn
habitat. A place to call home with food and shelter.
where the winning ducks were plucked in order, one at a time as they floated down
Secretary Volunteer Wanted I know you think and plan with birds in mind; perhaps if you add just THANK YOU TO
the tube. Volunteers from BB/BS and Audubon acted as runners from the waters
Conservation Bob Matheson 772-485-0944
one more bird friendly habitat in your yard (tree, shrub, brush pile) or ALL THE VOLUNTEERS
edge to the winners table where the Adopted ducks were matched with their adoptive
hold back on applying pesticide. Consider not deadheading your old
Education Catherine Hilton 772-631-5478 family. See the winners list to the right. All volunteers received Duck Derby T-
blossoms, that made seeds, for another month, or letting that snag of a
Shirts. Yellow was the color of the day along with smiles and fun!
Field Trips Mary Starzinski 772-221-9953 dead oak or pine stand a little longer before removing. You can help our
Activities besides the duck race included, music from Coast Radio, face painting,
Resource Development Doug Warns 772-462-3751 local birds as well as the visiting migrants survive another season.
playing in the water feature at Indian RiverSide Park and enjoying a day outside
Membership Curt Wood 772-546-5435 The GBBC is a great opportunity to introduce other to the joy of bird
with nature.
Programs Ed Fielding 772-286-6131
observation, feeder watching and habitat creation. Spend an hour or even
This was a fun and exciting event with lots of color and fun for all.
just a half hour out doors with your immediate family members, grand-
Properties Jim Kearman 772-708-0677
children or great neighbors and make the conscious effort to observe
Public Relations Joan Bausch 772-219-8285 how nature works in your back yard. Remember your back yard goes A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Nature Center Susan Smyth 772-692-3489 west all the way to Lake Okeechobee too. So go pick a plot of land and
Newsletter Editor Lisa Fiore 772-528-9707 just sit there, observe and see what is happening. Take a note or two Aaron‘s Dream Machine Freedom Waste rine
Wildlife Center Dan Martinelli 772-286-6200 about what you see and hear or even special behaviors and interactions. All American Roofing Golden Medical Supply Saint Joseph‘s School
You are never too old or too young to learn something new and enrich American Red Cross Craig‘s Designs Scripps Newspapers
Garden Club Liaison Louise White 772-283-4416
your life. Report your findings to Cornell and be part of the process. Aquatic Life Hutchinson Island Resort- Stuart PD
Youth Liaison Jessie Green 772-283-3024 BBJones Communication Marriot Hotels Stuart Rubber Stamp
THEN, apply what you have learned to the habitats Big Apple Pizza Indiantown News Tara Biek Creative
OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS
for wildlife in Martin County. The natural habitat is BJ‘s Jim & Sam Liberato The Children‘s Museum of
Eaglewatch Liaison Clare-Rue Morgan 772-286-9833
being attacked daily and it is up to us to make the dif- Celebrity/RCL Cruise Line Lauri Goldstein the Treasure Coast
Blue Bird Coordinator/ Bev Poppke 772-286-0061 ference in the lives of Nature‘s wild creations. Christ Fellowship Manero‘s Restaurant Toshiba
Librarian Coast 101.3 Martin County Parks & Toyota of Stuart
Cranewatch Coordinator Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153 See you out there! Florida Inland Navigation Rec -Indian Riverside Park US Sailing Center
District MCHS Green Club Whitticar Boat Works
Cranewatch Co-coordinator Carol Spinney 772-545-7987
Florida Oceanographic MCHS DECA Club 4 Fish Marina
Jaywatch Coordinator Pam Hopkins 772-408-6153 Society Palm City Dredge & Ma- 2780 Kayakers
Christmas Bird Count Liz Hailman 561-746-7293

Webmaster Ed Fisher edaudubon@yahoo.com

Help the birds

AUDUBON HOUSE DOCENTS and their environment.
Beverly Poppke, Ed Fisher,
Linda Wishney Please consider a bequest to
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be Audubon of Martin County.
obtained from the division of Consumer Services toll-free within Florida
800.435.7352. Registration does not imply endorsement,
approval, or recommendation by the state. Call Bob Matheson at
The Scrub Jay is published seven times a year on (772) 283-5999.
recycled content paper with soy-based ink.

Contact your U.S. Senators in Washington DC

at the following numbers:
Senator Bill Nelson: 202.224.5274
Senator George LeMieux: 202.224.3041
Representative: Tom Rooney 772.288.4668 Photo by 2780 Kayaker - Jean Bell

2 7
 JOIN Audubon of Martin County Write your check payable to ―Audubon‖ and
Mail to: Audubon of Martin County
Name Attn: Membership fects our conservation priorities,‖ said Audu-
621 SE Palm Beach Road bon Education Vice President, Judy Braus.
Stuart, FL 34994 ―Everyone who participates in the GBBC—
Address Select your Membership level: families, teachers, and young people—will get
O Individual or family…………………….$20 a chance to hone their observation skills, learn
City State Zip O Senior (over 62) or Student……………. $15 more about birds, and make a great contribu-
O Scrub Jay Newsletter only……………...$15 tion to the future!‖
Take a Mid-Winter Nature Break Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from
Phone Email Chapter Code: C92E260Z novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as
February 12-15, 2010
little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days
of the event and report their sightings online
Plan ahead Now! at www.birdcount.org. One 2009 participant
Audubon of Martin County Sponsorship Become an Audubon of Martin County said, ―Thank you for the opportunity to par-
Levels and Benefits Sponsor New York, NY and Ithaca, NY—Bird watchers coast to
ticipate in citizen science. I have had my
Yes! I want to be an AoMC Sponsor coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great
Backyard Bird Count, Friday, February 12, through eyes opened to a whole new interest and I
In addition to the basic membership, $ 500 Osprey Your tax deductible contribution will help us sustain love it!‖
you can become an AoMC sponsor. our programs, projects and conservation efforts. Monday, February 15, 2010. Participants in the free
Sponsorship provides funding for pro- Wood Stork benefits plus a natural event will join tens of thousands of volunteers of all
grams, projects, field trips and history tour led by an AoMC Board
AoMC’s important conservation work. Name levels of birding experience to count birds in their ―The GBBC is a perfect first step towards
member to the nesting colony at Bird the sort of intensive monitoring needed to
Island in the Indian River Lagoon. own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.
$ 50 Great Blue Heron Select your sponsorship level: Each checklist submitted by these "citizen scientists" discover how birds are responding to envi-
Special recognition in the Scrub Jay and O Scrub Jay $ 5,000 ronmental change,‖ said Janis Dickinson,
$ 1000 Bald Eagle helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird watcher at window
a certificate of appreciation. O Bald Eagle $ 1,000
Osprey benefits plus a natural history and the National Audubon Society learn more about the director of Citizen Science at the Cornell
O Osprey $ 500 by Terie Rawn, NY
$ 100 Roseate Spoonbill tour led by an AoMC Board member to a how the birds are doing—and how to protect them. Lab. ―Winter is such a vulnerable period for
O Wood Stork $ 250
Recognition in each Scrub Jay , a local birding destination of your choice. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 birds, so winter bird distributions are likely
O Roseate Spoonbill $ 100
certificate of appreciation, an AoMC checklists online, creating the continent's largest instantaneous to be very sensitive to change. There is only one way—citizen
O Great Blue Heron $ 50
t-shirt and one complementary member- $ 5000 and more Scrub Jay snapshot of bird populations ever recorded. science—to gather data on private lands where people live and
O Other $
ship for a person of your choice. Bald Eagle benefits plus a natural history ―Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to doing this across the continent over many years. GBBC has enor-
tour led by an AoMC Board member to Enclose your donation with this form and mail to: get outside with family and friends, have fun, and help birds—all mous potential both as an early warning system and in capturing
$ 250 Wood Stork
Everglades National Park, Merritt Island Audubon of Martin County at the same time. Anyone who can identify even a few species
Spoonbill benefits plus one copy of the and engaging people in more intensive sampling of birds across
National Wildlife Refuge, Ding Darling Attn. Treasurer can provide important information that enables scientists to learn the landscape.‖
Sibley Field Guide to Birds and a lunch-
National Wildlife Refuge or Arthur Mar- 621 SE Palm Beach Road, Stuart, FL 34994 more about how the environment is changing and how that af-
eon briefing with the AoMC President or
shall Loxahatchee NWR.
Executive Director.

Taxidermy Update One of the new specimens that has recently been Cranewatch
added to AoMC‘s collection is a ring-necked duck
Many thanks to professional photographer Claudine Laabs (see photo and Bird of the Month article). If you The annual Cranewatch meeting
for her presentation at AoMC‘s December program meeting. haven‘t ever seen one up close, take the opportunity to is being held Tuesday, January
Thank You Sponsors All of us enjoyed seeing her amazing photos highlighting some stop by the office and see this one. Close-up study 19th at 10:00 a.m. at the Audubon
of the lesser-known birding hot spots in south Florida. will surely help hone your Bird ID skills for the next Office. Whether you live with
To attend more of her presentations, participate in special time you trying to figure out which species are in that them or just love them, become a
Roseate Spoonbill Sponsor location field trips or see even more images go to: far-off raft of ducks. If you share our interest in the Cranewatcher and raise aware-
http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/PubInf/News_Room OR taxidermy project, we encourage you to make a tax- ness and promote the safety of
Kathy Petteruti http://www.fourarts.org deductible contribution. Sandhill Cranes.

Christmas Bird Count

Welcome New Members!
AoMC‘s CBC coordinator Liz Hailman is busy compiling the data sheets turned in to her
Barbara Bondar Cecile L. Malish
from the numerous CBC participants, and we hope to publish the results in the next Scrub-jay
Becky Boynton Don W. Millure newsletter. We appreciate the efforts of all the CBC participants – whether you spent all day
Marilyn Buckley Mary Nieboer beating the bushes, or just phoned in observations of backyard birds, they all count and contrib-
W. D. Crompton Patricia M. Phelan ute to the count totals. We will use the totals to analyze population trends for different species,
Alice Guillemet Larry Ries and if recent history repeats itself, we‘re likely to see increases in urban species (e.g., cardinals,
Mary B. Hallicy Dorothy Thomson blue jays, red-bellied woodpeckers) and decreases in the species such as bobwhite quail, mead-
Miranda Kerr John Wakeman owlarks and loggerhead shrikes which need more natural habitats. CBC participants usually
Jeanne Mackin Mary White come away from each count with some notable observations, and we‘re thankful that so many Peregrine Falcon
of you took time from your holidays to help count birds! Photo Courtesy of Vincent Lucas
6 3
Properties Updates
Contracts have been signed
and we are ready to start the
removal of the invasive pest
plants that had gradually taken
over the northerly part of the
Possum Long property. Our
thanks to Louise White,
Joanne Gamba, Ruth Ann
Becker and Pam Hopkins who
have done a plant rescue to
transplant the ferns, ground
orchids and other notable
specimens to protect them
from inadvertent damage.
We‘ll also be transplanting
some cabbage palms and will
be trying to work around as
many of the pines as possible
to save them in their current
locations.
An interesting nuance of
the habitat enhancement pro-
ject at our Possum Long prop-
erty is our interest in installing
an osprey nesting platform
that will be available when the
dead pine tree that currently
holds the nest finally topples.
The pine tree died soon after
the 2004 hurricanes, and it
seems to lose a few more
• Inside Birding—View on-line videos from the Cornell Lab. They will help you improve your bird identification skills by paying
attention to size and shape, color pattern, behavior, and habitat. go to: ALLABOUTBIRDS.ORG and then Advanced Search.
limbs during each storm. We
are appreciative of the work
by Dan Roberts and his son,
Jonathan, to acquire the mate-
rials and build a new platform
for us. We are looking for
contributions to help with this
endeavor, costs for which will
likely total approximately
$3,000. The nesting platform
will be installed at a location
where it will be visible from
the proposed nature trail and
bird blind that will be con-
structed after all the landscap-
ing has been completed.
We are very appreciative to
the City of Stuart for their
support of the watershed im-
provement project by provid-
ing a grant for the purchase
and installation of hundreds of
trees, shrubs and groundcover
plants that will help to re-
create vegetative buffers along
the northerly boundaries of the
project. Although we‘d budg-
eted for the installation of tree
species, the City‘s contribu-
tion will allow us to install
taller trees and shrubs, so the
grow-out period won‘t be as
lengthy.
Conservation Corner
AoMC is partnering with the Martin County Chapter of the
Florida Native Plant Society to evaluate the community‘s inter-
est in establishing a database for the Champion Tree Program.
Plants and birds – most of us recognize that you can‘t have one
without the other. County Forester Dale Armstrong will be the
guest presenter at the Native Plant Society‘s meeting on January
5th – & PM at the Environmental Studies Center located at 2900
NE Indian River Dr. in Jensen Beach. The field trip during
which we‘ll look at (and measure) some local ‗big trees‘ will be
the following Saturday, January 9th. If you enjoy birds and
plants, consider joining us for these interesting programs.
Oaks at Sewall’s Point - Photo by Greg Braun
Bird of the Month
By
Greg Braun
One of the recent additions to
AoMC‘s reference collection of pre-
served specimens is one of the more
common species of wintering water-
fowl along Florida‘s Treasure Coast,
the ring-necked duck. At approxi-
mately 17‖ in length, ring-necked
ducks are one of the smaller duck
species in our area. Although they
lack the colorful speculum (wing
patch) that helps to identify many of
the other ducks, this lack of color
when in flight or on the water is in
itself a helpful characteristic that
helps discard teal, shovelers, mal-
lards, and mottled ducks from further
consideration. The male‘s bold black
and gray plumage and the female‘s
brown plumage directs us to ring-
necked ducks and scaup as likely can-
didates. The male‘s black back helps
lead to a positive ID. With use of bin-
oculars or a spotting scope the distin-
guishing feature that helps confirm the
identification of the ring-necked duck
is the bold white ring near the tip of
the otherwise gray bill.
Ring-necked ducks are winter resi-
dent along the Treasure Coast. They
arrive in the fall from summer-time
nesting areas across Canada and
Alaska, some even continue further
south to Cuba and the Caribbean.
While they are here, ring-necked
ducks are most often found in fresh-
water ponds, marshes and lakes, where
they are often in mixed flocks with
other water- Ring-necked Duck
fowl. Stud- Aythya collaris
ies suggest
that about 80 % of their diet consists
of seeds, pondweeds and tubers, so
you will often see them bobbing
around in search of these foods.
Knowing the bird‘s call won‘t help in
this case – ring-necked ducks are gen-
erally silent while they are here, al-
though there may be low-volume com-
municative calls between members of
a flock and alarm calls when threat-
ened.
If you want a close-up view
of a ring-necked duck, stop by
the AoMC office sometime - our
taxidermist did a great job on
our recently acquired specimen.
Member alert regarding
lodging for the
February Merritt Island
field trip on
February 20-21, 2010
We will be staying at the Best Western
Space Shuttle Inn located at 3455 Cheney
Hwy in Titusville, Fl 32780 on Saturday,
February 20. The phone number is 321-
269-9100. There are 20 rooms reserved
for us until February 1, 2010. All rooms
contain 2 double beds with a majority
containing a refrigerator and microwave.
We need to book at least 10 rooms to
achieve the incredibly low price of
$69.99/room.
The Space Shuttle Inn provides a free
continental breakfast, a newly remodeled
fitness center, a laundry room and a
heated outside pool. Room cancellations
are allowed until February 19 by 3 pm. If
you are planning on attending the field
trip please notify the AoMC office so we
can get a reliable head count. If you are
planning on staying overnight at the Best
Western Space Shuttle Inn please reserve
your own room by calling: 321-269-9100.
Identify yourself as The Audubon of
Martin County Group to receive your
discounted rate.

Online Bird Behavior Course

EagleWatch
Register now for an online bird behavior course that begins January 6, 2010:
Bald eagle nesting season is now in full
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1540&srctid=1&erid= swing and we‘re pleased that reports from
1654469 most of our EagleWatchers suggest this
will be a good nesting season in Martin
County. A couple of the nests are in cy-
press trees, and they are a lot easier to
As a result of our focused attention on habitat stewardship projects, AoMC is not offering a bird ID course this season. Instead, we monitor now that the trees have lost their
suggest that interested people consider taking a birding course sponsored by Cornell. leaves for the winter.
For you photographers, there is still be
Ithaca, NY—The next five-week session for the new online course offered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology begins January 6, time to link up with an EagleWatcher to
2010. The goal of “Investigating Behavior: Courtship and Rivalry in Birds” is to help people learn how to observe and inter- help document eaglets before they fledge. Adult eagle at nest MT-018
pret behavior and communication among birds. A basic principle of bird behavior is explored each week using multimedia and in- If you‘d like to become involved, contact by Eaglewatch participant
teractive activities, guided by an instructor. Clare-Rue Morgan at 772-286-9833. John Shirley
Course size is limited. To enroll or purchase as a gift, visit www.ecornell.com/birds where a video further describes course con-
tent. Another session will begin February 17, 2010. The cost of the course is $295 ($255 for Cornell Lab members) with a $30 dol-
lar registration fee. To receive the Cornell Lab member discount, sign up toll-free at (866) 326-7635.
4 5