Peace River Audubon Society
White Bird
July 30, 2004 Volume 28, Issue 1
SUMMER RAMBLE & POT-LUCK PICNIC DING DARLING & CORKSCREW SWAMP REPORT
August 21 (Sat)
On Wednesday, July 14, I made a trek out to Ding Darling NWR and Cork-
screw Swamp Sanctuary respectively. My main objective was to make
By summer picnic time, some of us are getting Cabin Fever— Flor- contact for my new job, but I naturally did some birding as well (when in
ida Style. So, if you feel like a short nature ramble before lunch Rome after all). Along the drive at Ding, things were a bit quiet as it was
either in CHEC or the Webb, then join us at 9:30 on the 21st in the high tide. I didn't stop at Red Mangrove overlook (a mistake judging by
CHEC parking lot and we will take a stroll in the shade and be back Brian's post) because there was a whole busload of children here and no
by picnic time. Those who joined us last year enjoyed wading in real room for a heavily armed bird warrior (scope, camera, bins, etc.).
three inches of clear sparkling flood water from the Datsun Trail Nonetheless, there were some highlights at other spots: At Crossdykes
back to CHEC. Meeting an otter half way made it more fun. Don't Trail, Gray Kingbirds called from every mangrove snag, and a Black-
forget water, sun cream, bug spray, a hat and please wear old whiskered Vireo let out 2 songs from the mangrove areas across the water
(to the east) between the trail and the overlook tower. Looking back to the
shoes, in case we get our feet wet. If you have questions, call Paul
west from the tower, the Spoonbills (nearly 50) were perched in the man-
at 833-3337. groves in force waiting for the tide and heat to subside. Not many other
surprises or highlights here but I wasn't complaining for a mid-day, high-
The annual summer pot-luck picnic on August 21 begins at 12 (or tide afterthought in July. Along the Sanibel Causeway, one could at least
so) in the outdoor screen room at the Charlotte Harbor imagine migration was underway with a group of 7 Ruddy Turnstones and
Environmental Center’s Alligator Creek site (10941 Burnt Store 5 Semipalmated Plovers.... OK, sure they could have been non-breeding
Road in Punta Gorda) and hopefully the “waders” will have birds that summered-over, but migration sounds a lot more exciting and
returned by then. A brief Board meeting will be held immediately we are now in the back half of July so the shorebirds should be on the
following the picnic to cover any immediate business matters. move.
One of the two biggest surprises of the day came after I met up with
Please bring a covered dish and/or a dessert to share. Charlie Ewell and Arlyne Salcedo who were up for an afternoon road trip.
We were heading east on Daniel's Parkway just east of Ben C. Pratt/Six
Also, please bring your own plates and utensils. Drinks, ice and Mile Cypress when an adult dark morph Short-tailed Hawk sailed low
cups will be provided. across the road and over our vehicles heading to the north toward Six Mile
Cypress Preserve.....things that make you go hmmm!?!.... Now an adult
Members’ families and friends are encouraged to join us. This will Short-tailed in mid July is a bird of a different feather. Is this another bird
be a casual afternoon of socializing and everyone is welcome. wandering after completing nesting? Hmmm... could be, but there is
plenty of suitable habitat to support a nest over there. Perhaps some of
the locals could take a late morning and a scope and sit at that little open
Babcock Ranch Preservation Update park on the NE corner of Daniel's/Six Mile and watch for a bit as the
thermals develop. If there are nesting Short-taileds here, they will cer-
The Peace River Audubon Society has recently sent a tainly be up above the trees as the thermals develop. These birds always
$1,000 check to the Babcock Preservation Partner- hunt from high on the wing looking for avian prey so when they are
ship fund on behalf of its 500 members. around the only key to finding them is to find a spot where you can scan
the horizon and wait! Who's game, I have a few scopes?!?.... ; at any rate,
I had one over Lakes Park a few years back but not in season so I didn't
The Board of Directors realized that, while this
think much of it. Now I'm wondering. Anyone out there know of any his-
represents a lot of money for an organization such as ours, the tory of nesting in Fort Myers?
purchase of the Babcock Ranch is so vital to our future standard of
living in this area that they consider it money invested in our fu- On to Corkscrew, I spent a bunch of time yapping and finally hit the
ture, not just a donation to a worthwhile cause. boardwalk in the late afternoon. Without proper fluids or adequate food...I
was worthless, but fortunately Eagle-eye Ewell scored our second very
We would encourage other like-minded organizations and/or indi- curious bird of the day. A Red-eyed Vireo was right over the boardwalk in
viduals to consider supporting this historic effort. Donations with a small mixed flock with a Northern Parula, a handful of Tufted Tit-
should be made to the: Babcock Preservation Partnership Fund and mouse (mice...., mouses?!?..... ) and the ubiquitous White-eyed Vireos and
sent to: Southwest Florida Community Foundation, 8262 College Carolina Wrens. Here again mid July is a might early for a migrant. Makes
Parkway, Suite 101, Fort Myers, FL 33919. (Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1) New PRAS Members:
you wonder what that bird is doing there. Certainly plenty of habitat for a Jean Armour Margaret Melgard
nesting bird to hide out there, and looking at the data they had back at the H Armstrong Carol Mozik
center there are records for the species for every month of the year. Any Joan Ehrman Don & Carol Sessions
Corkscrew experts out there that can shed some light on circumstances Wm J Grant Nancy Semon-Kraus
surrounding other mid-summer reports? Pileated Woodpeckers were preva- Donald House Diane Strandberg
lent, Red-bellieds, and Downy Woodpeckers were everywhere, and at one Helen Howell Jim & Nancy White
point I thought I heard a Hairy but couldn't prove it (of course I thought I Richard & Marilyn Linden Elfrieda Wuerz
was hearing voices a bit later so take that for what it's worth... note to self,
be sure to eat more and keep hydrated the next time I'm birding all day in
the mid-summer heat!) Next it was Arlyne's turn to carry us by spotting one PRAS 2004-5 COMMITTEE CHAIRS
of the most indifferent Limpkins I've ever seen. It finally walked right under
the boardwalk not too far ahead of us. Good views! (Of course when Arlyne To join any of the committees, please call the chairperson:
originally spotted it, it was not easily seen!) (941)
Annual Banquet Peggy Kampert 639-7791
We also heard Barred Owls getting raucous and had a decent flock of Wood Archivist Peggy Kampert 639-7791
Storks soaring with the vultures here, but no Swallow-tailed Kites were Audubon Pennington Roger Blackmore 625-7317/Larry Linn 637-8160
seen from the boardwalk. I did remedy this for the day list though by see- CHEC rep* Paul Holmes 833-3337
ing a bird over 75 just north of the Callosahatchee River. This is a reliable Christmas Bird Count Tony Licata 505-9775
spot for all the years I've lived here and after Arlyne and Charlie semi- Conservation* Paul Holmes 833-3337
revived me with fluids and sugary snacks I was back in the game again and ELACC rep Paul Holmes 833-3337
looking for these birds as I sped home to Port Charlotte. Education* Phyllis Doggett 575-4009 & Regina Burke 639-4627
Have fun and get out there! Jeff Bouton, Leica Sports Optics Executive* All officers plus Joy Linn & Tom Zinneman
Port Charlotte, FL Field Trips* Tom Zinneman 505-8826
Finance* Cathy Olson 613-6753/Paul Holmes/Tom Zinneman
Hospitality Estelle Fairhurst 624-0715
NEW MEMBERS—KEYS TO PRAS SUCCESS: Membership* Betty Talburt 766.0354
NEP rep Ellen Hawkinson 426-0123
New National Audubon Members: Nature Photography Mary Ann Hughes 637-7855
Newsletter* & Publicity* Joy Linn 637-8160
John & Gudrun Boatman Laura Mann Programs* Paul Holmes 833-3337
O M Boggs Mary Marshall
Brenda Bossman Bill & Shirley McInturf
Silent Auction Regina Burke 639-4627 & Betty Talburt 766-0354
Carl Bradshaw Russ Meinke Webmaster Bill Coombs 639-4961
Nelda Cain Oyar & Lynn Miller ∗ Required committees according to Bylaws & NAS
Dena Callman Linda Moreau
Brenda Capek Theresa Munley
Mary J Cassels Meredith Myers WHAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN DOING:
Ralph Cima Monte Ocha
Gertrude Coble Charles & Marge Ostrom
Lois Cross Patricia Owens >> A $1,404.60 check for youth environmental educa-
Charles Crowell Forest Plum tion will be presented to CHEC at the August picnic.
James & Madeline Detlefs Vince & Fran Radzik This will include Audubon Adventures funds unused
Lois Doczy Gerde & Hectro Ramos
during the last few years, Youth Environmental Educa-
Helen Ducick Ron & Marylou Reed
Marica Durland John Reeves
tion donations, and 50% of Birdathon proceeds;
Allen Feres M B Rehrmann
Martha Finnegan K Reitano >> Babcock donation $1,000 (see page 1);
John & Bev Fornauder Ronald & Janie Ressel
Frank Friddle Ron & Charlotte Robinson >> Donated $250 to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for use of room;
Susan Fuller Jennifer Robots
George & Pat Garrett Eugene Scott >> Discussed involvement in environmental land referendum; further
Gladys Grudt Robert & Beverlie Scott checking on rules re PRAS as a 501(c)3 organization will be done before
John Hunter Mr & Mrs Curtis Serven
participation;;
Marilyn Jones Norb & Elaine Smialek
Harriette Kirkpatrick Kenny & Marcia Sparks
Doreen Kundrot Fern Striplin >> Held planning session for 2004-5 PRAS direction, programs, special
Bruce & Susan Lawson Pamela Taylor events, and field trips in July.
Leslie Leavitt Fredrick Vanham
John Lorden Rosamond Volkert
Bob & Clara Macthen Harriet Weaver
Bob & Donna Werner Peter & Nancy Williams
William White Carol Yost
Date Activity Time Meeting Place Topic/Destination Speaker/Leader Contact
TENTATIVE PRAS 2004-5 September
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Laura DiGruttolo/Paul
9/16 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Parks Management/Control Burns Holmes 941-833-3337**
Meetings: 9/18 (Sat) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Laurel Landfill & Knights Trail Pk Bill Havill 941-625-8096
Social time—7 pm; October
program—7:30 pm at: 10/21 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Preserve Charlotte 04 PAC Speaker/Paul Holmes 941-833-3337**
*Holy Trinity Lutheran 10/19 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Six-Mile Cypress Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
Church, 2565 Tamiami
10/23 (Sat) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Alderman Ford Pk & Medard Pk Dave Smith 941-697-0529
Trail, Port Charlotte
November
11/02 (Tues) Field Trip 7:15 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Sanibel/Ding Darling Paul Holmes 941-833-3337
Field Trips (FT)
Meet at 7:30 am... 11/16 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Explore CHEC Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
“N” meet at McDonald’s in 11/18 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Turtles Wilma Katz/Paul Holmes 941-833-3337**
Peachland Mall; Special Event Wading with CHEC and Audubon
“S” meet in old Kmart lot 11/20 (Sat) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Charlotte County Birding Hot Spots Cathy Olson 941-613-6753
at Burnt Store Road & 41) December
12/07 (Tues) Field Trip 7:15 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Pine Island Nature Cruise/Cabbage Key Paul Holmes 941-833-3337
** = Phone # is PRAS 12/16 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Members Christmas Party Paul Holmes 941-833-3337
member’s phone number 12/18 (Sat) Special Event 7:00 AM Various Christmas Bird Count Tony Licata 941-505-9775
12/21 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM TBA Special Christmas Trip Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
January
P. S.: Monthly Board 01/18 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Selby Gardens Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
meetings will be held the 01/20 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Christmas Bird Count Social Tony Licata 941-505-9775
second (2nd) Tuesday of 01/22 (Sat) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Selby Gardens & Celery Fields Regina Burke 941-639-4627
each month at the Port 01/29 (Sat) Special Event 9:00 AM Charlotte Sports Center Charlotte County Nature Festival Maran Hilgendorf 239-995-1777
Charlotte Library (upstairs February
meeting room). 02/01 (Tues) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Circle B Bar Reserve Tom Zinneman 941-505-8826
02/08 (Tues) Special Event 5:30 PM Maple Leaf Estates Evening with Audubon Jim Beever/Peggy Kampert 941-639-7791
P. S. S.: Audubon
02/15 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Venice Rookery Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855**
Assembly October 7-10 in
02/17 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Shells Joyce Matthys/Paul Holmes 941-833-3337**
St Pete at same time as FL
Birding Festival...9/15 02/19 (Sat) Special Event 7:00 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Everglades National Park/Shark Valley Tom Zinneman 941-505-8826
cutoff for $99 registration March
fee! 03/07 (Mon) Field Trip 7:15 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Bunche Beach & Estero Lagoon Lynn Bates 941-639-7277
03/15 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Corkscrew Swamp Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
03/17 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Saving Cranes/Chassowitka population Pat & Jack Casselberry/Paul 941-833-3337**
03/19 (Sat) Special Event 7:00 AM Various Charlotte Harbor 100 Paul Holmes 941-833-3337
April
04/04 (Mon) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Fort DeSoto Eleanor Marr 941-624-4182
04/19 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Seaboard in the Webb Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
04/21 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Kissimmee Birding ?/Paul Holmes 941-833-3337**
04/23 (Sat) Field Trip 7:00 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Kissimmee Prairie Preserve Tom Zinneman 941-505-8826
May
05/17 (Tues) Nature Photography 7:00 AM Old Kmart Parking Lot @ 41 Sanibel/Ding Darling Mary Ann Hughes 941-637-7855
05/19 (Thurs) Membership Meeting 7:00 PM Holy Trinity Lutheran Church* Annual Membership Meeting Paul Holmes 941-833-3337
05/21 (Sat) Field Trip 7:15 AM McDonald's,Peachland Mall Myakka State Park Dave Mathewson 941-629-6376
The Peace River Audubon Society Non-profit Organization
PO Box 510760 U.S. Postage Paid
Punta Gorda, FL 33951-0760 Punta Gorda, FL
Permit No. 100
www.peaceriveraudubon.org
Summer 2004
White Bird
Printed on Recycled Paper
Min-it Print Shoppe (folding donated)
2004-05 OFFICERS & DIRECTORS:
(941) WOULD YOU PLEASE:
President Cathy Olson ‘05 613-6753 Check the “Exp” date on your address label!
Vice President Paul Holmes ‘05 833-3337
Secretary Peggy Kampert ‘05 639-7791
If an “Exp” is“0704,” it means your PRAS or
Treasurer Larry Linn ‘05 637-8160 National membership expires in July ‘04 (both
The Peace River Audubon Society is a 501 ( c )(3) non-
PRAS and National stop mailings after 2-3 profit organization. Our Federal tax ID number is 59-
Additional Regina Burke ‘06 639-4627 months). The “Exp” line saves the cost of send- 2190872. We do not engage a professional solicitor
Directors: Phyllis Doggett ‘06 575-4009 ing post cards, so if your expiration date has or and 100% of the funds generated by this request will be
Joy Linn ‘05 (editor) 637-8160 will expire, please use the application below to used to support our Chapter programs. Our
Betty Talburt ‘06 766-0354 registration number with the FDA Division of Consumer
renew your membership. Services is SC-040701.
Tom Zinneman ‘06 505-8826
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION —— (Choose A or B below)
(A) __ I/we want to join or renew membership in (B) __ I/we want to join or renew National Audubon for:
the local PEACE RIVER AUDUBON for $10! ___ $15 = 1-yr Student/Senior Rate (62+) ___ $1,000 Individual Life
___ $20 = 1-yr Introductory National Audubon Rate ___ $1,500 Dual Life
Join us to protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the wildlife we love...help us ___ $30 = 2-yr Special National Audubon Rate
protect our Florida. Members receive 10 issues of the “White Bird” newsletter with local Please make checks payable to National Audubon Society
news articles, local meetings, field trips and bird walks. ____ My check is enclosed or ____ Please bill me
Visit our web site: www.peaceriveraudubon.org Name: ________________________________________________
Name: _________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________
Organization: ____________________________________ City, State, Zip: ___________________________________ E14-7XCH
Address: _______________________________________ Phone: ( ) ____________________
City: ___________________ State: __ Zip: ______-____ Mail to: National Audubon Society, Membership Data Center,
Phone: ( ) ____________ E-mail: ___________________ P.O. Box 51003, Boulder, CO 80323-1003
Note: National Audubon members receive 6 bi-monthly “Audubon” magazines/year and
MAIL $10 CHECK WITH THIS FORM DIRECTLY to: some discounts at Audubon Centers across the US A, PLUS, you automatically receive the
PRAS, PO Box 510760, Punta Gorda, FL 33951-0760. same 10 “White Bird” issues as PRAS members do in Option A.
Check here if you do not wish to receive “Audubon” Magazine
