Apalachee Audubon

The Newsletter of the Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc.

Vol. 107, No. 7 April 2009 www.apalachee.org

April Program Meeting: Thursday, April 23rd
Historic Amtrak Station, 918 Railroad Avenue
Hear Dr. David Redfield, FSU Professor Emeritus
Birding & Mammaling Around the World
7:00 PM Social, 7:30 PM Program
Since his retirement in 1992, Dr. Redfield has become internationally renowned
for his quests for rare species of mammals and birds, which he has observed worldwide. Perhaps he
is most well know for an expedition to a remote Laotian village in 2006, organized by the World
Wildlife Fund. There he captured the first images of a live Laotian Rock Rat, a small, furry animal
believed to have gone extinct more than 11 million years ago. This rodent has been described as an
example of the “Lazarus effect,” a reference to the Biblical character Lazarus who returned from the
dead. Biologists use the term to refer to those rare instances when animals long thought to be extinct
turn up alive and well in some remote habitat. These Rock Rats have bodies about a foot long, with a
bushy six-inch tail. David’s video of the rodent shows an animal clearly not adapted to climbing trees
— rather, it waddles with its hind feet splayed out at an angle to its body — like a duck.
David will share video and photos with us of a few special birds and mammals from recent
expeditions, including the Laotian Rock Rat. We hope you will join us for a fascinating evening of
conversation and viewing.

Birdathon April 11th – 26th = Audubon Adventures

For Our Children & Local School Teachers
Audubon Adventures is a teaching series designed to help students achieve proficiency in language
arts, science, and environmental literacy. Created by National Audubon, kits get new topics each year
and are designed to serve children in grades 3 to 5. Basic and scientifically accurate facts about birds,
wildlife, and their habitat are presented. Packaged as a Classroom Kit that serves 32 students, there
are ideas for teachers, classroom posters and individual reading material for each student. Content
of the kits is aligned with state academic achievement standards in 14 states including Florida. The
current kit entitled Feats of Nature explores how animals defend themselves, migrate, and build, and
how plants rule the world. Cost of each kit is $45 and last year we purchased 77 kits that were placed
in 30 schools, upon request by teachers in Leon, Wakulla and Jefferson counties. The number of kits
we can purchase is dependent on how much money we raise through Birdathon.
With the goal of environmental literacy in mind, we ask for your help in making Birdathon
a big success this year. In friendly competition, Birdathon teams will record the number of avian
species observed during a 24-hour period of their choosing. Please pledge and contribute to support
this effort. You can contribute a fixed dollar amount, or contribute based on the number of species
recorded by a team, or recorded by all teams combined. You may pledge on behalf of one team or
simply on behalf of the chapter as a whole.
One suggestion from a chapter member this year is to create a Birdathon Armchair Team. This
would organize calls to chapter members or local businesses to solicit contributions. Since money
is tight for everybody right now, encouraging many small donations may be the best way to go. If
you are willing to help with this idea, let us hear from you. Contact Judy Goldman 385-5222 or
Ben Fusaro, 297-2052. We would love to have more Apalachee Audubon members involved with
Birdathon. Look inside to find a Birdathon pledge card!
 Saturday, May 2nd: Field Trip
Nature Photography Forest Walk
With Panhandle PhotoNaturalist Bill Boothe
See carnivorous plants and other local
flora and fauna while learning about nature
photography from Bill Boothe, an award-
winning photographer specializing in plant
and insect macrophotography. Bill has
been photographing Florida’s wildlife and
wildflowers for the past twenty years. Samples
of his work are at http://natureinfocus.com/
Meet at: 9:30 AM at the school parking lot west
of Tallahassee near Hosford at the corner of
Hwy 20 and 65.
Expect to be done by: 12:30 EST (or stay
afterwards and lunch in Sumatra at The Family
Coastal Restaurant before heading home).
Cost: Free
Level of difficulty: Moderate, but your feet may
get wet.
Be sure to bring: Binoculars, field guide, camera,
insect repellent and snacks, if desired. Wear
water-resistant footware.
Further information, contact: Bill Boothe via
his web site http://natureinfocus.com/
Celebrate 7th Annual
Pinewoods Bird Festival
The 7th Annual Pinewoods Bird Festival on Saturday,
April 11, 2009, promises wonderful activities for area
wildlife enthusiasts. Offering something for visitors
of all ages, the festival features the birds, butterflies,
and beauty of the southern longleaf pine forests.
The Children’s Activity and Education area will
have numerous opportunities for hands-on learning.
Wildlife vendors and other exhibitors will be on
hand that day to provide educational resources on
everything from butterflies to bird feeders. Biologists
will lead guests on guided field trips throughout the
day to the mature pine forests of historic Pebble Hill
Plantation and other off-site locations. Certain field
trips require pre-registration and additional fees.
Abbreviated tours of the Main House at Pebble Hill,
filled with extensive art collections featuring sporting
art and wildlife scenes, will be available for adults and
children 6 years and older.
Adults $7.00 Kids $3.00
www.PinewoodsBirdFestival.com
229/226-2344 (Thomasville) or
850/893-4153 ex 241 (Tallahassee)
BIRD BITS
To Fallout or Not!
By Harry Hooper
Fallout? The loss of one’s hair?
Not in the avian world.
Fallout in the avian world is not so good for birds,
but absolutely enchanting for birders. But what is
a fallout? North American birds that migrate south
of the border in the fall return to their breeding
grounds from March through May. Generally,
these avian wonders bypass us coastal folks, flying
high overhead before coming down 40 to 60 miles
inland. Gauthreaux (1972) and others have used
radar to map spring migration along the Louisiana
coast. These studies revealed that peak migrations
in April exceeded 30,000 birds crossing a given mile
every hour between Lake Charles, Louisiana and
Corpus Christi, Texas. Gauthreaux’s calculations
suggested that for five hours of mapped migration,
150,000 birds per mile crossed the coast. With
300 miles of coast in the study, approximately 45
million birds were estimated to fly inland over a 5
hour period.
During spring, large mixed flocks of birds generally
take off in the evening from the Yucatan Peninsula
and points south and use southerly winds to assist
in completing their 600 mile journey over the
Gulf. Large species such as thrushes are estimated
to reach the Gulf coast by mid morning. Smaller
species such as warblers are expected to arrive by
midday. Prior to attempting this long flight over
hostile waters, migrants double their body weight
by fattening up on insects and berries to provide the
energy required to complete the crossing.
The fallout occurs when a strong cold front pushes
deep into the Gulf during the morning hours.
Migrating birds that fly into these frontal systems
fight rain, cold temperatures, and strong northerly
winds. Fat reserves that birds depend on to make
the crossing are rapidly depleted. Thus, thousands
of birds may be lost to the Gulf. The lucky ones
drop to the first land that they can find, generally
barrier islands. Some perish at landfall while others
attempt to find much needed food.
The natural habitats of these barrier islands are
rapidly being lost to development. And the birds
are losing their last fragments of habitat needed
for survival. Fallouts are great for birders. But
remember, the birds face an uncertain future as a
result of our actions.
 2009 Audubon Academy
By Karen Wensing and Elizabeth Platt
The annual spring event, Audubon Academy, brings together Florida’s chapter leaders to learn
about new issues, share ideas, and enjoy the out-of-doors together. From March 27-29 we attended this
year’s 5th anniversary event, held at FFA* Learning Center near Haines City, representing the Apalachee
Audubon board and membership. We met lots of impressive people at both informal gatherings and on
our field trips. It is inspiring to find out what others are doing, and amazing to learn of the diverse nature
of issues and habitats that Audubon chapters are dealing with across the state.
Shortly after we arrived we were treated to close up views of a sandhill crane family on Catfish
Creek that runs into Lake Pierce. One of the young was limping to keep up with his sibling and parents;
we hoped it would survive the night. That evening we also saw two limpkins on the lakeshore, a treat for
us limpkin-starved North Floridians.
On Saturday morning we enjoyed a hayride out to the scrub area in the Catfish Creek Wildlife
Refuge State Park where we got a close-up experience of a dry, sandy place with vegetation that struggles
to survive by putting out tendrils that reach down into the sand for moisture. Only the call of a scrub jay
let us know it was out there. Back at the Center, Eric Draper, Director of Policy for Audubon of Florida,
gave the keynote address Inspiring the power of grassroots Conservation Policy. With examples from his own
life experiences, he challenged us to remember and share our own life experiences to remind all of what
we risk losing if we aren’t vigilant. In the late afternoon a pontoon boat ride on the lake rewarded us with
views of hunting ospreys, turkeys, cormorants and anhingas. A native plant sale promoted the planting of
hearty species in our yards and reminded us to work more closely with the local Native Plant Society so
as to learn more ways to attract birds, butterflies, and other insects to our yards.
One particularly interesting presentation was by National Audubon staff scientist, Rob Fergus,
who introduced us to some of the new features on the Audubon web site and encouraged us to expand
outward from backyard birding to include neighborhood conservation and other wider efforts. His ideas
connected well with what we have done with our backyard wildlife tours; we hope to implement his
suggestions, made easier to follow with various new e-tools such as e-bird, as Fran Rutkowsky has urged
us all to use. *Formerly known as: Future Farmers of America

Calling All Cooks! AAS Seeks Your Prize Recipes!

Those of you who have attended our potluck dinners in the past know what delicious treats our
members prepare. We are in the process of compiling many of these wonderful recipes for inclusion in
our own Potluck Cookbook, a fundraising effort tentatively scheduled to go on sale next fall.
We would love to have one or more of your favorite original recipes. Please bring recipes to any
of our meetings or send to: clquincy@comcast.net. Contact Lynn Reynolds for more details: 421-1074.

Apalachee Audubon Society Birdathon Pledge Card

I am happy to pledge $___________________ From: ___________________________________________
Per species in support of Birdathon. Name
___________________________________________
My tax-deductible gift of $_________________ Address
Is enclosed payable to Apalachee Audubon ___________________________________________
Society. City State Zip
Pledged in support of
Birdathoner or Team: ____________________________________________________________________

Mail your pledge OR your contribution to: ________________________________________

E-mail
Apalachee Audubon Society
Post Office Box 1237 ________________________________________
Tallahassee, FL 32302-1237 telephone
THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING BIRDATHON & supporting environmental education in our schools
 AUDUBON ON THE WORLD STAGE:
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
By Ruth Ann Wiesenthal-Gold*
Did you know that the National Audubon Society is about people as well as birds and wildlife? It makes
sense, since birds, wildlife and people all share the same earth with its finite area of suitable habitat. Human
population growth creates one of the greatest adverse impacts on habitat – both wildlife and human. The
overwhelming majority of population growth is occurring in the developing world. In conjunction with the National
Audubon Society and Sierra Club, I was fortunate to travel on a 10-day study tour to Ethiopia in November, 2007.
We saw first-hand the problems of rapid population growth. We attended the International Population, Health, and
Environment Conference, sponsored by the United Nations. There I met people who had survived genocide and had
fought each day to survive, and yet still remained positive and hopeful. This was a profoundly humbling experience
for me. Our group learned that 80% of Ethiopians subsist on climate-dependent agriculture, as forests are converted
to farms and pastures, and households use unsustainable agricultural methods to eke out a living. Once the most
forested country in Africa, Ethiopia now retains only 2% of its forested habitat.
Education, healthcare, and family-planning are essential to solve the problems of Ethiopia and the rest of
the developing world. Birthrates drop dramatically when education is available. Family planning is necessary to
foster present community well-being and ease pressure on the future of natural resources. I believe that I must help
developing countries control their population growth while also seeking cooperation from developed countries too.
I urge you to learn more about the Audubon and Population program at http://www.audubonpopulation.org/ .
Share what you learn with family, friends and officials at all levels. By informing ourselves, we can be more effective
in dealing with population growth problems and with protecting the future for people and the wildlife that we love.
*Apalachee Audubon member Jan Bordelon requested that we reprint this article. Ruth Ann Wiesenthal-Gold, of
Palm Bay, is a public-welfare activist and community volunteer. Jan and Ruth met and became friends on the National
Audubon-sponsored Ethiopian trip mentioned by Ruth in the article. Both Jan and Ruth are dedicated to publicizing issues
surrounding population growth. Space constraints required substantial editing of this story. The full-text will be available at
Apalachee Audubon’s web site at www.apalachee.org .

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President’s Message April 2009
Many Exotic Invasive plants have cute, attractive Become a
names and are esthetically fetching but there are no
sweethearts among them. Here is a small sample: Member
Coral ardisia – A stately, upright shrub with pleasant green
leaves and beautiful red berries.
Lantana camara – Beautiful golden orange flowers nestled in Join National Audubon Society and
a host of green leaves. Apalachee Audubon!
Mimosa, Silk Tree – This member of the locust family has For just $20 a year you can be a member of
beautiful purple flowers. both National Audubon and our local Apalachee
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo – This shrub has strikingly Audubon chapter. Your membership will include
beautiful leaves and leaflets, and beautiful red berries. Audubon, our bimonthly flagship publication. Each
Well-meaning gardeners fall for the Ardisia, Lantana issue of this award-winning publication features
and Nandina, often on the advice of a commercial nursery. beautiful photography and provocative journalism.
Our chapter newsletter will keep you informed of
These four are among the worst of 22 imported invasive local and statewide Audubon and other
plants that are disrupting the Big Bend ecosystem. They are nature-related events.
all resilient, fast growers and insidious spreaders. The habitat
damage done by such pests is exceeded only by irresponsible You can pay for membership using a credit card by
development. They crowd out native plants and even threaten calling Audubon’s toll free membership number.
their gene pool. An important consequence is diminished food (Please mention our chapter ID E–19 for us to get
and cover for already stressed native and naturalized wildlife. full credit for a new membership).
It is pretty clear that such plants cause harm to native 1-800-274-4201
mammals but why wouldn’t such berry-producers like Ardisia If you prefer to pay by check for an annual
membership, send your $20 check made payable to
and Nandina be beneficial to birds…? Some excerpts from National Audubon and mail to address below:
a site (http://www.invasive.org/101/BirdWatcher.html) National Audubon Society
point out the drawbacks: PO Box 422246
“Invasive plants replace native vegetation needed for food, Palm Coast, FL 32142-2246
shelter and nesting. [They] produce fruit that is of lower Allow 4 - 6 weeks for arrival of your first issue of
nutritive value to our native birds than native shrubs, Audubon. The cost of membership is tax deductible
like flowering dogwood. Invasive plants are likely to be except for $7.50 (which is allocated to Audubon
unpalatable or even toxic to our native insects. What affects magazine).
insects, in turn, will affect birds. Less food for insects leads to
fewer insects; fewer insects may lead to fewer birds. Studies Apalachee Audubon Society (AAS)
have shown that predation of certain species of birds, such 2008 – 2009 Officers and Board Members
as Northern robin and the wood thrush, increases when President Ben Fusaro 297-2052
they nest in invasive, exotic shrubs, as opposed to nesting in Vice President Ed Gartner 386-6543
native shrubs with which they have co-evolved.” Secretary position open
The Exotic Pest Plant Council has 67 of these Treasurer Harvey Goldman 385-5222
disrupters on its “Category I” list for Florida. Every plant Board Members
on the Cat I list is a major threats to our Florida ecosystem. Melissa Forehand 510-4877
(There is also a Cat II list of bad actors but they are not – so Harry Hooper 668-0498
far – major threats.) If you want to learn more, go to the Past President Elizabeth Platt 385-9043
EPPC site (http://www.fleppc.org/index.cfm) and click on Lynn Reynolds 421-1074
“Invasives 101”. Karen Wensing 386-7766
The Big Bend is threatened by 22 of the 67 Cat I Apalachee Audubon Society, Inc.
invaders. This includes the four plants listed above. Two P.O. Box 1237
other very bad threats are the Chinese Privet and the Tallahassee, FL 32303
so-called Boston Fern. These six plants are top candidates for AAS is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.
the worst exotic invasives in the Big Bend. All 22 should be All contributions are tax deductible.
taken out, branch and root, wherever they are encountered. Newsletter Editor Ann Bruce 766-3061
The twenty-two plants were chosen by a Master Newsletter is published 8 times yearly
of Wildlife Conservation team, in consultation with staff (Sept.-May, except Dec.).
members of the Bureau of Invasive Plant Management. If Web Master John Boutelle 656-3346
you would like a list of the Terrible Twenty-two, send me an www.apalachee.org
e-mail at: fusaro@math.fsu.edu. Mission Statement
Ben Fusaro 850/297-2052 fusaro@math.fsu.edu Protection of the environment through education,
appreciation, and conservation.
Apalachee Audubon
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Please support our Birdathon this year by sending a contribution!

Your membership expiration date is shown at top right above your name. For problems with membership, call the National
Audubon Society Office at 1-800-274-4201. For problems with mailings, contact Pam Flynn at pflynn@us.ibm.com.

APALACHEE AUDUBON SOCIETY (AAS) CALENDAR April 2009, Vol. 107, No. 7
Monthly programs are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at the historic Amtrak Station, 918 Railroad Ave.
They are free and open to the public with a social at 7:00 PM and program from 7:30 – 9:00. For details visit
www.apalachee.org or contact Melissa Forehand 510-4877.
APRIL
11-26: Birdathon – This is our biggest fundraising event of the year. The proceeds will go to purchase Audubon
Adventure Kits for local schools and to support a variety of chapter activities.
11: Related Event – Pinewoods Bird Festival, Saturday, 9 AM – 3 PM, Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville, GA.
Lots of bird and wildlife tours and activities. Families welcome. Admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children. For
details visit www.pinewoodsbirdfestival.com or call 229/227-5389 (Thomasville) or
850/893-4153 ex 241 (Tallahassee).
23: Program Meeting – Join FSU Professor Emeritus David Redfield as he discusses and illustrates highlights from
his Birding and Mammaling Around the World.
MAY
2: Photography Field Trip – Saturday, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, with Bill Boothe, PhotoNaturalist.
9: Related Event – International Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, 8 AM – 4 PM at Okefenokee NWR Visitor
Center, Folkston, GA. Early morning bird walk, exhibits, & an evening Owl Prowl. For details, call
912/496-7836 or see http://www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEventsCalendar.cfm .
Don’t Miss Our Annual Dinner — Mark Your Calendar Now for Thursday, May 28th!
28: Apalachee Audubon Annual Dinner – Thursday, 6 PM Social, 6:30 Homemade Italian Dinner. The
speaker is Pat Behnke, FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission who will discuss Red Knots – On
the Brink of Extinction; the meeting place is Lafayette Presbyterian Church, 4220 Mahan Dr. Our Chef
will be Tim Smith, 850/933-5979.