St.

Petersburg Audubon Society Summer 2010

WingSpan
Celebrating more than 100 Years of Conservation
1909 - 2009
Calendar of Events SPAS’ Annual Meeting
Summer 2010
May-July Survey of beach/Rooftop Nesting Birds – To volunteer APRIL PICNIC AND ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
call Dave Kandz at 471-0699. VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED MEETING WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, APRIL
NOW!
24TH FT. De SOTO.
June 5 & 6 - Pinellas Living Green Expo -- The St. Petersburg
Election of Officers and Board Members was held at this meeting.
Coliseum and Sunshine Center, Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Sunday
Members voted the following officer’s slate and Board of
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission and parking is free. Contact Wanda
Directors.
Dean at 321-3995 to volunteer at our booth.
Officer Slate & Board of Directors
The 3rd Annual Round-Robin Event at Ft. De Soto 2010-2011
County Park
Mauri Dietrich—President
The Third Annual Round Robin Event attracted 25 birders who Maureen Arnold—Vice President
joined the guides at four areas of Ft. De Soto County Park tallying 64 Nancy Ogden—Secretary
species. A warm day slowed the migration which curiously picked Rick Potter—Treasurer
up again several days later. Director Slate
Harold Albers Saskia Janes
Meanwhile, the four groups of birders Mary Brazier Dave Kandz
in succession joined Judi Hopkins as Wanda Dean Mark Mueller
she guided them through the mulberry/ Judi Hopkins Alice Tenney
fountain area; Mauri Dietrich rummaged
through the woods at Arrowhead picnic 1993 Tampa Bay Oil Spill
area; Susan Pepper and Sandy Harris On August 10, 1993, a freighter collided with two barges just off
gathered shorebirds along North Beach Egmont Key. One barge was carrying no. six fuel oil, the other
and; Lee Snyder wandered along the upper jet fuel. The jet fuel exploded and burned for 17 hours. Although
copr Dan Kohler 2010 and lower trails of East Beach. there were no human casualties, 330,000 gallons of oil spilled.
Highlights were Northern Gannets following a westerly wind The Pinellas Seabird Rehabilitation Center organized volunteers
toward the shoreline; Magnificent Frigatebirds returning to breed; in collaboration with Tri-State Bird rescue of Delaware, one of the
Spring-plumed Red Knots on their way to the Arctic; a Yellow-billed two leading organizations dealing with oiled birds at that time. As
Cuckoo that dropped from an oak tree and devoured a Cuban anole; many as 80 volunteers per day participated in this effort at two
a lone Black-throated Blue Warbler and a fairly common migrant stations set up at Ft. DeSoto and
this spring, Bobolink. With this year’s species and individual John’s Pass, with smaller stations at
numbers low, next year’s event will be scheduled Shell Key and Gandy Bridge.
one week earlier. Approximately 352 oiled birds
were caught and treated that
Ft. De Soto Park continues to be regarded as included 15 species, mostly
an ideal, daily getaway for thousands of Brown Pelicans. Great Blue
county residents and visitors. Despite Herons and Brown Pelicans were
its often unparalleled birding, pressures to begin best able to tolerate the stress of
charging for the privilege of entering the park may being oiled and survival rate was
lead to a change in the event’s location. 83% and 95% respectively. The other 13 species didn’t do as well
with a survival rate of 37%. The cleanup effort was rapid and
copr Don Margeson 2010 birds were rehabilitated for release by the end of August. The full
mortality rate is unknown.
 President’s Message Year in Review
by Mauri Dietrich

• Banquet in April
• Centennial pins designed by Lee Snyder
• Permanent display at the history museum –
Developed and implemented by Wanda Dean, Lee Snyder, Alice Tenney and Dave Kandz
• Dedicated a portion of Pinellas Point Park in honor of Kathryn Bell Tippetts – spearheaded
by Alice Tenney
• Held our first teacher camps in July – the brainchild of Harold Albers and his education
©Don Margeson 2009

committee
• Culminated in being awarded the Chapter of the Year at the annual Audubon Assembly

I would like to thank some special people:

• Joanne Wilson “retired” and passed the torch to Linda Emslie to keep our membership data up to date.
• Kim Kandz continues to create power points for our meetings and keeps our web site up to date
• Barb Howard sanitizes our cups, writes “It’s Good to Be Green” for our newsletter and is active with our BNB
project.
• The officers and board members work very hard all year round, too.
• Field trips this year have been organized by Judi Hopkins and were led by Judi, Lee, Ron Smith, Dave Gagne,
Jeanne Dubi, Doug Clark, Dave Goodwin and myself.
• Don Margeson coordinated the CBC and the fall and spring NAMC
• Wanda Dean not only manages our special events but continues as our newsletter editor with special help from
Lee Snyder.
• Saskia Janes – worked with Judi on programs and created our timeline booklet, spending countless hours
reviewing old archived records.
• Nancy Ogden, our secretary, keeps the board meeting minutes every month.
• Rick Potter, our treasurer, keeps track of our income and expenses.
• Dave Kandz not only serves as our conservation chair, he also is on the state board of Audubon of Florida.
Dave sends out the email blasts to keep us informed about what’s going on locally and statewide.
• Maureen is my VP and keeps me grounded. She also promotes the backyard bird count and organizes the
shorebird classes.
• Mary (aka Nancy) Brazier is on the finance committee and keeps track of our investments.
• And last but not least Mark Mueller, our youngest board member, brings beverages to picnics and keeps up
with climate change issues for us.

• I would especially like to thank my husband, Mark, for his love and support!

The things I mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg. These people do countless other tasks throughout the year, but
we’d be here all day if I tried to list them all.

There are many other volunteers that participate in our programs and handle the many
other small jobs throughout the year. I apologize if I’ve not mentioned you – but rest
assured you are important to this organization and very much appreciated.

I would like to personally thank my officers and board of directors this past year. It’s
because of your hard work that my job is so much easier and why we are able to accomplish
so much.
 Field Trip Notes Season End Report
from Judi Hopkins
First and foremost, thanks to all of you for
your support, participation, suggestions and
most of all for the camaraderie during all
of the field trips. I have thoroughly enjoyed
scheduling them and feel so rewarded for my
time and efforts. None of these trips would
be a success without you and, of course, my
volunteer leaders, Ron Smith, Eric Plage,
Brian Ahern, Tom Bell, Lee Snyder, Doug
and Carol Clark, Susan Pepper, Sandy
Harris, Dave Gagne and Jean Dubi.
Boyd Hill NP birding trips are open to the
public the first Saturday of every month,
year round. SPAS chose to include these
dates in their schedule this year to support
a great area for birding in St. Petersburg.
Since September, we have participated in
seven trips with 193 people who identified
a total of 90 species. Remember, just
because SPAS field trips are finished until
next September, Boyd Hill NP will continue
offering these trips.
Our 13 scheduled field trips within
three Solid Waste Management Area field
trips, new this year, were limited but still
included 34 participants with 80 species
of birds identified. Hopefully, we can offer
this trip again next year and accumulate
some interesting data. Feedback was very
positive! Was it the trip itself or riding in a
van from one point to the other?
Trips out of Pinellas County included
JB Starkey WP in Pasco County with 10
participants and 37 species, six of which
were not recorded on any of our in-county
trips. Fourteen participants visited the
Celery Fields in Sarasota. In addition, Jean
took us to a new park SE of the fields that
produced a total of 62 species, four not seen
on our PC trips.
SPAS offered two away trips this season.
Our first was the four-day Thanksgiving
week get-a-way, setup and led by Ron
Smith, to the panhandle area. Eighteen
participants identified 131 species--we beat
last year’s record! Of this great total, 13
trip had 14 participants and recorded 73
species, of which nine species were new to
our yearly total.
Finally, our all day specialties bus trip with
42 participants and 79 species, of which six
were not on our PC totals, was a little slow
with lots of water, but the food was great at
Forever Florida.
After reviewing all of the checklists from
the areas we birded this season, I believe the
best bird find was in our own backyard—
Ron Smith found the Brown-crested
Flycatcher at Ft. DeSoto on March 17th.
Contact Judi at: 727-526-3725 or
focus997@verizon.net
Printed on recycled paper

Pinellas County produced a total of 236 were not recorded on any of our PC trips.
participants and 157 species of birds. The The Clewiston, STA 5, overnight birding

Pinellas Birds I’m worried about our Summer Tanagers.

by Ron Smith
Do any nest in Pinellas County anymore?
This summer a few volunteers are going to
join me in trying to locate a pair. It’ll be
hot, humid, and buggy, but it’s something
that I hope we can answer with a definite,
“Yes.”
Last year, during the month of June, birders
searched all over Pinellas to see just how
many species of birds could be located
within our county. The answer was 142,
an increase of 12 over the previous year.
However, missing for the second straight
year was Summer Tanager.
According to the Florida Breeding Bird
Atlas, conducted from 1986-1990,
Summer Tanagers were confirmed as a
nesting species throughout the state except
the southeast and extreme southwest
Florida counties, as well as south of Lake
Okeechobee. In Pinellas nesting sites were
confirmed at several locations. As long
ago as the 1880’s, W.E.D. Scott noted that
Summer Tanagers bred “in numbers” in
Pinellas and, as recently as 11 June 1977, summer’s June Challenge yielded some
Judy Fisher and Larry Hopkins reported really exciting birds of the 142 species
“10” on that day. found. The high total will be hard to
beat. The top ten of the best species found
Summer Tanagers utilize open woodlands included Redhead, Surf Scoter, Sooty
with a mix of oaks and pines. Their nests Shearwater, Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Lesser
are usually built 10-35 feet high along a Black-backed Gull, Gull-billed Tern,
horizontal branch on pine or oak trees. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, American Kestrel,
They feed on wasps, other insects, spiders, Long-billed Curlew, and Shiny Cowbird.
and occasionally berries. To follow along go to www.PinellasBirds.
com.
So where can this habitat be found? The
only location within the county that still
has enough acreage of open mixed pine
and oak woodlands is the Brooker Creek
Preserve. Last year I spent a little time
walking the preserve in hopes of hearing/
seeing a Summer Tanager, but without any
luck. This summer I’ll be jumping into this
project with extra energy during the last half
of June. It would be great to know if the
species is still hanging on here in Pinellas
County.
CALL NOTES: Just for the record, last copr Gail Deterra 2010
 Climate Action Update This fall the Senate will take up climate change legislation.
from Mark Mueller

Now is the time to voice your support for strong climate legislation along with increased reliance on renewable energy sources as part of
the solution to climate change. A quick call or email to your senators will remind them of the public demand for strong climate legislation
and increased use of renewable energy sources.

Tell your senators that you want: •Strong climate legislation this year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. •Legislation that incorporates
increased funding and mandates for renewable energy sources.
You can also email through Audubon’s Action Center, www.audubonaction.org.
George LeMieux Bill Nelson
Phone: 202-224-3041 Phone: 202-224-5274
E-mail: info@lemieux.senate.gov Email: http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

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Electronic Wingspan for Conservation—Go Green!

Wingspan is a very helpful and useful tool to learn about what events are going to occur for our members’ (and friends’) participation. We
are very fortunate to have Wanda Dean as our editor and driving force to getting it completed, and Lee Snyder, co-editor, who designs
and finishes it for publication. I know a lot of our members read it cover to cover. Marui Dietrich and friends also spend a great deal of
time getting it ready for mailing. The very same Wingspan is available electronically, where it can easily be read and stored. This year we
would like to have more members switch from paper to the electronic Wingspan to help us reach our goal of becoming a more “green”
organization. Will you join us? It’s easy! Contact Alice Tenney at BirdWVa@aol.com and I will be glad to help you switch.
Education Report The First Education Membership
2009-2010 Committee Meeting
. . . of this year was a very exciting questionnaire to teachers in National Audubon Society reports that we have
and rewarding one. Dr. Albers February of 2010. The committee 1259 members, 331 of which are new. Our
and five committee members met to review those and to discuss chapter added 16 names to
met to review the highly positive the budget. Brian Lane and Jeanne
and informative evaluations Murphy, Sensing Nature, received a
our new member chart for
submitted by participants of our grant from SWFWMD for $5,000 the year, but we have no
first Elementary Teachers Ecology to cover the beginning camps. It way to personally welcome
Camps, July 2009. A total of was agreed to continue looking for those who joined directly
twenty-eight teachers attended. other funding sources to cover the through National Audubon.
Teachers loved the training in the advanced camp. In March, a grant
field, like the visit to Shell Key, and for $1,000 was awarded to the
hands-on activities. Participants education committee from National It would be wonderful if we had telephone
praised Jeanne Murphy and Brian Audubon. In addition, in April Mauri numbers or email
Lane, facilitators and trainers, for Dietrich organized and facilitated a addresses of those new
providing excellent instruction “Bird-a-thon” with the support of members. Welcoming
and facilitating presentations from board members to fund the balance
guest speakers who covered various needed. It was very successful!
them to join us for a
topics of Florida Ecology, as well as meeting or a field trip
resources and information on grant In early February, Tina Tern: A is the kind of friendly,
opportunities. Some Life on a Rooftop personal touch we’d like
stated they wanted to Beach (revised and to extend. If you have suggestions to help us get
attend an advanced camp reprinted through
next year. The following two grants) was sent
to know our new members, please e-mail me,
is an excerpt of an email to 4th grade teachers Alice Tenney, at BirdWVa@aol.com Thanks!
sent to the SPAS Board in Pinellas County to Alice
by Julie Poth, Science supplement the Life
Supervisor for Pinellas Science Curriculum.
County Schools, who A page added to MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
collaborated in the the new publication INTRODUCTORY MEMBERSHIP
planning of the camps: shows families $20.00 (New membership only)
picking up the Least
Q Please enroll me as a member in the National Audubon
“I have received copr Dave Kandz 2010 Tern chicks and Society. Start my subscription to AUDUBON magazine & send
feedback from several teachers putting them back on rooftops. my membership card.
from each of the Audubon Q I do not wish to receive AUDUBON magazine.
camps...each…has been nothing The success of the teacher ecology Name ___________________________________
but positive. The most powerful camps was a factor in determining Address _________________________________
impact I see from these elementary our “Chapter of the Year” Award.
teachers is their desire to continue Other Audubon chapters in Florida City ______________ State___ Zip___________
their professional growth in have been interested in learning Phone __________________
environmental education A great how to establish their own camps.
Q I wish to receive the SPAS WingSpan electronically.
thank you to the Audubon Society SPAS was asked to present a short E-mail address _____________________________
of St. Pete in their ability to be talk for Audubon Academy on
insightful and to take this risk in March 28, 2010, which included Please enclose a check, payable to the
National Audubon Society, and mail to:
changing what they fund in teacher an excellent PowerPoint prepared
St. Petersburg Audubon Society
education in our district.” and presented by Jeanne and Brian Post Office Box 49087
showing highlights from the camps. St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087
The committee agreed planning Q National Audubon occasionally makes its membership list
should begin to add an advanced Finally, we are hoping to expand available to carefully selected organizations whose mailings
you may find interesting. To have your name omitted from this
camp, as well as to provide two the teacher ecology camps for 2011 list, please check here.
weeks for beginning camps to through partnerships with other Q I would also like to help my local chapter. I have a special
interest and/or skills in:
elementary school teachers in the Audubon chapters if funding from
summer of 2010. Of primary concern a Together Green Innovative Grant Q Local conservation issues Q Board of Directors
was funding, which generated is awarded. The grant will help us Q Education /Audubon Adventures Q National Bird
Counts
discussion of grant possibilities and continue here in Pinellas County Q Legal Q Publicity Q Financial Matters
fundraising ideas. with an additional camp at Brooker Q Hospitality - Greeters / Refreshments Q Insurance
Q Membership Q Exhibits at fairs and festivals
Creek. Notification of awards will
As part of the planning process, be in August 2010. C9ZE060Z
This form is only for new memberships, not renewals.
Dr. Albers sent a follow-up
 Coffeepot Island Boat Trip
May 9 proved to be a beautiful day for the boat trip. The weather was perfect, including the lovely sunset, and
there were so many birds nesting on the island to view. Among the highlights were the antics of the juvenile
Great White Egrets, the lovely soft pink of the juvenile Roseate Spoonbills, and the
informative narration by Ann Paul, Tampa Bay Regional Coordinator for Audubon of
Florida. She had many interesting facts about the birds and Audubon’s history with the
birds. Forty-two participants attended this trip.
©Les Burdge2008 copr Garry Tenney 2010

The St. Petersburg Audubon Society NON-PROFIT ORG.

P.O. Box 49087 • St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087 US POSTAGE
www.stpeteaudubon.org • 727-384-0027
PAID
St. Petersburg, FL
Chapter Representatives
President: Mauri Dietrich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398-4124
Permit #6340
Vice Pres.: Maureen Arnold . . . . . . . . . . . . .577-0448
Treasurer: Rick Potter (Ways & Means) . . . 822-9637
Secretary: Nancy Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894-5940
Board Members and Duties:
Harold Albers (Education) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 864-1113
Mary Brazier (Finance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 867-7151
Wanda Dean (Newsletter & Special Events) 321-3995
Judi Hopkins (Field Trips) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526-3725
Saskia Janes (Historian) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 481-7839
Dave Kandz (Conservation & BNB). . . . . . . 471-0699
Mark Mueller (Climate Coord.) . . . . . . . . . . . 686-3179
Alice Tenney (Membership) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894-2062
Shell Key: Ron Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-4782
Co-Editor Newsletter, Lee Snyder . . . . . . . . .865-2293
Membership Chair, Linda Emslie . . . . . . . . . . 392-2907

Here’s how you can get involved by volunteering to help during the oil crisis:
1. Vol FL - Coastal Watch Volunteers: You 2. Training for wildlife recovery and 3. Key phone numbers if you see oil on
do not touch any oiled plants, animals, or rehabilitation paraprofessionals: On line the beach, oiled or distressed wildlife, and
surfaces. You will be out watching for these training for rehab paraprofessionals and more.
conditions and immediately report them to definition of paraprofessional. Also, FDEM line to report oiled or injured
the proper contacts as listed. No training is contact Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary if wildlife: (866) 557-1401.
needed. See www.volunteerflorida.org or you are a rehabilitator or a rehabilitation FDEM Community and Volunteer
call (850) 921-0217. paraprofessional - 727 391-6211. Information: (866) 448-5816.

Special Events 2009-2010

St. Petersburg Audubon Society participated rooftop colonies, as well as explaining how volunteered, Wanda Dean would be glad
in seven events, four of which were two days. bird stewarding helps protect those eggs and to train you and pair you with experienced
Forty-four volunteers manned the booths for babies of threatened species as they nest on members. Please contact her at
a total of 129 hours, including setup, closing, beaches. People are also interested to hear wdeanfl@earthlink.net or 321-3995.
and preparation. about our ecology
camps and other
The goal of participating in these events educational support
is to share the many different facets of our we are providing
organization and to recruit members. Yes, for teachers.
we have a terrific variety of field trips and
great educational programs. But generally, Our last event of
people who visit our booths are surprised and the year will be
extremely interested to hear about our Beach the Pinellas Living
Nesting Program and that conservation is Green Expo, June
the underlying culture we actively promote. 5 and 6, at the
We have gained many volunteers for the St. Petersburg
Beach Nesting Program just by sharing Coliseum. If
great stories about “chick-checking” at you have never