For your convenience, port -o-let facilities are available. We recommend bringing binoculars, field guides, hat, water, sunscreen, insect repellant and even a camera!
DATE
FEATURED SPEAKER AT MONTHLY MEETING
Sept 17 David Sadkin, Ph.D. is Dir of Education Services for Wildlife, Inc., presenting wildlife education & habitat management programs for a wide variety of private & public schools and organizations. Meet his patients! Oct 15
Nov 19
“Whooping Cranes: What’s the Story?” Tim Dellinger, Avian Research, FL Fish & Wildlife Research Institute. Gain insights on where to see this endangered crane, what initiatives have succeeded, and what can be done now to save this species. (Operation Migration video clip at meeting, too.)
“Recovering Avian Species in a ConservationDependent World”. Andrew Cox, FL Fish & Wildlife
Research Institute. Whether researching nest-site selection patterns of Reddish Egrets or overseeing the impacts on avian species from the BP Oil spill, Andrew will update us on hot topics & findings from FL FWC. Dec 17
4600 24th Ave East in Palmetto, FL (at the intersection with Experimental Farm Rd.)
OPEN HOUSE EVENTS with Guided Bird Walks When - The first Saturday of each month from November through April. From - 8am—noon, with bird walk at 9:30am until approx 11am. Activities - Watching wildlife, hiking & photography. WORKDAYS AT FELTS When - Last Saturday of each month, Sept. through April from 8am - noon. Learn about plants & wildlife while having fun & fellowship.
Monthly Meetings of Manatee Audubon are held the third Thursday of each month from September through April. Fellowship starts at 6:30pm; the featured speaker starts at 7pm.
Jan 21
Feb 18
Mar 17
“Sex in the Sitta – the Secret Life of the Brown-headed Nuthatch”. Jim Cox, Dir, Tall Timbers Research Station. The Brown-headed Nuthatch has declined steadily. Research shows Nuthatches disappeared from some areas before the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker disappeared from those same areas. Hear why. “Saving Swallow-tailed Kites & Snail Kites” Dr. Ken Meyer is exec director of the Avian Research & Conservation Institute. Swallow-tailed Kites and Snail Kites are both struggling for survival. Hear the causes, what’s being done & how to help.
April 21 Annual Awards with Potluck Dinner; Installation of New Officers
2015-2016 Annual Bird Trips,
Location: The public is invited to attend monthly meetings held at Hope Lutheran Church, 4635 26th St West (south of Cortez Rd.), Bradenton. MANATEE COUNTY AUDUBON SOCIETY
Programs & Special Events
Manatee Chapter Board meetings are monthly on the 2nd Wed at 6pm in the main Manatee County Library. These meetings are open (if you want to attend).
P.O. Box 14550 Bradenton, FL 34280 Ph: 941-729-2222 www.ManateeAudubon.org
CHAPTER OFFICERS 2015-2016 President — Nick Ziemba …………. 716-785-4732 Vice Pres — Deb Comeau………… 941-752-1835 Secretary — Jim Stephenson …. 301-466-1973 Treasurer — Lucette Wombacher 941-776-8424 Asst. Treasurer— Jack Schneider 941-792-1794
2015-2016 STANDING COMMITTEES Beach Nesting Bird Stewardship ...… Christmas Bird Count ………………….... Conservation ……………………………...… Education ……………………………………...
“Too Close for Comfort”. Over 14,000 birds nest at the Richard T. Paul Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary. Mark Rachel, manager of FL Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuaries, gives a virtual tour, updates, plus info on the Dot Dash Bird Islands Sanctuary in Bradenton. “Invasion of the Exotics”. Dr. John Herman, Assoc. Prof. & Dept. Chair - Biological Studies at FL Gulf Coast Univ.. From Burmese pythons to wild boars, non-native species are making significant inroad in our So. FL ecosystems. Several of these are affecting bird populations directly. Get updates in a fun presentation style on a serious topic.
Manatee County Audubon Society
Field Trips …………………………………….. Felts Audubon Preserve …………...….. Felts Open House …………………………. Historian …………………………………….... Hospitality ………………………………….... Jr Audubon / Audubon Adventures…..... Membership Directory & Dues ….... Membership Recruitment ………..…. Newsletter Editor ……………………..… Photo Contests………………………...…. Photo Displays………………………...….. Publicity …………………………………...… Social Media—Facebook …….…….…. Webmaster ………………………………....
(* = Board member) Dee Hanny ……………. 745-1553 Dick Comeau* ……… 752-1835 Open Deb Comeau* & …... 752-1835 Jim Stephenson*…301- 466-1973 Connie Zack* ………... 758-2929 Tom Heitzman ………. 737-3169 Fred Allen …………….. 723-6045 Amy Miller* …………. 758-7478 Deb Comeau* ………. 752-1835 Ed*& Amy Francis...720- 357-4447 Steve Black* ………….. 376-0110 & Karen Willey …….... 794-8773 Lucette Wombacher*…. 776-8424 Open Lori Roberts* ….... 678- 521-1965 Scott Niblick* …... 757-613-3948 Deb Yodock* ……….. 228-1269 Open Billie Knight …………... 592-7622 Jim Stephenson*…301- 466-1973 Kim Jones*…………….... 587-2037
INJURED BIRD HELP: Call 941-778-6324 for what to do. Someone will call you back. Monitored by Wildlife, Inc. rescue & rehab team of Bradenton Beach.
Photo: Black Skimmer by Ron Mayberry
Enjoy over a mile of trails throughout this preserve with prairie & wooded habitats.
2015-2016 Inspiring Monthly Guest Speakers
Manatee Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society.
Felts Audubon Preserve is accessible daily by parking on the street and using the walk-in entrance next to the main gate. During key events on weekends there is a parking area inside the main gate.
Connecting people with birds & the places they live...
2015-2016 Bird Walks & Field Trips DATE Aug 22
DESTINATION
BIRD WALK LEADER TIME
MEETING PLACE
Fort De Soto
Steve Black 376-0110
7am
1st Rest Area after northbound toll booth on I-275 Skyway Bridge
Lori Roberts 678-521-1965
7:45am
Matthew Press
8:30am
Sept 19 Rye Preserve &
new Nature Center
Oct 2
Oscar Scherer Park (tram ride)
747-7295; register with
Connie Zack 758-2929
In Walmart SW pkg lot by garden center; I-75 @ SR64 At Oscar Scherer Park for tram ride; Limited # people.
DATE
DESTINATION
BIRD WALK LEADER TIME
Jan 2
Felts Preserve
Lori Roberts
Jan 6
Dee Hanny 807-6781
7am
8:30am
Meet outside Visitors’ Center
Nov 21 Robinson Preserve Lori Roberts
678-521-1965
by parking lot (1704 99th St W)
Dec 2
Eagle ExtravaDeb Yodock ganza on Lena Rd. 228-1269
4:45pm
Park roadside near cell tower on Lena Rd.
Dec 5
Felts Preserve
Dee Hanny 807-6781
9:30am
Open House guided bird walk
Dec 8
Emerson Point
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
8:30am
In pkg lot by Visitors’ Center-
Dec 10 Palmetto Rookery, Hightower Rd, Bishop Harbor
Jerry & Billie Knight 592-7622
8am
Dec 19 Christmas Bird Count
Dick Comeau & sector count leaders
Per each As directed by each count leader. leader
(car birding)
Meet at Felts Preserve - 4600
24th Ave W, Palmetto
April 9
Jim Stephenson 301-466-1973
8am
SW corner of Beall’s pkg lot at I-75 & SR 70 (behind BP Gas)
The Celery Fields & Pinecraft Park
April 12 Emerson Point
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
8:30am In pkg lot by Visitors’ Center-
April 14 Birds & Butterflies of Felts Preserve
Fred Allen 723-6045 & Erica Timmerman
10am
Meet in Felts parking lot— 4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto
April 21 Fort De Soto
Jerry & Billie Knight 592-7622
8am
1st Rest Area after north-bound Skyway Bridge toll booth on I-275
DESTINATION
678-521-1965
Felts Preserve
Nick Ziemba 716 785-4732
9:30am
Open House guided bird walk
Feb 9
Emerson Point
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
8:30am
In pkg lot by Visitors’ Center-
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
8:30am
Parking lot at Perico Preserve
— 11700 Manatee Ave West
May 27 Alafia Bank Islands Jim Stephenson Sanctuary (by boat) May 28 Beach-nesting -30 Shorebirds on AMI
4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto
5801 17th St W, Palmetto
Feb 17
Perico & Neal Preserves
Feb 20
Founder’s Golf Connie Zack Club (Purple Martins) 758-2929
8am
Home Depot SE pkg lot, 5475 University Pkwy @ I-75
Feb 2426
Loxahatchee Natl Wildlife Refuge; Wakodahatchee Wetlands; Green Cay Wetlands; Okeeheelee Park
Jerry & Billie Knight 592-7622
7am
Lowe’s parking lot in SE corner, I-75@SR70. (Address: 7395 52nd Place East, Bradenton) Carpool to east coast FL. Hotel cost in West Palm Beach; see details.
Mar 1
Cockroach Bay
Connie Zack 758-2929
8am
Carpool from SE corner of Walmart parking lot @ SR301 & SR 41 (508 10th St E, Palmetto)
Mar 5
Felts Preserve
To be determined
9:30am
Open House guided bird walk 4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto
Mar 8
Emerson Point
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
8:30am
In pkg lot by Visitors’ Center5801 17th St W, Palmetto
Check for any changes & additional event information (entrance fees, costs, lunch plans, hotel info etc.) online at www.ManateeAudubon.org in the Calendar section.
Palmetto
7am
& Jim Cox
Feb 6
–4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto 5801 17th St W, Palmetto
7:30am Parking lot opposite the Pavilion at the main public access of Whitney Beach
In pkg lot by Visitors’ Center-
Carlton Reserve
Meet in public parking lot by concession stand
In Walmart SW pkg lot by garden center; I-75 @ SR64
Whitney Beach, Rick Greenspun Leffis Key/ Coquina 284-2055 Baywalk
8:30am
Jan 23
7:30am
April 5
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
1st Rest Area after northbound toll booth on I-275 / Skyway Bridge
Rick Greenspun 284-2055
5801 17th St W, Palmetto
Emerson Point
7am
Nov 14 Siesta Key
9:30am Open House guided bird walk
Jan 12
Matthew Press
Open House guided bird walk
To be determined
In Walmart SW pkg lot by garden center; I-75 @ SR64
Ft. DeSoto
9:30am
Felts Preserve
7:30am
Oct 17
Nick Ziemba 716 785-4732
April 2
Scott Niblick 757 613-3948
7am
Felts Preserve
8:30am Home Depot SE parking lot, University @ I-75
Lettuce Lake
Lucette Wombacher 776-8424
Nov 7
Deb Yodock 228-1269
Jan 9
Paynes Prairie, Gainesville area
Max 20 people; $ cost details.
Shamrock Park; Venice Rookery
In Walmart SW pkg lot by garden center; I-75 @ SR64
Jan 1516
Behind Starbucks, 5485 University Pkwy, Bradenton.
Mar 15
friends in Florida. You’ll learn from master birders who enjoy sharing tips on how to identify different species, their habitats, & their behaviors. Gain insights on juvenile vs. adult coloration, and changes in beak or leg colors in breeding season. Many species migrate to Florida, so you’ll see a wide variety of native and seasonal species. Limited to 30 participants. Cost: $50 for Manatee Audubon members; $70 for non-members (includes annual 2016 membership dues).
7am
At Celery Fields gazebo on 6799 Palmer Rd., Sarasota
6:45am
In Walmart SW pkg lot by garden center; I-75 @ SR64. Costs: food, lodging, gas.
Circle B Bar Deb Yodock Reserve (tram ride) 228-1269
8am
Circle B Bar, Ed & Amy Francis Apopka Wildlife Dr, 720-357-4447 Avian Recon Center
Lori Roberts
Open House guided bird walk
Jim Stephenson 301-466-1973
Nov 67
B asic Bird Identification Course — Get to know your feathered
Mar 11- Stoddard Bird Lab, 12 Tall Timbers; St Marks Wildlife Ref.
9:30am
The Celery Fields & Pinecraft Park
Connie Zack 758-2929
MEETING PLACE
DATE
678-521-1965
Fun Educational & Skill Development Forums
BIRD WALK LEADER TIME
MEETING PLACE
Oct 14
747-7295; register with
2015-2016 Bird Walks & Field Trips
2015-2016 Bird Walks & Field Trips
Dee Hanny 745-1553
At Celery Fields gazebo on 6799 Palmer Rd., Sarasota
5801 17th St W, Palmetto
8:30am In Walmart SW pkg lot by garden center; I-75 @ SR64 Various Anna Maria Island nesting shifts bird colony location(s)
Dates: January 18, 20, 25, 27, 28 for classroom sessions from 6:308:30pm. Day long field trips are on Saturday, Jan. 23 & 30 starting at 7am.
Bird Photography Institute — Want to get better photos while birding? Tap the techniques from professional bird photographers who tutor you while in the field with a small number of other participants. — Tentative date: Early January
Cost: $100 per participant
Audubon Adventures (for Junior Audubon) —
Monthly from October through April on the 2nd Saturday (9am-noon) elementary & middle school students trek along side of an experienced naturalist. Learn about birds, bugs, bees, turtles, animal footprints & scat identification, favorite animal habitats, conservation issues, native vs invasive plants, etc.. Perfect in-field supplement for home school curriculums. Most of our treks will be at Felts Audubon Preserve in Palmetto (4600 24th Ave East...Experimental Farm Rd & 24th Ave East).
www.ManateeAudubon.org
