Calendar of Events: Bird Watching

Shorelines
The newsletter of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Volume XXXIV Number 7 September 2005
Calendar of Events Bird Watching:

CAS monthly meetings are held on the Timothy Mahar
first Thursday of each month at 7:00 All things worthy that are in peril, as the world now
PM. Refreshments, conservation topics stands, those are my care. Tolkein
and a monthly wildlife slide show to
begin at 6:30 PM. At OWC Learning After the storm, nature is recovering just fine. I was
Resources Center (LRC), Room 131. out in the semi-stormy (depending on where you
The LRC is next door to Building K were) weather on my usual east pass jaunt and was
attached to the Library by a covered enjoying the little Leatherjacks schooling around me.
courtyard. The new room is equipped I was also enjoying a nice number of Willets doing
with tables, comfortable chairs and mod- such ravenous feeding that they looked like
ern equipment needed for program pre- Sanderlings on steroids. When what to my wandering
sentations. We hope to see you there. eyes did appear... it sure wasn't a Pelican that had
September 1: Rebecca Rushing, learned to fish with webbed feet, and it wasn't the
Wildlife Manager at Hurlburt Field will expected Osprey... No. This was quite likely a Red
be our speaker. She will tell us how Tailed Hawk complete with huge talons. He flew
some air fields, including Hurlburt, are along the island from the direction of the Matterhorn
dealing with the problems of birds and right over the water's edge and turned only when he
other wildlife on the runway. hit the west jetty to follow the water through the pass.
October 6: Vernon Compton, Project He made one unsuccessful attempt at catching a fish
Director for Gulf Coastal Plain before disappearing out of sight. This made for a nice
Ecosystem Partnership will present a change of pace what with those huge talons and all.
program about trees. He will talk about He sure got my attention as I was in the gulf and sur-
the best native trees to plant in high rounded by his potential next meal.
wind areas such as those prone to hur- The tidal flats area which is slowly in the process of
ricanes. He will also discuss the impor- being filled in by mother nature, has reshaped herself
tance of a good tree ordinances, and from sandy bands separating different ponds, to a sin-
the importance of trees to stormwater gle larger pond with a tiny sand island in the middle.
management. (continued on page 2) A small group of gray gulls has taken over here. The
herons are on the jetties and along the beach as
Chapter Walks expected. Also along the beach and in general ignor-
September 10: We will meet at the Ft. ing those endangered species signs altogether are
Walton Beach Coach & Four parking lot 100-150 terns entirely the 'little guy' variety. They fly
(7:30am) for a bird walk of the FWB and land as one. They are sitting below the high tide
spray fields and ponds. The public is line and they don't sit still at all. There have been a
invited and families are encouraged to dozen or more 'regular' large terns but they're not mix-
join us. ing in anymore as they were after the storm and the
September 17: Fall Migration Count, black skimmers have disappeared all together. There
volunteers are needed for eight loca- is still some great shelling here, eventhough the
tions throughout Okaloosa county and storms have taken so much sand off the island and
six in Walton County. left it in the gulf. The dune storm damage has made
For information, please call Don a larger flat area from the jetty all the way along the
Ware 862-6582 or email beach. Take care all, and do yourself a favor and get
donware@earthlink.net outside.
Dedicated to the protection of bird and wildlife habitat and a greater appreciation of Northwest Florida’s natural beauty.
Review current and past newsletters for the Choctawhatchee Audubon
Society online at our new website:
www.ChoctawhatcheeAudubon.org
FUTURE CAS MEETINGS

From Page 1
November 3: For a break from our traditional December 1: Dr. Bobby Harrison who teaches
lectures, CAS will feature Dr. Dave Gowan; art and photography at Oakwood College in
Florida State University’s Spider Guy. Dr. Huntsville, Alabama will be our speaker. On
Gowan will present a slide show on “The June 9, 2004 he reported seeing an Ivory- billed
Arachnids Among Us”. If you have spiders Woodpecker flush from near the base of a bald-
around the house that you would like to identify, cypress about 15 meters in front of him. As the
feel free to bring them in (using suitably secure bird swooped up to land, the broad white trailing
containers of course). After the program, Dr. edges of the wings were especially visible.
Gowan will show us how to track down the After 20 years of searching, his dream of finding
octipedal beasts outside in the courtyard so the Ivory-billed Woodpecker came true in the
bring your flashlights. Big Woods of Arkansas.
Education update
This year CAS is going to minimize the Audubon Adventures program which will be offered by
requests only. To replace this program we would like to create a traveling "Birding Box". The birding
box will be hand delivered to local schools by request. It may even accompany a seasoned birder!
Charlie Parkel and others have agreed to meet groups for fieldtrips! The birding box will contain
binoculars, field guides, audio compact disks and classroom activity suggestions. At this time we
are actively soliciting donations to stock our briding box. We will accept any new or used binoculars,
field guide or audio compact disks. We will also accept monetary donations to supply these kits.
Ideally the kit would contain 25 binoculars, 10 field guides and 1 CD or tape. We have contacted
bionocular companies asking for discounts or donations. If you have items to donate please call
Nonie at (850) 862-9588. If you would like to make a monetary donation send it to CAS P.O. Box
1014 Ft Walton Beach, FL 32549.
Audubon Eventure
Audubon Eventures is planning a night walk at Anderson Pond August 26 at 7 PM.
Anderson Pond is about 1 mile north of the Mullet Festival site on Hwy 85 in Niceville.
Directions: Turn right at the second sign, follow the dirt road to the pavilion.
This site has lots of bugs, so wear your repellent!
The next Audubon Eventures on September 30 will be at Oak Tree Nature Park in Mary Esther at
6:30 PM, once again wear your bug repellent!
Please RSVP to Nonie Maines at (850) 862-9588.
September 2005.......Page 2
Environmental Awareness
Your help is needed to save the Arctic Refuge!

The fight over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is heating up.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED IN AUGUST & SEPTEMBER!
Audubon is making a big push to save the pristine wilderness in Alaska
from destructive oil drilling, and you can help!
After 25 years of fighting, our last best chance to protect the refuge will be in the House of
Representatives on a vote quickly approaching in September.
In August, members of Congress that will be casting deciding votes will be back home talking with
their constituents like you! All Audubon chapters and Audubon members around the country will
be using this opportunity to weigh in with their members of Congress and fight at this critical time
for one of the most pristine places left in America!
Write or e-mail your elected officials today!
Every member of Congress will be voting on this measure and right now, it's too close to call.
Log on to Audubon's special "Protect the Arctic" website - accessed via www.audubon.org , or
contact Desiree Groves in Audubon's public policy office in Washington, DC
at 202-861-2242 ext. 3038 (dgroves@audubon.org) to find out more about how you can help!
THE 5TH ANNUAL FLORIDA PANHANDLE BIRDING & WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL

The festival will be held on OCTOBER George Island & St. Joseph Peninsula State
7-9, 2005 at the PRESERVES CENTER. Parks, and the Apalachicola National Forest,
Located at 3915 Hwy C-30, just 4 miles south- as well as bay & river trips. While specialized
east of Port St. Joe, Florida located on the Gulf birding trips are a highlight of the festival,
of Mexico, in Northwest Florida. botany, bats, and archaeology trips are also
The festival will feature professionally led field featured.
trips on a variety of public lands, lectures, and Attend the 2005 Florida Panhandle
a vast array of educational exhibits will be Birding & Wildflower Festival. Come explore
available to the public. the public lands of the Florida Panhandle in
Come and join guided tours of the St. search of migratory birds and endangered and
Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserves, St. Vincent threatened species of plants and animals and
Island National Wildlife Refuge, Apalachicola prehistoric history.
National Estuarine Research Reserve, For more information call:
Department of Forestry Box R Ranch, St. 850-229-1797
Volunteers needed
The North American Migration Count provides a snapshot of where each bird species is
during the peak of the migration in Massachusetts. In Florida the fall migration is on the leading
edge for many species. CAS meets twice a year for a bird count. Our goal is to set up eight bird-
ing parties in Okaloosa County and six in Walton County. In addition to experienced birders begin-
ners are welcome too. This is a great opportunity to fine tune your birding skills.
Don Ware would appreciate both team leaders and recorders/spotters to call him at 862-
6582 or email donware@earthlink.net to volunteer. It is a good excuse to spend a day in the field
getting to know other birders while observing our beautiful feathered friends. We hope you can
join us!
September 2005.......Page 3
CHAPTER
REPRESENTATIVES
President: Nonie Maines: 862-9588, nonie@noniesark.com Education: Nonie Maines: 862-9588, nonie@noniesark.com
Vice president: Bill Burke: 678-0440, manateeadvocate@hotmail.com Field trips: Charlie Parkel: 678-4728
Treasurer: Karen Newhouse: 897-3745, newhouse@earthlink.net Hospitality: Gertrude Oakman: 729-2656
Recording secretary: Carole Goodyear: 897-2666, carolegoodyear@msn.com Membership & newsletter circulation: Bob Miller: 678-4278
Corresponding secretary: Pat Baker: 678-2953, flabirder@cox.net Publicity: Karin Barbee: 729-3733, shorelines@choctawhatcheeaudubon.org
Bird count coordinator: Donald M. Ware: 862-6582, donware@earthlink.net Programs: Thelma Phillips: 651-0508, TCMagures@aol.com
Conservation: Josh Barbee: 218-0573, josh@heyroy.com Shorelines Editor: Karin Barbee: 729-3733,
Email: shorelines@choctawhatcheeaudubon.org
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Nonprofit Organization

Shorelines, September 2005 U.S. Postage PAID
P.O. Box 1014 Fort Walton Beach, FL
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32549
Permit No. 110
Printed on recycled paper
Donations are welcome, please contact CAS treasrer

Karen Newhouse 678-0440. All contributions are
tax-deductible. Feel free to specify a particular
fund/event that you wish to sponsor.
Notes from the Editor
THIS MONTH’S DONATIONS
We are always looking for new submis- Patricia Swennes donated to our Environmental
sions to Shorelines. Education Fund. Thank you Patricia for your
donation.
Articles, letters, and notices from Make sure you renew your local CAS membership when you
renew your national Audubon membership. Please indicate that
upcoming events from members are you’re affiliated with Choctawhatchee Audubon Society when you
encouraged. Please send in your sub- renew to ensure your subscription to Shorelines.
missions early. Remember the deadline
for publication is the 15th of each Introductory Audubon Society Membership (E-11):
Current members: Please do not use this form for membership renewals.
month. Name:__________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________
Send your mail electronically to our new City:__________________ State:__________ Zip:_____________
Phone: ________________ E-mail: _________________________
account: Introductory membership is $20/individual or $15/student or senior
citizen to join national, state, and local Audubon groups and receive
shorelines@choctawhatcheeaudubon.org Audubon magazine and the Shorelines newsletter. To join, mail this
form and a check, payable to National Audubon Society, to NAS
Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 51005, Boulder, CO 80323-1005.
Chapter Code: E-11 7XCH
© 2005 by Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. All rights reserved.

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Shorelines

Calendar of Events Bird Watching:

FUTURE CAS MEETINGS

Please RSVP to Nonie Maines at (850) 862-9588.

Your help is needed to save the Arctic Refuge!

THE 5TH ANNUAL FLORIDA PANHANDLE BIRDING & WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Nonprofit Organization

Printed on recycled paper

Donations are welcome, please contact CAS treasrer

© 2005 by Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. All rights reserved.

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