Volume 35, Number 1 editor:kathwren1@verizon.

net October 2008

THE PRESIDENTS CORNER OCTOBER CALENDAR

Welcome to Another Great Season in Sarasota. By now you’ve all
probably received the Activity Schedule and registration forms for
a very busy season, but there’s more!Karen Jensen is organizing a
birding trip to southern Spain for mid-September 2009. That part
of Europe is enormously productive for migrating birds traveling
from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Britain to their
wintering grounds in Africa. At this writing, the tour includes a
visit to Gibraltar. The trip will be led by an expert Brit birder who
has been to Spain many, many times. Registration will be limited,
so if you have any interest, contact Karen now at 924-2446;
karensarasota@yahoo.com.
And another one. Martha Straub is planning a 5-day riverboat
cruise on the Amazon for May 2010. The boat will leave and
return to Manaus. There’ll be several days either end for additional
eco-touring. This is also limited, so if you are interested, contact
Martha at gmstraub@aol.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 14 Robinson Preserve. This new Bradentn 487
acre waterfront preserve is being restored to a native wetland with
hiking trails and boardwalks. Meet at Starbuck’s on University and
I 75 next to Home Depot at 7:30 a.m. BRING LUNCH
Leaders: John Ginaven, 798-9829, and Stuart Hills, 922-5261.
Thursday, October 16 Pinecraft Park. Look for fall migrants
with Edith Miller (364-3637) at this local HOT SPOT off Bahia
Vista. Meet at Pinecraft at 9 a.m. BRING LUNCH
Monday
October 13.
Sarasota Audubon Society
monthly meeting at 7 p.m. India Its Cities
and Wildlife. A Travelogue by
Wade and Betty
Matthews

Venice High School students are continuing to enter all bird

records; they have entered 20 years worth of data already. This
year we have two new interns: Maria Joseph and Kalleen Cranford.
Thanks you two for volunteering your services. It makes us feel
toasty to think that there are great young adults out there willing to
help in the conservation movement.
CELERY FIELDS CLEAN UP
Tuesday, Nov. 11: CELERY FIELDS CLEAN UP. Help us
keep our adopted road free of garbage. Meet at the gazebo
(Palmer and Raymond) at 8 a.m. Contact Jeanne Dubi, 355-1709.

And now for some not such fun stuff. We need volunteers. Some TRIP REPORTS
of our board members will be cycling off after this current year.
Ft. De Soto, April 15 - On a cool blustery day 37 brave birders
Positions available will include Treasurer, Sales, and who knows
bundled up for 58 degree temperatures and saw 58 species of
what else. We also are looking for an Education Chair, a Volunteer
birds. We were hoping for migrant warblers but they did not
Coordinator, Christmas Bird Count Coordinator and various other
appear. However, we were treated with brief, and good looks at
non-board positions. If you’d like to chat to any of us about these
Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Orchard Orioles
possibilities or about your particular interest, please call any
and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. The grand finale occured at the
current board member. Contact info is on the back of the Activity
North Beach area where two Marbled Godwits, many Willets and a
Schedule.
few Short-billed Dowitchers were disturbed by a hungry Peregrine
And now for the birds!  
Falcon. None were eaten while we were watching.
Jeanne Dubi, President
John Ginaven, Trip Leader

SECOND MONDAY ❖OCTOBER-MAY❖7PM SOCIAL PERIOD, FOLLOWED BY MEETING AND

PRESENTATION
Our Meeting Place-Fellowship Hall, First Congregational Church, 1031 South Euclid, Sarasota. Directions: US 41 to Bahia Vista. If
coming from the south, turn right on Bahia Vista:if coming from the north, turn left. Take Bahia Vista to Euclid, then north on Euclid to
the church.
 November 11, 2007 Volume VII

Photo by Rick Greenspun

Ft. De Soto, April 19 - Several birders met me at the rest stop
after the first toll booth and carpooled to the duck pond on the
way to Ft. Desoto. Here we saw a Redhead, Lesser Scaup, and a
Bald Eagle flying overhead. At Fort Desoto we went first to the
Mulberry trees where we found Rose-breasted Grosbeaks,
Eastern Kingbirds, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, one female
Prothonotary Warbler, an Ovenbird, Indigo Buntings, a male
Painted Bunting, Cape May Warblers, many Catbirds, a Red-eyed
Vireo and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. We then headed to the East
Beach Point and Woods where we had shore birds and nesting
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. We finished the day with a lovely
picnic at Arrowhead.
Edith Miller, Trip Leader
NEW EDITION OF HOT SPOTS
The 2008 fourth edition of Birding Hot Spots in Sarasota and
Manatee Counties is now on sale for $6 ($7.75 by mail).  Edited by
Mark Leggett, Stu Hills, and Jeanne Dubi, this invaluable birding
guide now includes 70 great places to bird with site maps,
directions, descriptions, and a revised checklist of area birds.  family.    Viewers may vote as to video quality or ornithological
Included in this expanded edition are recent park openings in
Sarasota County such as Sleeping Turtles Preserve, Old Miakka
Preserve, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, and Lemon Bay Preserve.  the Birds of the World is a sponsor of this resource.    So far 185
In Manatee County, newly described sites to enjoy birds include
Robinson Preserve, Duette Preserve,  Rye Preserve, Lake
Manatee State Park, Joan Durante Park, and Felts Preserve.  Also,
new to this edition is a handy site index with information on
parking, restrooms, fees, and handicapped accessibility.
ARMCHAIR BIRDING ON THE WEB
INTERNET BIRD COLLECTION
http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/
Birding, almost by definition, is best done in the field.  However,
with the advent of the internet, the experience of birding can be
heightened by the wise use of the wealth of birding sites found
on the web.  This marks the beginning of a short column on such
sites which ought to ruffle your feathers with interest.
Ever seen a Screaming Piha?  Or heard one?  Or viewed a Club-
winged Manakin on a lek?  Or observed a Hamerkop downing a
frog?  Nor I, until I watched and heard these birds on a website
featuring bird videos—the Internet Bird Collection.
I've found it truly remarkable.  There are some 27,027 videos,
covering 5,345 species or 55% of all bird species.    Most are not
more than a minute.  Almost all include audio,  and wait till you
hear the Screaming Piha.
One can search the collection by species using the scientific  or
common name.  Partial names are fine.  One may also search by
interest. 
Begun in 2002, the site is free and a non-profit.  The Handbook of
contributors from 36 countries have made their videos available
to this collective project.
I wouldn't watch the Hamerkop  on a full stomach.
Mark Leggett

Kudos to the editors for all their hard work and a special thanks
for contributions from Ken Pearlman, Rick Greenspun, Barry CAREFREE LEARNER
Rossheim, Edith Miller, Kathryn Young, John Ginaven, Lynn
Jakubowicz, Jim Kyle, Barbara Singer, and Sara King.   The Carefree Learner goes to Roberts Bay Rookery to monitor
breeding birds. There will be room for two SAS members per trip
Stu Hills, Birding Hotspots Editor on the following dates. Please call Rick Greenspun to sign up at
284-2055. Meet at the Boat which is docked next to Le Barge at
Marina Jack’s. October times are Island clean up, the rest of the
dates are bird counts.

OCTOBER 2, 10, 24
NOVEMBER 7
DECEMBER 5
JANUARY 9, 23
FEBRUARY 6
MARCH- 6
APRIL 3

BIRDING HOT SPOTS

Pick up a copy of the new 4th edition of the invaluable local birding guide, "Birding Hot Spots in Sarasota and
Manatee Counties."  It includes a checklist of area birds and  provides explicit descriptions  and directions to good
local birding spots.  Hot Spot is available at meetings, on day trips, and by mail.  Cost $6 (add $1.75 for mail)
 VOTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT PROUD IN-LAWS

Nov. 4 is election day, and we hope you will put protection of the Builder Levy, son-in-law of long-time members Ruth and Sid
environment and wildlife high among the issues that will Deustch, is a recent recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship for
influence your vote. While Sarasota Audubon's tax and photography. Builder will now be able to complete his work of
organizational status do not allow us to recommend how you photographing miners and the effects of mining in West
should vote for specific candidates or ballot proposals, other Virginia. His work is part of an exhibit 1968: Then & Now at
environmental organizations with different status such as the the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Tisch School of the
League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, and environmental Arts in New York City from September 26 through December
political action committees (PACs), easily findable on the 20. Builder can often be seen photographing birds and people
internet, analyze candidates and issues, endorsing the good and on visits to Sarasota beaches.
recommending defeat of others.
The most environmentally important of the six amendments to Many thanks to Sid Deutsch for his many years of work as
the Florida Constitution on the November ballot is No. 4. It SAS’s publicist. We appreciate his dedication and hard work.
would require the Legislature to exempt from property taxes November 11, 2007 Volume VII
Sid, call us if you get bored!
private land with a perpetual conservation easement or other Jeanne Dubi, President
perpetual conservation protection. Amendment 4 would also
require the legislature to provide that other conservation lands be
assessed and taxed on the basis of current use rather than their
higher developmental value, thereby reducing tax incentives for
rapid development. THE BIG SIT
To avoid lines on election day, you can request your County
Supervisor of Elections Office to send you a mail ballot now, and “The Big Sit” is an international, noncompetitive event but
mail it back in as soon as you have decided how to vote on the bragging rights are awarded for the best overall count and best
candidates and issues. state count. In 2007, 49 states and countries participated and
Wade Matthews, Conservation Chair recorded over 876 species worldwide. State bragging rights
went to a team from Jacksonville. This year Matt and Karen
Holman, owners of the Wild Bird Center and co-captains for
REFRIGERATOR MAGNETS FOR SALE AT the WBC team, hope to set new records with the aid of many
OCTOBER MEETING volunteer bird watchers from the Sarasota/Bradenton area.
Anyone with an interest or desire to see how many birds can be
Carolyn Primus will have these cute magnets for sale at the next seen or heard from a stationary point is encouraged to
meeting. They cost only $2 each or 3 for $5. All proceeds go to participate. Whether you are an experienced birder, new to bird
Sarasota Audubon Society. watching or just like staying up all night listening for owls,
“The Big Sit” is your opportunity to have a tailgate party for
Here’s a sample image. birders. Most importantly, participation is free.
The Wild Bird Center team will be counting birds at Crowley
Museum and Nature Center. The event will start at midnight
on Saturday, Oct 11 and conclude at midnight on Sunday, Oct
12. All participants must register and sign-up for an hour-long
time slot. For more information or to register, stop by the
Wild Bird Center at 8323 Lockwood Ridge Road, near the
CORRECTION IN intersection of University Parkway and Lockwood Ridge Road,
CONDOLENCES or call us at (941) 351-9500.
THE ACTIVITY
SCHEDULE SAS member Chuck Baldwin
passed away suddenly in July.
We ’ l l m i s s h i m . D e e p e s t
The trip to Myakka River sympathy to wife Erika.
SP is Wed. Dec 10 not
Thursday Dec 10. Long-time member Doris Rose,
aged 91, recently passed away.
When she was younger, Doris
joined many trips with SAS and
frequently spoke of her love of
the group and of her interest in
birds.
 Published Monthly October through May by:
SARASOTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 15423
SARASOTA, FL 34277-1423

For Membership Information email, Bibbins Family Kat McConnell Mattie Stoltzfus
Carl Border Joan McKniff Michael White
LYNN@SARASOTAAUDUBON.ORG Marilyn Bunn David Narins Julia Burch
Or leave message at 364-9212 Richard/Lynn Mr. Noss Carol Carlson
Burton
Doris Rowe Norma Claypoole
Joan Butterfield
Mr/Mrs Swartz Judith Mullett
Larry Byrd
Audra Tompkins Jim Prosser
Phyllis Cole
WELCOME Lynne Bisgyer Eugene W.
Irene Coulter Sprague
David Couch
NEW MEMBERS Evelyn Cravens
Jack Decaprio
Geo Davis
Richard
Susan Kaiser Henderson
Philip Kane Bernerd Kautz
Abbot Lipsky Shelby Mohr