Santa Fe Audubon’s Annual
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW
LIFETIME CONSERVATIONIST AWARD
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
6:45 PM
Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall 204 SR 26, downtown Melrose
Please join us to celebrate Joyce King, our Founder and first President, when we present her with our Lifetime Conservationist Award for her years of service and dedication to conservation.
You do not need to be a Santa Fe Audubon Society chapter member to attend our Speaker Series programs. All are welcome!
FIELD TRIPS
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL FIELD TRIPS
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT EMAIL
santafeaudubonfl@aol.com
When you make your reservation, please include your email and phone numbers(s)
and please specify if you will meet at Heritage Park or the Field Trip location
Saturday, February 25
SWEETWATER WETLANDS PARK
for waterfowl and more
Join us for a walk at this man-made wetland where the birds are accustomed to humans. There are often
opportunities for close-up looks and great photographs.This time of year, we may see wintering ducks
along with local favorites.
Approx. 2 - 3 hours
Difficulty Level 2 - May involve uneven terrain; 1-2 miles
PARKING FEE: $5 PER VEHICLE
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT
contact Sallie Carlock santafeaudubonfl@aol.com
To caravan from Melrose on the west side of Heritage Park at 7:30 AM
or Sweetwater Wetlands Park at 8:10 AM
325 SW Williston Road, Gainesville
Saturday, March 11
AVES, ODES, LEPS and SPRING WILDFLOWERS
at Morningside Nature Center
Join us for Birds, Bugs and Botany with Michael Drummond in one of Gainesville’s premier nature parks, Morningside Nature Center. This is one of the last remaining examples of fire-dependent longleaf pine woodlands in the area. We will explore up to three miles of the more than six miles of trails that wind through sandhill, flatwoods, cypress domes, and areas where native vegetation is being restored. Morningside boasts a spectacular wildflower display and opportunity to see a diverse array of wildlife. Approx. 2 - 3 hours
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2 - May involve uneven terrain; 1-3 miles
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT
contact Sallie Carlock santafeaudubonfl@aol.com
To caravan from Melrose meet on the west side of Heritage Park at 7:45 AM
or Morningside Nature Center Parking Lot at 8:15 AM 3540 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL
Sallie Carlock
President
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| SFAS Program Meetings |
| Active: Oct. - May |
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Annual Report
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When: Speaker Series Programs are held Tuesdays evenings at 6:45PM
October thru May
Where: Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall (204 SR 26 downtown Melrose)
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| Photo Credits |
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Photographs displayed on this website are copyrighted and were provided with permission by:
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| Ann Stodola |
| Dr. Jeff Smith |
| John Sloane |
| Richard Segall |
| Carol Sallette |
| Anne Pierce |
| Ida Little |
| Joyce King |
| Ray Franklin |
| Bill Chitty |
| Sallie Carlock |
| Jan & Bill Bolte |
| Keith Bollum |
| Bob Bird |
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Christmas Bird Count
December 2016 |
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On December 16th, 2017, 44 participants from Santa Fe Audubon, Alachua and Duval Audubon, and others fanned out in boats, cars, and on foot to survey all the birds that could be seen and heard for the 27th annual Melrose Christmas Bird Count (CBC). This dedicated effort resulted in locating 113 species of birds. The Melrose CBC covers a 15-mile diameter circle centered at the intersection of SR 219 and SR 100 that encompasses parts of Clay, Putnam, Alachua, and Bradford Counties. Many bird-rich natural areas occur in this circle and include Lake Santa Fe, Santa Fe Swamp, Gold Head Branch State Park, the Ordway Preserve, and numerous lakes and forests.
At the end of the day-long survey, participants congregated at Betty’s Pizza in Melrose to tally the results, to share stories of the day’s birding highlights, and of course to feast on the local cuisine. Laura Berkelman compiled the list of birds that were surveyed by twelve birding groups. New species for the count were Painted Bunting, Wilson’s Warbler, and Blue Grosbeak. Uncommon for the count were American Woodcock and Wilson’s Snipe. Several species had unexpected high totals: Tree Swallows, 5,590; Ring-bill Gulls, 1500; Sandhill Cranes, 1,030; American Robins, 1,570.
Begun 118 years ago in New York City, Christmas Bird Counts provide important insight into the health of the environment. Since birds are the most visible of our wildlife and the easiest to survey, bird survey data provide an indication of the overall health of the less visible wildlife species. An abundant and diverse avian community can reflect healthy ecological habitats, while declining bird populations can signify disturbing trends in our land development patterns and their detrimental effects to natural areas. Changes in the range of some bird species have implications in assessing results of climate change. National Audubon has identified 314 species of birds in the U.S. that will be affected by climate change.
Results from the Melrose CBC combined with data from hundreds of other CBC surveys throughout the country allow ornithologists to assess bird trends on a national and international scale. If you’d like to see the complete list of birds seen, please request by email sjoyceking@comcast.net or lberkelman@windstream.net. On Thursday, December 15, Santa Fe Audubon once again participated in the nation's longest-running citizen science project, fielding 13 teams of birdwatchers across the area to collect data on birds for the 117th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. This year's tally showed 107 bird species and 7,493 individual birds. Interesting finds included Northern Flickers, Eastern Screech-Owls, a Great Horned Owl, Northern Flickers, Fish Crows Loggerhead Shrikes, Black-and-White Warblers and an Eastern Wood-pewee. Also noteworthy was a Rusty Blackbird, not only spotted, but also photographed, convincing even the sceptics who monitor the tallies!
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