Audubon of Florida News Blog

Audubon’s Northeast Florida Policy Associate Monique Borboen-Abrams reports from her experience with the Mid-Winter Shorebird Survey. Thanks to Monique and all the participants for this year’s event! Enjoy:

It is Friday morning at 10am and I am just about to start my survey route with my team for the 2012 statewide mid-winter shorebird survey.

Toward the south, 25 volunteers with Flagler Audubon (who initiated the survey with the US Fish and Wildlife Service a few years back) have been deployed in four teams to cover the county’s beaches, and I have already heard of a Great Lake Piping Plover spotted by a team in Volusia County! Tens and tens of people helping gather the data needed to better protect some species on the decline!

Here in St. Johns County, I have county staff and Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve volunteers surveying the beach north of me. To my south, six other teams are spread on the beaches, a mix of county, State Park and National Park staff, Eco-tour operators, and Audubon volunteers. Our year-long beach bird volunteers are being helped by snowbirds, some all the way from Canada. And, as for the past two years, inland chapter members from Santa Fe Audubon are leading Fort Matanzas National Monument’s team.

Our survey of Porpoise Point, a beach bordering St.Augustine Inlet, turns up little shorebirds but a good flock of terns and gulls. It also illustrates the pressures faced by beach birds. While we are counting the resting flock, three parties of pedestrians, two horses, and one car disturb the birds. Too many beach-goers still don’t realize how important it is to go around a flock of birds instead of through it. Bird Stewards, we still have work ahead of us educating beach goers and promoting good beach bird etiquette!

Later in the evening, each team had a special moment to share; watching hundreds of gannets behind a shrimp boat, wondering where the skimmers so abundant in December went, or worrying about the high number of common loons found dead.

All noticed some laughing gulls getting their black head already: spring is upon us and it’s time to plan for our beach birds nesting season!

For Immediate Release: February 9, 2012

Contact:  Jane Graham, Everglades Policy Associate, jgraham@audubon.org, 561-271-5766

Download PDF: http://bit.ly/yuYXcn

Miami, FL – Yesterday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a South Florida Water Management District request for authorization to use temporary forward pumps to pull water from Lake Okeechobee lower than gravity-flow will allow.

The Army Corps has agreed with an Audubon request to reduce the permit extension to one year only to allow for a complete analysis of impacts of the pumps on the endangered Everglade Snail Kite and to analyze additional specific conditions that could limit future pump usage.

Lake Okeechobee is critical Everglade Snail Kite habitat, and decisions that impact how the Lake’s water is managed for the environment, agriculture, and other users can be the difference between life and death for this iconic Florida species.

“With three severe droughts hitting Lake Okeechobee in less than a decade, it is crucial for state and federal agencies to look closely at impacts of low water levels on the Everglade Snail Kite,” said Everglades Policy Associate Jane Graham.  “The Corps’ decision to renew the permit pending an evaluation of the impact of forward pumps on Lake ecology is an encouraging step in the right direction.”

The Everglade Snail Kite is a system-wide indicator species for Everglades restoration success. In order to comprehensively protect Kite habitat and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem as a whole, water level declines should be dealt with through water restrictions and water conservation measures.  Audubon urges that citizens, businesses, and agencies respond to these steps dutifully when drought conditions are identified to avoid the need to use temporary forward pumps when water is most scarce.

Eric Draper, Audubon Florida Executive Director, said, “The South Florida Water Management District needs to rethink how water from Lake Okeechobee is being used throughout the year to put the environment on par with the sugar industry and other users.”

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Audubon Center for Birds of Prey experts and special guests gathered at the Oakland Nature Preserve today to release the 439th rehabilitated Bald Eagle back into the Florida skies.

Betty Carter, Environmental Specialist from Progress Energy, released the bird in celebration of eagle conservation in Florida.  The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is a recent recipient of a generous grant from Progress Energy for the Center’s new Eagle Eyes on the Environment program.

This adult Bald Eagle (BAEA # 535-12) was rescued by an Oakland police officer in October 2011 in Oakland, FL.  He was found “hopping along a trail” and Orange County Animal Services transported the bird to the Audubon Centerfor Birds of Prey.  After examination, the bird was found to have a fractured left Coracoid (collarbone) with lacerations over its clavical.  The causes of the injuries are unknown.  This bird’s main issue was poor feather condition.  It was rehabilitated at the Center. Officer Nathanel Eddy, who found the injured Eagle, had the honor of removing the bird’s protective hood before release.

As part of the statewide organization Audubon Florida, the Center treats the largest volume of raptors east of the Mississippi River, including more than 50 Bald Eagles annually.  Last year 75 Bald Eagles were admitted for treatment (11% of total admissions). A study has shown that the Center has had a direct impact on approximately 1/3 of Florida’s current eagle population, either through direct rehabilitation or through the offspring of birds treated and released by the Center.

As an iconic species of the Florida Everglades, the Bald Eagle is a significant ecological indicator of the health of this sensitive ecosystem as well as many of Florida’s Special Places.  The Center contributes significantly to the conservation of eagles through its clinical and rehabilitation programs and education, with more than 250 citizen science volunteers monitoring urban eagle nests statewide as part of its Audubon EagleWatch Program.

To learn more about Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, visit the Center at 1101 Audubon Way, in Maitland, Florida. It is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is $5 per adult and $4 each for children.

Thank you to all of the Center’s supporters for making amazing days like today possible.

Here is a short video of the release:

Contact Ahhochee Hill at 352-797-3545 or canderberg@audubon.org.

Audubon is asking 1000 citizens to sign a petition to Governor Scott and legislative leaders to remove water resource spending caps.

We’ve made some significant progress on defending our water resources this year. Thank you for all that you have done to make a difference. Now you can take a stand below to restore funding to Florida’s water management districts including the agency that conducts Everglades restoration.

Last year the Legislature passed and Governor Scott signed SB 2142 (see our press release here) with major cuts and spending caps for water management districts. Since then, hundreds of scientists, resource managers, regulators, and administrative staff have lost their jobs. The water management districts are selling off public lands claiming they cannot afford the management costs. Stormwater, wetland, and water-use permit applicants are having an easier time now that regulators’ budgets are cut and hands are tied.

House & Senate leaders and Governor Rick Scott have admitted that last year’s bill was a mistake and that the cuts went too deep. SB 1834 by Senator Alan Hays would remove spending caps but imposes a complicated process for legislative control of water management district budgets.

Audubon and others have concluded that:

• Water resource budgets are currently not sustainable.
• Funds for key Everglades restoration and other water resource projects are a critical need.
• The water management district spending caps should be repealed.
• Executive oversight is better than legislative micromanagement.
• Science and regulation is critical to protect water resources.

Please sign the petition to Governor Scott, Senate Budget Committee Chair J.D. Alexander and House Budget Chair Denise Grimsley asking them to lift water management spending caps. 

Please watch this special message from Audubon Florida Executive Director Eric Draper:

The 5th week of the Legislative session started with a bang as the Fertilizer bill, SB 604, sponsored by Senator Charlie Dean (R-Inverness), died on a 3-4 vote in the Senate Environmental Preservation & Conservation Committee on Monday. The bill was universally opposed by the environmental community (including Audubon) as well as many cities and counties who faced pre-emption of their local ordinances regulating the application of fertilizer by professional landscapers.

Many of these municipalities made the trek to Tallahassee for this meeting and urged legislators to allow them to continue protecting their waterways from nutrient loading when fertilizer is incorrectly applied during the rainy season. The message was heard loud and clear and Senators Dennis Jones (R-Seminole), Steve Oelrich (R-Gainesville), Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood) and Nan Rich (D-Sunrise) deserve high praise for voting against the bill!

For Immediate Release: February 6, 2012

Contact: Megan Tinsley, Everglades Policy Associate, mtinsley@audubon.org, 786-295-4954

The C-111 Spreader Canal western project will increase freshwater flows to Florida Bay.

Miami, FL – Last week the Army Corps of Engineers chief signed off on the C-111 Spreader Canal Western project, completing the last step before presenting to Congress for approval of this longtime Audubon priority.  Audubon urges immediate Congressional action for final approval.

“This critical project can now be included in legislation required to advance implementation,” said Megan Tinsley, Everglades Policy Associate for Audubon Florida. “If this project is operated to achieve ecological benefits such as revived wildlife populations, we will demonstrate that successful restoration of the Everglades is possible.”

Construction on the C-111 Spreader Canal Western project was expedited by the South Florida Water Management District and operation is ready to begin soon. The recent approval of this project by the Army Corps of Engineers means the federal government is one step closer to sharing the project costs with the state, continuing the federal and state partnership required for restoration.

“Audubon’s Everglades research tell us that wildlife can and will respond to changes in water management that mimic more historical water flows,” said Dr. Jerry Lorenz, State Director of Research for Audubon Florida. “True restoration requires bringing the quantities of clean, freshwater back and we must work toward that goal.”

The C-111 Spreader Canal Western project will increase freshwater flows to Taylor Slough in Everglades National Park, reviving a greatly impaired ecosystem. The delivery of more freshwater to these vital wetlands is essential to species such as the Roseate Spoonbill and other iconic wading birds of the Everglades.

For more information on Audubon’s work on behalf of the C-111 Spreader Canal and Florida Bay, please see our fact sheet from January 2010: http://bit.ly/yUJKL8.

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View PDF: http://bit.ly/wLVUlT