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HALIFAX RIVER AUDUBON
A Florida Chapter of the National Audubon Society
Serving greater Daytona
Beach area
Founded 1923 |
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Walter Boardman Conservation
Award given to Charley DuToit, on the left, by HRA
President, David Hartgrove at the May 18 chapter meeting.
DuToit served the State of Florida for nearly 30 years, both as
a district and park biologist. As Park Biologist at Tomoka
Basin State Parks, he protects natural and cultural resources
across five state parks in Flagler, Putnam and Volusia Counties,
encompassing an area of nearly 10,000 acres. He successfully
coordinated a multi-agency and multi-partner marsh restoration
project, securing more than $372,000 in funding and restoring
more than 770 acres and 16 miles of ditch over the last five
years. He is highly involved in the Parks’ exotic plant
removal, prescribed burning, cultural resource management and
research and monitoring programs.
Charley DuToit recently met Gov.
Charlie Crist when he was awarded the 2008 FL Dept of
Environmental Protection Jim Stevenson Resource Manager of the
Year Award in Tallahassee. The award, one of the State’s
highest environmental honors, recognized Charley’s work and
commitment to conserving and protecting Florida’s natural
resources. |
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ROMANCING THE TERN |
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Least
Terns are nesting at Matanzas Inlet now. Jack and Carol
Ogden (photographer) had fun observing them courting on
May 2. The male bird caught a tiny fish, then pursued the
female shaking his head and waggling his fish back and forth
like a lure. Apparently his charms were too difficult to
resist, and the female capitulated. We can only assume
that baby terns are on the way. Our smallest tern, the
Least Tern has relatively long, very narrow wings, a short
tail, a long, slightly decurved and tapered bill and, of
course, the white forehead patch. They are threatened
in Florida, mostly because of loss of nesting habitat. It is
estimated that 70% of Least Terns in Florida have resorted
to nesting on the gravel topped roofs of buildings.
Least
Terns are colonial nesters, meaning they nest in groups, the
size of which can range from only a few birds to hundreds of
nests. Those birds nesting on the beach, make a slight
"scape" in the sand to lay their beige colored, speckled
eggs which are so well camouflaged that beach goers often
walk or drive on them. Adults incubate the eggs for 21
days. The chicks leave the nest within a few days of
hatching, but cannot fly until for about three weeks.
Even when the nest itself is not damaged by people or
vehicles, animals or beach goers walking close by disturb
the adults who leave the nest, exposing the eggs or chicks
to the hot sun and predation. For this reason, nest
colonies are often fenced off with warning signs to give the
nests a wide berth.
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Horseshoe Crab Survey
Researchers in Florida are asking the public to report sightings
of live horseshoe crabs so they can the status of Florida
populations. Live horseshoe crabs can be found in the
ocean or in the intra-coastal waterway. Whether you see
only one horseshoe crab or hundreds, you are asked to report the
sighting by completing the online survey at
http://research.myfwc.com/horseshoe_crab/. You can
also report sighting via e-mail to
horseshoe@myFWC.com or
by toll-free phone at 866-252-9326. Information that may
be requested is: How many horseshoe crabs were seen?
Were they mating? Date, time, location of the sighting.
Habitat? Were there any juveniles (smaller than 4 in. in
diameter)? |
CALLING ALL BIRD
PHOTOGRAPHERS: 2009 Audubon Photo Contest.
Enter May 15 thru July 15. See
flyer
and press
release.
New TEE SHIRTS now available in our
Store. |
Webmaster:
paulawehr@cfl.rr.com
The photos and information on this page are the property
of Halifax River Audubon and may not be reproduced or
distributed without the express written consent of
Halifax River Audubon.
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