Oasis: "The Voice of Conservation in Central Florida"
Oasis: "The Voice of Conservation in Central Florida"
Oasis: "The Voice of Conservation in Central Florida"
http://www.orangeaudubonfl.org
2
Living Gently on Planet Earth PEGGY LANTZ
Are you doing the best you can to leave a better world?
If each one of us changes only one incandescent lightbulb to fluorescent, we will be contributing to the reduction of global warming.
If each one of us carries only one canvas bag to the grocery store, we will reduce the number of plastic bags manufactured and thrown away.
If each one of us reduces our lawns by planting part of it with native groundcover plants and using mulch, we could save hundreds of
gallons of fresh water.
Some of you know that I drive a hybrid car. The instrument panel gives me a continuous readout of just how many miles per gallon I am
getting as I drive. I have found that when I can drive at a steady rate of speed for a mile or more, my gas mileage goes up. If I have to stop for a
traffic light or if I speed up to pass another car, my gas mileage drops. When I see a red light ahead of me, I slow down as I approach and let the
car coast to a stop, and I speed up slowly, to keep my gas consumption low. If my gas mileage begins to decline, the first thing I do is check the
air pressure in my tires. Even if they are only a couple of pounds below my nominal pressure of 40 pounds, I pump them back up, and my
mileage improves. You, too, can drive gently and keep your tires fully inflated in order to reduce your gas consumption.
What else do I do? I compost my kitchen waste, to reduce the amount I send to the dump, except meat scraps. Those I put in the freezer
until garbage pickup day. I refuse to buy plastic bags for the sole purpose of throwing them away. My dry trash goes in the garbage can without
a liner, just like it did in my mother’s day, before the advent of plastic bags. I have solar hot water collectors on my roof. I open doors and
windows when the weather is right; my air conditioner is set at 80 in the summer, so there is less contrast when I go inside and outside, and 70
when I need to heat in the winter. I recycle papers and cans and bottles. I looked for the Energy Star when we had to buy a new appliance
recently. I use the backs of used office paper in my printer and for notes to myself. I buy organic or locally grown fruits and vegetables whenever
I can to protect the soil and reduce the transportation costs of our food. My yard has no “lawn”. Whatever comes up that’s green is our yard. We
mow paths through the wooded areas.
I don’t do everything I could. I still use my clothes dryer instead of hanging clothes outside to dry, for example. But I do what I can, as often
as I can. Are you doing what you can? Don’t you think it would make a difference if you did?
3
Chertok Natur
Chertok Naturee Photo Contest Help Desperately Needed for Welcome New Members
Pre-scr
Pre-screening Deadline is April 19, 2007
e-screening Lake Eola Fundraising Event Jeff & Cathie Abbott, Dorothy Abelson,
Final Deadline is May 17, 2007 We appreciate the three who have already Janan Agnew, Robert & Rebecca True, Mr &
Participants in Orange Audubon Society’s signed up to help OAS at the Lake Eola Fi- Mrs W E Austin, Gene Baker, Alexandra
2007 (19th Annual) Kit & Sidney Chertok esta in the Park Arts and Crafts Festival on Balogh, Kay Barrett, Carol Bishop Phifer,
Nature Photography Contest are reminded April 14th and 15th in downtown Orlando Marvin E Blum, Valerie Bonatis, Elise R
of two important deadlines. – but we still desperately need coverage dur- Bradford, S Breeding, Sarah Brown,
As a courtesy to participants and to en- ing the following times: Christalee Burkett, G L Campbell, Janice E
hance the educational value of the contest, • Saturday * April 14th * 8 am – 6 pm. Casey, Helen P Check, Julia A Child, Mat-
OAS will provide pre-screening of all images • Sunday * April 15th * Noon – 6 pm. thew & Melissa Clarady, David Coggshall Sr,
received by April 19, 2007. Participants will No experience is necessary. Shifts from Lisa Cook, Mary Cook, Ms. Coyle, Mr & Mrs
be notified (of disqualifying content) as soon 8 am–1 pm or 1 pm–6 pm are preferred, Dick Crabtree, Margaret Cruickshank,
as possible thereafter to allow the option of but any amount of time will be sincerely Patrick Cruit, Jacob Dalpiaz, Carolyn Davis,
replacing nonqualified images at no addi- appreciated. Please help make this event a Loretta Davolos, Lisa DeZwart, Debbie
tional charge. Replacements must be sub- big success. For more details, contact Loretta Decampus, Caryl Degrandi, Ms Dyer, Karen
mitted by the contest final deadline of May (407-886-2925 or lns-oas@att.net) or me A Ead, Julie Farrell, E Fasciglione, Inez Fink,
17, 2007 (postmark date) and meet all other (407-644-0796 or mwilliams@cfl.rr.com). John Fitzermmons, Edward H Freeman,
contest requirements. Entries may be hand We look forward to hearing from you soon. Donald Fuller, Hortensia Gaitan, Julie Gar-
delivered to me, but only during the April Teresa Williams, Treasurer ner, Dan Gasdick, Kate Gogolen, Steven
19th and/or May 17th OAS meetings. For Grant, Judith B Greene, Barbara Gros, Art
entry forms and other information, visit our Hansen, Joseph Hardison, Brenda Heflin, C
web site at www.orangeaudubonfl.org or call Helton, Timothy Henriques, Sylvia
407-644-0796. Teresa Williams, Chair Hollabaugh, Karl Jacobs, Mr & Mrs James D
Kirsten Munson
Lantz, Courtland Johnson, Debbi Johnson,
Cornelia Joyce Rabe, Jacob Kauffman, Sami
Have you seen my new Field Guide? CLAIRE HILLIKER, EDITOR Khan, Beverly A Kilbey, Joanne Kinsler, Emily
I love books. I'm particularly fond of field guides. Field guides about birds, butterflies, P Knight, Jack C Lane, Jody Lazar, Clifton
dragonflies, trees, amphibians, I love them all. I hesitate to admit to exactly how many I Lindsay, Connie Loftin, Craig & Kathy
own, but let's just say my that my collection is considerable. One of my latest additions is Lopus, Gertrude G Lukas, Jim Lunceford, Mr
Birds of Florida, a field guide dedicated to identifying the regularly occurring species of our Lynn, Cindy Maldonado, Marlyn Mall,
very own home state of Florida. Although the authors mainly concentrate on the 325 Manette Martz, Ronald E McConaughy, Rob-
species that occur annually in Florida, they've also included an appendix containing the 39 ert J McDole, Coralee McInerney, Nancy
or so less common birds that we might be lucky enough to encounter. Mewborn, Suzanne & Larry Miranda, Renne
A handy comparative reference guide at the front of the book gives the general size of T Monroe, Laura Mueller, Ray Murphy,
the bird and the page number where you can get details for each particular species. A Albert O Neall, Mike Neel, Roy Newman,
similar guide to the bird groups is located on the book's back cover which correlates to the Susan O'Brien, Susan Otis, Teresa Pass, Rob-
color-coded tabs used to facilitate group and species location. ert Y Patterson, Mr & Mrs Pentek, Connor
The introduction section covers subjects such as Birding basics, equipment, techniques, Pfeiffer, Willard T Phillips, Lisa Piecora,
the primary Florida Internet birding sites for Florida, and how cool is this: a section on the Marilyn L Potz, Shelley Preston, Nancy
Top Birding Sites in the state! There are also Glossary and Reference sections at the back, Reinert, Violet Restall, Randy N Richardson,
and you can search the index by either scientific or common name so it's easy to use whether Kathy Rigling, Guyla Rippard, Kevin & Judy
you're a beginner or an expert. Hill, April Roder, Phyllis Rouzer, Jeanne C
Of all the book's features, I especially like the layout: Scarbrough, Mark Sees, Sandra Senger, Selma
S. Shumate, Bari Smildsin, Glenn Smith, June
• The top third of the page gives the common and scientific names of the spe-
H Smith, Thomas Smith, Olga Soltesz, Ann
cies, as well as a comprehensive description of the bird.
E Stachura, Catherine Stacy, Angela Stout, L
• The middle third of the page is dedicated to the illustration(s) of the bird itself Strobel, Lynn Sullivan, R F Swift, Nancy Tait,
in the plumages that we're most likely so see it in Florida (breeding, Churchill B Thompson, John Thomton,
nonbreeding, juvenile). Michael Tracy, Elin Tredway, Sandra Trussell,
• The bottom third of the each page contains a Florida range map along with a Clara Uelze, Julia Voght, Mamie R Walsh,
species account of the bird that contains information on it's size, status, Habi- Barbara Watts, Maryellen Weber, Harold
tat, Nesting, Feeding, Voice, Similar Species, and Best Sites in which to find the Westbrook, Patricia A Williams, Penny Woo-
species. druff, Janet Xenias, Joyce H York.
All in all, I found Birds of Florida to be excellent in terms of content if you're looking for
a local reference. It's ease of use makes it a great gift for beginning birders and a welcome
addition to more advanced birders' libraries.
Birds of Florida by Bill Pranty, Kurt A. Radamaker, Gregory Kennedy
Lone Pine Publishing International, 2006 Kirsten Munson
5
ORANGE AUDUBON SOCIETY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2006-2007 Calendar of Events
PRESIDENT
Dick Smith (08) ................................... 407-257-7361
April 7, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday April 21, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday
LARA Bird Survey; 7:30am-Noon. Mead Gardens Bird Survey; 8:00am-10:00am.
VICE PRESIDENT Pam Bowen 386-329-4870/pbowen@sjrwmd.com
Leesa Sward (08) ................................ 407-677-5374 Dexter Richardson 407-760-8193
dex@dexwine.com
VICE PRESIDENT (PROGRAMS) April 7, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday
Deborah Green (08) ............................. 407-553-0028 OAS Field Trip - Lower Wekiwa River State Pre- April 28, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday
SECRETARY serve. Mary Keim 407-851-5416 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Butterfly Survey.
Mary Anne Freyer (08) ......................... 407-298-2642 Randy Snyder 407-851-5416
TREASURER April 12-15, 2007 - Thu-Sun
Teresa Williams (08) ........................... 407-644-0796 Florida’s First Coast Birding & Nature Festival May 12, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday
BOARD MEMBERS
St. Augustine, FL www.getaway4nature.com Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant
Susan Clary (08) .................................. 407-575-8036 Society will conduct a tour of home gardens.
April 14, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday Contact 407-647-5233 for details.
Peggy Cox (08) .................................... 352-429-1042
Milton Heiberg (07) .............................. 407-658-4869
Wekiva River Buffers Conservation Area Bird Survey
Claire Hilliker (07) ................................ 407-677-5374 Lorne Malo 407-349-2536/407-659-4853(w) May 17, 2007 - Thursday
Mary Keim (09) .................................... 407-851-5416 General Meeting, 7:00pm, Leu Gardens.
Susan Ledbetter (07) ........................... 407-740-0829
April 19, 2007 - Thursday OAS Board Meeting takes place prior to the
Danielle Ponsolle (08) ......................... 407-658-5742 General Meeting, 7:00pm, Leu Gardens. General Meeting at 5:30pm. All welcome.
Ellen Rocco (07) .................................. 407-282-8547 OAS Board Meeting takes place prior to the Dick Smith 407-257-7361
Tom Rodriguez (09) ............................. 407-405-3113 General Meeting at 5:30pm. All welcome.
Ayme Smith (07) .................................. 407-425-7504 Dick Smith 407-257-7361 May 19, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday
Gaye Smith (09) .................................. 407-249-3969 OAS Field Trip - Lyonia Preserve
Ted Smith (09) ..................................... 407-249-3969 April 20-22, 2007 - Fri-Sun Mary Keim 407-851-5416
Randy Snyder (09) ............................... 407-851-5416 FOS 2007 Spring Meeting (in conjunction with
Bob Stamps (08) .................................. 407-886-2925 the Georgia Ornithological Society) May 19, 2007 - Satur day
Saturday
Pete Vogt (08) ...................................... 407-855-4122 Brunswick, GA www.fosbirds.org Mead Gardens Bird Survey; 8:00am-10:00am.
Dexter Richardson 407-760-8193
April 22, 2007 - Sunday dex@dexwine.com
EARTH DAY!