Programs

  Oct. 2024-April 2025

9:15 AM

We are pleased to present our planned programs for the upcoming season of the SCC Audubon Club.  Meetings commence with a social gathering at 9:15, followed by a short business meeting at 10:00 am, with the speaker beginning their presentation at around 10:30 am.

OCTOBER 5, 2024, FLORIDA ROOM AT THE ATRIUM

Bird Monitoring and Observations at Cross Bar/Al Bar Ranch

Alex Reed, Avian Ecologist, Quest Ecology Inc.

Alex Reed has a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Anthropology and is currently an Avian Ecologist at Quest Ecology Inc. The bulk of his experience is working with avian and general wildlife related projects in upland and wetland habitats in the field. A significant portion of this time has included gopher tortoise burrow surveys, Florida scrub-jay surveys, and shorebird monitoring.

Cross Bar/Al Bar Ranch is a 12,000+ acre property located in Pasco County but owned and operated as a well-field by Pinellas County. The property consist of wetlands, deciduous forests and prairie environments and is maintained by the Pinellas County Environmental Resources Department. Quest Ecology is the lead environmental consultant on the property. Alex will focus on the bird species at the Ranch which includes, Florida scrub-jay, Southeast American kestrels, and burrowing owls.

Field Trip to Cross Bar/Al Bar Ranch scheduled for October 8^th

NOVEMBER 2, 2024, FLORIDA ROOM AT THE ATRIUM

The Enigmas of Migration

Mary Keith, Tampa Audubon Society, Past President

Our speaker, Mary Keith, has been birding most of her life. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where most weekends were spent in the state parks and woods. She has lived and birded in Florida since 1992. Her degrees have nothing to do with birds (Chemistry and Food Science), but they have supported a life of work around the world where she managed to watch birds as well. She is retired from the University of Florida Extension Service and now has more time to lead bird walks for the Tampa Audubon Society, watch birds, monitor eagle nests and wading bird colonies, count Florida Scrub Jays, help organize the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, and participate in Christmas Bird Counts. She gives talks to various groups around the area on birds and birding, including helping with the OLLI program that TAS teaches annually. She has served as a mentor for CLI and worked with several local university students or projects. She is Past President and currently serving as the chair of the Conservation Committee of the Tampa Audubon Society. In 2023 she was elected to the Board of Directors for Audubon Florida as a regional representative for the Gulf Coast.

Animals, from insects to whales, from birds to people, migrate. But why? And when, where, and maybe the most intriguing question - how do they know where they’re going? These are questions we’re still learning more answers to. We’ll take a look at what is known about migration and some of the answers we have, with a bit of focus on our area of Tampa Bay, and what if anything we can do individually to help the migrators along. 

DECEMBER 7, 2024, COMMUNITY HALL

Florida's Neighborhood Bats

Shari Blissett-Clark, President of the Florida Bat Conservancy

Shari Blissett-Clark has dedicated 40 years to private and public conservation work, including fire management, invasive species management, and natural areas management. She is a long-time member of the Florida Native Plant Society, Xerces Society, Bat Conservation International, Southeast Bat Diversity Network, and the North American Bat Network.

Shari’s presentation, Florida's Neighborhood Bats, will take us on a journey to uncover the myths and reveal the truth about these amazing flying mammals. We will explore the important roles bats play in insect and disease control, food production, and human health, and reveal the true value these unique mammals bring to our daily lives. The presentation will even include some live Florida bats.

JANUARY 4, 2025, COMMUNITY HALL

Native and Exotic Wildlife

Justin Matthews, Matthews Wildlife Rescue

Justin Matthews, Master Falconer and Wildlife Rescuer was born in Manatee County. From a very young age he had an interest in anything wild, and was always bringing home snakes, lizards, frogs, etc. He was always reading about reptiles and other wildlife, so at a very young age was fairly knowledgeable, and by the age of 13 was doing wildlife presentations at his middle school. By 15 he started volunteering at a wildlife rehab center, and that is where he met Tom Muholland, a licensed master falconer. Tom spent a lot of time teaching Justin all he knew about falconry. At 16 Justin got his permit and has been a falconer ever since. He is now a master falconer.

Justin will be talking about Florida wildlife and displaying some of his non-human friends who could include, Cosmo the great horned owl, Lynard the screech owl, Sugar, a 7 ft boa constrictor, and Meranda, the alligator. Fun Times!

FEB 1, 2025, COMMUNITY HALL

Weedon Island Wading Birds - Who, Where, When, and Why

Bill Fehring, President, Friends of Weeden Island

Our speaker, Bill Fehring, is professional Environmental Scientist and is currently President of Friends of Weeden Island. He has been volunteering at Weeden Island since 2011.

He has a BA from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University. In his long career, he has worked at Mote Marine, for Sarasota County, was Director of Environmental Affairs at the Tampa Port Authority and was employed by several well-known engineering firms.

Dr. Fehring will show an introductory video about the history of the Preserve before he launches into the wide variety of wading birds to be seen there.

A field trip to Weeden Island is scheduled for Feb 13, 2025

FEBRUARY 7, TRAIL DAY!!  more info SOON!

MAR 1, 2025, FLORIDA ROOM AT THE ATRIUM

Tampa Bay Conservancy: Protecting the Region’s Natural Heritage

René Wiesner Brown, Tampa Bay Conservancy

René Wiesner Brown is the current President and a founding Board Member of the Tampa Bay Conservancy. René’s conservation work began at the Land Trust Alliance in the late 90s and grew to include 15 years of public land conservation with two counties in Florida. She has experience in land acquisition, land management, and restoration. She is a civil society delegate of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and was appointed to the Expert Review Group of the UN Race to Resilience in 2021. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Florida Wildlife Federation. René earned a PhD in Integrative Biology from the University of South Florida, a Master’s degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, and a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Moravian University. René loves to travel and has recently visited her 47th state.

The March presentation will focus on the Tampa Bay Conservancy, an all-volunteer land trust, with the mission of protecting the region’s natural, cultural, scenic and agricultural heritage. Learn more about the Conservancy’s 60-acre Myron and Helen Gibbons Nature Preserve along the Alafia River in Hillsborough County, including its history, natural resources, and management. The Conservancy also owns and manages the 116-acre Yulee-Cumming Preserve near the Homosassa River in Citrus County and expects to record its first conservation easement later this year, protecting 27 acres in Pasco County. The Tampa Bay Conservancy was incorporated in 2001 and received National Land Trust Accreditation in 2017 and renewal in 2022. The organization seeks volunteers, financial supporters, and introductions to landowners of ecologically significant tracts of land.

Field Trip to Gibbons Preserve to follow, Tues. March 10th

APRIL 5, 2025, FLORIDA ROOM AT THE ATRIUM

Se7en Wetlands, City of Lakeland

Elizabeth (Libby) Abney, Environmental Program Specialist

Libby Abney is the Environmental Program Specialist with the City of Lakeland at Se7en Wetlands. Libby joined the Se7en Wetlands team after 6 years at with Walt Disney World Parks & Resorts where she specialized in the monitoring and protection of sea turtles and coral reefs at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort and Disney Cruise Line destinations in the Bahamas. As a Native Floridian, she is passionate about protecting Florida flora and fauna with specific interests in supporting native wildlife that live in disturbed and suburban environments.

This presentation will highlight Se7en Wetlands, a constructed wetland site that is managed by the City of Lakeland’s Water Utility Department. We’ll highlight the processes that contribute to the critical function of the wetlands and the wildlife that now thrive in it.

The City of Lakeland owns and operates Se7en Wetlands, a constructed wetland treatment system, which provides tertiary treatment, or final polishing, for the City’s wastewater. Located south of Lakeland, Se7en Wetlands is comprised of over 1,600 acres of marshes, swamps, uplands, and lakes.

Se7en Wetlands water connects to the North Prong of the Alafia River, which flows directly to Tampa Bay. Se7en Wetlands also provides water for Tampa Electric Company's Polk Power Station. 

In addition to the treatment provided, Se7en Wetlands boasts an outstanding and diverse community of plant and animal species.

A field trip to Seven Wetlands will be scheduled in the days following this presentation.