‘Volume 26, Issue 7 Burrowing Owls - 2/2 Cindy Bear is a full-time resource teacher with the Environmental Education Program of Lee County School District, a part-time avian biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and she is also an adjunct instructor with Florida Gulf Coast University. Cindy is a fifth-generation native Floridian and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Ecology and a Masters Degree in Science Education. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of several organizations including Keep Lee County Beautiful and the Lee County Bald Eagle Technical Advisory Council She is a past recipient of the Conservation Educator of the Year Award from the Audubon Society of Southwest Florida and the Calusa Award from the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. Since 1987, Cindy has studied Florida burrowing owls in Cape Coral, Florida. Until 2001, her work with the owls was done on a volunteer basis, and resulted in new information, publications, conservation practices and education programs about these interesting birds. Please join us at 7:00 pm on February 20 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for social time, followed by our meet- ing at 7:30 pm. PRAS website: www.audubon.org Then, link to our Chapter website Peace River Audubon Society Second Annual Birdathon - April 5, 2003 From sunrise to sunset on April 5, 2003 volunteers from the Peace River Audubon Society will be surveying the countryside and coastal areas looking for as many diferent species of wild birds as possible. Prior to the big day, they will be looking for sponsors who will pledge a specified amount for each bird species seen or heard that day. Pledges can be any amount the donor chooses. (Our Chapter goal will be to identify 125 different species of birds on that day. Last year we identified 124. You can join the fun by pledging a contribution or you can join us in the search for birds and sponsor yourself. If you would lke to participate either by making a pledge or by joining us that day, please call 941-255-3318 or contact one of our Chapter members. After the big day, a volunteer will contact you and let you know how many birds were identified that day. If you wish, you may pledge a set amount that does not depend on the number of birds identified. The proceeds will be used to support the Peace River Audubon Society, Youth Environmental Education Fund, The fund was established to support youth environmental education programs within Charlotte County. These programs include (but are not limited to) the 4th Grade Environmental Education Field Trip Program which is conducted by the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) in cooperation with the Charlotte County Public School System, interpretive wading trips for second grade classes educating them about the marine fora and fauna of the Charlotte Harbor Estuary System (also provided by CHEC) and Audubon Adventures magazines for third and/or fourth grade classes. Here is your opportunity to enjoy the excitement of participating in a Birdathon and at the same time make an investment in the future by supporting youth environmental education. Understanding through education is the key to developing a love and ife-long appreciation of our valuable natural resources, We can help our young people gain that appreciation.PRAS 5K CROSS-COUNTRY RUN AT CHEC - FEBRUARY 8, 2003 The Peace River Audubon Society has a long history of supporting the educational efforts of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center. We are very fortunate to have a true friendship between both groups. When the Charlotte County School Board had a difficult funding year, } and funding for environmental education was lost, PRAS stepped up and raised funds for the } program. It was a great effort from the PRAS members that allowed us to offer a check to : CHEC for $2524.75. PRAS realizes the need for some form of environmental education for the youth of the Char- lotte County. It was realized that without the experiential (hands-on) learning provided by } CHEC, students in this County might go from kindergarten to graduation without being ex- posed to the natural environment. In an effort to generate funds from PRAS to the environmental education programs of CHEC, we are excited to offer the first-ever Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center 5K Cross Country Run. It will be held Saturday, February 8, 2003. i The race begins promptly at 9:00 AM and a 1-Mile Fun Walk begins at 9:45 AM. Race : packs can be picked up as early as 7:30 am in the screen room. PRAS and CHEC are co- : hosting the event, sanctioned by Zoomers Race Club. We encourage PRAS members to join the run or walk. The pre-registration cost is $13 for the 5K run or $10 for the fun walk with registration forms available at the Alligator Creek site or Cedar Point Park. Race day registra- tion is $15 for the 5K Run and $12 for the Walk. An awards ceremony will follow. } We are also looking for volunteers to assist at the registration and refreshment tables or as ; Reeded during the morning. If interested in volunteering, please contact Peggy Kampert at : (oa) 235-3160 or elpegian@peganet.com.— a Now, all you have to do is get your registration form in the screen room at CHEC—join in and have some fun!! + Yard and Native Plant Sale b “lam pleased to report that the yard/native plant sale benefiting Florida Serub-Jay habitat acquisition wos | © wonderful success! Our goo! was to raise $1,000, but the sale greatly exceeded that. At last count, our Chapter has raised $1,613 and the donations are stil trickling in! : “I would like to thank everyone who donated items or time! Donations were received from both PRAS members "and nonmembers. Several other nonprofits got the word out to their members, who donated items. Special A "thanks to all those who were behind the scenes! 1d like to thank the pricers: Joy Linn, Peggy Kampert, Kitty Rich, and Elfreida Wverz; our truckers: Dennis Hungerford and Gregg Klowden; the set uppers and sellers: Den- ¥ nis, Kitty, Joy, Gregg, George Marks, Betty Coombs, Bill Coombs, Regina Burke, and Peggy. is _ Special thanks also should go to Steve Riley, Charlotte Sun, for promoting our sale and to Rudy Winn, y, Winn's Technical Design for donating three flats of beach sunflowers. Extra special thanks go to Gregg for his. patience as we stored “just a few items" for all these months. The unsold items were donated to the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center for their gorage sale. We'll keep " you posted on the acquisition. i Cathy Olson Y[+ EAR (Evaluation and Appraisal Report) workshop dates and locations were distributed. EAR hearings are in- tended as general public input regarding the Charlotte County Comprehensive Plan (not the NEP CCMP). No. recommendations nor any rey ns will be made until after public input. Upcoming dates are: Feb 3 at 5 pm, Feb 5 at9 am, Feb 11 at 5 pm, Feb 12 at 9 am. © CHEC's Strategic Visioning Workshop results were discussed by George Marks; stakeholders in CHEC should be involved in implementing the plan. Initial meeting was set for the Birdathon committee. 5K Run final meetings were planned; volunteers are needed for simple tasks like handing out water to the runners, etc. |e Membership reported by Betty Coombs is 482 members, 90 nonmembers and 20 White Bird members. Dues were paid for ECOSWF membership. * Peggy Kampert got plant list requested by Neil Armstrong Elementary School—she and Kathi Rader-Gibson will Visit school and get plont list for specific area selected by the school for the butterfly garden. * Nature Festival has 50 booths, speakers lined up, children's activities arranged—almost ready for Feb 1 but still need some volunteers! + Yard and plant sale was about to happen and Cathy Olson will seek matches from other non profit organizations before going to the state for matching funds. '* Silent Auction funds will go to the Scrub Jay Habitat Fund. + Next Board meeting open to members: Feb 4 at 6 pm at Port Charlotte Library. Peasexees aN Tell me how I can plan my will for all ADDRESS CORRECTIONS, ‘ Siaeeieiae Its worth and help the Environment ? 1 er +The opportunity to make a major gt, Chairperson © Preserve assets during life, — She does the "White + Reduce Estate Taxes, Bird” newsletter pee am, * | Porinfonmaton ot detailed brochure please write Call her at 639-4961 or or call the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, email at: 10941 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33958, wecoombs@comcast.net Te : (415755495, Ask for Brochure #130, ‘What You Give To Nature-Nature Gives Back To You.[Peace River Audubon Society }PO Box 10760 [Punta Gorda, FL 33981-0760 February White Bird Printed on Rested Paper Minit Prin Shoppe (ing donates) 72003 Audubon Clondor 2) halt Harboe Mote esa) 278K os cour Wife Wak and Rn - se orice 2720 Membesshio meting (7p soci) 73 meting “baron Os - Cindy ear 222 fi Tri Bo uke Tre road on Asil 5755861 5720 Membership meeting (7p ail? meting “Land Mart Tecnigues & Proce” ike Kemmerer, Vie Aili, Flvida Fish ond Wilf Land Monogement 5722 fil Trip aback Web dite Management Are, Leader 14'S Bidthon - George Marks, Choir 4)19 Field Trig - Stump Pos State Fork, Leader TBA 4/24 Bonguet/Silent Auction Victoria Estates - Clyde Butcher, ‘Artist, Photographer anion ste: oii heron hd, 2565 Tonio 1 Choe. Peace River Audubon Society: President: Cathy Olson, 613-6753 Vice President, KothiRode-Gibso..... 474-2065, Secretory: Peagy KOMPET nnn 235-3160 Treasurer: Larry Linn 637-8160 Other Directors: aha Api, Bly Coombs, Chuck Fromon, Joan Fromon, Dennis Hungerford, Joy Ln, Cd orks, George Marks edivr:_ Joy inn 637-880 linnS¥@conees nt ‘Non-profit organization US. Postage Paid Punta Gorda, FL. 33951 Permit No. 100 When you are finished with this Newsletter, please give it toa friend, eave it in a doctors office or on a table where you work. It could hiclp us grow our Chapter. ‘Auous0n MemBersiiP APPLICATION Name city, State, Zip Phone (optional) 'G Please enroll me as a National Audubon Society and Peace River Audubon Society member. | will receive Audubon and The Florida Naturalist magazines plus the Peace River White Bird newsletter. One year - $20 Two years - $35, ‘Send this completed application with your check to: The National Audubon Society Membership Data Center P.0. Bor 51003 ea Boulder, CO 80323-1008 7xCH OR... Gl Pease enroll me for a 1-year White Bird subscription. Please mail this application with your $10 check to: Peace River Audubon Society, PO Box 510760, Punta Gorda, FL. 33951-0760 [The folowing information must now appear on al solicitation requests: “The Peace River Audubon Society i a $01 ()(3) non-profit organization, Our Fed: eral tax ID number is §9:2790872. We do not engage a professional solicitor and TOOK of the funds generated by this request wil be used to support our [Chapter programs. Out registration number with the FOA Division of Con sumer Services is SC-040701."