Laughing

Laughing Gull
Gull
The Newsletter of the St. Lucie Audubon Society
The Newsletter of the St. Lucie Audubon Society
VOLUME 35 • ISSUE I • JANUARY 2010
V O L U M E 3 3 , I S S U E V I I I M A Y 2 0 0 9
President’s Message
Society. 3UHVLGHQW·V0HVVDJH
January is a busy month for the St. Lucie Audubon trips in January will help you get started. You will also
learn about binoculars, bird calls, and migration. Florida
$V³$Q$GYRFDWHIRUWKHSUHVHUYDWLRQRIWKH(DUWK¶VGLYHUVHHFRV\VWHPV´WKLVVRFLHW\VKDOOEHHQJDJHGLQHGXFDWLRQDO
The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in St. Lu- has over 450 species listed and our instructor Billi Wagner
scientific,
cie County investigative, literary,
will take place historical,January
on Saturday, philanthropic and charitable
2, 2010. has seen pursuits.
334 of them, so far. She has been a birdwatcher
MEMBERS SUPPORT THIS WORK:
We need ten teams of three persons each to cover the for overopen
SLAS has monthly meetings, to the Contact
20 years. public, which are entertaining,
Liz Dunleavy at 772-489-9050
informative and educational.
assigned areas. Over 10,500 birds (117 species) were or DunZippy@aol.com to sign up for the class.
MEMBERS
counted lastSUPPORT THISyour
year. We need WORK:help.SLAS has
Please monthly field trips,
participate, The open
field to the
trip public, ledfor
scheduled byJanuary
experienced,
9, 2010volunteer
is to one
birders.
contact this year’s Coordinator Camille S. Yates at 772- of the very best birding sites in Florida, Merritt Island
MEMBERS
971-9798 orSUPPORT THIS WORK: SLAS offers annual birdWetlands,
Camille@esyfreelance.com. identification classes
Titusville. combined
Hart withRufe
and Jewel field will
trips.lead.
MEMBERS
The annual SUPPORT
St. LucieTHIS WORK:
Audubon SLAS
Bird members
Watching saved theTake
Classes livesadvantage
of many Gopher Tortoises
of all these by moving them
opportunities. Attendfrom
our
an area about to be developed to a safe habitat.
are scheduled for January 14, 21, & 28, 2010 from 6:30 meetings and get a friend to join. Remember to renew
MEMBERS
p.m. to 8:30 SUPPORT
p.m. at theTHIS WORK:
Oxbow EcoSLAS sponsors
Center. Winter Audubon
is a your Adventures,
membership. an elementary teaching program and an
annual Environmental
great time to see birdsSchool Science
in Florida. Project
If you wantAward.
to attract Thank you for your support.
MEMBERS
and identify SUPPORT
backyardTHIS WORK:
birds, SLAS
or learn haswhere
how, informative
and and
educational exhibits at Heathcote Holiday,
Dan WalmaParty in the
Park, Naturefest and others.
when to go looking for birds, the 3 classes and 3 field
Members support this work and many other projects which protect our environment, protect our wildlife and preserve our
Calendar of Events
land and waters. Why not join the Audubon Society and help us make a difference.
January
Thanks for Field Trip
your support Dan Walma
Lagoon. We will also be talking about content and fund-
Merritt Island NWR is one of the best birding areas in ing matters related to the IRLagoon.com website. We will
the state, and again Hart & Jewel Rufe will be our lead- also have an update on the Oslo Road parking and chan-

Calendar of Events
ers for this trip! We will meet at the Home Depot parking
lot in Fort Pierce (Okeechobee Road) around 6:15 a.m.
Special Thanks
nel dredging project.
Saturday, January 23, 2010 there will be a “Party in
Be ready to leave theMeeting
parking lot NO LATER THAN 6:30 the Park” at the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park from 10 a.m.
a.m. We’ll take I-95 and will meet Hart & Jewel at the $VSHFLDO³7KDQN<RX´WR7KH:DWHU/LOO\&UXLVHVIRU
until 4 p.m.
Thursday,
McDonaldsMay once7thwe get off our exit. Hart & Jewel know sponsoring
Saturday, February 20, 2010May's Meeting.
is the Bud Adams Ranch
Jim David,
Merritt St Lucie
Island Mosquito
well...they plan onControl.
probable stops at the Breakfast and Tour from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. $25 per per-
Parrish Park area andField
the Pumping
Trip Station dike, followed
by a tour around Black Point Drive and then the Fee Sta-
The Water Lilly Cruises
son. Start the morning out with a nice full hot breakfast
and take a tour of an actual working cattle ranch in Fort
Saturday, May 9thspot
tion to hopefully , Florida Scrub Jays. Bring your own Pierce. The tour gives you a chance to see birds, scenery
lunch andInlet
Sebastian beverages. There
State Park will beBluff
( Spruce moretripdetails at the
cancelled ) and anDaily Cruises
opportunity to see a leaving
different sidefrom thelife
of Florida
January 7th meeting. Any questions contact Dorothy at that still exists. You will also get some history of the Bud
349-6025.
Rivergate Marina
Adams Ranch and business along with other wildlife that
The Indian River (moreLagoon
details atCoalition
meeting) has scheduled a they see at the ranch.
meeting for January 23rd. The meeting will be held in
the library of the Florida Medical Entomology Labora-
Please help support your local Audubon For more
coming out to our annual fundraiser at the Bud Adams
chapter by

tory in Vero Beach and will start at 10:30 a.m. and will Ranch. If you have any friends and information
family members that
be completed by 3 p.m. Lunch will be available. Items or reservations
might also be interested in this tour, let them know that
to be discussed include the Florida Department of En- they do not have to be a member to attned this event.
Meeting Place
vironmental Protection water quality program known as Please call 772-924-8778 to reserveplease your seats.call
the Basin Management Action Plan for the Indian River 772-489-8344.
Oxbow Eco-Center
5400 NE
January St. James
Meeting: Drive, 7,
January Pt 2010
St. Lucie, Fl 34983
Speaker Deryl Young Master Gardener with the County Extension Office
Meeting
Located 1.5 miles southPlace: Oxbow
of Midway Eco-Center
Road / 1.5 miles north of • 5400
NE St. James Drive, Pt. St. Lucie, FL 34983
Airoso
Located 1.5 miles south of Midway Road • 1.5 miles north of Airoso

www.stlucieaudubon.org
www.stlucieaudubon.org
 page 2 www.stlucieaudubon.org JANUARY 2010

Report on DecemberW5WField
PAGE 2
Trip to Everglades National
W.STLUCIEAUDUBON.ORG
Park
MAY 2009
15 members Below ismade
the copya
of day-long exploration
the letter presented of Hull
to Dotty & Hank ENP at the (among otherandspecies)
April board meeting all membersOsprey,
of the BoardLoggerhead
present signed it. Shrikes
, where we identified 48 bird species on an over- and Black and White Warbler. Brief stop at Eco Pond
April 9, 2009
cast day…some rain, but dry most of the day. 1st produced Woodstorks, waders and an elusive Rose-
Dotty and Hank Hull
stop after
Palms theLucie
of St Visitor
West Center, was the Anhinga Trail, ate Spoonbill.
where there was
501 Cashmere BlvdaApt welcoming
214 committee of about Next stop was Paurotis Pond , where the rain
Port St Lucie, FL 34986 Phone: 772-340-2226
50 vultures in the parking lot that had an unfortu- was coming down and not a bird in sight. We shot
nate attraction
Dear to our cars. Anhinga Trail lived up over to Mahoghany Hammock, walked through the
Dotty and Hank:
The members of the St. Lucie Audubon Society were very sorry when you had to resign from your many duties on the Board of
to Directors
it’s reputation…LOTS
in February 2009. While of Anhingas, Cormorants,
we try to understand the reasondense
we want hammock
you to knowinhow light
muchrain,
you which
both will luckily
be missed. stopped
All the
numerous
members waders
say how much including
you have Green Herons
inspired them andthat were their
furthered at education
the endand of love
theoftrail. Webeing
birds by saw
withNorthern Flickers,
you on so many occasions.
seen at every turn…..and the American Alligator of Pileated Woodpecker, and other species as the sun
course!. PalmyouWarblers
Shortly after and Eastern
joined the Society when Grace Phoebes
Stock was seen
president came backyouout.
in 1989, became leaders of this group. Hank served as
SUHVLGHQWLQWKH¶VIRUWZRWHUPV
here
Youtoo,
bothamong other Education
led the Birding species.classes for many years. Dotty servedLast stop wasChairman,
as Membership Pa-hay-okee….beautiful
Adams Ranch Breakfastvistas
Next, we
Planner and drove
kept thedown to Flamingo….many
Christmas Bird Count accurate for wad- years. Dotty along
editedthe
thewalk….waders
Laughing Gull and wrote seen,theand a Northern
Feathered FriendsHar-
column. Hank served on the Board and was Field Trip Chairman and showed us many different birds.
ing birds seen in the flats along the drive, along rier and Snail Kite were seen in this area.
with
Youperching
have given manyRed-Shouldered
years and hoursHawks.of your lifeBrief
for the stop
members of thisAfter leaving
Society. thewePark,
For which all are several
so grateful.ofToday
us stopped
the
Members join their Members of the Board of Directors to thank you and honor you both with a
at Mrazek Pond on the way yielded more waders, at the “Robert is Here” fruit/veggie stand for some
including immature Black Night Heron. The Fla- culinary exploration ! Long day, but well-enjoyed!
³/,)(7,0(0(0%(56+,3$:$5'´
mingo area had the White Pelicans, Brown In yourPelican, ForAudubon
beloved St. Lucie many Society.
it was their 1st time in the Everglades, and
DanTern
several Walma species offshore …on shore we saw hopefully not their last!
Dan Walma, President

*** SPONSORS WANTED *** www.stlucieaudubon.org

St. Lucie County has a new policy of charging Non-Profits ST.LUCIE AUDUBON SOCIETY 2009
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
for use of County facilities.
Our cost is $45.00 per month payable in advance. We are President Dan Walma oculusdw1@aol.com
Vice President Ruth Neese eddie_ruth@msn,com
looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost of using
Recording Secretary Elsa Millard
Adella Blacka lcbirder@comcast.net
ABLACKA@gmail.com
Oxbow-Eco-Center.
Corresponding Millie Estersohn milliern@comcast.net
Secretary
In return we will acknowledge individual or company Treasurer Jay
Liz Wise
Dunleavy DunZippy@aol.com
Lindyjay@bellsouth.net
names in our Newsletter several times Directors-at-Large Terri Brown tmlbrown761@bellsouth.net

during the ensuing year. If you are interested in sponsoring Directors-at-Large Peggy Silletto Jpsilletto@aol.com
Directors-at-Large Ed Bowes eddie-ruth@msn.com
6/$¶VRQJRLQJSURJUDPSOHDVH
Parliamentarian Peggy Silletto Jpsilletto@aol.com
send checks to :
Newsletter Veronica
Pat Berrones
Bounds wwalter3@bellsouth.net
berrones1@yahoo.com
Program Co-Chairs Grace Stock graceestock@peoplepc.com
5Stillbirding@peoplepc.com
ST. LUCIE AUDUBON,
Program Co-Chairs Liz Dunleavy DunZippy@aol.com
P.O. BOX 12474,
Membership Chair Peggy Silletto Jpsilletto@aol.com
FORT PIERCE, FL 34979
Special Events Chair Anjula Smith anjula7@aol.com

Thanks to the Following Sponsors Field Trip Chair Dorothy Schultz edsdks@bellsouth.net
Conservation Chair Ed Bowes eddie-ruth@msn.com
John and Nettie Brolman
Reduce! Education Co-Chairs Terri Brown tmlbrown761@bellsouth.net
Deena and Dana Wade - “River Lilly”
Recycle! Bird ID Classes ElsaDunleavy
Liz Millard DunZippy@aol.com
lcbirder@comcast.net
Ed Bowes & Ruth Neese
Reuse!
Treasure Coast Wildlife Center
Hospitality Chair Judith
Adella Whittemore
Blacka wilbarwit@bellsouth.net
ablacka@gmail.com
Chapter Historian Judy Gersony jagersony@hotmail.com

Billi Wagner Webmaster Mary Dodge mary@jackmaryetc.com

LAUGHING GULL
 JANUARY 2010 www.stlucieaudubon.org Page 3

PAGE 2 Conservation Corner

WWW.STLUCIEAUDUBON.ORG MAY 2009

SubmittedBelow by Ed is theBowes
copy of the letter presented to Dotty & Hank Hull at the April ue board
for the meeting animals.
and all members of the Board present signed it.

April 9, 2009 Harassing, harming, killing, illegal feeding, and

Someone in Wabasso is killing gopher tortoises for any
M A Y 2 0 0 9 W W W . S T L U C I E A U Dother UBON wildlife
. O R G law violation mayP be A G reported
E 3
Dotty and Hank Hull
food, according to www.tcpalm.com. Equally disap- via ReÀHFWLYH:LQGRZV the Wildlife Alert Reward System toll-free phone
Palms
501
of St Lucie West
pointing is the conservation
Cashmere Blvd Conservation Corner
Apt 214 area affected is used to number Windows that mirror the outside habitat present a different problem. If
see The number is 1-888-404-3922 and is in op-
Port St Lucie, FL 34986Submitted by Ed Bowes Phone:you branches
772-340-2226 or sky reÀHFWHGLQWKHJODVVZKHQ\RXORRNDW\RXU
relocate gopher tortoises displaced by development. eration ZLQGRZV\RX¶OOXQGHUVWDQGZK\WKHELUGVDUHFRQIXVHG&KDQJLQJWKH
24 hours a day. Any information that leads
lighting inside the house or fastening objects to the inside of the glass
Members ofandSt.Hank:
Lucie Audubon have participated in to an
7KLVVKRXOGFOHDUXSWKHFRQIXVLRQVXUURXQGLQJWKH³6HH,QVHUW´
Dear Dotty
message inofthe
The members thelast newsletter.
St. This information
Lucie Audubon iswere
from Cornell Lab when you arrest may be eligible for a reward. There are
ZRQ¶WKHOS,QVWHDG\RX¶OOQHHGWRDOWHUWKHZLQGRZ¶VDSSHDUDQFHE\
relocating gopher
of Ornithology. tortoises, and itSocietyis disconcerting very sorry to had to resign from your many duties on the Board of
placing something on the outside. As a temporary measure, you can
Directors in February 2009. While we try to understand the reason six we rubFWC
want you
a bar Law
of to
soap Enforcement
know how
on the much
window regional
you
(the bothcan
streaks offices
willbebe missed.
easily and the
All the
removed).
hear that
members
You tortoises
hear a loud thud
say how much areatyou
beinghave killed.
your living room window. Looking up, you
inspired them and furthered their education and love of birds by strips
beingofwith
see a few tiny feathers stuck to the glass. Others drift slowly to the Treasure Coast includes two regions. Indian River
Other solutions include attaching paper or cardboard to the
you
Gopher
onground. tortoises
so many more are
Oneoccasions. a protected
bird has been struck down species in Florida,
in a collision with a window, hanging ribbons, streamers, colored string, festive garlands,
Co.oriseven in mobiles
the Northeast
in front of it. Region with a regional office
currently listed as threatened,
plate-glass
Shortlyphenomenon.
window.
after you joined
Bird-window
the Society when
butGrace
crashes under
are an
Stock
review
all-too-common
was
at
president in 1989, you became leaders of this group. Hank served as
level for endangered status. Per Florida located
These collisions usually involve small birds, such as in Ocala (phone 352-732-1225). St. Lucie
the federal
SUHVLGHQWLQWKH¶VIRUWZRWHUPV
¿QFKHVWKDWIDOOXQQRWLFHGWRWKHJURXQG6RPHWLPHVWKHELUGVDUH Screens and Netting
You&both
Fish merelyledstunned
Wildlife the Conservation
Birding Education
and recover in a fewclasses
moments.
Commission forOften,
many years.reg-
however,
(FWC) andAnother
Dotty served
they Martin
as Membership counties are
Chairman,
solution is to place
inAdams
some kind
the South
Ranch
of screen
ABreakfast
or netting
Region
over the
with
Plannerdie.and
Thekept
number theofChristmas
birds killed Bird
by collisions with windows
Count accurate for isyears. Dotty edited the Laughing Gull and wrote the Feathered Friends
ulations, “No an office in West Palm Beach (phone 561-625-5122).
ZLQGRZ7KLVZRQ¶WREVWUXFWWKHYLHZELUGVZLOOFRQWLQXHWRÀ\LQWR
column. Hank person
served onshall
staggering²estimates range
the Boardtake,
as highandasattempt
100
was million
Field to
per take,
year.
Trip pur-
Does
Chairman this and showed us many different birds.
the window. They should bounce off relatively unharmed. Fruit-tree
sue, hunt,mean that you should stop feeding birds? Not at all. It means that if
harass, capture, possess, sell or transport Pleasenetting,reportpulled all known
tightly over a or suspected
window should reducewildlife law vi-
or elimi-
you notice
You have givenbirdsmany striking
yearsyour andwindows,
hours ofyou should
your lifetake stepsmembers
for the to of this Society. For which we all are so grateful. Today the
any gopher the problem.or parts thereof or their eggs, olations—our
eliminatetortoise nate injured birds. remaining wildlife needs all the help
Members join their Members of the Board of Directors to thank you and honor you both with a
or molest, damage, or destroy gopher tortoise bur- we can give.
Some Solutions
rows, except
1) Move as authorized
feeders to new locations. ³/,)(7,0(0(0%(56+,3$:$5'´
by Usually
Commission bird strikespermit…”
occur at one or
In your beloved St. Lucie Audubon Society.
(http://myfwc.com). That statement covers events
Membership Application
two windows. Moving feeders away from them may solve the problem
Dan Walma
entirely.
from children throwing rocks ata feeder
gopher
2) Place feeders closer to the glass. If is justtortoises
a foot or two to
Dan Walma, President
poachers catching and killing the animals. Any hu-
from a window, panicked birds may still À\LQWRLWEXWSUREDEO\ZRQ¶W A one-year chapter membership extends from January to January. You
have enough momentum to injure themselves. may use the coupon below to begin or renew your membership.
man actions other than watching, photographing,
***IHHGHUVRULIUHORFDWLQJWKHPGRHVQ¶WVROYH\RXUSUREOHP\RX¶OOQHHG
or rescuing
SPONSORS WANTED ***
$OWHUWKHZLQGRZ¶VDSSHDUDQFH,I\RXGRQ¶WZDQWWRPRYH\RXU
gopher tortoises are strictly prohibited.
SLAS is now www.stlucieaudubon.org
offering a Chapter-only annual membership for those who
to alter the appearance of the offending windows. But to do this, want to financially support their local chapter. The following dues options
St. Lucie
Violations County has a new
are currently policy of charging
punishable by up Non-Profits
\RX¶OOQHHGWR¿JXUHRXWZK\WKHFROOLVLRQVDUHRFFXUULQJ$UHELUGV to a $5000 ST.LUCIE AUDUBON apply: SOCIETY 2009
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
for use of County facilities.
confused because the window is reÀHFWLQJWKHODQGVFDSHEHKLQGLW",V
fine and five years in state prison. President
Ƒ,QGLYLGXDOSHU\HDU
Dan Walma oculusdw1@aol.com
Our cost is $45.00 per month payable in advance. We are
WKHJODVVVRWUDQVSDUHQWWKH\WKLQNLWLVQ¶WWKHUH"7R¿QGRXW\RX¶OO Ƒ)DPLO\SHU\HDU
State wildlife law
QHHGWRJHWDELUG¶V-eye does
view. not single
looking for sponsors to underwrite the cost of using out gopher tor- Vice President (for 2 or more Ruthpeople
Neesein same household)
eddie_ruth@msn,com
Ƒ6SRQVRUSHU\HDU
Recording Secretary Elsa Millard lcbirder@comcast.net
toises for special treatment—it Oxbow-Eco-Center. is illegal to feed, ha-
See-Through Glass Corresponding Ƒ3DWURQSHU\HDU
Millie Estersohn milliern@comcast.net
rass, orGoharm to your anyfeeder imperiled
and look at yourspecies
window. Can inyou Florida.
see through It it?isIf Secretary Ƒ/LIHWLPH
alsoInillegal
return
so, the we to will
birds can,acknowledge
feed any
too. Is therewild individual
animal
a plant inside thethator company
house could
that mightbe-
be Treasurer Liz Dunleavy DunZippy@aol.com
Each local membership includes a subscription to the monthly newsletter
names
attractive in our
to birds? Newsletter
If so, try moving it. several times window on the
Is there another Directors-at-Large Terri Brown tmlbrown761@bellsouth.net
³7KH/DXJKLQJ*XOO´<RXPD\UHFHLYH³7KH/DXJKLQJ*XOO´YLDVWDQGDUG
come aopposite
nuisance; side of thethis includes
house, creating the Sandhill
illusion of acranes,
À\-throughrac- Directors-at-Large Peggy Silletto Jpsilletto@aol.com
during the ensuing year. If you are interested in sponsoring mail or electronically via email. Please indicate your preference below.
coons, passage?
foxes,6/$¶VRQJRLQJSURJUDPSOHDVH
bears,
Try makingand alligators.
your windows Feeding
less transparent wildlife
by changing the Directors-at-Large Ed Bowes
Please make checks payable to and send to:
eddie-ruth@msn.com
lighting inside the house²pull a shade or open or close a door. You
is considered
can also make a problem
glasssend by FWC
checks
less transparent to for
: four
by taping paperreasons:
to the inside of
ParliamentarianSt. Lucie Audubon Peggy Silletto
Society, P.O.Jpsilletto@aol.com
Box 12474,
WKHSDQHV7KLVLVXQVLJKWO\EXWLW¶VDJRRGWHPSRUDU\PHDVXUHXQWLO Newsletter Veronica
Fort Berrones
Pierce, FL 34979 berrones1@yahoo.com
1. It can negatively alter feeding behavior in some Program Co-Chairs Grace Stock graceestock@peoplepc.com
you can ¿QGDEHWWHUVROXWLRQ&RPPHUFLDOO\DYDLODEOHKDZN
ST. LUCIE AUDUBON, Name: ______________________________________
speciessilhouettes
and establish are effectivesuboptimal
at deterring window
P.O. BOX 12474,
nutrition.
strikes, as long as you Program Co-Chairs Liz Dunleavy
Address: ____________________________________
DunZippy@aol.com
use several. They work not because they look like hawks, but because Membership Chair
2. It can habituate FORTwildlife;
PIERCE, FL make 34979 them too accus-
WKH\EUHDNXSWKHZLQGRZ¶VDSSHDUDQFH$QRWKHUVROXWLRQLVWRSXWXS
Peggy Silletto
City: _______________________________________ Jpsilletto@aol.com
Special Events Chair Anjula Smith anjula7@aol.com
tomed ato people,available
commercially whichdecal can place
that is a replicathe animals
stabilimentum or
or white State: _____________ Zip: _____________________
Phone: ________________________________ ____
humanszig-]DJIURPWKHFHQWHURIDQRUELWDOVSLGHU¶VZHE,WLVWKRXJKWWKDW
in danger.
spiders create the highly visible zig-zag so birds and large insects will Conservation
Field Trip Chair Dorothy Schultz
E-mail: _____________________________________
edsdks@bellsouth.net
Chair Ed Bowes eddie-ruth@msn.com
3. It encourages animals
Reduce! to congregate, which as- Education
avoid À\LQJLQWRDQGGHVWUR\LQJWKHLUZHEV1RWH'RQRWDWWDFK New membership:
Co-Chairs ______
Terri Brown Renewal: ______tmlbrown761@bellsouth.net
sists theobjects
spread directly to thermopane windows without consulting the
manufacturer.
of diseases.
Recycle! 3OHDVHVHQGP\³/DXJKLQJ*XOO´E\
Bird ID Classes Elsa Millard lcbirder@comcast.net
4. It is often done without thought, meaning humans Hospitality Chair Email _____ or Standard mail: _____
Reuse! Adella Blacka ablacka@gmail.com
feed wildlife “junk food” that has no nutritional val- Chapter Historian Thanks Judy Gersony
for your support .
jagersony@hotmail.com
Webmaster Mary Dodge mary@jackmaryetc.com

LAUGHING GULL
LAUGHING GULL
 Feathered Friends
Inside This Submitted by Ruth Neese birds can find carcasses under dense tree
Issue Look at the buzzards! This phrase is canopy by catching the scent from more
often heard in Florida in the winter near than five miles away! Other carrion eaters,
PAGE 1
landfills. The “buzzards” are Turkey Vul- like Black Vultures and Crested Caracara
President’s
tures (Cathartes aura), not real buzzards. then follow Turkey Vultures to the carcass.
Message
The word “buzzard” actually refers to a Turkey Vultures are built for gliding on
group of Old World buteo hawks. Turkey thermal updrafts; they seldom flap their
PAGE 2
Vultures are large birds with a bare red wings unless it is absolutely necessary.
Officers &
head, black body feathers, and a silvery- Their wings are relatively wide with a wing-
Committee
gray trailing edge on the flight feathers. span averaging 6 feet. When seen soaring,
Chairs
Turkey Vultures are members of na- the wings make a characteristic silhouette
ture’s clean-up crew, eating carrion of all described as a dihedral. This means the
PAGE 3
sizes thereby reducing breeding grounds wings are held at an upward angle rela-
Membership
for disease. Turkey Vultures are notable for tively to the bird’s body. On the next windy
Application
two things—their amazing sense of smell day, look up and watch the Turkey Vultures
and their flight capabilities. Only two New swoop, wheel, and soar to altitudes we can
Conservation
World vultures have keen senses of smell, only reach by plane.
Corner
and the Turkey Vulture is at the top. These

newsletter@stlucieaudubon.org
address to
up, send your name and email
you prefer to read if offline. To sign
to open it, and you can print it out if
email. No special program is needed
costs by getting your newsletter by
chapter save printing and mailing
'RWKH³Green Thing´DQGKHOSRXU

e-mail
Gull by
Laughing
Get your

Permit No. 442

Fort Pierce, FL. Fort Pierce, FL 34979
P.O. Box 12474
PAID St. Lucie Audubon
U.S. POSTAGE Laughing Gull
Non-profit Organization