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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 7 - 11, 2001 -- Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 7 - 11, 2001 -- Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
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| Jim Angy | Dr. Gian Basili | Shane Belson | Julie Brashears | Ann Birch | | Dave Breininger | Judy Buhrman | Sandra Clinger | Buck and Linda Cooper | Robert A. Day | George Dennis | Gretchen Ehlinger | Betty and Karl Eichorn | Marc Epstein | Ada Forney | Dot Freeman | Warren Frost | R. Grant Gilmore | Ross Hinkle | Carroll Holland | Terry Johnson | Mike Legare | Leigh Anne Marsh | Paul Neess | Steve Nesbitt | Dr. Daniel K. Odell | Richard T. Paul | Bill Pranty | Becky Smith | Raptor Center | Lee F. Snyder | Eric D. Stolen | Doug Stuckey | Walter K. Taylor | Peter Tritaik | Peter Zies |
Jim Angy
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 13, 9:00-10:00 amJim Angy has been a resident of Brevard County for more than 40 years. He grew up in Satellite Beach and now lives with his wife and three children in Indiatlantic. He is a leader in conservation efforts in our area. For the past 25 years Jim has been photographing Florida's wildlife. He is involved in many outdoor activities but photographing wildlife is his favorite challenge. Jim's images have appeared in books, calendars, post cards, and magazines including Florida Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy Magazine. His photographs have won local and national contests. Jim enjoys sharing his knowledge of finding and photographing wild animals. Wildlife Photography: In this course you can learn the basics of what to do in photographing birds and other wildlife. Jim will give an overview of basic equipment needs, techniques, film and what to look for when selecting photography locations. A Photography Field Trip to MINWR follows the seminar.
Dr. Gian Basili
The bad news is that Gian is now the former Director of Ornithology for the Florida Audubon Society. The good news is that Gian has not left the State of Florida! He has moved to the St. Johns River Water Management District to become their Land Aquisition Planner. So after you get your Important Bird Area nominations in to Florida Audubon, make more copies and send them to Gian over at the Water Management District! Dr. Basili is a Birdathon Judge for the Festival.top
Shane Belson
Shane Belson is a Park Biologist with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection at Tosohatchee State Reserve. Shane recently completed his Master of Science degree from the University of Central Florida on Red-headed woodpecker use of habitat at Wekiwa Springs State Park. He is currently involved in a long-term fall bird migration study involving mist netting. Shane will demonstrate the use of mist nets and bird banding. Join Shane in Bird Mistnetting and Banding Demos while capturing and banding some resident, migrating and wintering land birds on Saturday, Nov. 13, 7:00 am-midday. Don't miss this opportunity to see neotropical migrants in-hand and up-close!Julie Brashears
FLORIDA AND GEORGIA BIRDING TRAILS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 12-13, 1:45-2:45 pmBirding ambushed Julie Brashears as a child in rural Central Florida, and she hasn't been the same since. She earned her BS in zoology from Duke University and has worked in many different capacities, from teaching university-level biology to assisting in avian veterinary work to conducting biomechanical research on common loons. Most recently, she was the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's regional education specialist in Lakeland, Fl. Today she coordinates the Commission's Great Florida Birding Trail and lives in Tallahassee. Florida and Georgia Birding Trails: With more Americans birding now than ever before, the conservation community is only just beginning to harness this momentum for the benefit of wildlife and wildlands. Come hear how birders can use their economic impact to encourage conservation efforts, and how Georgia and Florida are each consolidating birding tourists' influences in their states by creating Birding Trails. See how the Texas Coastal Birding Trail created a model for this initiative, how Georgia has implemented their own coastal trail, and how Florida is now undertaking its own ambitious program, linking 2000 miles of Florida birding sites into cohesive, marketable units. Learn how you can access Georgia's exciting Trail, and how individuals can shape the formation of Florida's own Trail.
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Ann Birch
Ann Birch is the Manager for Brevard County's Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. She holds a Master and Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Anne is responsible for directing the EEL Programs's land acquisition projects, development and implementation of sanctuary management plans, volunteer and public access programs and universal design planning for persons with physical disablilities. She is currently overseeing the design and develoment of four management and education centers.Dave Breininger
FLORIDA SCRUB JAYS AND SCRUB FIRE ECOLOGY: Seminar at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge -- Nov. 11, 8:30-9:30 am and Nov. 13, 12:00-1:00 pmDave Breininger is a senior ecologist for Dynamac Corporation, the NASA Life Sciences Support Contract for Kennedy Space Center. His interests are focused on habitat management, habitat characteristics, and demography combining field data with remote sensing, GIS, populations models, and landscape trajectories. Dave is currently investigating demography of 200 color banded Florida scrub-jay families in Brevard and Indian River Counties. Dave will present a talk and field tour entitled "Florida Scrub Jays and Scrub Fire Ecology" focusing on Florida scrub-jay habitat use, demography, and sociobiology in different types of habitat with an emphasis on fire ecology. Following the talk join Dave on a NASA tour bus for a free trip on Kennedy Space Center to areas closed to the public to spot some of the scrub jay families that Dave has been studying for years. See field trip descriptions.
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Judith Buhrman
Judith Buhrman is a consultant on Florida Native plant landscaping, a nature guide and a freelance writer who lives in Seminole, Florida. She organized the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society in 1990 and served on the board of directors of the FNPS from 1991-1997 in several capacities. Judith wrote "Around the Year at the Kisssimmee River Sanctuary", a four-part series on the dry prairie's ecosystem, for the Palmetto, the magazine of the FNPS. Other recent articles include "Florida Whoopers," Birdwatchers Digest August 1998 and "Roseate Spoonbill Species Profile," Birdwatchers Digest March 1999. She has been a volunteer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Whooping Crane Project since 1996 and has participated in many whooping crane releases at Overstreet Ranch. Judith will lead the Whooping Cranes Field Trip on Nov. 12-13. See the field trip descriptions.Sandra Clinger
MANATEES: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11, 1:45-2:45 pm and Nov. 12, 9:00-10:00 am. || Seminar at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge -- Nov. 12, 2:00-3:00 pm and Nov. 13, 3:30-4:30 pmSandra Clinger is the East Central Florida Regional Coordinator for Save the Manatee Club and works on manatee protection issues in Brevard, Volusia and Indian River Counties. Sandra has a masters degree in Coastal Resources Management and has been working on manatee conservation issues in the Indian River Lagoon for the past seven years. Save the Manatee club, established in 1981, is a membership supported non-profit whose mission is to raise public awareness, to educate, to support research, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts, to advocate, and to take legal action for the protection of manatees and their habitat. Save the Manatee Club established a regional office in Brevard due to the importance of this area of the Indian River Lagoon for manatees.
Brevard county Manatees; Brevard County's location, the presence of a warm water refuge, ample forage, and a protected area in the north Banana River make Brevard ideal habitat for manatees. Brevard County has the largest spring and winter manatee aggregations documented in the State. Most manatees on the East Coast use Brevard's waters at some time during the year. Unfortunately, Brevard also has the highest number of total manatee mortalities and water craft-related manatee mortalities of any county in Florida. Seven hundred and ninety (790) manatees were documented in a county-wide aerial survey in Brevard County in mid March 1999. That is approximately 83% of the estimated East Coast manatee population and 34% of the total manatee population.top
Buck and Linda Cooper
BUTTERFLIES: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 12, 10:15-11:15 am and Nov. 13, 10:15-11:15 amBuck and Linda Cooper were the 1998 recipients of Florida Audubon's distinguished Allan Cruickshank Memorial Award for their extensive conservation work in the state of Florida. They were resident naturalists at Street Audubon Nature Center in Winter haven for 13 years. The 42-acre Florida Audubon Sanctuary, set aside in 1971 and maintained entirely by Lake Region Audubon volunteers, is dedicated to youth education. Many Scout troops, school classes and adults take advantage of their free programs. Buck and Linda recently retired so they have even more time to spend with the natural world. "Butterflies, Sparkling Jewels of Florida" focuses on the life history of butterflies, planting to attract and increase their population and the adventures the Coopers had while traveling the state to see and photograph the 167 species seen in Florida. A Butterfly Field Trip will follow the seminar.
Robert A. Day
INDIAN RIVER: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11-12, 3:00-4:00 pmBob Day is presently an Environmental Specialist with the St. Johns River Water Management District - Indian River Lagoon Program. The Indian River Lagoon Program is a continuation of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program where Bob was Project Scientist and involved in the development of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.While working as a biologist for Brevard County, Bob became involved with a variety of programs and issues. These included review of development plans; water, sediment and biological quality monitoring; development and implementation of several species and habitat assessment, protection and management programs; and growth management plan and ordinance development. After several years with Brevard County, Bob was offered the opportunity to join and help establish the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program. Participating in the initiation and implementation of a regional effort to protect and restore the resources of the Indian River Lagoon was an opportunity that Bob felt he could not refuse. Following the completion of the initial phase of the Indian River lagoon National Estuary Program and its merger with the IRL SWIM Program, Bob continues to be involved in projects and programs implementing the IRL Comprehensive Conservation and Management plan and the IRL SWIM Plan.
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George Dennis, Ph.D.
George Dennis, Ph.D. is a Research Fishery Biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Caribbean Science Center in Gainesville, Florida. George has recently started research on coastal restoration and its impact on marsh fishes in the Indian River Lagoon Estuary. He will conduct "Seining Exhibitions" throughout the day on Saturday at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 9:00 am to midday, to illustrate what fish resources are found in refuge waters and discuss how they are used by birds.Gretchen Ehlinger
INDIAN RIVER: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11-12, 3:00-4:00 pmGretchen Ehlinger is originally from Minnesota and received her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Oregon. She is currently a doctoral student at Florida Tech in Ecology and Conservation Biology. She has been studying the horseshoe crabs in the Indian River Lagoon since January 1998. Canaveral National Seashore and the National Park Service are funding this study and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and NASA are providing much assistance in this study. Indian River Lagoon Update: Biologists Bob Day and Gretchen Ehlinger will team up to present the perfect preview for the Mosquito Lagoon Boat Trip!
The Indian River Lagoon is a national treasure that most of us take for granted. The Lagoon is America's most diverse estuary, with a rich array of plants and animals that are dependent on clean water for survival. In his presentation, Bob will show slides of the Lagoon's scenic beauty and fantastic diversity and give a brief overview of the Indian River Lagoon program and a review of the status of projects and programs designed to protect and preserve the resources of the Indian River Lagoon. Once abundant in the Indian River Lagoon, the ancient horseshoe crab has all but disappeared. Considered to be "living fossils," horseshoe crabs have evolved little in the past 250 million years, but survived the changes that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Horseshoe crabs are very important because their eggs provide a major food source for juvenile sea turtles, migrating shorebirds and many species of fish. The adults play a major role in community structure in the lagoon. Horseshoe crabs and their eggs are the base of the food chain, and if horseshoe crabs disappear, there will be problems further up in the food chain with the fish, birds and sea turtles. Gretchen will provide a history of and facts about these fascinating and vitally important animals. She will describe her studies and what you can do to help preserve the horseshoe crab, and in the process help to save one of North America's most distinct natural resources, the Indian River Lagoon.top
Betty and Karl Eichhorn
Betty and Karl are long term pillars of the Indian River Audubon Society, being very active members since the mid-1960's. Good friends of Allan and Helen Cruickshank, the Eichhorns owned and operated The Wilderness Shop In Cocoa for a number of years. Their ties with the outdoors made them indispensable supporters of Audubon field trips. Karl is a past President of the Florida Trail Association and a past President of the Indian River Audubon Society. Both Betty and Karl remain active on the Board of Advisors for the Indian River Audubon Society. Karl and Betty are Trip Leaders for the Cruickshank Historical Birding Trip.Marc Epstein
SHOREBIRDS AND WETLAND MANAGEMENT: Seminar at MINWR -- Nov. 12, 8:00-9:00 amMarc Epstein is the Wildlife Biologist at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and a former Florida Statewide Coordinator for Wetlands Wildlife Management. Marc has specialized in coastal wetland wildlife ecology since coming to Florida in 1985. Marc's "Shorebirds and Wetland Management" presentation and field trip will include an overview of the ecology of wetlands management as it pertains to migratory shorebirds. Wetland management involves the consideration of many environmental parameters such as tides, water quality, rainfall, plant communities, wildlife, and general public use and access. The presentation will follow up with a free Shorebird Identification Field Trip around a selection of refuge impoundments.
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Ada Forney
Ada Forney is founder of Voices of Story, a professional, full-time teller and a native Florida Cracker. She is known as Mythic Voices - Southern Lights and is a tradition bearer with four generations of southern family stories. Ada has performed at many story telling festivals in Florida, including the Florida Folk Festival and Barberville Pioneer Days. She is a member of the National Storytelling Network, Florida Storytelling Association, Florida Historical Society, Florida Folklore Society and the Friends of Florida Folk. Voices of Story Storytelling Guild: is made up of storytellers, story listeners and all who love the power of the spoken work to speak to the child in us all. Today we have forgotten the power words once had to create new worlds in our minds eye. Voices of Story is determined to recreate that lost art and make it live again in the hearts and minds of all who come and listen to our stories.Participants of the Flyway Festival will have several opportunities to enjoy the art of story telling through members of the Voice of Story Storytelling Guild.
A storyteller will accompany the motor coach trips to the Mosquito Lagoon Estuary Boat Tour. On Thursday Nov. 11th and Friday Nov. 12th. Members of the Guild will conduct an Endangered Species Storytelling Workshop at Canaveral National Seashore on Saturday Nov. 13. Storytellers will be on hand at the Family Picnic and Birding Awards ceremonies at Fox Lake on Sunday, Nov. 14th.Dot Freeman
Dot Freeman is a charter member of the Florida Ornithological Society and is a contibutor to its journal, The Florida Field Naturalist. She served as Central Florida Editor for the North American Birds publication. While serving as Special Projects Chairman of Orange Audubon, she established bird surveys at Wekiva Springs State Park, Tossahatchee State Reserve and other state lands in Orange, Seminole and Lake Counties. For the past 5 years she has taught birding courses for Elderhostel in Winter Park and she holds a BS and MS in Biological Sciences from the University of Central Florida. Dot is a judge for the Birdathon.top
Warren Frost
BIRDING TRAILS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 12 & 13, 1:45-2:45 pmWarren Frost has lived and birded in the Titusville area for the past 10 years. An avid birder since his youth, Warren has spent many years birding around the United States. He is a long time member of the American Birding Association and the Indian River Audubon Society. Warren will provide knowledge of local areas on the Great Florida BirdingTrail field trip.
Dr. R. Grant Gilmore
Dr. R. Grant Gilmore has been studying the fish community and ecology of the Indian River Lagoon and Caribbean Sea for the past 30 years. He has published over 50 technical and popular papers on fish ecology and life history including reproductive habits of spotted seatrout, groupers, and sharks. He has appeared on 12 nationally and internationally televised programs. His appearances include programs on the Discovery Channel, and the National Geographic Ocean Science Documentary on the first American research expedition into Cuban waters since the revolution. Dr. Gilmore pioneered the sound transect technique of isolating spawning populations of spotted seatrout, black drum and silver perch. Dr. Gilmore joined the Dynamac Corporation on December 30, 1998 after spending 27 years with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Fort Pierce, Florida. Join Dr. Gilmore on an evening "Mosquito Lagoon Estuary Boat Tour" to listen and record the sounds of the red and black drum as they call their mates to spawn. See field trip descriptions.top
Ross Hinkle
Ross Hinkle is Chief Scientist for Dynamac Corporation at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Ross has specialized in the development and application of ecological monitoring and research activities at KSC for the past 17 years. He is Chair of the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Selection and Management Committee and a Senior Ecologist serving on the Ecological Society of America's Board of Professional Certification. Ross will join Billy Specht, KSC Visitor Complex Education Manager, on the "Take a Ride on the Wild Side of Kennedy Space Center" tour to talk about the ongoing ecological studies at KSC related to such areas as fire ecology, remote sensing, and global climate change.Carroll Holland
BEGINNING BIRDING: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11, 9:00-11:00 am and Nov. 13, 8:00-10:00 amCarroll Holland started seriously birding in 1959 with Allan Cruickshank and was a team leader for Christmas Bird Counts from 1961 through 1971. He has birded all continents except Antarctica, including pelagic birding for four years at sea on the USNS Vandenberg, and has taught school children the rudiments of birding. Carroll was trained to teach birding classes by Allan Cruickshank and has conducted Beginning and Intermediate Birding Seminars for many years. He is a long time member of the Board of Directors of the Indian River Audubon Society. In addition to teaching the Beginning Birding Seminar, Carroll is a judge for the Festival Birdathon .Beginning Birding Seminar: Carroll Holland's humorous and informative talk will cover the range from optics to field guides and other literature. He will provide helpful hints for beginners on where to find birds and how to identify them. Birdwatching is among the fastest growing passive activities in the world. Don't miss out on this fun chance to learn the basics with one of the Space Coast's most experienced birders. After lunch, Carroll will lead a free Beginning Birding Field Trip on the Black Point Wildlife Drive so you can put your new knowledge to work.
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Terry Johnson
HUMMINGBIRDS OF THE SOUTHEAST: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11 & 13, 3:00-4:00 pmTerry Johnson is the Program Manager of the Nongame Wildlife / Natural heritage Program in the Wildlife Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. A wildlife biologist for 29 years, Terry has worked with waterfowl, rails, quail, deer, turkey, songbirds, shorebirds, rabbits and a host of other wildlife species. He has given hummingbird presentations at the Hummingbird Festival at Rockport, Texas on several occasions. Terry has been named Wildlife Biologist of the Year by both Ducks Unlimited and the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. He's been awarded Wildlife Conservationist of the Year by the Garden Club of Georgia, Georgia Outdoor Writers Association and the Georgia Wildlife Federation - twice. He has received the Excellence in Craft Award seven times from the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association . One of Terry's tasks is coordinating the Georgia Coastal Birding Trail. He will join Julie Brashears, Birding Trail Coordinator for the Great Florida Birding Trail for a co-presentation on these exciting new projects. Hummingbirds of the Southeast: Terry Johnson is Georgia's only resident hummingbird bander. Last year he banded over 400 hummingbirds. He co-operates with the Hummer/Bird Study Group of Trussville, Alabama. In his presentation, Terry will cover the natural history, identification, distribution, habitats and nesting behavior of the hummingbirds occurring in the Southeast. He will discuss how a tiny humming bird can be banded in a very special way, findings documented, then released. While banding the birds, Terry has capitalized on many opportunities to capture amazing pictures of these tiny flying jewels.
Mike Legare
Black Rails and Black Rail Habitat: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 12 & 13, 3:00-4:00 pmMike Legare is a Wildlife Biologist with Dynamac Corporation. A relative newcomer, Mike is working on the Indigo Snake Tracking Program at Kennedy Space Center. Mike completed his master's thesis at the University of Rhode Island on Black Rail Calling Behavior, with his supporting research work conducted at the St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, continuing his work on black rails. Join Mike as he gives his fascinating presentation, entitled "Black Rails and Black Rail Habitat", on these elusive birds and their secretive habits in the marshy areas where they are found. Listen to the tapes that Mike used to induce the rails to call while he gathered data on rail density for his research. The presentation will follow up with a free Back Rail field trip to St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge. See field trip descriptions.
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Leigh Anne Marsh
Leigh Anne Marsh is an instructor in the education department at SeaWorld Orlando Adventure Park, a worldwide leader in wildlife education, conservation, research and marine animal rescue, rehabilitation and release. Leigh Anne will present 2 children's outreach programs on Saturday entitled "Florida Friends" and "Whale Wonders". During the 50-minute presentations on Saturday, children will be educated and entertained through audience participation, the use of animal artifacts, and a life-sized inflatable manatee and whale. The programs will be presented at MINWR.Paul Neess
BIRDING OPTICS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov.11, 12:30-1:30 pm and Nov.12, 9:00-10:00 amPaul Neess from Eagle Optics will help you start your birding festival experience on the right track with the right optical equipment for you. Binoculars are the mainstays of birdwatching, yet the vast array of choices can make it difficult to choose the ones that are best for you - either as a beginner or as an advanced birdwatcher. This workshop will address the terminology and help unveil the "mystery" associated with binoculars and spotting scopes. There will be an opportunity to get hands on experience with a wide variety of types and manufactures of birding optics.
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Steve Nesbitt
WHOOPING CRANES: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11 - 13, 1:45-2:45 pmSteve Nesbitt has been a wildlife biologist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Formerly the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission) since 1971. Steve is a member of the Whooping Crane Recovery Team and has been involved with the Southeastern Whooping Crane Reintroduction Program since its inception in 1980. In addition to whooping cranes Steve has been involved with projects dealing with brown pelicans, red-cockaded woodpeckers, white ibis, armadillos, Bachman's sparrow, brown-headed nuthatch, pine warbler, the Florida duck, bald eagles, Florida sandhill cranes, and wading bird surveys in Florida. He is a member of the Florida Wildlife and Aquatic Biologists Association, the Wildlife Society, the Florida Ornithological Society and is a past president of the Alachua Audubon Society.
The Whooping Crane Reintroduction in the Southeast: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is involved in a large scale project to restore the whooping crane to its former range in the southeastern United States. The commission is the lead agency in Florida, working in a cooperative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the International Crane Foundation, in addition to several private land owners. Steve will present a fascinating slide show on the reintroduction of a non-migratory flock of this endangered species to Florida. Whoopers disappeared from Florida in the 1930's. The first birds in the reintroduction program were released in 1993. Steve will update us on the challenges they have faced and the success they expect.top
Dr. Daniel K. Odell
COASTAL WHALES AND DOLPHINS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 12-13, 12:30-1:30 pm Dr. Daniel K. Odell is a research biologist at Sea World, Inc. in Orlando, Florida. He is a research associate and former director of the Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute in Orlando. Dan is an expert on marine mammals and has published numerous articles and reports on these fascinating animals. A former veteran of the Florida Manatee Recovery team, Dan has served, and still remains, on the Board of Directors of the Save the Manatee Club since 1993. His many professional society memberships include the American Society of Mammalogists, American Society of Zoologists, European Association for Aquatic Mammals, European Cetacean Society and the Florida Academy of Sciences. Dan is a charter member of the Oceanography Society and a charter member and president elect of the Society for Marine Mammalogy. Dan will present the following seminar.
Coastal Whales and Dolphins of Florida: The average person in Florida is probably familiar with the endangered Florida manatee and the bottlenose dolphin. However, most people do not know that 27 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises and two species of seals are known from the coast of Florida. In fact, much of what we know about some of the species (for example, the pygmy sperm whale) comes from the examination of beached or stranded individuals. This presentation will review the cetacean and pinniped species known from Florida waters and discuss some of the current marine mammal research projects in Florida. These include the marine mammal stranding network and various dolphin photo-identification studies.top
Richard T. Paul
WADING BIRDS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 12-13, 10:15-11:15 amRichard T. Paul is the Manager/Biologist of the National Audubon Society's Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Haverford College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his master's degree in wildlife ecology from Utah State University. He has studied colonial waterbird populations and particularly the ecology of the Reddish Egret in Texas and Florida. He worked for the National Audubon Society's Field Research Department in Tavernier, Florida, before moving to Tampa in 1980. Rich has broad experience in colonial waterbirds, coastal habitats, and wetlands protection efforts in Florida. Rich has studied colonial waterbirds in Thailand, the Bahamas, the Central Pacific, Mexico, and Galapagos. He manages colonial waterbird protection efforts in Clearwater Harbor, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and Lake Worth. Rich will be leading field trips for the Festival and will present the following seminar.
Wading Birds of Florida: Rich will discuss the spectacular wading bird populations of Florida from an historic perspective and compare that with the current status of these interesting and beautiful species. Biology and management of these colonial nesters will be covered with particular emphasis on the rarer waders, such as reddish egrets and roseate spoonbills. A Wading Bird Field Trip will follow, offering a unique opportunity to spend time with this talented expert.top
Bill Pranty
Bill Pranty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but has lived in Florida since 1978. He currently is working on the breeding biology of the federally endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow at Avon Park Air Force Range. Bill soon hopes to be joining the National Audubon Society in Tampa to coordinate the Florida Important Bird Areas program. Bill has been birding since the age of 14, and in 1996, the American Birding Association published his book, "A Birder's Guide to Florida." He has authored or co-authored numerous scientific articles on birds. Bill is a member of the Florida Ornithological Society, Wilson Ornithological Society, American Birding Association, and The Nature Conservancy. Bill will lead the Great Florida Birding Trail Field Trip and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip. Bill is also a Bridathon judge.Becky Smith
SCALES, SCOOTS & FUR: Seminar at MINWR -- Nov. 12, 12:00-1:00 pmBecky Smith is a Wildlife Ecologist with the Dynamac Corporation for NASA's Life Sciences Support Contract (LSSC). Becky conducts research to determine and minimize the effects of space operations on Kennedy Space Center's wildlife, including sea turtles, gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, wading birds, scrub jays, and beach mice. Becky is also actively involved with the LSSC's education efforts. Birders invited, but NO BIRDS ALLOWED! Join Becky in her presentation entitled "Scales, Scoots, and Fur" which intentionally ignores what we are all here to see. This presentation will highlight the amazing variety of wildlife that swims, crawls, slithers, and creeps across Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A walking field trip to look inside gopher tortoise burrows with an infrared camera and to radio-track an eastern indigo snake will follow the talk.
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Center for Wildlife Education & The Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center
RAPTORS & REPTILES: Seminar at MINWR -- Nov. 12, 9:30 am, 12:00pm & 2:30 pmThis center is supported by Georgia Southern University is dedicated to environmental education, serving approximately 50,000 children and adults annually. Admission to their facility is free to all, and groups spend 3 hours touring the facility, interacting with discovery exhibits and enjoying birds of prey and reptile programs. The Center will present 3 educational wildlife programs entitled "Raptors and Reptiles" throughout Saturday using a selection of the center's birds of prey and reptiles. The programs will include a hawk, an owl, a falcon, and a bald eagle which will be on display, a selection of native and non-native snakes, and a gopher tortoise.
Lee F. Snyder
SHOREBIRDS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov. 11 & 13, 12:30-1:30 pm
PHOTOGRAPHY: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov.12, 12:30-1:30 pmLee F. Snyder is a writer and an award winning commercial photographer whose credits include nine book titles and numerous articles with photo credits in many major national publications. His work has taken him throughout the world photographing and writing about birds. A New Englander by birth, a Floridian by choice, he has made St. Petersburg his home for the past twenty years. Lee is a Festival field trip leader, a Birdathon judge and will present the following seminars:
Shorebirds: A photographic survey of the likely "sandpipers" found in and around Brevard County with some pointers on how to tell all the "little brown birds" apart. More than 25 species of shorebirds can be found on Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Following the seminar, Lee will lead a Shorebird Identification Trip around the Black Point Wildlife Drive, one of the refuge's premier areas for shorebird observation.
Photography Course: Lee will cover information on how to fit the right equipment and techniques to the intended subject. The seminar includes an overview of cameras, lenses and tripods. Also covered will be film choices and the latest digital options along with blinds, floats and grab shots. Following the course, Lee will lead a Photography Field Trip to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge to share his skills and expertise.top
Eric D. Stolen
Eric Stolen was born in Ann Arbor Michigan and moved to Florida in 1984. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B. S. in Biology in 1990 and received his M.S. in Biology from the University of Central Florida in 1996. He worked under the supervision of Dr. Walter K. Taylor on Black Vulture foraging ecology and roosting behavior in central Florida. Eric is currently employed by Dynamac International, Inc., working at the Kennedy Space Center as a wildlife biologist (since 1995). He is also currently a graduate student working on a Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation the University of Florida. There he is working under the joint supervision of Dr. Franklin Percival (UF) and Jaime Collazo (North Carolina State University) on wading bird foraging ecology in managed salt marshes on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. He is a member of all major North American Ornithological Societies, the Society of Conservation Biology, the Wildlife Society, and the Florida Ornithological Society, for which he is currently serving as the secretary. Eric is a field trip leader for the Whooping Cranes as well as a Birdathon judge.Doug Stuckey
Doug Stuckey is a veteran birder and long time member of the Indian River Audubon Society who has lived in Titusville for more than 33 years. He has spent 30 of those years birding in Brevard County, participating in Christmas Bird Counts for more than 25 years. Doug was the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge CBC Compiler for 11 years and has led field trips for over 16 years. He has birded most of the United States (44 states) and has a North American Life List of 552 species. Doug is the Field Trip Leader for North Brevard Hotspots Birding Trip.top
Dr. Walter K. Taylor
WILDFLOWERS: Seminar at Brevard Community College -- Nov.11, 10:15-11:15Dr. Walter K. Taylor is a native of Kentucky, but has spent the past 30 years in Florida. He knows more information on Florida's animals, plants, ecology, geology, and history than he does his native state. This year will begin Dr. Taylor's 31st year as Professor of Biology at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Taylor teaches Ornithology, Biodiversity, Invertebrate Zoology, Zoogeopraphy, and Florida Wildflowers. This past year Dr. Taylor was awarded the University Excellence Award for undergraduate Teaching, the highest teaching honor for undergraduate teaching given by the University of Central Florida. Dr. Taylor's two highly acclaimed books on Florida wildflowers. The Guide to Florida Wildflowers (1992 Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, TX) and Florida Wildflowers in Their Natural Communities (1998, University Press of Florida, Gainesville), are possessed and used by many thousands of folk. Dr. Taylor will be leading two field trips on Florida Wildflowers and will give a slide presentation on these plants at the Festival on Thursday. Dr. Taylor is a Birdathon judge.
Peter Tritaik
SEA TURTLES OF FLORIDA: Seminar at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge -- Nov. 12. 3:00-4:00 pmPaul Tritaik is the Refuge Manager of both Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (since 1993) and Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. At Pelican Island NWR, Paul is currently involved in habitat restoration activities for the island's nesting pelicans and wading birds. Additionally, he is heavily involved in developing new facilities for Pelican Island for the 100th anniversary of the national wildlife refuge system in the year 2003. At Archie Carr NWR, Paul has been actively involved in acquiring beach front land in the interests of protection of endangered sea turtles and beach nesting habitat. Join Paul in his "Sea Turtles of Florida" presentation as he explores the mysteries and preservation efforts of these ancient mariners.
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Peter Zies
SEA BEAN-BEACH DISCOVERY WALK: Canaveral National Seashore -- Nov. 11 & 13, 9:00-10:30 amPeter Zies is a 32 year old single father of 3 children. He has a solo law practice in Maitland, Florida in which he does pro bono (volunteer) environmental litigation. Most recently, Peter has been working as co-counsel on the Volusia County Sea Turtle Beach Driving lawsuit. Peter, a Florida native, moved to Indialantic in 1979 on the day that Hurricane David hit and has collected sea beans ever since then! He belongs to a sea bean interest group nicknamed "The Drifters". The more formal name is Carpological Beachcombers, Educators, and Naturalists Society (C-Beans). It is an international group of about 400 members that share an interest in seeds that float and are dispersed on ocean currents. The society maintains the world's largest collection of sea beans with thousands of seeds from several dozen countries. They also hold an annual Sean Bean Symposium which draws a few hundred people each year to enjoy the events such as the Bean-a-thon seed collecting competition, identification lectures, and collection displays. The symposium has been held in Brevard County each year, and will be hosted in Cocoa Beach this year. For more information visit www.c-beans.com. On his "Sea Bean - Beach Discovery Walk", Peter will share insight on endangered sea turtles and sift through the sea wrack that is deposited on the beach by high tides. The presentation will take place on Canaveral National Seashore. See field trip description.
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