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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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2001 SEMINARS
HomePage | Biographies
The Florida Scrub Jay
Presenters: Dr. Glen Woolfendon, Reed Bowman and Dr. Jack P. Hailman
90 Percent Gone!
Enough?
The Florida Scrub Jay is the only bird species that is endemic to the state of Florida. As its name suggests, this jay lives in a habitat referred to as "Scrub", which exists in isolated patches throughout peninsular Florida. The name "Scrub" certainly does not do justice to these rich and diverse areas - some would refer to them as Florida's ancient desert. Scrub habitat evolved when North America was much drier, and desert animals from Texas and Mexico colonized Florida. When the oceans rose, the plants and animals remained, and evolved into a system unlike any other in the world. Florida's desert-like prehistoric sand ridges are home to animals such as gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, scrub lizards, crested caracaras, and burrowing owls. Dozens of plants and animals living in Florida scrub are found nowhere else in the world.
Lee Snyder
One of these animals is the Florida Scrub Jay, which lives among the low growing scrub oaks, eating and "stashing" its acorns, up to 6,000 per year for each jay. Scrub jays live in family units, and these families occupy and defend distinct territories, cooperating to feed new chicks, forage for food, watch for predators, and even to attack intruders. Florida Scrub Jays are among only 2% of all birds known (and the only jay) that exhibit this fascinating practice of cooperative breeding. Unfortunately the future of scrub habitat and its occupants, like the scrub jay, is uncertain. Scrub needs fire in order to survive and remain open, and until recently, fires have been put out as quickly as possible, causing many scrub areas to change into forested areas unsuitable for animals like the Florida Scrub Jay. The habitat is dry and well drained, which makes it desirable for development.
Less than 10% of Florida's historical open oak scrub, and the large populations of scrub jays that once lived there, survive today.
Nov. 11, 10:00am-12:30pm -- BCC Auditorium
Dr. Glen Woolfenden is a Research Associate at Archbold Biological Station, and has studied the jays at Archbold Station for over 30 years. His research has resulted in many papers and an acclaimed book concerning these jays. Dr. Woolfendon will discuss the natural history and demography of the Florida Scrub Jay. His pioneering research laid a foundation for other collaborative research on aspects of the jay's biology.
Dr. Jack Hailman, Professor at the University of Wisconsin, has studied the behavior of these jays for many years. Jack will discuss many of their behavioral adaptations and cognitive abilities.
Dr. Reed Bowman, Research Biologist at Archbold Biological Station, has long studied the impacts of human development on scrub jays. He will discuss these impacts and long-term conservation strategies for saving the Florida Scrub Jay.
Raptor Migration Through the Florida Keys
Presenter: Casey Lott
The annual migration of millions of birds between breeding areas in North America and wintering areas in the Carribean, Mexico, Central and South America is one of the most awe-inspiring spectacles in nature. Great flocks of brightly colored warblers, cryptic thrushes and sparrows, and some shorebirds and waterfowl, migrate mostly at night, using the stars for navigation. These birds rely on powered flight, feeding like gluttons before migration to store fat as fuel for the journey, and migrating at night when calmer winds offer the least resistance to their passage.
This migration is mostly invisible to observers on the ground and shows up most vividly on radar, which is capable of detecting these enormous, high altitude, nocturnal movements of birds. The migration of raptors and other large soaring birds, however, takes place during the day. These birds are built to take advantage of the free lift created by the turbulent winds and strong thermals that develop each day as the sun warms the earth. Thermals are strongest over land, which encourages raptors to soar and glide over land until it runs out and more energetically expensive powered flight is necessary.
Casey Lott will show how Hawkwatch International monitors the impressively concentrated flight of migratory raptors through the Florida Keys, and how this highly visible migration provides an outstanding opportunity for wildlife watching and environmental education.
Nov. 9, 2:30pm-3:30pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Roseate Spoonbills: Pink Canary in a Coal Mine
Presenter: Dr. Jerry Lorenz
At the turn of the century, the plume hunting industry nearly extirpated the huge populations of wading birds that were associated with the Everglades. Among the casualties was one of Florida's most identifiable and beloved species, the Roseate Spoonbill. In his talk, Dr. Lorenz, combines Audubon's 65-year record on spoonbill nesting patterns in Florida Bay with his personal experience in studying the fish on which spoonbills feed, thereby constructing a story of how the human population explosion in southern Florida has had a multilevel effect on spoonbills.
Ed King
Dr. Lorenz demonstrates how the destruction of wetlands for urban and agricultural use has not only endangered spoonbills, but myriad other creatures and entire ecosystems that drive our tourist based economy. Like the canary in a coal mine, Roseate Spoonbills are letting us know that there is something drastically wrong with our environment, and that continued runaway development in Florida will not only harm our remaining wilderness areas, but our lifestyles as well.
Nov. 9, 4:00pm-5:00pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
South Florida's Exotic Birds
Presenter: Larry Manfredi
Take a photographic tour of tropical South Florida with Miami native, Larry Manfredi, owner of Birding Tours, Inc., www.southfloridabirding.com. You'll see specialties like Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Spot-breasted Orioles, White-winged parakeets, Monk Parakeets, White-crowned Pigeons, Mangrove Cuckoos, Black-whiskered Vireos, and others. There have been more than 120 species of exotics recorded here. Larry will discuss which species seem to be established, as well as some of the theories that speculate as to how and why so many exotics are found in South Florida. Having lived in South Florida for more than 30 years, Larry is familiar with all the locations of all the South Florida specialties. Larry will also cover Bahamian vagrants, like Bananaquits, Stripe-headed Tanagers, and LaSagre's Flycatchers.
Nov. 10, 4:00pm-5:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Snail Kite
Presenter: Dr. Jim Rodgers
The snail kite does not get the attention of other more famous endangered birds of prey, such as the bald eagle and peregrine falcon. However, this secretive kite is a very interesting raptor that feeds only on snails and its haunts include the marshy shorelines of lakes in central Florida and the everglades of south Florida. This endangered species faces many challenges for survival as its habitat has been altered by flood control projects and our ever increasing need for water. Along with slides showing the habitats where the species occurs, my presentation also will include information on the kite's breeding biology and conservation in Florida.
Nov. 9, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Wood Stork
Presenter: Dr. Jim Rodgers
This large, majestic wading bird has experienced a large population reduction in many parts of its range in Florida. Likewise, this endangered species faces many challenges for survival as its preferred habitat has been drained or the water levels have been altered by flood control projects. I will use a slide presentation to provide insights into the breeding biology of wood storks and conservation efforts directed at their survival.
Lee Snyder
Nov. 8, 2:30pm-3:30pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Interpretive birding: an integrative approach to birdwatching
Presenter: Jim Davis
Dr Jim Davis explores different ways to integrate behavior watching into your normal birding activities. He demonstrates how identifying and interpreting behavior can enhance your birding experience regardless of your level of expertise. Be prepared to share your observations and to discuss what they mean.
Nov. 8, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Nov. 11, 7:15am-8:15am -- BCC Stage; Field trip follows at 8:30am; $3.00
The Florida Burrowing Owl: Its Demographics and Distribution
Presenter: Dr. Pamela J. Bowen
What has feathers, is nine inches tall, and burrows underground? If you answered "the Florida Burrowing Owl", you are correct. But what does this little owl have in common with a Jesuit priest? What do glaciers have to do with the Florida Burrowing Owl? Where can these owls be found today? Pam's presentation will highlight the Burrowing Owl's natural history including information on its feeding ecology, breeding biology, and life history traits. She will also discuss the results of her research on this special little owl, focussing on its current distribution and demographics in the state of Florida. If you're interested in learning more about the only Burrowing Owls that can be found east of the Mississippi River and you want to know more about where they can be found in Florida and about their use of man-made habitats, come and join us for Pam's presentation on the Florida Burrowing Owl.
Nov. 10, 2:30pm-3:30pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Southeastern Beach Mouse
Presenter: Donna M. Oddy
When most people hear the word mouse, they think of vermin or beady eyed little cheese eating rodents. If they live in Florida, they might think of Mickey Mouse. The Southeastern beach mouse is one of seven beach mice species found along the coast of Florida. These tiny rodents dig burrows for cover and are active mostly at night. Snakes, raccoons, and birds of prey are all natural predators of the beach mouse. Even though they can reproduce rapidly, development, habitat fragmentation, and natural disasters such as hurricanes have taken their toll on the population. The protected beach of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station may be the last population stronghold for the Southeastern beach mouse. Join Dynamac Wildlife Biologist, Donna Oddy, to learn more about this threatened mouse that eats no cheese and lives on ocean front property.
Nov. 10, 1:00pn-2:oopm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Merritt Island NWR – Garden in the Sun
Presenter: Marc Epstein
Mark Epstein
Merritt Island is a significant landscape feature within the South Atlantic Coastal Zone. Spanning over 140,000 acres within the island, The Merritt Island NWR overlays and mutually coexists with the Kennedy Space Center. Join Wildlife Biologist, Marc Epstein, as he explores the Refuge's amazing ecology in a web of wildlife which inhabits it's swamps, marshes, uplands, and coastal beach and dune systems. Marc will take you on a photographic journey with images and music that will captivate and bring to you an intimate vision of the heart and spirit of our National Wildlife Refuge System.
His program begins with basic wetlands and wildlife and leaves you with an enhanced understanding and appreciation of the art and science of wildlife management. You won't want to miss this outstanding audio-visual presentation - a moving experience of the landscape and wildlife at Merritt Island NWR, which Marc rarely presents to the public. Some his photography may be viewed at www.marcepstein.homestead.com.
Nov. 10, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
The Painted Bunting - A Bird Without Equal: It's Not Easy Being Green
Presenter: Dr. Joe Meyers
For more than 30 years the 3.5%annual decline of the Painted Bunting has continued without abatement. Seven of ten painted buntings have disappeared in that period of time. USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, under leadership of Dr. Joe Meyers, recently completed the first phase of research on the Painted Bunting. The Painted Buntings landscape, habitat, bird community, population ecology, survival, and other ecological studies have provided us with our first look and new information on the blight of this colorful bird.
Arthur Morris
Radio telemetry has unlocked the secrets of this bird. Loss of habitat, degradation of habitat especially in coastal dunes and forests adjacent to marshes, and even global warming have been determined or suspected of causes for the bird's decline. Joe will present these ideas and possible solutions. He also will present habitat management in coastal backyards and how to attract Painted Buntings and record a color-banded bird, which may help us determine solutions for restoring the population.
Nov. 8, 4:00pm-5:00pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Nov. 9, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Black Rails and Black Rail Habitat
Seminar and Field Trip Combo
Presenter and Leader: Mike Legare Join Mike Legare, Wildlife Biologist with Kennedy Space Centers' Dynamac Corporation, 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.Free carpool field trip at 4:45 pm; limited to 40 registrants, follows seminar. See field trip description.
Nov 8, 4:00pm-4:45pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Classroom; Field trip follows at 5:30pm; $3.00
Florida Scrub Jay and Scrub Fire Ecology
Seminar and Field Trip Combo
Co-Presenters: Dave Breininger & Dr. Paul Schmalzer
Dave Breininger, senior ecologist for Kennedy Space Centers' Dynamac Corporation, will present a talk entitled "Florida Scrub Jays and Scrub Fire Ecology". The presentation will focus on Florida scrub jay habitat use, demography and sociobiology in different types of habitat with and emphasis on fire ecology. Following, join Dave and Dynamacs' Plant Ecologist, Paul Schmalzer on a free NASA bus tour for a trip through restricted areas of Kennedy Space Center to view some scrub jay families and rare plants, grasses and spikemoss that are found in the scrub.
A free field trip, limited to 40 registrants, at 9:30am follows seminar. Seminar and field trip are at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Information Center. See field trip description.
Nov. 9, 8:00am-9:00am -- Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center; Field trip follows at 9:00am; Free
Nov. 10, 8:00am-9:00am -- Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center; Field trip follows at 9:00am; Free
Butterflies, Sparkling Jewels of Florida
Co-Presenters: Buck and Linda Cooper
Buck and Linda Cooper, acknowledged experts in the identification of Florida butterflies using binoculars only, will present a seminar focusing on the life histories of butterflies and planting to attract and increase their populations. The Coopers will also share their adventures they had while traveling the state to see and photograph all of the 163 species of butterflies found in Florida. Special emphasis will be given to identification of species expected on the local field trips planned.
A Butterfly and Wildflower field trip, limited to 25 registrants, at 12:30pm follows seminar. See field trip description.
Nov. 9, 10:00am-11:00am -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Field trip follows at 11:30am; $3.00
Nov. 11, 8:30am-9:30am -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Field trip follows at 9:30am; $3.00
The Whooping Crane Reintroduction in the Southeast
Presenter: Steve Nesbitt & Kathy Sullivan
Lee Snyder
Whooping Cranes are one of the rarest birds on earth. They nearly went extinct (the entire population declined to just 22 birds in 1941) before rigorous conservation efforts brought them back from the edge. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission , working in a cooperative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the International Crane Foundation and several private landowners, is involved in a large scale project to restore the whooping crane to its former range in the southeastern United States.
Patience and teamwork have finally paid off. In March of 1999, far out in a large marsh in a remote area of Central Florida, two eggs hatched and two birds emerged into history. The chicks were the first wildborn whooping cranes in the United States in 60 years and the first east of the Mississippi in a century. Join Kathy Sullivan of the Whooping Crane Reintroduction Program; for this fascinating presentation on the efforts to reestablish this magnificent bird to its former range in the southeast.
Nov. 8, 2:30pm-3:30pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Manatee Biology and The Challenges for Their Conservation.
Presenter: Jane Provancha
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. Join Dynamac Corporation Conservation Group Leader, Jane Provancha, for her presentation, which will include a brief overview of the biology and natural history of manatees. Current understanding of the status of manatees at the local and global level will be reviewed, as well as challenges to conserving the species and their habitat.
Sea World
Nov. 10, 2:30pm-3:30pm -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $3.00
Florida Wildflowers: To Know and To Grow
Dr. Walter Kingsley Taylor
Is water rationing a fact of life where you live? Are you tired of spending Saturdays on your lawn doing the same routine week after week: mowing, edging, watering, fertilizing, and spraying pesticides that you know you should not use? Has your wallet shrunk because of high cost lawn care maintenance? A way to break this never-ending cycle is to plant wildflowers in your yard or place of business instead of expensive grass. A yard full of wildflowers is more beautiful and less costly to maintain than one with nonnative grass.
Wildflowers are good for birds, butterflies, and bees, and make great cut flowers for long lasting bouquets. They have a natural beauty about them that grabs and penetrates the heart! During his presentation, Dr. Taylor will share with you some personal experiences he had while growing wildflowers in his own yard in Winter Park. All points ranging from soil preparation, planting seeds, caring for plants, and seed sources will be covered. Copies of Dr. Taylor's popular wildflower books will be available at the presentation.
Nov.10, 10:am-11:00am -- BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Field trip follows at 11:30am; $3.00
Birds on the Wind: The Magic of Migration
Presenter: Kevin T. Karlson
Kevin Karlson
Nothing is more fascinating in the avian world than seasonal migratory movements of birds. From the 20,000-mile annual journey of Arctic Terns to the 1,200-mile non-stop flight of Blackpoll Warblers, there are still many unanswered questions concerning the "how, why, and when" of bird migration. This show will highlight bird families and selected species and share feats of unbelievable physical endurance undertaken each year by migratory birds. We will also ask some of the questions that maintain the mystique of bird migration.
Nov. 11, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Close-up Nature Photography Seminar/Workshop
Presenter: Milton Heiberg
Milton Heiberg, author of The Essentials of Nature Photography, will give a talk on Close-up Photography. Learn how to capture the beauty of nature close-up on film through techniques taught by a thirty-year veteran. The slide lecture/seminar portion will cover photography of wildflowers, insects, butterflies, and other small creatures. For the workshop portion, we will take a walk out back to one of the fallow areas of the campus, and get down into it. Come with or without your camera and close-up lenses. You will look at small nature subjects from a whole new perspective, and visually study their beauty (in a brand new light—both literally and figuratively).
To see some of Milton's photography, visit www.miltonheiberg.com.
Nov. 8, 2:45pm - 5:00pm; $3.00
Habitat Restoration: Kissimmi River and Rose Bay
Co-Presenters: Paul Haydt and Stefani Melvin
Lee Snyder
Rose Bay Watershed Restoration
Paul J. Haydt, Program Manager
St. Johns River Water Management DistrictIn the years before Florida's explosive growth, Rose Bay was a productive estuary on the Halifax River in Volusia County. Good water quality and the bay's close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean (near Ponce de Leon Inlet) once provided vital nursery grounds and habitat for estuarine and offshore fish species. Over time, however, the byproducts of growth – transportation causeways, stormwater runoff and leaking septic systems – have threatened the bay's beauty and productivity.
Spurred by committed local interest, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the city of Port Orange and Volusia County have coordinated efforts to address the bay's problems through the Rose Bay Task Force. A comprehensive outline for a five-point restoration plan was developed, partnerships with the Florida Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were established and all phases of the restoration plan are being implemented.
The project includes extensive "up stream" solutions including construction of a watershed-wide stormwater retrofit program and installation of a central sewer system. In addition, two man-made causeways that bisect the bay are being removed and a habitat restoration dredge project will be implemented. Through the committed efforts of the partners and continuous support from local leaders, the Rose Bay restoration project is well underway and scheduled for completion in 2004.Kissimmee River Restoration
Stefani L. Melvin, Senior Environmental Scientist
South Florida Water Management District
Kissimmee River Restoration DivisionThe Kissimmee River restoration project is a culmination of decades of exhaustive research and planning. This project is the largest attempt ever to restore a river ecosystem that has been impacted by human activity. Once a meandering 103 mile natural river, the Kissimmee was channelized during the 1960s into a 56 mile long canal. An estimated 43,000 acres of wetlands were destroyed and other riverine habitats drastically altered.
The fish and wildlife resources of the Kissimmee River prior to channelization were legendary and are the purpose for which the restoration project was proposed. The project consists of an extensive construction effort coupled with scientific research with the ultimate goal of restoring the ecological integrity of the river ecosystem. To that end, an enormous restoration evaluation program has been ongoing for several years. This evaluation program focuses on specific measurements of biological and abiological functions of the Kissimmee River which will be utilized to determine the success of the restoration project.
This presentation will highlight the main features of the construction portion of Kissimmee River restoration and examine how the bird community is being used to monitor restoration success. Several milestones have already been reached along the road to recovery for the Kissimmee, and the river is well on its way to becoming a self sustaining ecosystem once again.Nov. 8, 1:00pm-2:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00 Presenter: Blair Witherington, Ph.D.
Sea World
During the late summer and fall, sea turtle hatchlings depart Florida's beaches in droves. Upon leaving their sandy nests, hatchlings orient seaward, swim through the surf, and disperse into currents that circle the entire North Atlantic Ocean. A little turtle's strategy for living this oceanic lifestyle has been the focus of twelve years of study by Dr. Blair Witherington, a research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Research Institute. Dr. Witherington will describe how these turtles feed, grow, and avoid predators in the open ocean, and how the wide ranging effects of human activity harms these turtles even in these remote places.
Nov. 10, 4:00pm-5:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
Florida Bird Firsts
Presenter: Wes Biggs
Take a photographic journey through time, and relive the excitement of finding Florida first state bird records. Find out who discovered them, when, where and how, and the interesting stories behind their discoveries.
Because of its unique geographical position in the southeastern most part of the North American continent, Florida is visited by many species of birds. The only tropical habitat on the continent is located in Florida, as well as the confluence of two flyways. Species arrive here from South and Central America, the Caribbean, the Western areas of the continent, and even Europe.
About 480 species of birds are on the Florida state list. Of these, about 320 species are of regular occurrence, as breeders, migrants, or wintering birds. The remaining 160 or so species that are uncommon or rare are of great interest to birders. We will be concentrating on many of these birds.
Many first state records from the mid eighteenth to the early twentieth centuries were established by collecting specimens. Most of the records in the last 50 years were established by photography, reflecting one of the major changes in American ornithology.
Your guide will be Wes Biggs of Florida Nature Tours: www.floridanaturetours.com. In almost 40 years of birding adventures in Florida, Wes has seen more species in the state than any other birder, and many were first state records.
Nov. 9, 4:00pm-5:00pm -- BCC Auditorium; $3.00
New Smyrna Beach Middle School Butterfly Garden Project
Presenters: Eighth Grade Students, NSB Middle School
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A group of students from the New Smyrna Beach Middle School wanted to build a butterfly garden at their school. They approached the Men's Garden Club of New Smyrna Beach and asked the club to help them build it. The garden club members supervised and the students did ALL the work in building a real butterfly garden. They even made a video of the construction and results. Since then, "time in the garden" has been used to encourage students to better their attitudes and grades. The threat of restriction from the butterfly garden has proven to be great motivation. You will enjoy relating to their experience on this worthwhile project.
Nov. 11, 2:10pm-2:30pm -- BCC Auditorium; Free
