 |
Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 17-21, 2004 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
 |
| |
Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival November 17-21, 2004 in Brevard County, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
|
2004 SEMINARS
| HomePage | Keynotes | Articles | Field Trips | Workshops | Seminars | Photography | Kayaking |
W
h
o
o
p
i
n
gC
r
a
n
eC
o
n
s
e
r
v
a
t
i
o
nA
s
s
o
c
i
a
t
i
o
nA
n
n
u
a
lM
e
e
t
i
n
gPlanes and Cranes--A New Future for Whooping Cranes
Presenter: John Christian
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wildlife history is being made by a project to re-establish a migratory flock of whooping cranes in Eastern North America. Four years into the endeavor, the technique being used is for humans in crane costumes to rear whooping crane chicks and teach them a migration route by following ultralight airplanes, which are flown by members of the Canadian group "Operation Migration". Training begins when chicks hatch in the spring. In fall, the cranes and planes begin an astounding 1200-mile journey from Necedah NWR in Wisconsin to the Chassahowitzka NWR in Crystal River, Florida. Chicks are maintained in an open pen their first winter in Florida, protected from predators by partners from the International Crane Foundation (ICF). Intensive monitoring by ICF and the U.S. FWS then begins as the chicks make their first unaided migration north in the spring.
After 3 years of releases, 36 whooping cranes that have made successful north/south migrations are in the flyway group. The earliest are reaching breeding age. The next goal for the partnership is to see the first wild reproduction occur in this history making flock. This is a story of incredible challenge and personal dedication that demonstrates what focused people can do when they make a commitment to work together to achieve a conservation goal -- with more than a little help from the whoopers. The presentation will detail the techniques used, the problems faced and the incredible story of partnership that has made these accomplishments possible.
John Christian, Assistant Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS) is also the Co-chair of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership -- a dedicated group of individuals from state and federal government agencies, conservation groups, corporations and the general public who are working together to bring back a migratory flock of this critically endangered bird species.
Nov 19, 1:30pm-2:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Auditorium; $5.00Hatching a Whooping Crane Recovery Program
Presenter: Dr. John B. French, Jr.
USGS Patuxant Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD
The Patuxant Wildlife Center has long been dedicated to endangered species research. Their long-term effort in whooping crane conservation began in 1966 with the acquisition of "Canus," the first crane captured for propagation in North America. At that time there were only about 42 whooping cranes in the world; now there are ten times that many. Since then, Patuxant's captive flock has grown, and now produces 20-30 chicks each year for release in order to restore populations to the wild.
Captive breeding of whooping cranes is a "learned" process. Adult whoopers get the best of care, including the opportunity for "dating" before choosing a mate, large secluded pens (monitored with closed circuit cameras!), and excellent health care. Like many birds in captivity, whoopers can produce more eggs than are in a normal clutch if eggs are removed as they are laid. The eggs are incubated under sandhill cranes, which make good surrogate incubators. As they near hatching, the eggs are transferred to artificial incubators and hatched inside. Young chicks require lots of care and get special training, which differs depending on how they will be reintroduced into the wild.
To avoid mistakes, all of the techniques have been tested on sandhill cranes, a closely related species that is abundant in the wild. It takes a lot of effort to raise so many chicks by hand. Dr. French will provide an illustrated talk on the goals and techniques of captive propagation, and discuss the role of captive propagation in the restoration of whooping cranes in North America.
Nov 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Auditorium; $5.00Status of Non-migratory Florida Whooping Cranes
Presenter: Steve Nesbitt
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
History was made June 7, 2002 when a young Whooping Crane spread its mighty wings and flew across the Leesburg marsh in which it hatched and was reared by first time parents. The fledgling, named "Lucky" by volunteers, survived dogs, eagles, cold temperatures and drought to become the first of its kind to fledge in the wild in the United States in 63 years. The FWCC has taken the lead role in a cooperative effort with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the International Crane Foundation and several private land owners in a large scale project to restore this magnificent bird to its former range in the southeast. The Non-migratory Whooping Crane Reintroduction Project began in the fall of 1980 and after 13 years of preliminary study of sandhill cranes, the first captive-reared whooping cranes were released to Central Florida's wetland prairies. Lucky's solo flight was a milestone in the FWCC's efforts to establish a non-migratory flock of Whooping Cranes in Florida. Each year brings new challenges and understanding that adds to our effort to preserve these magnificent birds in the wild. The world's authority on Florida sandhill cranes, Steve Nesbitt is one of the few recipients of the North American Crane Working Group's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nov 19, 3:30pm-4:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Auditorium; $5.00
A field trip hosted by members of the Whooping Crane Conservation Association on Saturday, Nov 20 will visit Overstreet Ranch and Forever Florida wilderness preserve in Osceola County to look for whooping cranes and other wildlife of Central Florida's prairies.For more information on whooping cranes, visit the flowing web sites: www.whoopingcrane.com, www.floridaconservation.org, pwrc.usgs.org, www.bringbackthecranes.org, www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca.
Florida Growth Videos: Phantom Future and Changing Lanes
Presenter: Documentary Filmmaker, George Sibley
NOTE: This presentation is not in the printed program.
Although only the 22nd largest state in the nation, Florida ranks fourth in population. Ever increasing numbers of people are moving into environmentally sensitive areas, which is having an enormous impact on natural systems all over the state. Explore some of the most important consequences of this state's enthusiasm for growth in two films about people and nature in Florida.First, travel from the Panhandle to the Keys to take a look at Florida's threatened water resources. The Sun Belt is America's frontier now, and coping with a booming population who want to live the good life in a warm place is largely a question of water. Competing demands for smaller supplies, and politicians with dubious priorities add up to a "Phantom Future" for the Sunshine State.
Then, "Changing Lanes" shows how roads continue to open up rural lands for development and how, under the guise of transportation "solutions" that are really no solutions at all, the growth industry is using tax dollars to promote road congestion and urban sprawl.
Nature has always been an essential part of the mosaic that is Florida. These stimulating films remind us of just how frail and vulnerable it is in the face of relentless human pressures, and of how important it is for all of us to take a hand in protecting the natural things and places that we need. George Sibley has been a filmmaker for a number of years. He took an interest in making nature films with a message about ten years ago.
Nov 20, 4:30pm-5:30pm: BCC Gymnatorium - Stage; Free
Nov 21, 10:00am-11:00am: BCC Building 1, Class 132; FreeThe Kingfisher: Words and Images About Birds, Birding, and Birders
Presenter: Stephen Ingraham
Sponsored by Carl Zeiss Optics
Stephen Ingraham shares some of his birding poetry works (or some call them essays), and images to accompany them, in an attempt to capture both the inspiration and the humor of our passion for birds. You are sure to recognize someone you know, some place you have been, or some secret you thought you were the only one to know in these words and images. It is very likely, since you are here at this festival, that you find yourself in these experiences. Laugh a little, cry a little, soar a little. It is all there in the Kingfisher: words and images about birds, birding, and birders.
Nov 17, 3:30pm-4:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Auditorium; Free
Nov 21, 11:00am-12:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; FreePeru's Wealth of Birds and Culture
Presenters: Mercedes Rivadeneira and Xavier Munoz
Neblina Forest Birding Tours
With 1,700 species of birds, Peru is an unparalleled destination for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts. Boasting some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in South America, Peru is a paradise of natural history wonders and superlative biodiversity. But as stunning as the scenery is, it's the multiple layers of great civilizations that make Peru so intriguing. You can wander around colonial cities that have preserved the legacy of the Spanish conquistadors, visit the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, and ponder the enigma of the Nazca Lines, a series of enormous drawings of animals, geometric figures and birds etched into the desert a millennium ago. This history leaves a great legacy of artistic expression, religious philosophy, and architectural wonders such as the spectacular ruins of the mystical lost Incan fortress of Machu Picchu.Peru can be divided into three distinct geographic regions. The best known is the central high region of the Andes, with its massive snow-covered peaks, steep canyons, and extraordinary pre-Columbian archaeological sites. Most of coastal Peru consists of dry and sometimes arid desert regions. There are places where no rain has been recorded in more than 500 years. The landscapes can be very spectacular though, with immense sand dunes and desolate stone wastelands. Peru's third great region is the isolated region between the eastern foothills of the Andes and the enormous rainforests of the Amazon basin. Home to the spectacled bear and the rare oilbird, the densely forested slopes of the Andes are known as the cloud forests. Peru has some of the world's most pristine rainforests protected by 24 national parks. They are the turf of reclusive creatures such as the jaguar, ocelot, giant otter, and tapir. One of the biggest is Manu National Park. The world's most bio-diverse region, Manu is home to the highest concentration of bird life on earth. Manu also supports 13 different species of monkeys and over 100 species of bats as well as some indigenous native Indian tribes.
The Ecuadorian company Neblina Forest started as a lodge in the cloud forest of Mindo in 1991. In 1994 they began taking reservations, training guides and leading tours throughout Ecuador, establishing themselves as the first birding company based in South America and boldly setting an example for conservation by visiting the communities and forests where local citizens profit from eco-tourism. They now operate tours in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Brazil.
www.neblinaforest.com
Nov 18, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00
Nov 20, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00Seven-fold Path to Better Birding
Presenter: Stephen Ingraham
Sponsored by Carl Zeiss Optics
What do good birders know that you don't (yet)? Here are seven simple disciplines that will make any birder a better birder, and increase their enjoyment of time spent in the field. Great for beginners and any birder who wants to improve! Steve Ingraham is the Birding and Nature Watching Specialist for Carl Zeiss Optics. He is well know from his years as the editor of the "Tools of the Trade" section in Birding magazine, his frequent articles in Wildbird, Birder's World, and Birdwatch (UK) magazines, his appearances at ABA conventions and birding events around the country;and as the founder and editor of Better View Desired and betterviewdesired.com on the world wide web.
www.zeiss.com
Nov 18, 1:00pm-2:00pm, BCC Building 1 - Class 131; $5.00
Nov 20, 11:30am-12:30pm, BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00The Prehistory of Brevard County
Presenter: Thomas Penders
Indian River Archaeological Society
Brevard County and east-central Florida history did not start in 1492 with the "discovery" of the new world by Columbus. There was already 12, 000 years of occupation in this area before the first European explorers. From the first mastodon-hunting inhabitants to the mound builders to small groups of hunters-gatherers and farmers, there has been continuous occupation of this region. Many of the indigenous peoples who inhabited this area were highly sophisticated. They left behind a wealth of archaeological sites and resources, many of which have yet to be discovered. One of Brevard County's most famous archaeological digs the Windover Dig, where a peat bog near Titusville revealed remarkable clues about the lives of Native Americans who lived near a small pond 4,000 years before Christ was born and 2,000 years before the pyramids were built. Windover has proved to be one of the most important and productive "wet" archaeological sites in the history of the nation. There are numerous other sites in this area, including many mounds and middens. Mounds and middens are quickly disappearing through vandalism, neglect, looting and destruction by development. The Brevard Museum of History and Science in Cocoa has an excellent replica of the Windover Archaeological Dig located within the museum.
www.artandscience.org, www.nbbd.com/godo/history/index.html, www.nbbd.com/godo/history/windover/index.html, dhr.dos.state.fl.us/index.html, www.nbbd.com/npr/archaeology-iras/
Nov 18, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00
Nov 21, 8:30am-9:30am: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00South Florida's Exotic Birds
Presenter: Larry Manfredi
Larry Manfredi Birding Tours, Inc.
Take a photographic tour of South Florida with a Miami native. 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 more. More than 120 species of exotic birds have been recorded in the South Florida region. 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 species of exotics are found in South Florida. A resident of South Florida for more than 35 years, Larry is familiar with all of the locations of the specialty birds. He will also cover Bahamian vagrants like bananaquits, stripe-headed tanagers, and LeSagre's flycatchers.
www.southfloridabirding.com
Nov 18, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Building 1 Class 131; $5.00Conservation and Protection of the Four-petal Pawpaw
Dr. Anne Cox
Ecolo-G, Inc.
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 an ecosystem unlike any other in the world. Florida's desert-like prehistoric sand ridges are home to animals such as scrub-jays, gopher tortoises, indigo snakes,scrub lizards, and burrowing owls. Dozens of plants and animals living in Florida scrub are found nowhere else in the world. One of these is the four-petal pawpaw, a large shrub that inhabits sand pine scrub on ancient dune lines in two south Florida counties. Most original sand pine scrub habitat is now urbanized, and the species is essentially confined to remnant areas of scrub vegetation in scattered sites, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County and the Jupiter Ridge and Juno Dunes sites in Palm Beach County.It is a root-sprouting shrub that is rejuvenated by having its above ground stems destroyed - historically this occurred during a fire or a hurricane. In their absence, competing vegetation is likely to shade out the species. Long-term survival of four-petal pawpaw is questionable. Genetic analysis shows that smaller populations of pawpaw differ genetically from larger populations, underscoring the importance of saving smaller parcels of scrub in order to maintain genetic diversity of this species and others rare plants that are endemic to scrub. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is one of the state's best sites for observing scrub habitat. The highest point in the park is reached by the Hobe Mountain Trail, a boardwalk that passes over classic scrub. Dr. Anne Cox is a plant ecologist with Ecolo-G Inc., an environmental consulting and restoration firm in Jupiter, FL.
www.archbold-station.org/discoveringflscrub/intro/intro.html, www.fnps.org, www.fnai.org/descriptions.cfm
Nov 18, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00Alaska's Last True Frontier: Birds and Wildlife of the Arctic Coastal Tundra
Presenter: KevinT. Karlson
Jaeger Tours
In extreme northern Alaska, bordered by the Arctic Sea, lies 120,000 square miles of seemingly barren arctic coastal tundra. In this frozen world of extremes, many of the world's most intriguing birds and wildlife choose to breed and raise their young. Accompanied by dramatic photos and Kevin's experiences as a biologist during four summers in this area, stories of life and death struggles unfold as creatures interact with nature in one of the most undisturbed places on earth. From unique breeding displays of Buff-breasted Sandpipers to recently discovered natural history information of Spectacled Eiders, the Alaskan Arctic represents a world of many untold secrets.
www.jaegertours.net
Nov 18, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 131; $5.00
Nov 21, 11:30am-12:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00Birding the Panama Canal Zone
Presenters: Raul Arias de Para and Carlos Bethancourt
Canopy Tower Ecolodge and Nature Observatory
One of the "birdiest" countries in the world, the small country of Panama boasts a BIG bird list of 965 species - greater than that of the United States and Canada put together!! Sixty-five percent of those species inhabit the forests around the Panama Canal where birding is easy and very productive. It is not uncommon to see 275 species in 7 days of birding. Highlights generally include great views of toucans, puffbirds, motmots, trogons, antbirds, tanagers, and manakins. Panama also hosts a superb assortment of mammals, including two and three-toed sloths, howler monkeys, capuchins, Geoffrey's tamarins, tamanduas, wooly opossums, capybaras, and kinkajous. Raptor migration is spectacular, offering sights of 75,000 Swainson's hawks and broadwings in the air at once. Panama is quite easy to get to - it's only 2 _ hours from Miami, with several non-stop flights every day. Join Canopy Tower visionary, Raul Arias de Para, and his top birding guide, Carlos Benthancourt, as they review the best birding spots around the Canal Zone and the birds and wildlife that can be observed there.
www.canopytower.com
Nov 18, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00
Nov 20, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00The Migrations and Conservation of Red Knots in the Americas - an International Conservation Challenge
Presenter: Brian A. Harrington
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
The red knot is one of the longest distance migrants on Earth, routinely commuting between High Arctic breeding areas in Canada and wintering habitats in the southernmost lands of South America. Brian is the author of The Flight of the Red Knot, published in 1996, which chronicles the migratory flight of the far-flung red knots, from the Arctic Circle to the tip of South America and back. Today red knot populations are thought to be declining rapidly, and the species is one of the highest conservation priority shorebirds in North America. Brian's program, illustrated with slides, describes the amazing migration of red knots and discusses why shorebirds may have such amazing migrations. The talk also discusses some of the reasons why knots have become such a high conservation priority. Brian is the Senior Scientist, Shorebird Research and Conservation Program, with Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, where he has been studying knot migration since 1980.
migratorybirds.fws.gov/shrbird/shrbird.html, www.manomet.org
Nov 18, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132
Likely Record-Setting Recovery of Shorebird Banded 20 Years Ago. May 20, 2004
A shorebird that turned up near Jacksonville, Florida last Friday is creating a buzz in the international ornithological community. The bird, which had been banded 20 years earlier in Lagoa do Peixe in southern Brazil, is very likely the oldest Red Knot on record.Shorebirds are hemispheric globetrotters whose long-distance and far-flung migrations present enormous challenges to the researchers who study them. By placing small, unobtrusive bands in different color combinations on the legs of birds, scientists are able to identify and track individual birds. This allows scientists to determine migration routes, population dynamics, and survival rates of birds.
"Absolutely amazing" were the words of Brian Harrington, a senior scientist at Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (www.manomet.org), who led the research team that first banded the bird in Brazil more than 20 years ago. According to Harrington, Patrick and Doris Leary discovered the banded bird while conducting shorebird surveys from Florida's Bird Islands to Fort George Inlet. The Learys reported sighting a knot with "a strange gray-colored marker" to Harrington by email, who was able to confirm through photos that this bird was one banded by his team in 1984. At the time of banding the bird was already an adult, so Harrington has been able to conclude that the bird is at least 21 years old. This bird has "clocked" almost 400,000 migration miles over the course of its lifetime. "It is a champion migrant," Harrington said, noting that even though this species is known for its remarkable flights, this particular bird has an exceptional story. "By its 13th birthday, this Red Knot, weighing only about 4.5 ounces, had migrated a distance equal to the moon and back."
The fuel for migration flights of knots typically is accumulated as fat at migration stopover locations, the most famous of which include San Antonio Oeste in Argentina, Lagoa do Peixe in Brazil, and Delaware Bay in the United States. Each year an individual knot will gain and lose an amount of fat roughly three to four times greater than its body weight. Put in terms of a hundred and fifty pound human being, the marked knot from Florida likely had gained and lost 300 pounds of fat a year, or 6,300 pounds over the last 21 years!
Harrington, who authored the book, The Flight of the Red Knot, published in 1996, chose to study knots because of their extraordinary migrations (between the southern tip of South America and the Arctic Circle), and because knots would well-illustrate many of the conservation issues he wanted to document--such as their requirement for essential migration stopover locations like Delaware Bay.
Individuals like Pat and Doris Leary play an important role in shorebird conservation. They volunteer to collect the kinds of information that researchers and conservationists need for sound conservation planning. In the Florida case, the Learys have been searching for knots marked with plastic bands in Argentina, Chile and the United States, and sharing their findings with Manomet and other shorebird research projects managed by the states of Georgia, Delaware and New Jersey, and facilitated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"It gives us great joy to provide this 'gift' of data to one who has dedicated a lifetime to the study and conservation of Red Knots," said the Learys in the spirited exchange of email they've had with Harrington since the sighting. "We know how rewarding such distant news can be when seeking insight into a marked bird. We also value the long-distance relationships we have developed with so many researchers and we are always pleased to contribute toward the greater knowledge of all species."
As one of the nation's oldest independent environmental research organizations, Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences conducts original research on natural systems and wildlife. Manomet uses science to bring people together and guide them in the development of practical strategies that improve conditions for wildlife, habitats and people
Courtesy of Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, www.manomet.org
The Florida Scrub-jay and Scrub Fire Ecology
Sponsored by Dynamac International and NASA Kennedy Space Center
Presenters: Dave Brieninger and Dr. Paul Schmalzer
The Florida scrub-jay, fascinating from both biological and conservation perspectives, is the only avian species restricted entirely to Florida. Endemic to the scrub habitats of peninsular Florida, scrub-jays exhibit a suite of remarkable adaptations. 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 an ecosystem unlike any other on the planet, one that is highly dependent on fire. Dozens of plants and animals living in the Florida scrub are found nowhere else in the world. The presentation will focus on Florida scrub-jay habitat use, demography and sociobiology in different types of habitat with an emphasis on fire ecology.
www.fnps.org, www.fnai.org/descriptions.cfm
Nov 19 & 20, 8:00am-9:15am: Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center; Free
A free field trip on a NASA bus to see Florida Scrub Jay families will follow the presentation. See the description in Field Trips.The Life of Birds for Kids
Presenter: Renier Munguia
Wildstock Photography
This presentation covers all aspects of a bird's life, from the adaptations that allow them to survive in their environment to their amazing flights and displays. Some of the topics to be covered include: physical adaptations as well as behavioral adaptations, communication, foraging, courtship, nesting, brooding, and many bird facts and real life stories. You'll get lots of detailed information about many species around the world, with special emphasis on Florida birds. Renier will bring live birds for interaction with kids.
www.wildstockphotos.com
Nov 19, 8:30am-10:00am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; Free
Nov 21, 9:00am-10:30am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; FreeThe World of Bats
Presenters: Cyndi and George Marks
Florida Bat Center
Bats are probably the most misunderstood of all the mammals. They became entangled in the Dracula legend centuries ago and have played frightening roles in myths and tales of horror ever since. Yet bats are shy, gentle animals and fill a vital role in maintaining balanced ecosystems throughout the world. In Florida, bats are the most important natural controller of night flying insects. In other parts of the world, bats disperse seeds, pollinate plants, provide guano for fertilizer and even vampire bats have made important contributions to science and medicine. Come and join us for an interesting and informative presentation on "The World of Bats" by Cyndi and George Marks of the Florida Bat Center. The program will include a slide presentation on bats around the world, illustrating their unusual diversity, unique behaviors and benefits to humans. They will bring live bats so you will be able to see some of our native Florida species up close and personal.Cyndi and George Marks have been working with bats since 1989. They have presented hundreds of educational programs about bats, rescued and cared for injured and orphaned bats, worked with local and state agencies on bat conservation projects, helped home and business owners with bats in their buildings and studied bat distributions and behaviors around Florida. In 1994 they founded the Florida Bat Center, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting native Florida bats and educating the public about these unique flying mammals.
www.floridabats.org
Nov 19, 10:15am-11:15am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00
Nov 20, 12:45pm-1:45pm: BCC Gymnatorium Class 4123; $5.00Eagles In Florida
Presenter: Lynda White
Audubon Center For Birds of Prey
With the largest population of bald eagles in the contigupus states, Florida faces the challenge of protecting the birds while dealing with unprecedented development. Learn about these magnificent creatures and ways you can help ensure the continued recovery of the species. Meet Paige the eagle and bring your camera!
audubonofflorida.org/conservation/cbop.htm
Nov 19, 11:30am-12:30pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00
Nov 20, 9:00am-10:00am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00Florida's Special Butterflies
Presenters: Buck and Linda Cooper
Due to subtropical habitats and mild year-round temperatures, Florida has a group of butterflies unique to the south Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys. About twenty-five species are found only here in the United States and we share another fifteen with the southern tip of Texas. Many are rare with very limited distribution. This slide presentation covers identification of these exciting species with information on where and when to search for them. Come and meet these rare and sparkling jewels.
www.naba.org
Nov 19, 9:00am-10:30am: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00
NOTE the CORRECTION: Previously listed here and in the brochure as Nov. 18.Oculina Banks Marine Protected Area: Mapping, Exploring and Restoring the Cones
Presenter: Andrew Shepard
Deep-water Oculina coral reefs stretch for over 90 miles along the shelf edge at depths of 70-100 meters off the eastern Florida coast. Known locally as "the Cones," Lumps, and Humps, these reefs consist of numerous pinnacles and ridges, 3-35 meters in height. The reefs are built by the ivory tree coral, Oculina varicosa, a branching stony coral that lives as isolated colonies from North Carolina to the Caribbean. However, the stretch off Florida is the only place in the world that massive Oculina reefs have been found. Most of these reefs are now enclosed in a marine protected area closed to bottom fishing. Intact reefs are essential fish habitat and recover slowly from damage.Extensive areas of Oculina rubble may be due to human impacts (e.g., fish and shrimp trawling, scallop dredging, anchoring, bottom longlines) or natural processes such as bioerosion and episodic die-off. Early in the 1970s, the reefs were teeming with healthy coral and fish. By the early 1990s, fishing activities had taken a toll on the reefs, especially on the coral habitat and populations of grouper and snapper. Recent mapping and submersible studies found that considerable portions (>90%) of the coral habitat have been impacted, grouper spawning aggregations were absent, and illegal trawling continues. This talk summarizes these recent research expeditions and continuing efforts to expose the Oculina Banks to the public.
www.uncw.edu/nurc, www.hboi.edu, oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/subs/rov/rov.html ; www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov, click on Explorations, then click on Islands in the Stream
Andy will conduct a free hands-on Remotely Operated Vehicle demo in the pond behind the Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center 3pm-4pm on Friday and Saturday. Don't miss this chance to steer a real underwater robotic yourself!
Nov 19, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class131; $5.00
Nov 20, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00Florida Hiking: Exploring Florida's Natural Wonders
Presenter: Sandra Friend
Florida Trail Association
Author of the 50 Hikes in...Florida series, Sandra Friend, has explored nearly 2,000 miles of Florida's many hiking trails on foot, from Key West to Pensacola. You'll enjoy this presentation on the diversity of natural habitats and geologic wonders of Florida's state parks and state forests, and the trails that connect them.
www.floridatrail.org
Nov 19, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class132; $5.00Florida's Sea Turtles -- Up Close and Personal
Presenter: Dr. Blair Witherington
Five species of sea turtles are known to use Florida's waters and beaches for nesting. Although their rarity has prompted their protection as threatened or endangered species, sea turtles in Florida can be eminently approachable to a careful observer and Florida is one place where such an encounter is possible. Our state has the largest population of green turtles and leatherbacks in the continental US, and what is probably the greatest number of nesting loggerheads in the world. Two of the rarest sea turtles, the hawksbill and Kemp's Ridley, also call Florida home. Dr. Blair Witherington, a research scientist with the Florida fish and Wildlife Research Institute, offers a close-up, albeit vicarious experience with Florida's sea turtles.
Nov 19, 1:00pm-2:00pm, BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00Ecuador's Abundant Avifauna and History
Presenters: Mercedes Rivadeneira and Xavier Munoz
Neblina Forest Birding Tours
If a fractious group of travelers sat down to design a shared destination, they would be hard put to come up with a better destination than Ecuador. Although it is the smallest country in northwestern South America, what Ecuador lacks in size is more than made up by its awesome variety. It has an array of vibrant indigenous cultures, well-preserved colonial architecture, otherworldly volcanic landscapes and dense rainforest. A small country, what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in geographic variety. In a matter of two hundred miles, a traveler can penetrate all of the mainland's defining regions—the coastal lowlands in the West, the volcanic central highlands, and the Amazonian rainforests of the East. It is home to some of the world's most extraordinary national parks, including Cuyabeno, the most diverse avian sanctuary on the planet and Cayamba-Coco, with ten million acres of rainforest and cloud forest resting in the shadows of the Andes. If that weren't enough, 600 miles across the Pacific to the west lie the incomparable living wonders of the Galapagos.Those attracted to the ocean are rewarded with miles of Pacific coastline, bucolic beaches, luxuriant plains, and some of the world's best-preserved mangrove forests. A ride on a ponga boat through the dark, hidden world of the mangrove trees is an adventure that reveals one of the most ecologically important environments in Ecuador. For the mountaineer, the country is bisected by a narrow but high double backbone of the northern Andes. The eastern and western cordilleras are punctuated by 51 dramatic, and often snow-capped volcanoes, 21 of which are still active. For the jungle explorer, there is a biological mother lode within the Amazonia, one of the world's richest and most accessible rainforest regions -- an area that vibrates with life. There are more species of birds in the Amazon than anywhere else on the planet. An astounding one-third of all the Amazon's bird species can be found in the Oriente (more than 1,000 species), as well as 10 percent of the world's tree species. Other denizens of this incredibly diverse area include sloths, caymans, jaguars, monkeys, tapirs, pink dolphins and 135 species of hummingbirds.
Ecuador's most beloved and popular national park lies in splendid isolation well off the mainland. Made famous by Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands are no less enthralling now than they were a hundred years ago. Every year, curious visitors journey to the remote islands to behold the wondrously variegated wildlife that was a basis for "The Origin of Species"; much of the same flora and fauna that inspired Darwin's Theory still thrives on the Galapagos today. The legendary marine and land iguanas, the giant tortoises, and seal colonies of the Galapagos are among nature's most fantastic beings.
The Ecuadorian company Neblina Forest started as a lodge in the cloud forest of Mindo in 1991. Three years later, Neblina Forest began taking reservations, training guides and leading tours throughout Ecuador, establishing themselves as the first birding company based in South America. They promoted Ecuador's outstanding avifauna and its wilderness through a variety of tours, boldly setting an example for conservation by visiting the communities and forests where local citizens profit from eco-tourism. After six years of guiding nature and birding trips throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, they expanded their range of operations by opening an office in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and have now added birdwatching and cultural tours to Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela and Brazil.
www.neblinaforest.com
Nov 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Gymnatorium Class 4121; $5.00
Nov 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00
Nov 21, 10:00am-11:00am: BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00The Secret Lives of Birds and Gopher Tortoises
Presenter: Ray E. Ashton, Jr.
Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative
Gopher tortoise burrows provide a unique kind of shelter to more than 450 species of animals. There are few places where animals can find protection from drying out or from being too cold or hot in most types of Florida habitats in which the tortoises live. Some animals find food sources in the burrows as well. Tortoise scat is gourmet fare for several hundred "commensal" invertebrates. Like bats providing guano for cave troglodytes, the tortoise feces provides food for many strange insects. Where there are insects, you will likely find insect eating animals such as spiders, frogs and birds. A number of birds learn that insects are active at the mouth of tortoise burrows, even in the winter cold. A source of food is not the only way that birds use tortoise burrows. Many birds spend the night. Then there is the Florida burrowing owl. This amazing bird that also digs nests in the ground, frequently uses old tortoise burrows in which to nest or to move its young. Ray and his wife Pat have studied gopher tortoises, burrowing owls and many of the species that live with the gopher tortoise for the past 30 years. Their new book, The Gopher Tortoise: A Life History, has just been published. This presentation offers many photos and fun stories.
www. Ashtonbiodiversity.org, www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/gtortoise, www.gophertortoisecouncil.com/tortoise, www.owlpages.com, search burrowing owl
Nov 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00
Nov 20, 3:15pm-4:15pm: BCC Gymnatorium Class 4123; $5.00In Search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Presenter: Dr. Jerry Jackson
Mention passenger pigeons or Carolina parakeets to a birder, and you'll likely watch a cloud of regret drift across their features, considering the wasteful extinction of these two species near the turn of the 20th century. Mention the ivory-billed woodpecker, however, which is similarly considered to be extinct, and hope will spark in their eyes. North America's largest woodpecker is thought to have faded from our landscape in the mid-1900's, but persistent sightings, regardless of their credibility, sustain hope in many birders' hearts that the birds still remain in some secluded area, yet to be discovered by man. Credible reports from Cuba in the 1980's implied a hold-out population in a remote area there, but attempts to verify the sighting have since been unsuccessful and further compounded by political realities.Occasional reports from across the United States are frequently greeted with skepticism because of the bird's similarity to (and likely confusion with) the common pileated woodpecker. However, in 2001, a possible, credible sighting of the bird by a wildlife biologist hunting deep in the swamps of Louisiana sparked hope for the species and spurred a dream of many birders: to actually see this legend among woodpeckers. Zeiss Optical sponsored an expedition in search of the borderline-mythical bird, returning empty-handed save for tantalizing tales of overheard drumming consistent with tapes made of IBWPs decades ago. How likely is it that IBWPs still survive in some remote corner, and what are our chances of finding them? Join world-renowned woodpecker expert, Dr. Jerry Jackson, as he teases apart fact from fiction, and reality from hope, in search of the IBWP. Dr. Jackson is a Whitaker Eminent Scholar in Science, Technology and Education at Florida Gulf Coast University and a member of the lead team coordinating search efforts for the IBWP. His new book, In Search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, was published summer 2004.
http://birds.cornell.edu/ivory/, www.northlakenature.org/CurrentEvents/Feb2002-IvoryBilledWoodpecker.html, www.anomalist.com/reports/woodpecker.html, www.juliezickefoose.com/articles/ivory_billed_wp.html, www.geocities.com/tertial/ibwo2.html, www.birdingamerica.com/ivorybilledwoodpecker.htm
Nov 19, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00
Nov 21, 11:30am-12:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $3.00The Building of Panama's Canopy Tower
Presenters: Raul Arias de Para and Carlos Bethancourt
Canopy Tower Ecolodge and Nature Observatory
In the early 1960's, during the Cold War, the United States Air Force built a tower in the middle of Panama's great rainforest to house a powerful radar unit used in the defense of the Panama Canal. The builders never suspected that 40 years later, the tower would become one of the most premier birding lodges in the world, offering its guests an extraordinary opportunity to appreciate the rich diversity of Soberania National Park and the unique culture and history of the Panama Canal Zone. With a bird's eye view of Panama's expansive rain forest and the world-renowned canal that passes through it, the famous Canopy Tower is virtually surrounded by the best birding spots in Central Panama. It is the fulfillment of Panamanian businessman Raul Arias de Para's lifelong dream to work in a field that would bring him in contact with nature and with people who share his passion for the natural world. Raul comes from one of the oldest and most respected families in Panama; his grandfather was a leader in the movement to break away from Colombia in 1903. He is living his dream and in the process is enabling many people to enjoy some of the best birding experiences of their lives. This is the story of the amazing transformation of an old military installation into a fabulous center for the observation and study of the neo-tropical rainforest, a precedent-setting example for other eco-entrepreneurs around the world to follow.
www.canopytower.com
Nov 19, 4:00pm-5:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00
Nov 21, 9:00am-10:00am: BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00Identification of Central Florida Butterflies
Presenters: Buck and Linda Cooper
Learn to identify the forty or so species most likely to be seen on festival field trips using only your eyes and close-focusing binoculars. Discover easy ways to separate look-alike species. From backyard gardens to coastal areas to weedy roadsides to upland habitats, sample the rich butterfly diversity of the Titusville area. Naturalists extraordinaire, Buck and Linda Cooper have given their time unselfishly for many years, introducing countless people to the wonders of natural Florida. A butterfly field trip to visit different habitats around north Brevard County will leave at 11:30am.
www.naba.org
Nov 20, 9:00am-10:30am: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00Hiking the Florida Trail
Presenter: Jon Phipps
Florida Trail Association
Jon Phipps has walked the entire length of the 1,300-mile Florida Trail. Hundreds of miles of trails provide access to wilderness areas with a stunning variety of habitats, from the tropical hardwood hammocks of the Keys to the Appalachian-style ravines of the Panhandle. Jon's excellent slide show tells the story of how the Trail links together Florida's diverse habitats.
www.floridatrail.org
Nov 20, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 131, $5.00Born of Fire, Under Fire: The Natural and Political History of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Presenter: Dr. Jerry Jackson
The federally endangered RCW's fate is bound up in the fate of its preferred cavity tree, the longleaf pine. Vast uninterrupted savannas of pinewoods once spanned the southeast in a great swath from North Carolina to the Missisippi River. However, the longleaf pine, prized for the quality of its timber, was quickly logged by pioneers and has since been replaced with faster growing kinds of pine that can be harvested sooner, increasing the economic yield for commercial timber growers. Remaining longleaf stands have been threatened not by forest fires, but rather by the lack of fire: many of this plant community's plant and animal species rely on the renewing effects of regular fire.People fearful of fire near their homes, and ignorant of the benefits of wildfire for wildlife, have suppressed fire for generations, making once viable longleaf pine stands uninhabitable for the species that rely on them. With research, however, come revelations, and conservationists have encouraged a remarkable about-face in land management in the last twenty years. Reintroducing fire into existing longleaf forests and active reforestation efforts are restoring some of the past grandeur of the southeast's longleaf pine-wiregrass systems. Along the way, they're improving the fates of other imperiled species like the gopher tortoise and gopher frog, the brown-headed nuthatch and elusive Bachman's sparrow. A world-renowned woodpecker expert, Dr. Jerry Jackson is a Whitaker Eminent Scholar in Science at Florida Gulf Coast University. Join him to learn more about the unassuming RCW, whose taste for a particular kind of tree has fueled the protection of an entire landscape!
www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3950id.html, www.nwf.org/wildalive/woodpecker, www.floridaconservation.org/viewing/species/redcockaded.html
Nov 20, 1:00pm-2:00pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 133; $5.00Saving the Endangered Florida Manatee — One Animal at a Time
Presenter: Ann Spellman, Marine Mammal Biologist
The tremendous effort it takes to bring a population of an endangered species back to a healthy level requires the dedication and cooperation of a large group of scientists, veterinarians, oceanaria and animal care personnel. While saving a species like the manatee requires saving more that just one individual at a time, the rewards of rescue work go far beyond the personal satisfaction of those involved. The knowledge gathered about this species from each rescue, through rehabilitation to release, can benefit numerous other individuals within the population. Much can be learned from each experience, and all of what is learned is put to use.More than 100 manatees are rescued in the state of Florida each year thanks to a team of state biologists, law enforcement and participating oceanaria. A considerable number of these are eventually released back into the wild. While it may look easy to bystanders and the general public, each rescue is a unique, exiting and more often than not a dangerous experience for both man and manatee. It can be done only with patience and highly trained and skilled individuals. The stories these rescues leave to be told are truly amazing when one considers the lengths rescue teams will go to bring an animal back to safety. Join Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine biologist, Ann Spellman, Regional Coordinator for manatee rescues in the East Central part of Florida, as she shows you what it takes to save a species, one animal at a time.
www.usgs.gov, search manatee, www.manateeworld.net, www.geocities.com/Heartland/5960/manatee.html
Nov 20, 2:00pm-3:00pm: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00Reptiles: It's a Cruel World Out There
Presenter: Becky Smith
Dynamac International, Inc.
Most people do not consider reptiles to be beautiful, cuddly, or appealing in any way. However, this often misunderstood group of animals (alligators, turtles, lizards, and snakes) has developed incredibly interesting methods to survive and thrive. Rebecca Smith, wildlife ecologist for the Dynamac Corporation at Kennedy Space Center, presents the advantages and hazards of being a cold-blooded creature in a warm-blooded world. Join her for a look at the natural history of some of our common, and not so common, reptiles. Becky will bring a collection of her reptiles for audience interaction.
www.dynamac.com, www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/gtortoise, www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/indigo, www.gophertortoisecouncil.com, www.wildherps.com
Nov 20, 10:15am-11:45am: BCC Gymnatorium Stage; $5.00A Mixed "Bag O' Birds"
Presenter: Joanne Williams
Joanne Williams Photography
Join Joanne as she shares with you her photographic journeys to various parts of the world in search of birds, scenics, and other wildlife. You'll see the wonderful king penguins and rock hoppers of the Faulkland Islands; the comical and colorful tufted and horned puffins of the Pribolofs; the stunning pink flamingoes of Inagua, Bahamas; the gorgeous white-fronted bee-eaters of Zimbabwe; lilac-breasted rollers, secretary birds, and hornbills of East Africa; and a few migrating warblers from Pt. Pelee, Canada. This photo tour will take you to many areas of the U.S., such as the bayous of Louisiana where Joanne photographs beautiful pink roseate spoonbills and their chicks, and Bosque del Apache, New Mexico to view thousands of migrating sandhill cranes and snow geese. Joanne's home is in South Florida and the Everglades are her photographic "playground." She's photographed just about every bird that visits or resides in the Everglades, including the endangered and reintroduced whooping crane and chicks, the endangered snail kite, bald eagle, and crested cara cara. This slide presentation is truly "A Mixed Bag O' Birds" and much more!!!Joanne Williams is an accomplished and internationally published wildlife and nature photographer, photo-instructor, tour leader, and lecturer who offers "top shelf" slide presentations to groups and organizations across the country. She is also available for private photo classes, birdwatching safaris, and "customized-to-your-needs-and schedule" tours. Photo Safaris to Africa, Inagua, Alaska, Belize, and the Everglades are currently being scheduled for 2005. For further information regarding Joanne and her photographic services and safaris, visit:
www.natureandwildlife.com or www.joannewilliamsphoto.com
Nov 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 131; $5.00
Nov 20: 2:15pm-3:15pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 131; $5.00Shorebird conservation - The U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan and the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
Presenter: Brian A. Harrington
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
There is a growing variety of evidence indicating that populations of 34 of our 71 species of North American shorebird species are declining, some at very alarming rates. Only 2 species are thought to be increasing, and the remaining 35 are mostly ones where the population status is unknown. Finding ways to save North American shorebird populations is unusually complicated because most of the species are highly migratory, some living in as many as 28 nations of our Western Hemisphere. This talk focuses on two conservation efforts, one focused on developing conservation strategies specific to the United States, and the other focused on building momentum for shorebird conservation throughout the Americas. Brian is the Senior Scientist, Shorebird Research and Conservation Program with Manomet, where he has been studying red knot migration since 1980.
shorebirdplan.fws.gov/, http://www.manomet.org/WHSRN/
Nov 20, 2:15pm-3:15pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 132; $5.00Gardening for Butterflies
Presenter: Marc Minno
This seminar will explore flower architecture and pollination strategies, and then compare the kinds of flowers attractive to butterflies. Some of the most attractive flowers suitable for gardens are in the aster, heliotrope, coffee, mint, and vervain families. We will also discuss adding caterpillar host plants to the garden. Participants are welcome to bring in samples of plants, caterpillars or slides for identification and discussion. Butterfly author, Marc Minno works on preservation rare habitats and conservation of threatened animals and plants, with a special emphasis on butterflies.
www.naba.org
Nov 21, 9:00am-10:30am: BCC Building 1 - Class 131; $5.00Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Hosts
Presenter: Marc Minno
Florida has a rich diversity of butterflies ranging from tropical to temperate in affinity. At least 170 species breed in the state. While adult butterflies are familiar to most people, their fascinating caterpillars are often ephemeral and secretive. We will examine various kinds of Florida butterfly caterpillars, discuss the plants they eat, and compare how they live. Participants are invited to bring in samples of plants, caterpillars or slides for identification and discussion. Marc is currently working on a soon to be released new guide to Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants.
Nov 21, 11:00am-12:15pm: BCC Building 1 - Class 131; $5.00
Don't miss the following photography presentations. Descriptions can be found in the Photography section of this web site: Beautiful Birds, Beautiful Music; Beautiful Nature, Beautiful Music; and Interpretations of Nature.
Click here to send eMail inquiries about the Festival.