Our meetings for 2026-2027 are listed below.
Click on the title for more details.
The Resilient Southeastern American Kestrel: What Have We Learned from 40 Years of Research and Conservation? with Speaker Dr. Karl Miller
American Kestrel nestlings
The Resilient Southeastern American Kestrel: What Have We Learned from 40 Years of Research and Conservation? with Speaker Dr. Karl Miller
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Come hear an updated assessment of the conservation biology of one of our favorite threatened species from the state’s leading American Kestrel expert. He will shed light on some common misunderstandings about this bird and provide new information about its evolving habitat needs and statewide population trends.
About the speaker: Dr. Karl Miller is a Research Scientist at FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and a Courtesy Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Florida. He has worked with Southeastern American Kestrels since 1994 and serves on recovery teams and working groups for American Kestrels, Florida Scrub-Jays, Grasshopper Sparrows, and other imperiled birds in Florida. He has published more than 75 peer-reviewed papers on avian research and conservation topics and loves speaking with audiences of all backgrounds.
Secrets of the Sandhills: Life History of the Florida Sandhill Crane, with Steve Nesbitt
Cranes Flying. Photo by Steve Nesbitt
Sandhill Crane Pair. Photo by Steve Nesbitt
Secrets of the Sandhills: Life History of the Florida Sandhill Crane, with Steve Nesbitt
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
The Comb. Photo by Steve Nesbitt.
About the presentation: Florida can justifiably boast of its many spectacular birds. High on that list is the Florida Sandhill Crane. They occur almost statewide and are not shy about showing off. But how much do we really know about them? The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had been studying cranes first in the late 1960s. Some of their secrets have been discovered. After 35 years of working with dozens of known individual Florida Sandhill Cranes, Steve Nesbitt, a retired biologist formerly with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will discuss some of what’s been learned. How can you tell an old crane from a young crane? How can you tell a male from a female? Do cranes really pair for life? What is the typical home range for a pair of Florida Sandhill Cranes? What does it take for a pair to successfully raise a chick to the age of independence? How long can a Florida crane live? How have Florida Sandhill Cranes helped in the recovery of the Whooping Crane? What does the future for cranes in Florida look like? These are some of the topics that will be discussed.
About the speaker: Steve Nesbitt grew up in Virginia outside of Washington DC. For most of his adult life he has worked in nature. From the summer of 1963 through the summer of 1969, he worked as a “summer student” on various National Wildlife Refuges throughout the country. Then for 35 years he worked in Florida for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. While with the commission he worked on a variety of birds: Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Cranes, Brown Pelicans, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and Bald Eagles. He has published over 200 articles on what he found most interesting and noteworthy.
An Avian Overview of the Withlacoochee State Forest, with Speaker Jon Hoch
Prescribed Burn. Photo by Jon Hoch
An Avian Overview of the Withlacoochee State Forest, with Speaker Jon Hoch
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Spanning over 172,000 acres of rolling sandhills, expansive pine flatwoods, and dense riverine and coastal swamps, the Withlacoochee State Forest serves as a critical avian stronghold in Central Florida. This presentation offers an inside look at the diverse bird communities thriving within the forest's fire-maintained ecosystems, with a special focus on its premier indicator species.
We will explore the unique ecological dynamics of the forest's elite sandhills and flatwoods habitats, examining how regular prescribed burning shapes the lives of resident and migratory birds. Attendees will gain insight into ongoing population monitoring, field research, and hands-on conservation efforts. Discover how biologists, land managers, and researchers work daily to secure the future of these vital avian populations.
Jon Hoch. Photo by Emily Seiler
About the speaker: Jon Hoch has served as the Forest Ecology Supervisor for the Withlacoochee Forestry Center for the last 7 years, putting his background in avian monitoring and especially, Red-cockaded Woodpecker biology, as well as, rare and invasive plant management, to good use while developing skills as a certified prescribed burn manager, pilot of uncrewed aerial systems, and Geographic Information Systems specialist.
American Kestrel Chicks. Photo by Jon Hoch
Sacred Waters: A Photographer’s Visual Journey of Florida’s Springs and Its Wild Creatures, with Speaker Linda Wilinski
Gars gathering in a North Florida spring. Photo by Linda Wilinski
Sacred Waters: A Photographer’s Visual Journey of Florida’s Springs and Its Wild Creatures, with Speaker Linda Wilinski
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the Presentation: Conservation photographer and Florida Master Naturalist, Linda Wilinski will present a captivating visual journey into untamed Florida. Explore Florida’s freshwater springs through Linda’s lens, where photography and conservation come together. Discover how photography can tell powerful stories and inspire conservation efforts. Linda offers rare insights into otter behavior and their vital role in healthy freshwater ecosystems. Her program combines storytelling and ethical photography to advocate for Florida’s sacred waters and the creatures that depend on them.
One of Florida’s hidden, emerald gems. Photo by Linda Wilinski
Linda Wilinski
About the speaker: Linda Wilinski is a published conservation photographer and Florida Master Naturalist who captures life above and below the surface of Florida’s freshwater springs. Her work reflects a deep love for the natural world and inspires meaningful connections through her photography and lectures. She believes empathy is one of the most powerful tools for change. She specializes in photographing North American river otters and collaborates with conservation groups to enhance their protection. She was recently honored with an “Otter Oscar” from the International Otter Survival Fund for her ethical photography. Committed to prioritizing animal well-being, her work has been featured by organizations including the Florida Wildlife Federation, Conservation Florida, and the National Forest Association. “To truly connect with Florida’s wild creatures, we must strive to see the world from their perspective and act accordingly.”
End-of-Season Picnic
Black-bellied-Whistling-Ducks. photo by Wally Handeland
End-of-Season Picnic: Lake Townsen Regional Park
5:00PM – 8:00PM
Lake Townsen Regional Park is at 28011 Lake Lindsey Road (County Road 476), east of U.S. 41.
Pileated Woodpeckers. photo by Wally Handeland
A bird walk is at 5 p.m., and dinner at 6 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own place settings and a side dish to share.
Make reservations with Vera: billandverahuckaby@gmail.com or 352-848-5776.
Bird Migration Along Florida’s West Central Coast, with Speaker Ron Smith
Philadelphia Vireo, photo by Ron Smith.
Bird Migration Along Florida’s West Central Coast, with Speaker Ron Smith
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: How does bird migration unfold along Florida's west central coast? Long-time birding expert Ron Smith will explain exactly how weather conditions and habitat dependency play a major role in bird migration. He'll share 40 years’ worth of experiences at Fort De Soto Park (located at the southern tip of St. Petersburg) and explain what to look for before you decide to go birding during the migration season.
Free, open to all. Information: tomstclair8@gmail.com or 904-303-0919.
Ron Smith, photo by Lori Smith.
About the speaker: Ron Smith and his wife, Lori, have birded all across the United States in the past 40 years, having recorded birds in all the lower 48 states and also within all of Florida's 67 counties. He has led over 400 birding trips across Florida and has written two books on the birds of Pinellas County and as well as one on the butterflies of Pinellas County. His recent move to Hernando County has been a challenge and a new learning experience. He takes on that challenge every day.
Magnificent Frigate, photo by Ron Smith.
Kirtland's Warbler, photo by Ron Smith.
Black-legged Kittiwake, photo by Lyn Atherton.
Celebrate National Public Lands Month in Hernando County
Weekiwachee Preserve (Southwest Florida Water Management District)
Celebrate National Public Lands Month in Hernando County
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
Land management agencies in Hernando County will share the best of the public lands they manage and that create opportunities for outdoor recreation. September is National Public Lands Month, and it is a great time to explore and enjoy all the amazing natural places open to us.
Cypress Lake Preserve (Hernando County Environmentally Sensitive Lands)
Representatives from the Hernando County Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Forest Service, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District will speak and share maps, trail guides, important user info, and tips on where to go, and what to see. If you bird or watch wildlife, paddle, hike, take pictures, fish, hunt, ride bikes, or just explore, this is the program for you!
Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area (Florida Fish and Conservation Commission)
Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest (Florida Forest Service)
Hernando Audubon meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, call Tom: tomstclair8@gmail.com or 904-303-0919.
Reporting on Florida’s future: How can we use conservation storytelling to spur hope – and meaningful change? with speaker Max Chesnes
Max interviewing Jane Goodall.
This meeting is cosponsored by Hernando Audubon, Adventure Coast Sierra Club, and Hernando Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.
Reporting on Florida’s future: How can we use conservation storytelling to spur hope – and meaningful change? with speaker Max Chesnes
Socializing: 6:00 p.m.
Program starts: 6:30 p.m.
About the presentation: Tampa Bay Times’ environmental journalist Max Chesnes will tell us how his investigative reporting on threats facing Florida’s public lands has led to policy change and a broader statewide appreciation for Florida’s outdoor spaces. In 2024, Max broke a series of stories about how Florida’s government wanted to develop state parks with golf courses and hotels, and a separate proposal that would have traded away some of the Withlacoochee State Forest to a luxury golf developer. Max will present on his reporting process and how human-centered environmental stories can be a catalyst for change.
Max Chesnes
About the speaker: Max is the environment reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, where he's a member of the newspaper's Environment Hub. He reports on public lands, water quality, pollution, wildlife and everything in between. Prior to working for the Times, Max covered environmental issues for Treasure Coast Newspapers and the USA Today network, writing about Lake Okeechobee, the Indian River Lagoon and Florida’s wondrous Everglades. Max is a 2023 journalism fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy and a recipient of several environmental writing awards. He studied both journalism and sustainability at the University of Florida and is licensed to fly drones.
Max displaying drone results.
End-of-Season Picnic
Black-bellied-Whistling-Ducks. photo by Wally Handeland
End-of-Season Picnic: Lake Townsen Regional Park
5:00PM – 8:00PM
Lake Townsen Regional Park is at 28011 Lake Lindsey Road (County Road 476), east of U.S. 41.
Pileated Woodpeckers. photo by Wally Handeland
A bird walk is at 5 p.m., and dinner at 6 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own place settings and a side dish to share.
Make reservations with Vera: billandverahuckaby@gmail.com or 352-848-5776.
Hernando County Christmas Bird Counts Track Changes in Local Winter Bird Population, with Speaker Clay Black
Burrowing Owl
Hernando County Christmas Bird Counts Track Changes in Local Winter Bird Population, with Speaker Clay Black
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Clay Black will discuss the history of the Brooksville and Aripeka-Bayport Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) and the changes that have occurred in Hernando County’s avifauna as revealed by the count data. He will look at native species that have experienced significant increases or declines during that period, as well as those that have been extirpated from the county. He will assess the impact of recently introduced non-native and exotic species and discuss some of the theories that have been advanced to explain perceived changes in CBC data and bird populations.
Clay Black with Dave Wilson, past Hernando Audubon President
About the speaker: Clay Black has birded in Hernando County since moving here in 1986. He was the second Compiler of the Brooksville Christmas Bird Count, serving in that capacity for 20 years. He continues to serve as an area leader in both the Brooksville and Aripeka-Bayport CBCs.
Loggerhead Shrike
Linking Science, Citizen Conservation, and Land Management to Recover the Southeastern American Kestrel in Florida, with Speaker Dr. Kenneth Meyer
Linking Science, Citizen Conservation, and Land Management to Recover the
Southeastern American Kestrel in Florida, with Speaker Dr. Kenneth Meyer
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: The American Kestrel’s preference for open habitats has made it a symbol of wildlife on rural American lands. Unfortunately, the U. S. population has declined by 82 percent since the 1970s. This includes the nonmigratory genetically distinct subspecies known as the Southeastern American Kestrel (SEAK), one of only 32 birds listed as Endangered or Threatened by Florida Fish and Wildlife. Florida harbors most of the remaining SEAK population. Since 2021, our multi-partner project has addressed questions about first-year survival rates and dispersal, home range areas, relationships between habitats and reproductive rates, predation rates, and the best nest box strategies for recovering the Florida SEAK population.
Free, open to all.
Information: tomstclair8@gmail.com or 904-303-0919.
Ken Meyer
About the speaker: Ken Meyer obtained his B.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Maine, Orono, in 1977; and his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1987. He studied imperiled birds as a research associate with the National Park Service and UF’s Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, where he has served since 1996 as a Courtesy Associate Professor. Meyer co-founded Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI) in 1997, where he still works as Executive Director and Senior Research Ecologist. He and his team have studied the behavior, ecology, and management needs of 23 bird species of conservation concern in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean Basin.
What Birds Tell Us About Everglades Restoration, with Speaker Caitlin Newcamp -Zoom Meeting
Roseate spoonbills. photo by Lyn Sadler
What Birds Tell Us About Everglades Restoration, with Speaker Caitlin Newcamp
Program starts: 7:00 p.m.
Register for this Zoom meeting here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VhLaaPNqT8GBnP5ral9I8Q
Wood stork. photo by Adam Bass
About the presentation: Caitlin Newcamp will speak about the Everglades Restoration and what impact it has had on three specific species of birds: Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, and Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow
Caitlin Newcamp
About the speaker: Caitlin Newcamp grew up exploring the outdoors in western Pennsylvania, which sparked a lifelong passion for environmental conservation. She earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh before serving in the Peace Corps, where she taught high school science. Upon returning to the U.S., Caitlin worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., focusing on pesticide regulation and water policy.
Today, Caitlin serves as the Everglades Policy Specialist for Audubon Florida, where she leads strategic conservation initiatives across the Greater Everglades Ecosystem – advancing measurable outcomes for bird and habitat protection by analyzing legislation, collaborating with state agencies, and advocating for science-driven policy solutions. Her work supports the success of the world’s largest ecosystem restoration program and strengthens Audubon’s impact throughout South Florida.
Wood storks. photo by Mark Cook
Re-Wilding Florida One Yard at a Time - Using Native Plants to Create a Haven for Wildlife, with Speaker Troy Springer
Coreopsis
Re-Wilding Florida One Yard at a Time - Using Native Plants to Create a Haven for Wildlife, with Speaker Troy Springer
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: As we lose wildlife habitat to development at an increasing rate, one way we can balance the loss is by turning our yards into refuges and havens for wildlife with native plants and conservation planning. Troy Springer, founder of Springer Environmental, will explain how to create a natural oasis at home.
Coral Honeysuckle
The mission of Springer Environmental:
We are committed to building and maintaining landscapes with low-impact, environmentally-friendly practices. Our specialty is native plants— the wide range of plants that have grown naturally in Florida for thousands of years. By using natives, we're able to reduce or eliminate harmful practices like chemical spraying and extensive irrigation. With every native Florida plant we use, we're also building habitat and providing food for our local creatures! We've found a way to create beautiful gardens and landscapes while preserving— not displacing— Florida's natural beauty.
We aim to change the way people look at their own landscapes, to build a Florida where yards and gardens full of our own native plants offer refuge for people and wildlife alike. Our dream is that, some day, private landscapes will form chains and corridors for migrating birds and butterflies, reconnecting a Florida that's been cut off from itself, and a society that's cut itself off from nature. That's what we're doing every day: reconnecting you to this amazing place that we call home, and restoring Florida— one yard at a time.
Frogs and Toads of the Southern Nature Coast and How You Can Help Conserve Them, with Speaker Colleen Muylaert (speaker change due to illness)
Pinewoods treefrog. photo by Colleen Muylaert
*Speaker Change Due to Illness*
Frogs and Toads of the Southern Nature Coast and How You Can Help Conserve Them, with Speaker Colleen Muylaert
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Amphibians are considered one of the key biological indicators when analyzing the health of a habitat. Climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and invasive invaders threaten amphibian populations, but citizens are stepping up to conserve them. Learn more about how you can join Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and FrogWatch USA in citizen science efforts to better understand and conserve the frogs and toads of the Southern Nature Coast.
Colleen Muylaert
About the speaker: For the past three years, Colleen has been an education specialist at Chinsegut Conservation Center. She and her family moved here from Michigan in 2018 and built their own house. Her history in education includes working in the local school district, assisting with summer camps for various groups, and homeschooling her children. At Chinsegut she does what she loves most, combining her love of wild Florida with her desire to share that passion with others. As a certified interpretive guide, Project WILD instructor and trainer, and certified archery instructor, Colleen brings a wide range of instructional skills to every program. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, reading, and going to the beach.
Squirrel Treefrog. photo by Hana Brinkley
Pot Luck Dinner and Members' Favorite Photos
Painted Buntings. Photo by Wally Handeland
Pot Luck Dinner and Members' Favorite Photos
Dinner starts at: 6 p.m.
Program starts: 7:00 p.m.
There will be a pot luck dinner. Bring your own place setting plus a side dish to share.
During a PowerPoint presentation, members will show off their favorite pictures that they have taken during the last year.
To have your pictures included in the program, please send 15 pictures or fewer to Bev:
bevalhansen@gmail.com or 352-686-0460 by November 10.
Least Bittern. Photo by Lucille Lane
The Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan - How Local Communities Can Work Together to Protect Our Region, with Speaker Amanda Moore
WC FlickrFile Photo: SeaTurtle Hatchlings
Bayport
About the presentation: The Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan (TBCMP) is being created by community stakeholders and local governments from Sarasota to Citrus County. The Plan will serve as a blueprint and guide to protect communities from coastal and inland flooding resulting from sea level rise and intensifying hurricanes. The goal is to use nature-based solutions to protect human and natural communities as we face increasing environmental stressors.
Amanda Moore
About the speaker: As the Senior Director of National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Program, Amanda Moore leads program efforts across the Gulf Coast to build more resilient coasts and wildlife habitat. She specializes in stakeholder engagement and builds strategic, collaborative partnerships with government officials, community leaders, and technical experts to advance conservation solutions and build more resilient communities. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of South Florida and lives in St. Petersburg.
The Florida Wildlife Corridor: What It Means for Florida and the Nature Coast, with Speaker Kailyn Lawson
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Mural Unveiling in Brooksville, October 2023
The Florida Wildlife Corridor: What It Means for Florida and the Nature Coast, with Speaker Kailyn Lawson
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: The Florida Wildlife Corridor is one of the most ambitious conservation projects in Florida history. The Florida Wildlife Corridor is 18 million acres of contiguous wilderness and working lands crucial to the survival of many of Florida’s 131 imperiled animals. In addition to protecting wildlife, conserving these wild spaces is critical to our overall well-being—offering recreation opportunities, strengthening resilience against intensifying storms, and protecting water quality.
The Nature Coast is part of the most ecologically rich regions in Florida, and encompasses many critical habitats that support iconic Florida wildlife. Local action is key to the permanent connection, protection, and restoration of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Join Kailyn as we explore the Corridor and the critical role of the Nature Coast in maintaining ecological connectivity.
Special viewing of the 2021 film, Home Waters, from the Spring to Shore expedition which crossed an important yet unprotected bottleneck linking the Nature Coast to the Ocala National Forest and the eastern trunk of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
About the speaker: Kailyn Lawson is the Community Conservation Manager with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. She holds a Master’s degree in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation and Sustainable Tourism, and is passionate about the intersection of community engagement, ecotourism, and conservation. Through her role with the Corridor Foundation, Kailyn partners with Corridor Gateway Communities to elevate their connection to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, fostering collaborations that highlight the vital role that storytelling and place-based connection to Florida’s wild landscapes play in Corridor connection, protection, and restoration.
End-of-Season Picnic
Black-bellied-Whistling-Ducks. Photo by Wally Handeland
End-of-Season Picnic: Lake Townsen Regional Park
5:00PM – 8:00PM
Lake Townsen Regional Park is at 28011 Lake Lindsey Road (County Road 476), east of U.S. 41.
Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo by Wally Handeland
A bird walk is at 5 p.m., and dinner at 6 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own place settings and a side dish to share.
Make reservations here: https://www.mobilize.us/audubon-chapters/event/698947/
For more information, contact Vera: billandverahuckaby@gmail.com or 352-848-5776.
Managing Florida’s Wild Places: Creating Habitat for Northern Bobwhite (Quail), with Speaker Steve Brinkley
Managing Florida’s Wild Places: Creating Habitat for Northern Bobwhite (Quail), with Speaker Steve Brinkley
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
Make reservation here
After a Prescribed Burn
About the presentation: Steve Brinkley is a long-time biologist and land manager for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He will be talking about the successful management of public lands for species like the Northern Bobwhite (Quail), including the use of prescribed burns. What does it take to manage our public lands to ensure the survival of both common and threatened species? What does the population health of Northern Bobwhite and their unique needs tell us about public lands in our region?
Same location, 5 months later
About the speaker:
Steve Brinkley in Rocky Mountain National Park
Born and raised in Columbia, TN (mule capital of the world)
Began birding and bird banding at the age of 10 with a family friend who banded birds on his properties in Tennessee and North Carolina
BS and MS degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Seven years studying Northern Bobwhite at Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area (WMA) with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Twelve years as a Wildlife Biologist/Land Manager in the WMA system
Currently a District Biologist with FWC in the Wildlife and Habitat Management Section overseeing FWC lead areas: Chassahowitzka WMA, Hilochee WMA, Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental area (WEA), Janet Butterfield Brooks WEA, Perry Oldenburg WEA, and Little Gator Creek WEA, and FWC co-op areas: Croom, Weekiwachee WMA, Green Swamp, Green Swamp West Unit, Upper Hillsborough, and Lower Hillsborough WMAs
Enjoys spending time with his wife and son, nature, hiking, birding, campfires, music, beer, building stuff, hanging out with friends and family, and following University of Tennessee sports
Wild Indigo
Florida Scrub-Jay Habitat Restoration - If You Build It, They Will Come
Young Florida Scrub-Jays
Florida Scrub-Jay Habitat Restoration - If You Build It, They Will Come
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
Make reservation here
Florida Scrub-Jay Habitat
About the presentation: The Florida Scrub-Jay is Florida's only endemic bird. This fascinating bird is imperiled, but restoring essential habitat can bring this bird back. Join us for an evening of education and discussion about the public lands conservation work it takes to recover this species, and what you can do to be a part of it.
Laurie Dolan
About the speaker: Laurie Dolan has a master’s degree in Forestry from the University of Florida. She has worked for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as an Environmental Specialist II for over 20 years. She helps manage the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. The Greenway is the 110-mile old Cross Florida Barge Canal property that stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the St. John’s River. She has been working with the Florida Scrub-Jay for over 16 years.
From Local to Global: Coastal Restoration and Resilience, with speaker Dr. Rene W. Brown
Ignacio Haya Park. Tampa, Fl.
Ulele Spring Tampa, Fl.
About the presentation: Dr. Rene W. Brown will discuss Ecosphere Restoration Institute's coastal habitat restoration and resiliency projects. Rene will explain the benefits of living shorelines and how Ecosphere's living shorelines projects held up through Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Rene will also discuss her role as a member of the Expert Review Group of the United Nation's Race to Resilience and how local projects contribute to global goals of addressing climate change.
About the speaker: Dr. Rene W. Brown is the Senior Director of Habitat Restoration of Ecosphere Restoration Institute. She is Chair of the Florida Wildlife Federation and Vice President of the Tampa Bay Conservancy. She is also an appointed member of the Expert Review Group of the UN Race to Resilience and a Civil Society Observer of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Red-headed Woodpeckers and 5 Years with 9 Nest Cameras, with Speaker Siah St. Clair
Red-headed Woodpeckers and 5 Years with 9 Nest Cameras, with Speaker Siah St. Clair
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
Make reservation here
Nest Camera
About the presentation: Over the past five years, nine nest cameras were installed on more than 25 Red-headed Woodpecker nest and roost cavities at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve near Minneapolis, Minnesota. The cameras record 24 hours a day all year. The result is half a million amazing videos and pictures of behaviors, many never before documented. These images show intimate nesting behavior and night life, nestlings, fledglings, predators, usurpers, competition for cavities, and dozens of other vertebrates that interact with these cavities. This program will show pictures and videos and discuss observations about these images.
Siah holding Red-headed Woodpecker while it was being banded
About the speaker: Siah St. Clair has a Master's degree in Environmental Interpretation from Michigan State University and was a nature center director for 42 years. He served on the board of directors of the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis for nine years as the field trip chair and secretary. He also has been the compiler and coordinator for the North Minneapolis Christmas Bird Count for over 25 years. He is the Chair of the Red-headed Woodpecker Recovery Project, a private non-profit organization, and is a member of a University of Minnesota research team that is conducting research on Red-headed Woodpeckers. He is a nature photographer and did the photography for A Field Guide to the Natural World of the Twin Cities, a popular book in Minneapolis, published in 2018 by the University of Minnesota Press.
Pot Luck Dinner and Members' Favorite Photos
Painting Buntings. Photo by Wally Handeland
Pot Luck Dinner and Members' Favorite Photos
Dinner starts at: 6 p.m.
Program starts: 7:00 p.m.
Make reservations here
There will be a pot luck dinner. Bring your own place setting plus a side dish to share.
During a PowerPoint presentation, members will show off their favorite pictures that they have taken during the last year.
To have your pictures included in the program, please send 15 pictures or fewer to Bev:
bevalhansen@gmail.com or 352-686-0460
Least Bittern. Photo by Lucille Lane
What’s Happening to Our Breeding Birds, with Speaker Dave Goodwin
Snail Kite. Photo by Jim Eager
What’s Happening to Our Breeding Birds, with Speaker Dave Goodwin
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
Make reservation here
About the presentation: We will discuss what has happened to the populations of breeding birds in Florida over the past thirty years. We will look at changes in both the range and estimated population size.
Dave Goodwin
About the speaker: Dave was born in Greenville, South Carolina, but in 1954 his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. In 1965, while still in high school, he began keeping a life list of birds he had seen.
Dave is a founding member and two-term past president of the Florida Ornithological Society (FOS). He was Regional Coordinator for both Florida Breeding Bird Atlas Projects. He was on the FOS Records Committee for seven years. He also served for four years as president of the St. Petersburg Audubon Society. Dave has participated in over 320 Christmas Bird Counts in Florida since 1971. He started and compiled the North Pinellas Count for 10 years. He has participated in the St. Petersburg Christmas Bird Count for 53 consecutive years.
Over the past 50 years he has led hundreds of field trips for Audubon chapters, the Florida Ornithological Society, the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, the Big "O" Birding Festival, and the Wings and Wildflower Festival. He also led many trips for Florida Nature Tours. He participated in or led over 130 pelagic trips into Florida waters, including 30 years to Dry Tortugas. Dave has birded throughout the US, the Caribbean, and Europe, and has a Lower 48 ABA area life list of 720 species. The 492 species on his Florida life list ranks him at number 3.
Dave is a retired teacher, having taught history for 39 years in the public school system in Pinellas County, Florida. He also is an environmental educator for the Summer Nature Camp program at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg.
Crested Caracara. Photo by Dave Goodwin
Supporting Public Lands and Citizen Science at Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area, with Speaker Hana Brinkley
Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), Photo by Derek Dunlop (Florida Natural Areas Inventory)
Supporting Public Lands and Citizen Science at Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area, with Speaker Hana Brinkley
Please note that the meeting is one week earlier than usual, on the third Thursday of the month.
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
Make reservations here
About the presentation: Hana Brinkley is the director of Chinsegut Conservation Center, administered by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). She will speak about all the ways to connect with nature at Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area. Hana will also be discussing volunteer and citizen science opportunities with FWC, and the results of a recent Herpetological Survey. From Red-headed Woodpeckers to Gopher Tortoises, Chinsegut is an amazing place showcasing the value of our public lands.
Hana Brinkley holding Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Big Cypress National Preserve, Photo by FWC staff
About the speaker: For the last three years, Hana Brinkley has been the center director at Chinsegut Conservation Center in Brooksville, Florida. There she leads a small team of education specialists and volunteers on a mission to educate people about wildlife, enable them to enjoy wildlife, and empower them to take action to benefit wildlife.
FWC volunteer removing non-native Showy Rattlebox, Photo by Hana Brinkley
End-of-Season Picnic
Black-bellied-Whistling-Ducks. Photo by Wally Handeland
End-of-Season Picnic: Lake Townsen Regional Park
5:00PM – 8:00PM
Lake Townsen Regional Park
Lake Townsen Regional Park is at 28011 Lake Lindsey Road (County Road 476), east of U.S. 41.
Pileated Woodpeckers. Photo by Wally Handeland
A bird walk is at 5 p.m., and dinner at 6 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own place settings and a side dish to share.
For more information, contact Vera: billandverahuckaby@gmail.com or 352-848-5776.
Conservation Biology of the Imperiled Southeastern American Kestrel in Florida, with Speaker Ken Meyer
American Kestrel delivering food to nestlings.
Conservation Biology of the Imperiled Southeastern American Kestrel in Florida, with Speaker Ken Meyer
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Hear about the research and outreach efforts of Avian Research and Conservation Institute (ARCI) and their Audubon partners to inform the management and conservation of our declining population of this small-but-spectacular raptor. Learn how we all can contribute to protecting these inspiring birds while also helping to ensure the future for other fascinating species that depend on similar prey and habitats.
Ken Meyer
About the speaker: Ken Meyer is Executive Director of Avian Research and Conservation Institute. Dr. Meyer, who received his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maine and his Ph.D. in Zoology/Behavioral Ecology from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), has studied the conservation biology of birds in Florida and beyond since the 1980s, beginning with his research on Swallow-tailed Kites, which continues to this day. After serving as a Post-doctoral Associate and then Research Associate at the University of Florida from 1988 to 1992, he conducted studies of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and the bird communities of south Florida pinelands for the National Park Service in Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. In 1997, Ken co-founded ARCI and soon branched out to other research challenges on a broader range of species. He has served on species status-review committees for state agencies and biological review panels for National Wildlife Refuges; and as a graduate student advisor and committee member in his position as an adjunct Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. Ken, who received a Partners in Flight Research Award for his contributions to bird conservation, provides frequent university guest lectures, conducts training workshops for conservation professionals, and presents many programs each year to citizen conservation groups on ARCI’s research and its implications for bird conservation. He feels very fortunate that, in his many roles for ARCI, he seems to have found the best of many professional worlds.
Two American Kestrel nestlings.
Birds Do It, Bees Do It – Migrate, of Course, with Speaker Mary Keith
American Robins. Photo by Mary Keith
Birds Do It, Bees Do It – Migrate, of Course, with Speaker Mary Keith
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Mary will discuss why, where, and when birds migrate. She will also explain how we are finding out so much more about migration, and how birds know where they are going.
Mary Keith
About the speaker: Mary Keith has been birding most of her life. She grew up in rural Pennsylvania where she spent most weekends in the state parks and woods. She has lived and birded in Florida since 1992. Her degrees have nothing to do with birds (Chemistry and Food Science), but they have supported a life of work around the world where she managed to watch birds as well. She retired from the University of Florida Extension Service and now has more time to lead bird walks for the Tampa Audubon Society (TAS), watch birds, monitor Bald Eagle nests and wading bird colonies, count Florida Scrub Jays, help organize the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, and participate in Christmas Bird Counts. She gives talks to various groups around the area about birds and birding, including helping with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program that TAS teaches annually. She has served as a mentor for Audubon Florida’s Conservation Leadership Initiative, and worked with several local university students or projects. She was president of TAS and currently is serving as the organization’s chair of the Conservation Committee. In 2023 she was elected to the Board of Directors for Audubon Florida as a regional representative for the Gulf Coast region.
Rufous Hummingbird. Photo by: Sandy Reed
What’s Happening to Our Breeding Birds, with Speaker Dave Goodwin
Snail Kite. Photo by Jim Eager
What’s Happening to Our Breeding Birds, with Speaker Dave Goodwin
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: We will discuss what has happened to the populations of breeding birds in Florida over the past thirty years. We will look at changes in both the range and estimated population size.
Dave Goodwin
About the speaker: Dave was born in Greenville, South Carolina, but in 1954 his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. In 1965, while still in high school, he began keeping a life list of birds he had seen.
Dave is a founding member and two-term past president of the Florida Ornithological Society (FOS). He was Regional Coordinator for both Florida Breeding Bird Atlas Projects. He was on the FOS Records Committee for seven years. He also served for four years as president of the St. Petersburg Audubon Society. Dave has participated in over 320 Christmas Bird Counts in Florida since 1971. He started and compiled the North Pinellas Count for 10 years. He has participated in the St. Petersburg Christmas Bird Count for 53 consecutive years.
Over the past 50 years he has led hundreds of field trips for Audubon chapters, the Florida Ornithological Society, the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, the Florida Birding and Nature Festival, the Big "O" Birding Festival, and the Wings and Wildflower Festival. He also led many trips for Florida Nature Tours. He participated in or led over 130 pelagic trips into Florida waters, including 30 years to Dry Tortugas. Dave has birded throughout the US, the Caribbean, and Europe, and has a Lower 48 ABA area life list of 720 species. The 492 species on his Florida life list ranks him at number 3.
Dave is a retired teacher, having taught history for 39 years in the public school system in Pinellas County, Florida. He also is an environmental educator for the Summer Nature Camp program at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg.
Crested Caracara. Photo by Dave Goodwin
Pot Luck Dinner and Members' Favorite Photos
Painting Buntings. Photo by Wally Handeland
Pot Luck Dinner and Members' Favorite Photos
Dinner starts at: 6 p.m.
Program starts: 7:00 p.m.
There will be a pot luck dinner. Bring your own place setting plus a side dish to share.
During a PowerPoint presentation, members will show off their favorite pictures that they have taken during the last year.
To have your pictures included in the program, please send 15 pictures or fewer to Bev:
bevalhansen@gmail.com or 352-686-0460
Least Bittern. Photo by Lucille Lane
Swallowtails to Skippers: the Butterflies of Hernando County, with Speaker Don Fraser
Zebra Swallowtail on Blazing Star. Photo by Don Fraser
Swallowtails to Skippers: the Butterflies of Hernando County, with Speaker Don Fraser
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: The presentation will discuss most of the butterfly species known to still occur in Hernando County, grouped by each of the five families of butterflies found here. It will point out characteristics to differentiate among similar-looking species, and provide life history information on the habitat preferences and general distribution of some of the butterflies found in central Florida, including several very rare ones. Recommendations on resource material for when and where to find butterflies will be provided, as well as tips on how to observe, photograph, and identify them, including field guides and available on-line data sources.
Don Fraser
About the speaker: Don Fraser is a retired wildlife biologist who lives in Dunedin. Until he moved to Florida in 2013, he lived and worked in Ontario, Canada, where he first developed what became a life-long love of natural history -- particularly birds -- in his teens. What began as a weekend hobby soon morphed into a full-scale obsession and eventually developed into a vocation, as Don parlayed his passion for wildlife into a long career in environmental consulting. His recent move to Florida has allowed Don to once again return to the hobby side of birding and butterfly study. He is an avid wildlife photographer and has shared over 10,000 observations of fauna on iNaturalist. He has observed over 130 species of butterflies in Florida; over 50% of these have been documented in Pasco and Hernando counties.
Common Buckeye. Photo by Don Fraser
Living with Wildlife, with Speaker Heather LeBlanc
Black bear adult and two cubs. Photo Courtesy of FWC
Living with Wildlife, with Speaker Heather LeBlanc
Socializing: 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts: 7 p.m.
Program starts: 7:15 p.m.
About the presentation: Join Heather from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Assistance Program for a talk about Living with Wildlife. From bears and coyotes to snakes and raccoons, she will discuss different species of local wildlife, ways to find sustainable resolutions to conflict, and strategies to coexist with native wildlife.
Photo courtesy of FWC: Heather LeBlanc with a tagged Burrowing Owl
About the speaker: Heather LeBlanc received her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida in 2017. She then completed her M.S. in Veterinary Medical Sciences with a concentration in wildlife science, also from UF in 2019. She started her career as a zoo educator and has worked throughout the years in zookeeping, wildlife research, and wildlife rehabilitation. She currently works for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Assistance Program educating Florida residents who are experiencing conflict with local wildlife on how to live successfully with our native species.
Photo courtesy of FWC: Florida Bobcat