P.O. Box 1833, VERO BEACH, FL 32961 772-567-3520 www.pelicanislandaudubon.

org
Our 45th Year Vol. 45 No. 5 May 2009
Our Mission: To preserve and protect the animals, plants, and natural communities in Indian River County
through advocacy, education, and public awareness.

Florida Panther History and Management

The May 18 general meeting of the Pelican Island Audubon
Society features Chris Belden of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service on the Florida Panther starting at 7:30 p.m. in the
Vero Beach Community Center, 2266 14th Avenue.
As far as we know, when Europeans first came to this coun-
try, panthers roamed most all of North and South America.
The Florida panther is the last of the species still surviving
in the eastern United States. Natural genetic exchange with
other panther populations ceased when the Florida panther
became geographically isolated over a century ago due to
persecution by early settlers bent on eradicating the panther
by every means possible. Isolation, reduced population size,
and inbreeding resulted in loss of genetic variability and
diminished health. To address these problems, a genetic res-
toration program featured the release of eight Texas panthers
into south Florida in 1995. Since the genetic restoration
program began, there has been an almost 3-fold increase in
the panther population, including increased genetic health
and recolonization of areas in Big Cypress National Park and
Everglades National Park. May 18
Panthers are wide ranging, secretive, and occur at low densi-
ties requiring large contiguous areas to meet their social,
•
reproductive, and energetic needs. Rapid development in 7:30 p.m.
south Florida has compromised the ability of landscapes to
support a self-sustaining panther population. Panther habitat •
loss, degradation and fragmentation come with urbanization,
residential development, conversion to agriculture, mining
Vero Beach
and mineral exploration, and lack of land use planning that Community
incorporates panther conservation. Highways result in loss Center
and fragmentation of habitat, lead to traffic related panther
mortality, and encourage further human development, which
increases the potential for panther-human interactions.
Chris Belden began the Florida panther project in 1976 and was involved with it until he retired at the end of December
2004 after 30 years with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. He was involved in one way or another
in all phases of panther research, but his focus was on panther status and distribution and the feasibility of reintroducing
additional panther populations. He was team leader of the USFWS’ first Florida Panther Recovery Team from 1976-1981.
In January 2005, Chris became the Florida Panther Recovery Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Light refreshments to be served following the program. Florida Panther by Bob Montanaro.
 Carson Banov awarded Audubon scholarship
Continuing Pelican Island Audubon’s long tradition
of supporting academic excellence in the com-
munity, once again the Society awarded a $1,000
scholarship to a graduating senior at Vero Beach
High School to continue in higher education. The
scholarship awarded goes to the best entry answer-
ing the essay question, “Preservation of the Earth’s
environment is one of our greatest challenges.
Explain how you can or will help meet the chal-
lenge to preserve Earth’s environment.” The 2009
scholarship went to Carson Banov who will be
studying mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech.
Mr. Banov’s essay concludes by saying, “Living in
Vero Beach, I have seen some of the natural beauty
of our country. Furthermore, I have seen many of
our natural resources harmed through insensitivity.
I have seen beaches ruined by pollution and nature
destroyed for the sake of new home construction. I
firmly believe that as an engineer I can make an im-
pact by pushing for new, environmentally friendly Richard Baker, Carson Banov, and Susan Boyd at Vero Beach High
technology and implement the change necessary School Scholarship Award Night, April 28, 2009
Photo by Bob Montanaro.
to convert our current knowledge into solutions to
solve the global problem of protecting the environ-
ment.” We never know the worth of water
Special thanks go to Ruth Moore, whose generous
financial support helps fund the Society’s scholar-
till the well is dry. ~Thomas Fuller, 1732
ship program. Thank you also to scholarship chair
Susan Boyd and essay judges Jens & Melissa Trip-
son, Nancy Irvin, Peter Sutherland, Sean Fromang,
and Darlene Halliday.

Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce

Guided Tour – May 21, 2009 - 2-3pm
Come hear about current research from the scientists them-
selves! This approximately one hour program provides
an introduction to the Smithsonian’s work in Florida, a
tour of our state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities to
speak with our marine scientists. Advance registration is
required as space is limited. The tour is free. Interested
individuals can schedule directly with Laura Dieder-
ick, Education Specialist, at 772-465-3271. Come early
and visit the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit for
a small admission fee: $3 per adult or $2 per senior.

Advertise with Officers

President
Elected Directors
Joe Carroll ‘11 Sean Fromang ‘12
Pelican Island Audubon Society Richard H. Baker, Ph.D. David Cox, Ph.D. ‘12 Nancy Irvin ‘10
The Peligram, our newsletter, reaches over 900 1st Vice President Debby Ecker ‘11 Susan Richardson ‘10
people. Take advantage of this unique opportunity Jens Tripson
Appointed Board Members
to reach a whole new audience at the rates quoted 2nd Vice President
Leah Blythe Tina Marchese
below. Susan Boyd
Recording Secretary Joel Day John Orcutt
Advertising Rates per issue Darlene Halliday Bill Halliday Neil Stalter
Business card size (3.5”x2”) - $30 Corresponding Secretary
1/4 page (3.75”x2.5”) - $85 Advisory Board Members
Peter Sutherland Janice Broda Bob Smith
Half page (7.5”x5”) - $165 Treasurer
Full page (7.5”x10”) - $330 Kevin Doty Melissa Tripson
Robert Adair Lynne Larkin Billi Wagner
Special discount: Less 5% for nine issues.
Pelican Island Audubon Society, Inc. is registered with the Florida Dept. of Ag-
Contact information riculture & Consumer Services. A copy of the official registration and financial
Office: 772-567-3520 • Email: piaudubon@bellsouth.net information may be obtained from the Div. of Consumer Services by calling
Website: www.pelicanislandaudubon.org toll-free within Florida 1-800-435-7352. Registration does not imply endorse-
Mail: P.O. Box 1833, Vero Beach, FL 32961 ment, approval, or recommendation by the State.
 The President’s Hoot
Where have all the birds gone?
This is a We do know that the Carolina Parakeet was a very social
query people species living together in flocks. If one was injured by a
have been call- hunter, the other birds would flock around it until all were
ing and writing killed. This “devotion” behavior to each other was prob-
into the Audubon ably why they rapidly were shot in big numbers.
office.
In last month’s Peligram, Dr. Graham Cox reviewed how
A few days ago, I met Todd so many of our common birds are not so common any
McGrain, Associate Professor, at more. The 2007 Wakeup Call Report based on combing
Cornell University, who started The Lost Bird Project, through 40 years of data found that since 1967, the average
which recognizes and immortalizes five North American population of the common birds in steepest decline have
birds (the passenger pigeon, Carolina parakeet, Labrador fallen 70 percent. The top 10 in this decline include the
duck, great auk, and heath hen, the later a close relative of northern bobwhite, northern pintail, eastern meadowlark,
the prairie chicken) that have been driven to extinction by loggerhead shrike, field sparrow, grasshopper sparrow,
us, modern humans. He is doing this by creating beautiful common tern, greater scaup but also cardinals, red-headed
bronze sculptures of each species to remind us of the final- woodpeckers, brown thrashers, all found in Florida al-
ity of our loss of these birds and to not forget them. But our though some rare.
duty is to prevent further human caused extinction of ad-
ditional species. The sculptures will be placed near where Birds will go where there is food to be found. Although
the last bird of the five species was last seen. Examples of not a scientific study, many phone calls to our PIAS office
the sculptures can be found on McGrain’s website http:// indicate that there are less birds around in our members’
www.toddmcgrain.com/ yards, including a former PIAS President who noticed
fewer nesting in his nearby woods this year saying. “I have
Interestingly, one of the proven last sightings of the Caro- fed and watered for 20 years or more. The birds that have
lina parakeet might have been in Indian River County on totally disappeared numbering in the hundreds are cardi-
March 1889 as Frank Chapman, an ornithologist, shot 15 nals mockingbirds, blue jays, catbirds, mourning doves,
specimens of about 50 birds on the St. Sebastian River. brown thrashers…. Believe it or not, I’m not even seeing
In fact, it might have been at the newly named “Cypress any starlings, grackles, or crows, either.”
Bend Community Preserve”, a recently purchased conser-
vation land on the St. Sebastian River. As described by Besides habitat loss, other possibilities of the recent change
Chapman, “The Sebastian is a beautiful river; no words of in bird populations is due to climate change. Nearly 60%
mine can adequately describe it. Half a mile wide at its of the 305 bird species found in North America in winter
mouth, it narrows rapidly, and three miles above appears are shifting their ranges northward by an average of 35
as a mere stream which at our camp, eight miles up, was miles. Extreme examples are the ring-billed gull, common
not more than fifty feet in width and about fifteen in depth. here, has moved 355 miles further north, Wild Turkey 407
Its course is exceedingly irregular and winding; the banks miles, purple finch 433 miles. Even the Spruce Grouse,
as we found them are high and for some distance from found in Canada, Alaska, and the northern edge of the
the water densely grown with palms and cypresses which, contiguous United States moved 316 miles north. These
arching, meet over head, forming most enchanting vistas, birds are telling us that there is a traumatic climate change
and in many places there was a wild profusion of blooming occurring!
Convolvulus (morning glory) and moon-flower” (Austin,
E. S. 1967. Frank M. Chapman in Florida: His journals Awhile back in the late 1800s and early 1900s ornitholo-
and letters. University of Florida Press, Gainesville). gists thought collecting specimens was the right thing to
Except for the loss of many cypress trees, this is a good do, the Audubon movement today is to protect birds, other
description of this river site today. animals, and conservation lands. As a reminder to the
past and to honor a human caused extinction, I hope that
Unfortunately, humans probably were the main reason
one of the Carolina parakeet sculptures is placed in Indian
for their decline. Some were shot for food and pleasure,
River County. The citizens of our county have done a great
others collected for caged pets, and over 800specimens
job in conserving our wet- and uplands. Our chapter has
gather dust today in museums around the world. Little
played a large role in getting the voters of Indian River
information is known about the life and behavior of this
County to pass referendums in the amount of 76 million
species. The last known individual died in the Cincinnati
dollars in bond money to purchase and preserve our heri-
Zoo in 1918 (Barrow, M. V., Jr. 1998. A passion for birds:
tage. We need to continue this leadership!
American ornithology after Audubon. Princeton Univer-
sity Press, Princeton, NJ.)
Richard Baker, President
 Plant of the Month
This common insect by Janice Broda
lives in colonies of
20,000 to 80,000
individuals. Raised for
honey and beeswax,
they are essential for You will
pollination of crops. need to
According to Texas battle the
A&M University’s birds to get
Dept. of Entomology, your share of
it takes nectar collect- the succulent,
ed from about two mil- sweet fruits of
lion flowers to make the red mulberry (Morus
one pound of honey.
A single individual of
rubra) tree. As soon as
the fruits ripen to dark
Red Mulberry
this insect makes about red purple in the spring
1/12th of a teaspoon of
Honey Bee
Photos by Janice Broda.
Answer:
– and sometimes before
honey in its lifetime. they have fully ripened – birds and small
Photo by Bob Montanaro from Treasure Hammock Ranch mammals, including raccoons, squir-
(www.floridacattleranch.org). rels, and opossums, devour the fruits.
Humans eat the fruits fresh, in jellies
Pelican Island Audubon Society and jams, strudels and pies, and use
2009 Membership them to make wine.
Because each Audubon chapter is expected to support its op-
erations without retention of members’ dues -- which are This deciduous tree that grows up
sent to and retained by National Audubon -- WE NEED to sixty feet tall is found throughout
YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT for our many education- the eastern United States where soils
al programs, field trips and environmental advocacy proj- are somewhat moist but not soggy.
ects; for our handling of public questions; and the ten is- In Florida, red mulberry frequently is
sues of our newsletter the Peligram we send to each member.
found along the edges of marshes where it
National Audubon* $20_____________ reportedly was planted by aboriginal peoples.
Its attractive bark is greyish in color and peels in dis-
tinctive vertical strips.
Pelican Island Audubon**
Individual $20_____________ The alternate leaves of red mulberry are highly vari-
Family $30_____________ able in shape and rough to the touch. Leaves on
Supporting $50_____________ immature trees frequently are
Contribution $_______________ lobed, and most adult leaves
are entire with a pointed tip.
The edges of the leaves are
Total $_______________ serrated.
*National Audubon membership
This includes subscriptions to Audubon Magazine and The Red mulberry thrives in the
Florida Naturalist. well-drained soils found in
**Pelican Island Audubon membership most yards. Plant this tree in
Dues which PIAS will use for environmental education and
advocacy and subscription to the Peligram your landscape to feed the birds
and yourself.
NAME:________________________________________
May & June Field Trips
ADDRESS:______________________________________ with Rick Lucas
May 9, 2009—Forster’s Preserve in Wabasso. Meet in
_______________________________________________ Forster’s parking lot at 7am. Directions: US 1 to CR 510,
East to Jungle Trail, South to Forster’s Preserve.
E-Mail__________________________________________ June 6, 2009— Viera Wetlands in Viera. Carpoolers
Please send your name and address along with a check payable meet at McDonalds located at I-95 and County Road 512
to the “Pelican Island Audubon Society” to: (Sebastian/Fellsmere exit). We will leave McDonalds
Pelican Island Audubon Society promptly at 6:30am. Directions: I-95 North to Wickam
P.O. Box 1833, Vero Beach, FL 32961 Road Exit, West to end. All vehicles must be registered at
Credit card payments call (772) 567-3520 M - F 9AM-1PM office prior to driving on dikes or visiting “click” ponds.
Please email us if there is a local environmental issue which
concerns you at piaudubon@bellsouth.net Please call 772-567-3520 for reservations & information.