A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

As I have indicated on numerous occasions, we are fortunate to live in an area of the state not yet overdeveloped.  My recent participation at the state Friends Conference in West Palm Beach reinforced that perception.  The combination of our refuges with the State public lands along with the rural nature of the area enhances our quality of life.  Our challenge will be to protect this environment and at the same time foster responsible sustainable economic growth.

For our part, the Friends group has been and will continue to work hard to fulfill the mission of the organization.  We also provide opportunities for our members to actively experience the Refuges.  Thanks to the hard work of John Thalacker, Pam Darty and Marci Wilcox we have a wide range of outings and speakers planned.  These events help provide a sense of ownership and a better understanding of the scope of our Refuges.  Of course, they also provide a fantastic opportunity for fellowship.  As you will see, we also cooperate with other organizations that share out conservation ideals.

We really do have some great members. 
I would like to point out that you also have a hard working Board that freely gives of their time because of their love of what the Friends group represents.

Please note that no matter what your level of involvement might be, there is a place for you.  If you would like to take a more active role in the Friends group, give me a call (352-493-1807).

Sincerely,
Jay Bushnell, Your President

 

EDITORIAL
Summary by Jay Bushnell

Recently, I started to revisit Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.  No doubt many of you remember this book.  As a marine biologist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, she began to uncover some disturbing environmental conditions.  Published in 1965, Carson’s book was a wake-up call about the dangers of pesticide and herbicide poisoning of the environment.  Despite major attacks by the chemical industry, she thankfully published her book.  What she uncovered was that the chemical industry, along with the trend toward large industrial mono crop agriculture, was pushing us toward an environmental disaster.

Fortunately, culturally we began to take heed.  DDT along with other insecticides were banned.  The Clean Air and Clean Water acts were passed.  We began to understand the principle of ecological interdependency and the problems associated with accumulative affect of poisons that became more concentrated as they moved up the food chain.

Yet one has to wonder whether we really have learned our lesson.  We still do not seem to pay attention to the idea that just because we do not ‘see’ an adverse effect, means that it does not exist.  Just check out the movie,”The Future of Food,” for a scary outline of how Monsanto with its patented bioengineered seed production has influenced agriculture and the foods we eat.  To give you a sense of the potential problem, here is one example.  Monsanto has developed a bioengineered rapeseed used in the production of canola oil.  The seed is genetically altered to resist the herbicide, Roundup, so that the fields can be sprayed with Roundup to kill the “bad weeds” but not the rapeseed crop.

Of course, the use of the herbicides like Roundup is the very thing that Carson warned against in 1965.  Now we face a genetically altered food we ingest that is resistant to Roundup!

2010 FLORIDA FRIENDS CONFERENCE
by Peg & Russ Hall
The Friends of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge hosted this year’s conference. Our attendees included Jay & Donna Bushnell, Joan Stephens, and Russ & Peg Hall.

Events on January 7 included an excellent morning Environmental Education Conference at the Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, an afternoon reception at the City of West Palm Beach’s Grassy Waters Nature Preserve, and an evening reception hosted by the Everglades Coalition at the PGA National Country Club.

A highlight of the Grassy Waters event, in addition to the excellent catered seafood buffet, was the arrival of 12 paddlers in canoes and kayaks who had traveled half way across the state—78 miles in six days, camping in tents at night occasionally in sub-freezing temperatures. They were sponsored by the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, which conceived of the event to raise awareness of the Everglades.

The all-day January 8 Friends meeting at the Loxahatchee NWR visitor center featured a number of engaging and informative speakers. Evan Hirshe, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association discussed the opportunities for refuges in a vastly improved political climate. Operations and maintenance funding is expected to be adequate, after many years of serious shortfalls, and long-frozen funds earmarked for land acquisition are expected to again become available. Hirshe urged Friends groups to send delegates to a March 9 rally on Capitol Hill to build support in Congress for refuge programs.

Our next speaker, Mark Musaus, former Refuge Manager at Loxahatchee and current Deputy Regional Director in the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southeastern Regional Office in Atlanta, praised the role of Friends groups in addressing the many challenges and opportunities of the Refuge System.

Naturalist and wildlife photographer Dudley Edmondson recounted some of his experiences from the just completed six-day paddling adventure, but devoted most of his session to tell of his efforts to make nature and conservation more relevant to minority youths and to increase their representation in organizations like the Fish and Wildlife Service and its Refuge System.

Charlie Pelizza, manager of the Pelican Island NWR, told of a vision for an entirely new refuge in Florida, this in the Kissimmee Lakes region. It would protect the headwaters of the Kissimmee River, the ultimate source of water for the Everglades. He and other planners had been surprised by how a modest proposal for land acquisition that at first seemed too grandiose gained enthusiasm and support as it grew to envision an entire new refuge.

We were again well-fed, this time at a picnic luncheon at the refuge. Joining us for lunch were Sam Hamilton, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service and his boss, Tom Strickland, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Both expressed their support for the Refuge System and what they saw as bright new opportunities. Strickland conveyed Interior Secretary Salazar’s strong commitment to public lands and a new signature program, Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC). We learned that the LCCs will reach across agencies to address landscape-scale stressors—including habitat fragmentation, genetic isolation, spread of invasive species, and water scarcity—all of which are accelerated by climate change.  After the meeting, Jay pointed out that our Refuges lack the key position of a biologist.

Wrapping our jackets tightly around us and donning ear protectors, some of us toured the Loxahatchee refuge’s watery habitats by airboat, while others enjoyed guided hikes on trails. The weather was perfect, and these last events were highlights of an enjoyable and stimulating conference.

HERITAGE LESSON FOR BRONSON COMMUNITY EDUCATORS
by Pam Darty
Last week, past president of the Friends, Toni Collins and I gave a program at the Seahorse Key Lighthouse for the Bronson Community Educators.  Dr. Lillywhite had no students doing research that day and the island’s rookery protection doesn’t start until March 1st, so the ladies were able to tour at their leisure.

Toni addressed the background of gravesites in the cemetery for half the group and Pam spoke about life at the lighthouse to the other half. A few of the ladies braved the slim stairway to the lighthouse and were thrilled at the beauty from that vantage point.  Just another example of bringing non-traditional visitors to the Refuge for the sheer enjoyment of being OUTSIDE.

JANUARY NATURE WALK
by Joan Stephens
The January Nature Walk which was frozen out on January 4th but rescheduled. On January 18th the day was warmer, the sky was somewhat overcast but there was no rain and it wasn’t freezing.  Five of us met in Cross City and carpooled to Shired Island. Before we left the parking lot we saw Loons, Willets and a Great Blue Heron that had caught the largest fish I have even seen a heron try to eat. He struggled with it and batted it around but we never did see him swallow it.

While walking toward the water at Shired Island, we saw a Killdeer very close to us that ignored us completely as he picked up some tiny bits of something from the mud. He was in fresh looking plumage and we could see clearly his dark orange rump…fantastic! We checked off many birds on our birding checklist including a White Pelican, Oystercatcher, Black Bellied Plover, SemiPlamated Plover, Tern species (not identified beyond that), Laughing Gull, Ringbilled Gull, Northern Harrier and a lot of Vultures, both Turkey and Black.  A couple of Savannah Sparrows were running about on the wet sand below the high water mark looking like little mice. The wind picked up a little but despite that, it was a very good day.

The fly in the ointment that day was the amount of trash we saw…and actually picked up.  We carried four bags that we found on the beach and filled them. We left the trash in the cans at the Campground which were really not adequate.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Please RSVP so that you can be contacted if an event is cancelled.  When you call, you can also get more information and directions.

Monday, March 1st - Nature walk in Dixie County-9:00 AM @ Fire station on CR349 near the Town of Suwannee-Joan Stephens-463-1095 or 352-538-4001.

Saturday, March 6th - Friends Annual meeting and Refuge Open House-10:30 AM-3:00 PM-Jay Bushnell-493-1807.

Thursday, March 11th - ”Meet our crabs of Cedar Key: Blue, Stone & Horseshoe”-5:00 PM @ Cedar Key Library-Leslie Strummer  352-543-5057.

Friday, March 12th - 10:00-11:30 AM “Demonstration on duplicating Florida Native American ancient pottery,” by Marty Haythorne-Followed by narrated tour in the afternoon of Shell Mound led by Ranger Pam Darty-call Pam 493-2038 ex.223.

Wednesday, March 17th - ”Shell Mound paddle” 11:00 AM @ Shell Mound Launch-Led by Florida Master Naturalist Rod Hunt- 352-949-3826.

Saturday, March 20th - ”Shorebirds” by Lovett Williams 11:00 AM @ Cedar Key Library-contact Marci Wilcox-543-5697

Saturday,  March 20th - Friends of Library annual meeting-call for time/details. Janisse Ray, award-winning author of  The Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, presentation, “Sustainability and a Sense of Place”.   The evening will include a SUSTAINABLE covered dish dinner and Picken' and Grinnin' with a group of Cedar Key's musicians-Molly Jubitz-543-5777.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY
As you know, we have a great place to make use our cameras to capture wildlife pictures.  In the past we have had photo safaris led by professional photographers.  Board member Sean Dowie, a professional photographer, will provide some professional tips at our Annual meeting.

Now, no matter what your level of photographic skill, we are working to set up a group of us that would meet on a regular basis to photographically explore the Refuges.  The goal is to learn from each other and share our love of nature through the lens of cameras.  The first attempt on January 9th was rained out but we will persevere. 

Please give Jay Bushnell a call to learn more (352-493-1807).

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
New Life Member: Joyce Tarnow

Renewals January 2010: Joyce Aycock, Gene & Betty Baker, Sherry Beauchamp, Anne Miller & Eugene Benedict, Gerry & Connie Chancey, Bob & Kitty Collum, Jim & Marilyn Clugston, Frank H. Couch, Don & Sue Gambrell, Bill & Janet Hall, Russ & Peg Hall, Jack & Tina Hardee, Sandra Harmon, Linda Headley, Bill & Martha Healy,  Richard & Anne Herman,  Jim & Clara Hess, Mary Ann Burdett & Allan Hodgkins, Jim & Marilyn Hoy, Travis & Mary Hudson, Judith Johnson, Walter & Luz Kraujalis, Tom & Sherry Liebert, Doug & Barbara Maple, Libby Cagle and Roger McDaniels,  Robert & Carol McKinstry, John Moran, Ted & Sandy Palfry, Michael Pfaller & Beverly Ringenberg, Kenneth & Anita Roesch, Cyndi Sandlin, Jean Skaife, Maryann Tempest,  John & Donna Thalacker  Richard & Marilyn Travers, Bob & Jeri Treat, Larry VanDruff, Mark Paules & Susanne Wildner,  R. Ferraro & Barbara Winter.       

New Members: Debra Lyon-Dye, Carol A, Brink, Steve and Leslie Davis, Phil Hazle and Judy Adams, Robert & Christine McGraw, Thelma Wells.

FRIENDS BOARD
Jay Bushnell - President
Marci Wilcox - VP
Bob Hudson - Secretary
Joan Stephens - Treasurer
Directors - John Thalacker, Sean Dowie, Ed DeHaan, Doug Maple, Richard Herman, Rod Hunt, and Mark Gluckman.