Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
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Spring Must Be Here!

2/27/2015

 
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On my way back to Cedar Key from the Refuge this morning, I saw a Swallowtail Kite!  This is the earliest I have ever seen one back.   In the past few years, they have been sighted the first few days of March, and usually by then there are more signs of spring.  There are very few flowers blooming in the butterfly garden or throughout the refuge, but take heart!  The arrival of the Swallowtail Kites means that spring is very, very close!

Presentation on Water Issues

2/25/2015

 
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Five Mile Nature Walk

2/19/2015

 
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When it comes to picking cold days for our nature walks, I am doing a pretty good job!  Not that I plan it that way, it just seems to be turning out that our scheduled walks are on the coldest days of the month.  Oh well, Sally Beveridge and I thoroughly enjoyed the day – definitely, we didn’t have to worry about mosquitoes, “no-seeums”, alligators or snakes!  But we did have a crystal blue sky and a gorgeous walk.  
This 5 mile walk was intended to be a walk in nature, not a bird watching or plant identification walk and walk we did!  But we saw plenty of birds anyway, including a pair of nesting Bald Eagles, a flock of wild turkeys and a Pileated Woodpecker, as well as numerous small birds.  What we really loved seeing was the path we walked along full of animal tracks and rarely a human foot print especially when we got further into the woods! 
On the walk, we  viewed a vast salt marsh, crossed fresh water swamps, sandhill pine habitat and mixed deciduous woodland.   We saw lots of scat from wild pigs and fox.  We could hear the wind overhead, but we were sheltered enough in the woods to be plenty warm!  It was a great walk!!

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2015 Annual Meeting on Saturday February 28

2/13/2015

 

Come one, come all!
Members are prepaid.
Join or renew at the door.

A day packed with fun and food!
Doors Open at 9:00

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Marci and Jim Wilcox taking new and renewal memberships at the "door."
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The joy of a meal prepared by Ken and Rose McCain!!
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The Friends tent all ready for members to select new shirts, earrings, and other items to show support of Friends and the Refuges.
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Mark Gluckman, Barbara and Bob Hudson, and Jenn Seavey at the 2014 Annual Meeting.
Click here for a list of current members. Remember to bring your check book to renew or join . . . and for the Silent Auction and items from the Friends tent.
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Call for Volunteers

  • For the registration line . . . 3 or 4 people. Email  John Thalacker at [email protected]
  • For the Friends Tent  . . . 2 or 3 people. Email Carmelo Echevarria at [email protected]
  • For the Membership Renewal table . . . 2 or 3 people. Email Marci Wilcox at [email protected]
  • For setting up on Friday afternoon . . . 1 or 2 people. Email Bob Hudson at [email protected]
  • For the Silent Auction Room . . . 1 or 2 people. Contact Barbara Hudson at 352-514 5484 or [email protected]
  • For the Lunch . . . If you can bring a dessert, it will be very welcome!

The Again Amazing Silent Auction

More than 60 items have been contributed for the, once again, amazing Silent Auction. Remember your check book!!  Here is a preview:
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Porch swing donated by Wells Woodworking and Drummond Bank
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Ladies fishing outfit donated by DW&D Bait House, Doug and Wendy Raines
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Marsh Photo donated by Maria Sgambati
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Sunset Photo donated by Ann Kamzelski
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Quilted wall hanging, donated by Salty Needle Quilt Shop

River Trail Work Day Coming

2/12/2015

 
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Work continues on the River Trail.  The next Work Day has not yet been scheduled but will be prior to the 2015 Annual Meeting on Saturday February 28. 

If interested in working, contact John Thalacker at [email protected]

The planned improvements that day include construction of two benches along the trail, seating at the Suwannee terminus, sweeping of the boardwalks, cleaning of the display and tree markers and removing trash that has floated in from the river and is visible from the boardwalk. 

The last Work Day was
Tuesday, February 3. Board Members John Thalacker and Ed DeHaan along with Refuge equipment operator George Pelt spread a thick layer of limestone on the path from the parking lot to the trail and on the trail itself to cover emerging roots and irregularities on the path.

While two members who had volunteered could not attend due to work and other commitments on the 3rd, it is hoped they and others will be able to attend the next time.

Upcoming Longer Nature Walk, February 19

2/11/2015

 
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Friends member Donna Thalacker plans to lead a longer nature walk - one where the focus is walking in nature and not so much stopping and talking.  This walk will be a little over 5 miles in length, would be behind the gates on flat, old logging trails and would not be a round trip walk. It will be necessary to pre-position a car or two at the end of Cabin Road. the walk will start near gate 10, in the south part of the Refuge Nature Loop Drive, and proceed to Cabin Road.  It will pass through some of the prettiest and remotest parts of the Refuge. The idea here is to walk but, of course, stop and look at a butterfly or bird along the way.  Donna projects it will be about a 3 hour walk.  

It is tentatively planned the walk for Thursday, Feb 19 at 09. This is weather dependent - if rainy, no walk.  If cold, the walk is a "go". Cedar Key folks can meet to car pool at the town park at 8:30.  Please bring water and a snack and good walking shoes.  Tick exposure is a possibility, especially since part of the walk will be on unmaintained logging roads (that means higher grass).  It will all be flat.  Walkers might encounter water over the trail and Donna will plan to carry rubber boots that participants can share if necessary.  If you have questions, please call Donna at 352-543-6738.

Pepper Busters Arrive on Seahorse Key

2/9/2015

 
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The sun shone upon ‘Team Pepper Busters’ on Sunday February 8 as University of Florida Professor Jack Putz and his Plant Ecology class took up loppers and tackled a recurring stand of Brazilian Pepper tree on the eastern sandpoint of Seahorse Key. Led by Vic Doig from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and Roger (aka “King” Pepper Buster) McDaniels from Friends of the Refuge group, the volunteers spent a couple hours pulling small plants and cutting and spraying larger plants on the east end of Seahorse Key. According to Vic, Seahorse Key was treated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service several years ago. While this intervention was very successful, follow-up efforts such as this are critical to help control recurring growth.

The Brazilian Pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius) is native to Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. It was introduced to Florida in the mid-1800’s for use as an ornamental plant. Part of the family Anacardiaceae, the pepper-tree counts among its relatives poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Levy County is thought to represent the northern edge of Brazilian pepper tree. Many native Florida plant communities such as hammocks, pinelands and mangrove forests are often invaded and dominated by Brazilian pepper tree. For the past few years, the Friends of the Refuges has been assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in efforts to control and manage this invasive plant. Thanks to Donna and John Thalacker who alerted us to this stand of Brazilian Pepper-tree.

Butterfly Garden Work Day Today

2/9/2015

 
Past President Jay Bushnell, and Friends members Luz Krujalis, Linda Headley and Donna Thalacker spent the afternoon on February 9 cleaning out the Refuge butterfly garden. Most of the time was needed for digging out the grasses so the native wildflowers have a place to spread and sprout. It is looking good!
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Linda Headley and Donna Thalacker
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Luz Krajulis, Linda Headley, Jay Bushnell

Long Leaf Pine Library Presentation

2/8/2015

 
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Larry Woodward, Assistant Refuge Manager for the Lower Suwannee NWR gave an hour long talk for the Cedar Key Garden Club to 24 attendees at the library on February 4, 2015.  Mr Woodward gave a brief history of the Long Leaf pine and how the tree species once occupied 90 million continuous acres in the southeast, from Virginia south to Florida and as far west as Texas.   Today, there are no large continuous tracts of the Long Leaf pine and now perhaps only 3% of the 90 million acres of the tree survive.  More than 30 endangered and threatened wildlife depend on this ecosystem and approximately 640 species of plants are restricted to Long Leaf pine habitats, including 187 rare plant species. 
 
When the Lower Suwannee NWR took over the 55,000 acres that is now the Refuge, there were only a handful of Long Leaf pine trees left.  Most of the pine trees in the Refuge are Slash pines because the land was once a tree farm and the Slash pines were planted there as a crop.  Over the years, the staff has managed the refuge to improve the habitat for the plants and animals.  Thousands of Slash pines have been harvested and thousands of Long Leaf pine tree seedlings planted.  The remaining Slash pines have been thinned out and burning is an active means used to improve the habitat.  Long Leaf pines are not only fire resistant, but dependent on frequent non-intense fires to thrive.   Mr Woodward encouraged people to come out to look at the planted Long Leaf pine on the Refuge.

Nature Walk in the Cedar Key Scrub

2/4/2015

 
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Our February 4 walk in the Scrub started off blustery and cold.  There were nine of us to explore the scrub plants and wildlife and though we thought there would be little wildlife to observe, as soon as the sun came out, the birds were singing all around us.  In fact, a few of us were lucky to spot a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and all of us were able to see the colorful Pine Warblers foraging in the pine trees and a particularly colorful male cardinal.  We could hear Red-bellied woodpeckers, Red-shouldered hawks and plenty of Chickadees and Towhees in the bushes.  In spite of the cold start, it really was a beautiful day for a walk.   I was especially impressed with the knowledge of the group in general and very impressed with their desire to learn more about the scrub and the plants and animals that live there.  We had a great time!  

Thanks to Luz Kraujalis for her pictures and impressive history of the area!  


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Cedar Key Library Speaker Series Continues

2/2/2015

 
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February 19 (Thursday) - 10 a.m. – CK Historical Society Coffee – “Florida’s Fleet: A Boatbuilding and Fishing Legacy from the First Coast”-  Brendan Burke

February 19 (Thursday) – 5 p.m.  Author Mike Rucker introducing his new children’s book set in Cedar Key –The Scrubland Critters and the Cedar Key Catastrophe.

February 21 (Saturday) – 10:30 a.m. at Library – “The Lower Suwannee Archaeological Survey 2014: Results from the Fifth Year of Investigations” by Dr. Ken Sassaman, UF

February 26 (Thursday) – 5 p.m. The State of Our Water - Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, Pres. Of OurSantaFeRiver.org on emergent issues facing Florida’s rivers, springs and other water sources following the passage of Amendment 1 last year.

February 28 (Saturday) –  Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys NWRs Annual Meeting and Open House. No program at library.

March 5 (Thursday) – 5 p.m. – Wading birds on Seahorse Key, including Roseate Spoonbills -Vic Doig, CK&LSNWR

March 7 (Saturday) 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friends of the Library BOOK SALE, along with Cedar Key Garden Club Plant Sale and Cedar Key Arts Center Yard Sale. Plus exhibit of quilts by local quilters.

March 12 (Thursday) – 5 p.m. Cedar Key Poets Annual Reading

March 14 (Saturday) – 10:30 a.m. – Ancient Fishing Techniques – Ginessa Mahar, M.A., Dept. of Anthropology, UF

March 19 (Thursday) – 5 p.m. – Plantation history of NE Florida 1763-1837 – Dr. Jay Bushnell

March 20 (Friday) – 6:30 p.m. At the Cedar Key Community Center:
                                 Cedar Key Friends of the Library Annual Meeting  & FREE CONCERT featuring:
                                 7 p.m.  – Patchouli - Nuovo Flamenco Musical Duo, their 3rd appearance

March 21 (Saturday) 1 p.m. at Community Center – Shell Mound Solstice Alignments – Ken Sassaman

March 26 (Thursday) – 5 p.m.  “Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons – Benefactors of Reintroduction Efforts” – Jane Veltkamp, executive director of the nonprofit organization Birds of Prey Northwest

4 February Nature Walk

2/1/2015

 
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Our next nature walk will be at the Cedar Key Scrub at 9am on 3 February.  It will be a two hour walk on a sandy trail and we will be observing scrub trees and plants and any wildlife we happen upon!    If you are interested in joining along, we will meet at the Cedar Key Scrub entrance on Hwy 24.  Those interested in carpooling from Cedar Key can meet me, Donna Thalacker, at the town park parking lot at 8:45am.  I hope to see you then.

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Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges
P. O. Box 532
Cedar Key, FL 32625
[email protected]
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.


  • Home
    • Our Blog
  • About
    • About Friends >
      • Who We Are
      • What We Do
      • Current News
      • Contact Us
    • About the Refuges >
      • Our Refuges
      • Places of Interest
      • Hunting Brochure
    • Members
  • Join
    • Donate
  • Maps
    • Paddling Guides
    • Refuge Maps
    • Trail Brochures
    • Places of Interest
  • Vista
    • What is Vista
    • Friends' role
    • The Future
    • Cooks General Restoration
    • Window Restoration
    • Lumbering
  • Wildlife
    • Wildlife Gallery
  • Hunting
    • Overview
    • Maps
    • FWS Hunting Brochure
    • Alternative Mobility Permits
    • Hunter SignUp
  • Fishing
  • Junior Ranger
  • Search
  • Store