Audubon Florida’s Northwest Florida Coastal Bird Conservation Coordinator Alan Knothe submits this report on the good work happening at the Bryant Patton Bridge Project near St. George Island in Franklin County. Enjoy!

If you were to take the new Bryant Patton Bridge south from Eastpoint, FL to St. George Island, to your left you would see what is left of the old bridge, now being used as a fishing pier. A little further on and you would see another remnant of the old bridge, the St. George Island Causeway. This causeway island, approximately 1.3 miles long and 50 yards wide, is one of the most important nesting sites in the Panhandle for terns, skimmers, oystercatchers and laughing gulls. Documented nesting species include Least Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Sooty Tern (one pair in 2007 & 2008), Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher and Laughing Gull. All of these birds with the exception of Laughing Gull are listed in some way.

Each year the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) surveys the nesting birds in order to keep track of population fluctuations and nesting success. Audubon Florida helped with the survey in 2011 when an alarming problem was noted.

In years past the gulls had always nested in the central portion of the island where there were tall grasses, the preferred nesting habitat for laughing gulls. In 2011, however, the grasses had spread south growing up just adjacent to the nesting terns and the gulls migrated south with the grasses. The problem with this is gulls are nest predators.

Another problem was also noted during the 2011 nesting season by Audubon volunteer Ted Ruffner. Being that it is a man-made island, much of the causeway is surrounded by seawalls. Mr. Ruffner was fishing near the island from his boat when he noticed tern chicks falling from the wall into the water of Apalachicola Bay. Without human intervention the chicks would not have any way to get back onto the island.

A partnership was quickly formed between ANERR and Audubon Florida to begin an ambitious project to help these nesting birds. The first thing that needed to be done was to confer with other shorebird experts about the best plan of action. The problems were described at the fall meeting of the Florida Panhandle Shorebird Working Group. After much brainstorming, it was decided that the best course of action was to physically remove the grasses from the south end of the causeway. To solve the problem of chicks in the water chick fencing would be installed along the edge of the seawall creating a barrier that would keep the chicks from falling into the water.

Now that a plan was in place the next step was to put it into action. There were three stages to the project that needed to be completed before the start of the tern nesting season. The first stage was to survey the island for American Oystercatcher nests. Oystercatchers begin nesting much earlier than terns, and ANERR and Audubon wanted to make sure the work did not disturb or destroy any nests. Alan Knothe of Audubon Florida organized and led a crew of volunteers on this mission. Ted Ruffner volunteered his services and boat to transport Alan and volunteers Dianah Knothe, Pam Stevens, Brad Smith and Amanda Canning to the causeway on March 11. When we got to the causeway, it quickly became apparent the direr need for this project. It was completely grown over with tall grasses and other vegetation. It was doubtful that the terns and skimmers could find any bare sand to nest on, and if they did, they would probably be nesting right in the middle of nesting gulls. It took about two hours to thoroughly survey the island, and no oystercatcher nests were found.

The next stage of the project was completed by ANERR staff on March 16. A tractor was taken to the causeway by boat. The tractor was used to mow down and plow under the grasses and other vegetation on the south end of the causeway. This is the area were the terns and skimmers nested traditionally.

The third stage of the project involved both ANERR staff and Audubon volunteers. On April 3, two ANERR staff and seven Audubon volunteers headed to the causeway to complete the work. Once there, they finish the removal of vegetation by using weed whackers in areas where the tractor could not reach due to terrain. They also installed chick fencing up and down the sea wall to keep this year’s chicks from falling “overboard.” ANERR and Audubon will be checking on the success of the project when they do their regular survey of the nesting birds near the end of May.

Audubon also protects these birds and other nesting shorebirds up and down the Panhandle Coast with their Shorebird Stewardship Program. In this program volunteers are stationed adjacent to known nesting sites in order to protect the birds from human disturbance. The volunteers educate the public about the birds and steer them away from the nesting sites.

If you would like to get involved, contact Alan Knothe at aknothe@audubon.org or 850-71-6331.

Or, you can search Florida Forever projects by county by clicking here.

Florida Forever is our state’s popular land conservation program and an important issue for Audubon Florida.

The two conservation leaders received assurances that DEP leadership is aware of opposition to the permit and will work with the St. Johns River Water Management District to make sure that water resources are not harmed.

Lisa and Eric pointed out areas of concern including reduction in flows to Silver Springs (nominated as one of Florida’s Special Places) and other springs, impacts to drinking water supplies and impacts to other waterways that are Outstanding Florida Waters.

Lisa pointed out that Silver Springs and the Silver Rivers are water sources for the St. Johns River, which would likely be affected by the massive water withdrawals. The large scale cattle operation would require intensive irrigation and fertilization of pasture grasses on relatively poor soils to grow enough grass to allow tens of thousands of cattle to gain weight before being slaughtered.  Pollution from fertilizers and manure will leach through the sandy soils into groundwater, springs and other waterways.

Audubon Florida and St. Johns Riverkeeper are working with other conservation allies and local communities to keep people informed and rally opposition to the permit.

Stay engaged; join Audubon at the Silver Springs & Florida’s Imperiled Waterways Forum in Jacksonville on May 15, presented by St. Johns Riverkeeper, Silver Springs Alliance and the Florida Springs Institute.

You can help right now by sending an email using Audubon’s easy email form: Defend Florida’s Silver Springs.

Last week I joined David Cox of Pelican Island Audubon Society and Carolyn Stutt of the Mangrove Garden Foundation for a quick but exciting tour of the The Mangrove Gardens at Carwill Oaks.  This one-of-a-kind sanctuary is created largely out of a group of spoil sites along the Indian River Lagoon and connected by boardwalks through a managed mangrove forest.

Especially remarkable are the hundreds of orchids that Carolyn maintains on the property.  But even more remarkable is her passion for conservation and way of thinking about conservation a different way.

Taking an area that was greatly altered by human action, she has created a series of representative gardens including a rainforest and exotic palms. Carolyn has demonstrated that mangroves can be managed (including trimming) to be part of the structure and setting for landscape of endless interest.  An otter family occupies the site and during the tour a Mangrove Cuckoo made an appearance.

Looking back at the 2012 Regular Session, what would you say is your proudest accomplishment?

As a Legislature, I’m proud that we were able to continue our work from the prior session in passing bills that collectively create a better business climate here in Florida. By easing the tax burden on businesses, bringing some rationality to the regulatory process, and providing re-employment training to unemployed Floridians, I believe we can make Florida one of the most business-friendly states in the nation.

In terms of my own bills – I’m proud of them all! My proudest accomplishment of the 2012 Session is the passage of HB 639, which incentivizes local governments to invest in reclaimed water treatment and distribution systems by providing them with needed certainty and predictability in the regulatory process. The result is conservation of our precious drinking water supply. This bill was a “work in progress” beginning in the summer of 2011, and ultimately gained the support from all of the stakeholders:  local governments, the environmental community, the agricultural community, and the business community. Until you’ve been involved in the legislative process, it’s hard to truly appreciate how unique it is for a bill to win support from such a diverse coalition. I’m proud to have been able to maintain an on-going dialog and working relationship with all of these groups, and to ultimately create an excellent final product. Just a couple of weeks after the bill passed, the City of Tampa announced a massive expansion of its reclaimed water system, which will save about 22,000 gallons of drinking water per day.  That’s exciting!

You seem to have a large following on Facebook (2071) and Twitter (814). Do you do your own social networking?

Yes – I love to Tweet and I do it all myself. Social media – Twitter and Facebook – bring a wonderful opportunity for me to communicate directly, and in real time, with my constituents. I continually update the folks back home on what is happening in Tallahassee, and what I’m doing in the District and around the state. The feedback has been incredible. People say, “we feel like we know what you are doing all the time!” which I translate to mean “we know you are working!”

You can follow me on Twitter by adding @repdanayoung.

What is the best advice you have ever received and who gave it to you?

Two things.

First, I try to live my life by the very simple rule of treating other people the way I want to be treated – with kindness and respect. I think it’s somewhat uncommon in the political world, but it allows me to be a generally happy person and sleep well at night.

Second, the best political advice I ever got was from my Grandfather, the late Sen. Randolph Hodges. His advice was to be honest with people, and to always keep your word, because at the end of the day, your word is all you have – make sure it means something.

Read any good books lately?

I read every night, even during Session. Right now, I’m reading the 5^th book in the Game of Thrones series.  My kids want me to read The Hunger Games, so I may do that next.

What is the favorite family recreational activity in the Young family?

My family is the textbook Florida Sportsman family. We love sportfishing, and spend most of the summer on the boat fishing for Tarpon. In the winter months, we focus on deer and turkey hunting and generally enjoy being in the woods and a good campfire. My daughters are both accomplished archers, and my 14 year old has proven to be a skilled hunter. Its fun to watch them grow up doing the same things I loved to do as a young girl.

With two young daughters at home, do you ever get to practice your mediator skills with them?

Oh my goodness, yes! They are so close in age that everything is a negotiation around our house. Having two teenage daughters at home makes dealing with the Legislature seem easy!

Tell us something most people do not know (or never suspected) about you.

I’m a 6^th generation Floridian with a very deep agricultural history. My family came to Florida on an ox cart a long, long time ago, and settled on an island in the salt marshes near Crystal River. They eventually moved to Cedar Key, and made a living fishing and raising cattle. When I read A Land Remembered, it had a very special meaning for me, because it tells the story of the Florida that my ancestors helped to settle. While I represent a fairly urban area of Tampa in the Florida House, I will never forget my deep history and agricultural roots in this state that I love so much.

It was an honor to present the 2012 Audubon Florida Excellence in Water Conservation Award to the City of Cooper City at the Cooper City Commission meeting last night. I was joined by Steve Holmes, the new Executive Director of South Florida Audubon Society and Carole Morris of the South Florida Water Management District.

The Audubon Florida Excellence in Water Conservation award celebrates outstanding commitment to caring for Florida’s water resources and encouraging Floridians to save water for the environment. This is the first ever award of this kind from Audubon Florida. One of our goals is to draw awareness to the importance of water conservation- the cheapest, most environmentally friendly, and effective way to protect Florida’s treasured water resources. One in three Floridians depend on the Everglades for fresh water so conserving water means protecting the Everglades.

Cooper City’s outstanding water conservation program “You Win-We all Win” exemplifies a commitment to saving water for the environment. The simple act of saving water can have enormous benefits. A few years ago Cooper City faced the prospect of having to spend $12 million on a new water treatment plant or asking the South Florida Water Management District for an additional allocation of water for public water supplies. Instead, Cooper City developed innovative water conservation program- You Win, We All Win program that asked residents to save 5% of total water use by 2013. It is not even 2013 yet and water savings almost doubled, without the city having to spend those extra millions of dollars on a new treatment plant.

Some of the program’s highlights include a competition between the city’s homeowners associations to see which team could save the most water, and specialized attention to the city’s highest water users to audit and reduce their water usage. There is also a special focus on public education through outreach to schools and the media to encourage citizens to conserve water. Mike Bailey,Cooper City’s Utilities Director deserves credit for developing this innovative approach. The program’s success proves that individual actions may seem to have small impacts day to day but when an entire community engages in a water conservation lifestyle there are incredible results.

As we near the end of April, now known as Water Conservation Month in Florida, it is time to look at our water usage habits and reflect on what we can do to conserve water on a daily basis. For tips on how you can help, please see our fact sheet: “Top 10 Tips for Saving Water in Florida”

We want to know: What do you do to conserve water? Tell us in the comment section below or on the Protect the WEB Facebook Page!

The Big “O” Birding Festival was held March 27-31 in LaBelle and was the largest and best event yet.  About 180 people attended from across the United States and were treated to field trips, book signings, workshops, lectures, a banquet, and perhaps best of all, genuine rural Florida hospitality.  Plus, the Florida Audubon Society’s Board met at the hotel during the meeting and I got to speak to them about our Okeechobee Program.

I had the privilege to help guide two field trips. The first had two stops, Harney Pond Canal on Lake Okeechobee and the Fort Center Indian Mounds in the Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area.  Premiere birder David Simpson helped with birds and Butch Wilson, curator of the Clewiston Museum, interpreted the Indian mound site for us.  We got 67 species of birds, including a Short-tailed Hawk, making it one of the longer lists of the festival.  The second field trip was based on the Venus Bird Loop in Pranty’s “Birder’s Guide to Florida.”  Dave Goodwin helped lead this, and we netted 50 species.

One of the things that makes this festival special to me is that it is put on by local people who are not primarily birders, but love the land and are very in tune with natural Florida.  Local ranchers host many tours, giving people buggy rides through places they otherwise could not go.  In addition, there are boat rides on Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee, a dinner at Gatorama (open since 1957), the famous STA-5 tours, and just a lot of “real” experiences.  One participant told me they have been to many festivals and couldn’t believe all the attention the hosts “lavish” (their word) on the guests.

There were Everglade Snail Kites working a retention pond by the hotel and breeding herons and Anhingas on a pond across the road.  The festival wrapped up with a banquet and keynote talk on the festival’s theme bird, the Wood Stork, by Jason Lauritsen, Assistant Manager at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

If you want a festival that will show you inland Florida first hand, and that is fun and laid back, this one is for you.  There are more photos and posts on the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society Facebook Page. Also, check out my blog from last year’s event.

For a full species list from Dr. Gray’s birding adventures at the Big “O” Birding Festival, please click here.

In addition to explaining the economic benefits that restoration will provide and celebrating the recent gains, the Vice President also expressed the Obama Administration’s commitment to bridging 6.5 miles on Tamiami Trail.

The first mile of bridging is under construction and set to be completed in 2013, while Audubon has urged for funding to complete the next phase of 5.5 additional miles to truly unite disconnected parts of the ecosystem to improve habitat for wading birds and other wildlife.

This event draws even more national attention to the world’s largest ecosystem restoration project that is one of Audubon’s top conservation priorities.

For additional coverage, please visit:

• “Biden in Everglades, touting restoration projects” – Miami Herald/AP
• “VP Biden Visits Everglades Nat’l Park On S. Fla Stop” – CBS Miami

Contact: Eric Draper, Executive Director, edraper@audubon.org, 850-251-1301

Download PDF: http://bit.ly/IjD1Hy

SB 1986 was Audubon Florida’s top legislative priority

Tallahassee, FL – Governor Rick Scott on Friday signed into law SB 1986 repealing water management district spending limits. The bill was Audubon Florida’s top legislative priority.

“Repealing the previous year’s cuts to water management district budgets is essential to financing Everglades restoration and other water resource programs,” said Audubon Florida executive director Eric Draper. “This bill reflects growing consensus that protecting our water supplies requires public funds.”

In 2011, SB 2142 forced Florida’s five water management districts into severe staff cuts along with scaling back science, education, water supply, and resource protection programs. The deep cuts to the water management agencies led legislative leaders and Governor Rick Scott to acknowledge the need to repeal spending limits.

“It is a sign of maturity when legislative leaders acknowledge they went too far and reverse direction,” Draper said.

The bill also reestablishes a balanced review and approval process by the legislative and executive branches as the citizen appointed boards of the regional agencies put together annual budgets and set property tax limits as allowed by the Florida Constitution and state law.

Draper called on Governor Scott to allow the water management districts to now raise and spend the funds necessary to steward’s Florida’s dwindling freshwater resources.  “It makes sense to use property taxes to provide water for people and the economy while protecting our environment.”

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Looking back at the 2012 Regular Session, what would you say is your proudest accomplishment?

Single proudest was the passage of HB 503  with unanimous votes of support by both the House and the Senate.

Looks like you recently had one of those “significant” birthdays. Any special celebrations as part of that?

Very big one, 40.  I took a short vacation with my wife Katie and boys, Theo (3 years) and Johnny (17 months).

Those are two very cute sons you and Katie have! Got any good stories to share about them or are they totally angels?

They are totally night and day.  They bring me the greatest joy in the world.  Theo actually made the news for the Organizational session of 2010 by casting a very loud voice vote of “NO” when the chamber was asked if we were certified to hold office.

What is the best advice you have ever received and who gave it to you?

Always know who’s related to whom in the legislative process.  A tremendous amount of this process is influenced by who you know, especially who a legislator, lobbyist, staff or advocate is related to.

Captain Anderson’s, your family-owned restaurant in Panama City is included in Florida Trend’s Restaurant Hall of Fame. What is your favorite dish there?

We are a fish house, we only buy whole fish.  My favorite is blackened Scamp (from the Grouper family).

Twitter shows you to be very active and popular. How many followers do you have and do you do your own tweeting?

It is very effective.  I have 2,576 followers that I am grateful for.  I do all of my own tweeting.  I would love you to follow me @jimmypatronis.

You once served as a Research Assistant at the House of Commons in London, England. Wow! How was that experience?

It was incredible, the MP that I worked for is Bob Ainsworth, he is actually the most recent Former Minister for Defense for the United Kingdom. It was at the peak of the IRA bombings, I actually had a background check to see if I or my family had Irish ties.

Read any good books lately?

Bill Bryson, A short history of nearly everything.  He is very funny, I find myself laughing out loud reading his books.

What would be a perfect day for you? No limits! Anything is possible!

All day long, on my boat with Katie and the Boys.

And last but not least, if you were “King for a Day” and could pass any bill in the Legislature with no interference or opposition; what would it be?

I think everyone wants more transparency, I would vote for that.

From MyFox Tampa Bay:

In the past, that part of the bay was essentially used as a dumping ground. But for 50 years, several agencies have been working to clean it up.

It’s become one of the largest, most complex coastal restoration projects in the Bay Area. But the wildlife aren’t the only ones benefiting — visitors are enjoying it too.

Last week the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board joined the celebration and passed a resolution that urged water conservation awareness throughout South Florida.

Conservation is cheapest and most environmentally friendly way to ensure sustainable water resources for our future. Every drop helps!  Florida’s wildlife depend on abundant clean water resources to sustain their habitats throughout Florida. Reducing human water consumption can help provide food, water, and shelter for birds.

Municipalities, counties, businesses, and residents have multiple opportunities to save water with minimal effort and maximum savings. Click here for Audubon’s top 10 tips for saving water in Florida and fact sheet on water conservation.

The simple act of saving water can have enormous benefits. In an outstanding success story, Cooper City faced the prospect of having to spend $12 million on a new water treatment plant for public water supplies. Instead, Cooper City developed innovative water conservation program- You Win, We All Win program that asked residents to save 5 percent of total water use by 2013. It is not even 2013 yet and water savings almost doubled, without having to spend those extra millions of dollars on a new treatment plant. Click here for Cooper City’s water conservation tips to residents.

Join Audubon Florida in congratulating Cooper City’s outstanding effort in water conservation on April 24 for first ever Excellence in Water Conservation Award. Audubon will present at Cooper City Commission meeting at 6 pm at Cooper City City Hall, 9090 Southwest 50th Place, Cooper City, FL 33328.

Cities, businesses, and residents are joining in to protect Florida’s natural resources! What do you do to conserve water? Let us know in the comment section below or on the Protect the WEB Facebook Page.

Through the Governor’s efforts, the Legislature also passed SB 1986, which allows the state’s five water management districts the ability to consider spending levels necessary to fund Everglades restoration and other critical water resource needs. Action is expected soon on this important bill.

From the Florida Current:

“I think Governor Scott has come a long way since last year,” said Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon of Florida…

The budget also includes $30 million in Everglades restoration and $10 million for beach restoration projects, as well as $4.8 million for Lake Apopka restoration supported by Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla and chairman of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations.

Audubon Florida thanks the South Florida Water Management District for a taking a step in the right direction to manage water for the environment.

Last week the SFWMD Governing Board decided to allow pulse releases of water from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee Estuary to help curb harmful algae blooms. The board also formally recognized that the document that currently guides releases to the estuary- the Adaptive Protocols- should be reviewed by stakeholders, looking to improve the balance of environmental needs.

Audubon’s Lake Okeechobee Science Coordinator Dr. Paul Gray testified at last week’s SFWMD Governing Board meeting. Dr. Gray explained  that small releases to the estuary would be prudent because the system desperately needs the water and dry season forecasts do not seem to indicate the need for water restrictions for other users or problematic conditions in Lake Okeechobee and the Water Conservation Areas.

The board’s decision comes on the heels of last week’s health warning from the Lee County Health Department, which advised the public to be cautious before exposing themselves, pets or livestock to the Caloosahatchee River and its tributaries due to sporadic, but potentially harmful algal blooms.

Meanwhile, the Caloosahatchee Estuary’s salinity problem has not yet been solved and habitats remain in peril. The impacts of high salinity are not limited to the environment, or tourism or real estate economies. The Olga Water Treatment Plant in Lee County was taken offline last week, due in part to water quality concerns from high chlorides from the Estuary’s salt water plume.

Audubon Florida is actively working with state and federal agencies to advise how to implement these pulse releases in the most effective way. We will continue to vigorously advocate for water for the environment in Florida.