President's Message
Some months things just don’t go according to plan. We planned to host an open house-social at the Venice Audubon Center on the 3rd Tuesday in May. Unfortunately, on Monday, April 28 the building had a plumbing issue that resulted in some flooding in the front rooms of the Center. The good news: it was clean water and we caught the leak early. After a few days of professional water mitigation with large, loud fans and dehumidifiers at work, we’re dry and in the process of replacing baseboards that were removed so we can reset and clean the Center as we do each off-season. Hopefully we’ll enjoy that planned social later this summer.
Despite the unexpected indoor flood, our work continues. Since early May and now into June, we’re diligently preparing for the 2025-2026 year. Recent rains revived the pollinator garden after some serious trimming, pruning, and thinning efforts. From the many ideas offered at the Annual Meeting, plans are shaping up for our fall field trips and monthly Program Nights. Spotting scopes and binoculars are being evaluated and cleaned while the 2nd Grade Birdwatchers Program instructors update and improve materials for the coming year. The village of volunteers is hard at work in so many ways! Thank you to everyone who is helping behind the scenes this summer to ensure we have a successful start to the coming year.
And lastly, Bailey Cleveland, who has been on our Board of Directors for almost two years, stepped back from her Director’s position effective in May. We’re so grateful for Bailey’s valued participation on the Board over that time and we’re pleased that we’ll benefit from her media skills on some upcoming special projects.
Until our next ChipNote later this summer, I wish you great birding!
- Jean Pichler, President
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We’re 65 years old! Under the sponsorship of Sarasota Audubon Society, Venice Area Audubon Society was established in 1965 as a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. We’re immensely proud of our history and legacy throughout the Venice area which we hope continues well into the future. Watch for more details as we celebrate throughout this year. |
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Purple Martin Monitoring Continues
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Twice a week, volunteers continue to crank down the purple martin racks to assess the Rookery Park colony. With each check, more gourds hold less birds as fledglings take to the sky. Youngsters make their first flight just 26-32 days after hatching, perfecting their controlled flight and landing skills while building up strength for their first migration later this summer. On the opposite end of the breeding spectrum, there are also a couple of late nesters with very young chicks who will be ready to fly by late June or early July.
Please join us for one of the upcoming nest checks on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Beginning this month, nest checks will take place those days at 10:00 AM. These beautiful songbirds will be gone from our colony by mid-July to join super colonies in preparation for their return to Brazil.
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Volunteers assessing Purple Martin nests. |
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Book Club Summer Selections
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Grab your iced tea and a good book this summer! Join us for an in-person discussion at the Venice Audubon Center or remotely with Zoom. We hope you can read the book in advance but it isn’t required to join the discussion. Details about the books and discussions are on the website Calendar.
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Galapagos Islands Spring 2026 Adventure
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Following three successful international birding trips to Ecuador and Costa Rica, VAAS has again chosen Holbrook Travel to facilitate our Spring 2026 adventure to iconic Galapagos Islands. This small-group cruise expedition aboard M/C Tip Top V will take place from May 6 - May 18, 2026 and will explore the eastern islands as well as Isabela.
Highlights include several snorkeling excursions where we will come face-to-face with sea lions, turtles, sharks, rays, and colorful fish, a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station’s tortoise breeding center, a hike around active Chico and Sierra Negra Volcanoes, and opportunities to observe marine and land iguanas and Galápagos fur seals.
Birds we can expect to see include Great Frigatebirds, Red-footed, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Galápagos Doves, Swallow-tailed Gulls, the Galápagos Short-eared Owl, Galápagos Shearwaters, Galápagos Hawks, Darwin's finches, Galápagos Mockingbirds, American Flamingoes, Waved Albatross, and with luck, Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants.
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Blue-footed Booby (KS Nature Photography) |
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Eastern Meadowlark
BIRD OF THE MONTH BY MARGARET F. VIENS
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Photo by Margaret Viens – Live Oak Blvd, Punta Gorda, FL – March 8, 2024 |
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The Eastern Meadowlark is not a lark, but rather, a member of the Blackbird family. It is a ground dwelling bird that when seen from the back is streaked brown and black, but from the front is quite breathtaking with it’s bright yellow throat and chest and black chevron, which makes it stand out in the grassy fields, pastures and meadows it inhabits. It is about 9.5” long with a short tail and long legs and feet.
The meadowlark has a beautiful, clear, whistled, melodious song that can be heard from quite a distance away. Males will often perch on a fence pole or utility line to sing and declare their territory. They may have two and occasionally, three mates at a time. Meadowlarks nest on the ground in a dome-shaped nest made of dried grass, pine needles and stems. Females typically lay three to seven pale pink eggs with brown and lavender spots. Incubation is 13-14 days and is carried out by both parents.
The Eastern Meadowlark’s range is extensive, from the eastern part of North America into parts of Central and South America. Their global population is estimated at ten million individuals. However, it may be decreasing due to loss of habitat and increased urbanization. They feed mostly on insects, but also eat seeds and berries they find by probing with their long, pointed bill. Predators include hawks, cats, dogs, racoons, and snakes.
References:
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veniceaudubon.org / PO Box 1381 Venice, FL 34284 / 941-496-8984
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