President's Message
Recently I wandered through Myakka River State Park with a friend and colleague visiting from out of state. A wildlife biologist and forest canopy scientist, he was enthralled with the park’s diverse ecosystems. The views were spectacular, from the Myakka soil to the wide-open scenery atop the canopy walkway tower. Low humidity, a light breeze, lifer bird species, plenty of flora and fauna and of course the river itself made for a perfect adventure in a premier wilderness area.
We observed, inspected, ruminated and wondered about so many things while we moseyed along. As my dad used to say, very tongue-in-cheek, “You might learn something new every day if you’re not careful.” So true, Dad (notwithstanding those lessons learned from the Danger Zone of Questionable Choices). I still embrace being a persistent learner and enjoy the experience even more with other curious minds along for the journey.
Wandering and wondering: two words with just a one letter difference. Venice Area Audubon is quite good at encouraging both through our activities, events and programs. The veniceaudubon.org website Calendar continues to expand the listings for programs, walks, and volunteer opportunities. Join us for a book club discussion in person or via Zoom, come along on a bird walk, sign up to volunteer at the rookery or with one of our education programs. We need and welcome your energy, enthusiasm, and curiosity and our offerings are free and open to the public.
Here's to a wander-full, wonder-full year ahead!
- Jean Pichler, President
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Upcoming VAAS Bird Walks - October & November
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Welcome back. Bird Walks for October and November will be posted on the VAAS calendar soon. Please refer to the calendar for the latest details. On occasion, bird walk scheduling or meeting locations may change due to unforeseen circumstances. For most bird walks registration is not required but is encouraged. If you register for a bird walk you will be contacted about any changes.
Many thanks to all who host VAAS bird walks.
(More bird walks coming in November)
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We’re proud to be a very active, volunteer-led organization. We have lots of opportunities for you to participate in our work in meaningful ways, whether you’re a year-round or seasonal resident, a visitor or vacationer. Do you like to “meet and greet”? We interact with the public in many ways and need representatives for Venice Area Audubon. Perhaps you enjoy getting your hands into some gardening or could help children learn about the amazing birds and habitats around us. Maybe you’re an “I’m here, I’m willing to help, just tell me what to do” kind of volunteer. If you’re an “indoor” person or an “outdoor” person, we can benefit from your time and talents! Visit our Volunteer information page for details and click the Volunteer Now button for additional opportunities. Questions? Let us know with an email to info@veniceaudubon.org.
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New Advocacy Team Initiative
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Over the last several years Venice Area Audubon Society has made remarkable progress in supporting our organization’s mission: To promote an understanding of, and interest in, wildlife and the environment that supports it, with a focus on birds and their habitat, and to foster the cause of conservation.
We promote understanding through all our educational programs reaching everyone from toddlers and elementary students to seniors. We promote an interest in wildlife through field trips, presentations, our docent program, bird stewardship and more. When it comes to "fostering the cause of conservation," however, we can do better by advocating loud enough and earnestly enough and in organized fashion, standing up for birds when their habitat is threatened, when funding for programs to research and protect bird populations are being cut and when those in the service of wildlife conservation are not getting the support they need to do their jobs.
Each of us has a voice, and as an organization, we have an even more powerful voice as advocates in the cause for conservation in the local community. There are times we can serve as advocates on regional, state and federal issues as well. To make our voices heard as effectively as possible, we are looking for a team of volunteers who will:
- Serve as the "eyes and ears" of the chapter for issues impacting birds and bird habitat
- Screen issues brought to the chapter’s attention by community members seeking our support
- Help organize our chapter response to issues using all the tools in the advocacy toolbox
Interested in serving as a member of the Advocacy Team? Please email Jean Pichler at info@veniceaudubon.org.
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March 2025 Trip to Costa Rica MONTHLY PROGRAM NIGHT
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October 21, 2025 6:00 pm refreshments 6:30 pm program begins
Venice United Church of Christ, Naar Hall 620 Shamrock Blvd., Venice
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Galapagos Islands Trip 2026
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Four spots remain for Venice Area Audubon Society’s Spring Adventure to Ecuador’s iconic Galapagos Islands. Our trip begins in Quito, Ecuador prior to embarking on a fifteen-person cruise aboard M/C Tip Top V, and will run from May 6 - May 18, 2026. The itinerary is uniquely curated for us by eco-specialists Holbrook Travel and your host, Eileen Gerle, to include exploration of the eastern islands as well as Isabela Island, affording the opportunity to observe the most “must see” bird species.
The Galápagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so listed due to their unique wildlife. The Islands are home to some of the highest levels of endemic species: about 80% of the land birds, 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, more than 30% of the plants, and more than 20% of the marine species living in the Galapagos are found nowhere else in the world!
Notable 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 eared Owl, Galápagos Shearwaters, Galápagos Hawks, Darwin's finches, Galápagos Mockingbirds, American Flamingoes, Waved Albatross, and with luck, Galapagos Penguins and Flightless Cormorants.
For pricing, the complete itinerary, and to reserve your spot, visit the Holbrook Travel website at: https://holbrook.travel/vaas-gps26. Spaces are limited. Don’t miss out on this fabulous trip!
Questions? Contact your host, Eileen Gerle at egerle@veniceaudubon.org.
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Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) BIRD OF THE MONTH BY MARGARET F. VIENS
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Photo by Margaret Viens - Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, FL. Jan. 24, 2022
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The Black-necked Stilt is a distinctive, tall, thin wading shorebird with black back and wings, white belly, and unmistakable long stilt-like “bubblegum” pink legs. Its legs are the longest in proportion to its body of any bird, with the exception of flamingos. It is about 14” tall with a wingspan of 29”. Sexes are quite similar but the female is slightly shorter and has a brown tinge to her back and wings. In flight stilts extend their neck out front and their pink legs behind.
Black-necked Stilts feed on aquatic invertebrates and small fish using three methods: they may peck at prey just below the surface using their needle-like black bill, or plunge for deeper food where their entire head and upper breast may be submerged. In addition, they will snatch at flying insects.
A mated pair of stilts will make a nest scrape on a high area of vegetation or an island, and line it with dead vegetation. The female will lay an average of four eggs. Both birds share in incubation, where in very hot climates it is to cool the eggs rather than keep them warm. Hatching occurs in 22-27 days. The precocious fluffy brown and gray chicks can begin running and searching for food within 1-2 hours of hatching. Even at this age, their legs show a slight pink tinge.
Predators of adults include falcons, hawks and harriers, while the eggs are susceptible to gulls, fox and ravens in addition to raptors.
Stilts can be found year-round in west-central Florida wading in shallow water along the edges of ponds and wetlands. Local sites where you are likely to see them are at Myakka River State Park and Celery Fields in Sarasota.
References:
- Robinson, J. A., J. M. Reed, J. P. Skorupa, and L. W. Oring (2020). Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- iBirdPro, Version 13.51 – Black-necked Stilt
- Crossley, Richard, The Crossley ID Guide, Eastern Birds, Princeton University Press, 2011
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Privet Senna (Senna ligustrina) PLANT OF THE MONTH BY ALETHA BOYLE
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Privet Senna is a perennial evergreen shrub that grows naturally throughout Florida, Central America, and the West Indies. It is a hardy legume with bright yellow flowers that attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. It can grow to eight feet tall and has vibrant green leaves and unscented flowers with five petals. Like other legumes, it has rhizomes and seedpods which, when mature (fall through spring), split explosively. The seeds, when soaked for three hours in warm water, can easily start new plants.
Privet Senna tolerates dry, sunny areas, hence its abundance in Florida. It is a host plant to cloudless sulphur butterfly larvae and less commonly the sleepy orange butterfly larvae.
If you would like to see Privet senna in a nearby birding spot, specimens can be found in the very back area of Bay Street Park off 41 N, just past Walmart in Osprey.
I started two plants from a native nursery last year, in my small Florida yard, and both did very well. I even had one Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar which formed a chrysalis and hatched!
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Left: Cloudless sulphur chrysalis. Above: Cloudless sulphur butterfly.
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ChipNote Production
Could you be the person we’re looking for? We need a tech-savvy individual to help with formatting and sending the monthly ChipNote newsletter. Preferred skills: comfortable with technology and web technology in particular, interested in learning new software, website experience. Please email info@veniceaudubon.org with the subject Web Help if you’re interested in discussing our needs in detail.
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