Southeast Volusia Audubon Society, Inc. Vol. 32 - No.
3 December, 2006
Prez Sez
As some of you know, I spent the summer as a National
Park Interpretive Ranger at Devils Tower National Monu-
ment in Wyoming . As a ranger, a person can really be in-
volved with nature and see nature in action.
A really interesting event occurred while I was roving on
the Tower Trail. As I was starting up the trail, I heard a
couple of kids scream behind me. I turned around to see a
five foot Bull Snake slithering across the trail in front of
them. All the visitors with cameras were capturing the event.
Then the snake went out of sight only to resurface a couple
of minutes later working its way up a tree. That was when I
got my camera out and declared that rangers are tourists too.
Well, everything was going well until the snake got up to a
branch about twelve feet up and then the commotion started.
About a dozen Robins started screaming and hollering at this
snake and we finally saw the reason for the commotion—a
Robins’ nest within a few feet of the snake. Some of the
visitors were aghast, and some were in awe of seeing nature
at work. I asked them what they expected me to do. Should
I trash the snake to allow the baby robins to survive? Or
should I let nature take her course. Of course you know what
I did. After all was said and done, the robins prevailed and
the snake retreated with nothing to show for its efforts.
Fast forward to the present. When Maureen and I returned
to Florida at the end of October, we alternated reconfiguring
the house with walks on the beach. On our first outing, I was
amazed to find the amount of sand the county had put onto
the beaches. It was about 7 feet high and the entire set of
stairs from the 21st street Park were covered and unusable.
Three days later, the entire steps were visible and usable. A
couple of days later, we could see the walls the condos had
erected to stave off the relentless waves. I wish I had my
camera to get some before and after pictures. All the time,
effort and our money to re-nourish the beach are gone. Na-
ture has once again taken her course. We should have let her
do so in the first place.
—Don
EcoSpun™Bags
A good deal at $8 ea.
Available at meetings.
107th Christmas Bird Count
T he Ponce Inlet Christmas Bird Count will be con-
ducted Saturday, December 30th, 2006. We will meet at the
Brannon Center at 6:30 am to start the day and we have
reservations at the Main Street Grill for 5:00 P.M. for our
evening dinner and tally.
Dick & Gail Domroski will be coordinating this year so
please call them at 428-0447 or e-mail at
r_domroski@bellsouth.net as soon as possible to let them
know if you will be helping or if you have any questions.
Remember, this is an all day effort so bring lunch,
snacks, water etc. and wear comfortable clothing for weather
conditions that day.
—Dick & Gail Domroski
Party Time
T he Volusia/Flagler Sierra Club would like to invite all
Audubon members to our Christmas Party – to be held on
December 6th, 2006 at 7 P.M. The club will provide the main
dish (turkey / ham or both) and drinks. Please feel free to bring
a side dish or desert. The party will be at St. Peter The
Fisherman’s Church on Saxon Drive, beachside in New
Smyrna Beach. If you have any questions – or just want to let
me know what you will be bringing – please call Pam Powell at
428-9312.
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE!
Our Audubon chapter voted (unanimously) to cancel our
own meeting that night to be able to answer this invitation.
The Sierra Club party will be held in the Parish House
overlooking the marsh behind the church—a perfect setting for
environmentalists.
New Members
W e welcome Leslie Kelly, Margaret MacArthur,
Donna Rankin, Anne Ross, Susan Stewart & Judith Anderson.
We're looking forward to meeting you in person at the
monthly meetings and hope you'll participate in the excellent
field trips.
2 The Skimmer December, 2006

Conservation Notes
A New Mascot?

S ometimes I think Florida needs a different creature to represent it. The mockingbird is the state bird, but is a northern
species. Some environmentalists have suggested the manatee as the state animal. In my view the gentle, harmless and homely, but
attractive manatee is too much of a victim to symbolize state pride. But maybe the scarred-back manatee is an appropriate symbol of
a state that is losing its wildlife and natural beauty to rampant development, unfettered urban sprawl and unlimited growth of fast
boats.
Rather than picking a docile victim, I would select a sleek, bejeweled and supple member of an ancient clan that once ruled the
earth, long before two-legged creatures evolved to dominance. This wild creature is supremely competent at what it does. It speaks
for nature and warns mankind:

“You cut down tall trees that shield us from sun.

You bulldoze palmettos that shelter my game.
You despoil clean waters that cradled all life.
You drain off wetlands that many call home.
Still more of our home you destroy.
If you killed us from hunger,
I might understand.
But I have no taste for you.
I am crotalus adamenteus,
Lord of the Thicket.
Leave us here in peace.
I would wear my regal coat until it fits no more,
then cast it aside.
Never do I raise my voice nor attack you unless provoked.
But heed my clear vibrations that you will not forget.
Meet my stare, if you would learn respect.
I am the big one, the diamond wearer.
Back off, brash upstart!
I bite!”

Well how about it, Auduboners. Shall we strive to enthrone the Lord of the Thicket as our state animal? There is a precedent for
such action. A well known revolutionary period flag displayed the motto, “Don’t Tread on Me”
Florida is not being walked on, it is being stomped, kicked and ripped. Unless most Floridians show some fight, this once-
beautiful land will be trashed and its economy destroyed. Wetlands protection has become a sad joke in Florida. Activists strive to
buy a few parcels for preservation and can feel good about that, but efforts to manage and slow down the pace of relentless growth
have been futile.
And the worst threat of all is being ignored. Florida is the state most vulnerable to sea level rise topped off with major
hurricanes, yet climate change was not even mentioned in recent Florida elections. Unchecked global heating will surely destroy
coastal Florida, and if humans continue recklessly stoking the greenhouse, the entire peninsula will eventually disappear under the
sea. We have maybe a decade in which to act before polar melting becomes irreversible.
Other countries and even a few US states are seeing marches and demonstrations demanding action to curb greenhouse
emissions, but we remain asleep. We should be sounding the alarm and leading the charge to cut greenhouse emissions.
I don’t know if Floridians can be awakened in time.
—Lee Bidgood
The Skimmer
Scrub Jay Update
Audubon Monitoring Site
A udubon is monitoring a scrub jay habitat at the
YMCA in Edgewater.
This mitigated property was nearly lost before Audubon
members reminded the City of Edgewater about their obliga-
tion to maintain the property for scrub jay habitat. So come see
the beautiful female scrub jay residing there and volunteer to
take one day a month or less on a rotating basis to monitor this
bird's condition and the condition of the habitat. A black and
white warbler and an immature eagle, among other birds com-
mon to Florida, have also been spotted @ the YMCA. Please
contact Kathy Booth @ 409-3091 or cell 416-8550, if you want
to take a field trip to the property and would like a guide, or if
you are interested in volunteering as described.
Groups welcome.
—Kathy Booth
December Field Trip
Merritt Island - Dec. 9
T his is one of my favorite field trips, it ranks right up
there with the spring trip to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine.
Usually, although not always, there are a lot of birds on the 130,
000 + acreage. Of course, our group
doesn't traverse the whole ref-
uge. We generally confine
our birding to the seven
mile Black Point Wildlife
Drive, hopping in and out
of our pooled cars along the
way. I haul my camera gear
along and most of the time I'm able to
set up tripod and long lens while the rest of the group peers
through spotting scopes and binoculars at the sea of birds
before us. Some years the number of birds is mind boggling and
some years there are fewer but it's always a healthy breezy
lovely Florida outdoor winter experience. For the photogs
among us, there are many, many "Kodak moments."
Weather permitting—as you know, it does get chilly
sometimes here in the Sunshine State—we finish up with a
picnic at the nearby Visitors' Center. Some members and
guests prefer to dine indoors and take off for Titusville (only
minutes away) or my favorite place Cocoa Village (a little
farther down US-1) where there are plenty of good eateries.
So, plan on coming along. Gail & Richard (and a few
other excellent birder-members) do a great job of identifying
species among the many birds we see. If you're not a member—
perhaps you've picked this Skimmer up somewhere in town—
you're welcome to come along. These field trips are free and
open to all. No birding experience necessary and this trip
requires very little walking.
Join us for a morning outing.
—Gil Miller
December, 2006 3
Native & Nice
Ilex vomitoria
I n keeping with the holi-
day season, this month’s column
features the yaupon holly (Ilex
vomitoria), a study in red and green.
Like most hollies, the male trees pro-
duce bright red berries against ever-
green foliage at this time of year.
Nine years ago, when Gil and I moved to Florida, our
backyard had just one scrawny, knee-high “tree.” Except that it
was our sole tree, there was not much to like—a scraggly shrub
profusely covered with tiny thorns. Today it stands about 10
feet tall and its irregular shape has grown to graceful propor-
tions. In spring, every branch is covered with tiny white flower
clusters which, in turn, are covered with nectar-seeking bees.
Aside from the fact that our female yaupon produces no
berries, its only detractor is a growth habit that is an asset if an
informal hedge is desired: yaupons send up numerous shoots
from their roots necessitating vigilant pruning to retain a single
tree.
Yaupons are tolerant flora. They thrive in a variety of
moist to dry habitats, accept full-sun to light shade conditions,
and tolerate salt. Also, yaupons are wildlife-friendly; in addi-
tion to the nectar of their blossoms, their berries are a good food
source; and their dense branches form a protective haven for
small animals.
A good place to see yaupons in the wild is Spruce
Creek Park. Another species, Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine),
can be see in full berry from the boardwalk that crosses the
marsh.
—Donnadine Miller
November Field Trip
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge —
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2006
S even members including newest
member Brent Battersby spent a very
pleasant morning at Lake Woodruff Na-
tional Wildlife Refuge. Although there
were gale warnings along the coast it was
only mildly breezy at the refuge. The windy conditions did
seem to keep most of the birds grounded except for the hun-
dreds of Tree Swallows heading south and the ever-present
Turkey and Black Vultures circling overhead. We did however
manage 29 species overall with good looks at most as they were
clinging to limbs and bushes. Afterward, we enjoyed a picnic
lunch at Chuck Lennon Park while watching a softball game.
—Richard & Gail Domroski
SOUTHEAST VOLUSIA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. Box 46
New Smyrna Beach, FL. 32170
MISSION STATEMENT: THE SOUTHEAST VOLUSIA AUDUBON SOCIETY PROMOTES THE PROTECTION OF
BIRDS, OTHER WILDLIFE AND THEIR HABITAT THROUGH EDUCATION AND ACTIVISM.
Officers & Chairs
President: Don Picard
VP: Lee Bidgood
Secretary: Helga Carlson
Treasurer: Richard Domroski
Newsletter: Gil Miller
Programs: Ken Gunn
Field Trips: Gail Domroski
Conservation: Lee Bidgood
Membership: Richard Domroski
New Member Greeter: Mary Yon
Publicity: Catherine Bidgood
BRC Liason: Phyllis Lamborn
Education/Outreach: Vacant
Ways & Means: Vacant
Hospitality: Vacant
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
New Smyrna Beach, Fl.
Permit No. 59
Meetings
Meetings are held the 1st Wednesdays
321-206-4658 sevas@cfl.rr.com
Oct. thru March
423-4682 bidgood@ucnsb.net
*Edgewater Library 103 Indian River Blvd. 7: P.M.
423-5700 hcarls3@ucnsb.net
Smoke-free environment. Refreshments are served.
428-0447 r_domroski@bellsouth.net Plenty of parking. Public welcome.
Wed., December 6, 7 P.M.
423-4124 the.skimmer@yahoo.com
Meeting w/ Sierra Club *(Note change of venue)
423-2334 gunnsatbeach@cfl.rr.com *St. Peter, The Fisherman Church - 4220 Saxon Dr., NSB
428-0447 r_domroski@bellsouth.nett
Programs & Field trips subject to change.
423-4682 bidgood@ucnsb.net
r_domroski@bellsouth.net
428-0447
Field Trips
423-5934
Field trips begin at 8:00 A.M. unless otherwise noted. Meet in
423-4682 CBidgood@ucnsb.net the Market Square parking lot Edgewater, Ridgewood Ave. &
442, between Dunkin Donuts & Chik-Fil-A.
423-1434 plamborn@cfl.rr.com
Bring lunch & drinks. Don't forget bug-spray!
Sat. Dec. 9 - Merritt Island
Questions? Contact Gail Domroski 428-0447
Audubon members and guests are all welcome.