19 for additional information.

Help stop future invasive species...

The Invasive Fish and Wildlife Prevention Act of 2013 will change the review process for exotic imports from the current average of four years to a maximum of 180 days. The current average time for a review allows too many invasive exotics to become so established that there is no way to undo the invasion and the harm that it causes.

It is a proactive law that could stop the next python, lion fish, or Asian carp. The cost of implementing the bill would be far, far less than the cost of trying to solve the problems created by exotic species after it is too late to to prevent their introduction.

If you live in Congressional District 19 (coastal Collier County and almost all of Lee County) or District 25 (Collier county east of I-75), please email or call your respective Congressman and let him know you support House Bill 996 and wish that they would as well. Contact information is below.

Congressmen pay much more attention to people from their own districts, who are the ones who elect them and who they hope will re-elect them, so your input will be read and it is important. If you choose to email a message, use the web address below and then click on "Contact." It will ask for your zip code to be sure you are actually registered in their respective districts.

If there are any questions or if you would like to have a presentation about the bill in full detail, please contact Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's Harry Bailey at (239) 229-8164 or hbailey@audubon.org.

A letter to Congress summarizing of the benefits of the bill, co-signed by The Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society, The Wildlife Society, National Wildlife Federation, and the Great Lakes United, is at www.corkscrewsanctuary.org/HB996.pdf.

District 19: Trey Radel
http://treyradel.house.gov/
Washington phone: 1-202-225-2536
Naples phone: 252-6225
Cape Coral phone: 573-5837

District 25: Mario Diaz-Balart
http://mariodiazbalart.house.gov/
Washington phone: 1-202-225-4211
Naples phone: 348-1620

April 13 birding trip to Lasip, Sugden finds 41 species

Birding started early with the birders meeting at the Publix on Rattlesnake Hammock to be able to carpool to Serenity. While waiting for all to assemble we saw an Immature Bald Eagle, Eurasian Collared Dove, Starling, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mocking bird and Boat-tailed and Common Grackle. Two Mottled Ducks flew across the canal on our way to the park.

Total lists for Lasip (Serenity) and Sugden are below. Total bird numbers were 41 species seen at the parks and Publix.

Lasip Mitigation Park
7:39 AM - 9:39 AM
18 species

Great Egret 1
Mourning Dove 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Blue Jay 3
Fish Crow 2
Purple Martin 3
Brown-headed Nuthatch 4
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Palm Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 1
Common Grackle 1

Sugden Regional Park
10:02 AM - 11:32 AM
32 species

Muscovy Duck (Domestic type) 1
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Anhinga 10 8 babies, 3 nests
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
Little Blue Heron 3
Tricolored Heron 1
Cattle Egret 1
Green Heron 1
White Ibis 8
Black Vulture 13
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Common Gallinule 3
American Coot 7
Least Tern 8
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Loggerhead Shrike 1
Blue Jay 8
Fish Crow 1
Gray Catbird 6
Northern Mockingbird 4
European Starling 7
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 6
Boat-tailed Grackle 5

Brad Cornell receives 2011 Pathfinder Award

Since 2002, ULI Southwest Florida (Urban Land Institution-SW Florida) has given out a yearly Pathfinder Award. This year, the committee of 12 previous recipients unanimously voted on Brad Cornell as the 2011 recipient.

This award recognizes individuals that best fulfill the ULI's mission, which is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide and will bring public attention to their benchmarking achievements.

The Pathfinder Award represents the pioneering spirit being recognized in the area's citizens who give back to the community whether it is through involvement in the political arena, environmental issues, building consensus, promoting regional cooperation, preserving biodiversity, enhancing natural resources, or any other contributions that add to the quality of life in Southwest Florida.

The award was presented to Brad on January 13, 2011, at The Winter Institute (Trends Conference) that was held at Olde Cypress in Naples.

All text, photos, graphics ©2007-2010 Collier County Audubon Society unless otherwise noted. Do not reproduce without prior permission.

since June 13, 2007