Reach us by calling 727-442-9140 or visit us at www.clearwateraudubon.
org
Photo: Mike McCarthy
Marina Scarr writes about the day the osprey landed on her head in an email which
was sent out. “Went out with my good friend Mike via boat this weekend to check on the
osprey nest we have been watching. Last week all 3 juveniles were testing their
wings. This week, there was only ONE left in the nest. For two hours
I photographed the remaining juvenile testing his wings and continuously verbally encour-
aged him. Finally, he left the nest and I was able to photograph his departure. He flew
directly toward us. Soon he was directly over me and looking right into my lens. It was at
that moment I realized he was going to land on the boat. However, his first official landing
was on my head! My friend was able to take a few photographs (after I had slowly walked
to the back of the boat with the bird on my head) before it flew off about 3 mins later. My
head is still a bit sore from his talons penetrating my scalp...but worth it for sure! “
Marina’s website will be active in about a month. marinascarrphotography.com
Inside this issue…
In for a Landing ................................................................................................................................................................................. Page 1
Take the Green Pledge for a Prize .............................................................................................................................................................. 2
Home Sweet Home and Advocacy Message ..................................................................................................................................... Page 3
Anclote Nest Falls.............................................................................................................................................................................. Page 6
Membership Form ............................................................................................................................................................................. Page 7
August & September 2010
Vol. 44 No. 4
Supporting our community since 1959
In for a Landing
By Barbara Walker
The first year I watched and monitored bald eagles I found out what
many enthusiasts do. Once the eagles have moved away from their
nesting territories a sort of depressed feeling creeps up. The answer to
combat the eagle emptiness is easy, watch ospreys or swallow-tailed
kites. Throw in a short-tailed hawk along way and the skies the limit!
Since I am a volunteer for the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey http://
fl.audubon.org/who_centers_CBOP.html
I figured I might as well keep an eye on as many of them as possible
and I have enlisted the help of others along the way.
This year Eckerd College students, under the tutelage Dr. Beth Forys,
located and counted 49 nests in southern Pinellas. Terri Cunningham,
Judy Fisher, Barbara Hodges, Wendy Meehan, Wilf Yusek and Joe
Zarolinski as well as many others have helped collect data in mid and
northern Pinellas. As a result we have an excellent database of nests in
Pinellas to analyze. Among the results will be an estimate of the per-
centage of nests on artificial structures. We will continue to monitor
the activity at the nests annually to determine the percentage of early
nesters vs. late nesters which will give us a sense for the percentage of
our population which might be migratory. One hope is that in the fu-
ture satellite trackers can be placed on early and late nesting adults to
see if the theory has any validity. The DunedinOspreyCam pair would
be ideal for tracking as they are one of the earliest nesting pairs in the
county.
We’ve discovered a lot of interesting nests and observed lots of inter-
esting and funny osprey behavior. Last year many young ospreys died
of emaciation. This year not as many. We’ve seen their ups and their
downs. Their downs usually quite saddening. Mortality along bridges
remains high. Vehicle trauma continues to be the event that kills the
most ospreys. Future concerns include any impacts to the food chain
caused by the oil spill and dispersants. Last year more nests fell due to
the severe storm on April 14th. A few nests failed this year with the
cause unknown.
Ospreys are among my favorite birds to watch because they are so en-
tertaining. At this time ‘osprey emptiness’ has begun to set in and
sightings at nests have become fewer and farther between. The high
level of activity of swallow-tailed kites also will be absent from this
area within days. The fringes of migration are upon us. Soon the ea-
gles will be back.
Our Motto: Conservation Through Education
 Wing Beat August & September 2010
Vol. 44 No. 4

Wing Beat is published February, April, June, August, October, & December
by the Clearwater Audubon Society.
Michael J. Adams, DDS
Clearwater Audubon Society serving all of North Pinellas since 1959 Pamela G. Adams, DDS, MS, PA
PO Box 97
Clearwater, FL 33757
727-442-9140
www.clearwateraudubon.org 15 North Missouri Avenue
Webmaster—John Deighan Clearwater, Florida 33755
Wing Beat Editor - Barb Walker fax (727) 461-4835
Submissions deadline for the next issue (727) 461-4832
is September 10th, 2010. Submissions must be un-formatted in Times New Ro-
man.
McManus & McManus, P.A.
Please submit articles via email to: barbibird@tampabay.rr.com R. Bruce McManus Mary M. Taylor
or mail to the address above, Attn: Wingbeat Editor. Please use the subject line
Newsletter Submission.
Serving Pinellas Families for Estate
Planning, Probate, Trust Administration
Wing Beat advertising deadline for the next issue and Real Estate Matters
is September 10, 2010. Business size ads are $25 per issue.
Please address other rate inquiries to
Treasurer, Jane Williams at 727-447-7394. 79 Overbrook Blvd.
Largo, Fl. 33770 (727) 584-2128
Please submit ads via email to: adsubmision@clearwateraudubon.org \
or mail to the address above, Attn: Wingbeat Ads.
Office Hours By Appointment
Officers of Clearwater Audubon Society
727 area codes
President, Michael MacDonald 409-0459
1st VP, John Hood 461-4762 Kamilla Sztanko, DMD, PA
2nd VP, Sid Crawford 785-3960 3830 Tampa Road, Suite 100
Treasurer, Jane Williams 447-7394
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Corresponding Secretary, Jane Sumwalt 442-9140
Telephone (727) 789-4044
Recording Secretary, Marianne Korosy 772-7584
Membership Chair, Barbara MacDonald 776-2336
Education & Field Trip Chair, Lynn Sumerson 596-8822
Conservation Projects, Dana Kerstein 441-1609
Newsletter, EagleWatch, Barbara Walker 789-0183 HARVEY L. KERSTEIN, D.D.S.
COSMETIC AND FAMILY
DENTISTRY

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Our Motto: Conservation Through Education Supporting our community since 1959
Our Motto: Conservation Through Education Supporting our community since 1959

Home Sweet Home

By Barbara Walker

The Swallow-tailed Kites which appear near my home annually

were first spotted this year in the second week of March. Last
year the most reliable place to see the Swallow-tailed Kites was
along the edge of the Brooker Creek Preserve not far from East
Lake High School. I had no sightings in that location this year,
although I suspect I could have monitored that area longer with
potentially different results. However, my most reliable place to
see the kites this year was at home. They definitely nested in
the area as we saw them carrying food and defending nesting
territories. The Swallow-tailed Kites chased away the Ospreys
and the Red-Shouldered Hawks. They may defend up to 500
meters from their nest. At first we saw 2, and then 1 for awhile
and then 3! We observed the flying lessons and the feeding of
young all from our backyard and neighborhood.

Send Your Support of Bridging Tamiami Trail

After decades of roadblocks, the National Park Service (NPS) is moving forward with a plan to bridge Tamiami Trail
and let the water flow. The NPS is recommending an additional 5.5 miles of bridging to provide the greatest eco-
logical benefits. This is a huge step forward for a project that has been mired in decades of delay and disputes, but
your help is needed to ensure that the recommendation becomes a reality.

Tamiami Trail was built in 1928. A consequence of its construction was the division of the natural sheetflow of wa-
ter, which historically nourished the Everglades and provided the conditions necessary for wading bird colonies. For
the better part of a century, Tamiami Trail has cut off these natural Everglades water flows that made it one of the
richest ecosystems on Earth. Altering Tamiami Trail has long been recognized as one of the central needs in Ever-
glades restoration.

Sample Letter

Below is a sample letter to submit to the Park Service. To submit this letter, copy the the text below, click the link
at the end of this box, and paste the letter into the box indicated on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public
Comment form and complete your individual information.
As a supporter of Everglades restoration, thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Envi-
ronmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Tamiami Trail Modifications: Next Steps project. I write to express
strong and unequivocal support for the preferred alternative 6E: bridging 5.5 miles over the Tamiami Trail.

Everglades advocates have been fighting for twenty years to recreate the historic sheetflow into Everglades Na-
tional Park that supported the once characteristic abundance of wading birds and other wildlife. The preferred
alternative will finally provide the needed connectivity to reach this goal and enable wildlife populations to flour-
ish.

I urge you to finalize and move forward with the preferred alternative as soon as possible, as it will complement
the one mile bridge already under construction and support other Everglades restoration projects being planned
and constructed. In turn, this progress will ensure that the Everglades is a resilient ecosystem and a model for
restoration efforts all over the world.

The preferred alternative 6E is clearly the best option for achieving ecological benefits from restoration and is fi-
nally the answer to the longstanding call of Everglades advocates to bridge Tamiami Trail. Thank you for the op-
portunity to comment on this important restoration project and for your efforts at moving quickly to complete this
monumental project.
Please click here to send a letter of support for the Tamiami Trail Next Steps project to the National
Park Service.
Our Motto: Conservation Through Education Supporting our community since 1959
Anclote Power Plant Eagle Nest Tree Falls
By Barbara Walker
Photo: Andrea Pico Estrada Webb

EagleWatcher Craig Hueston of Tarpon Springs first reported the

downed eagle’s nest. “It’s just gone, “ he said on the phone. We
believe the nest came down in heavy rains which took place around
the Fourth of July. The tree had been leaning a long time. Eagle- Above: EagleWatcher Walt Spina photographed the nest and expressed con-
cerns early in the season.
Watcher Walt Spina expressed concerns about the nest early in the
season and hoped that the nest tree would not fall with eggs or young
during the last the nesting season. He got his wish. So far as the tree
falling, the timing was the best it could be. We avoided having any
rescues at the Progess Energy Power Plant property. The tree stood.
Progress Energy, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis-
sion , Pasco County Parks and Recreation and EagleWatchers have
been discussing ways to further protections for the eagle territory.

Progress Energy this year added diverters on the lines and black pole
caps on the tops of distribution poles. Pasco County removed spikes
that were on top of pilings at the Anclote River Park boat ramp. The
county is also considering a new trail to connect Anclote River Park
with Key Vista where another pair of eagles resides. Many species
of birds can be seen in the area which is along the Great Florida
Birding Trail.

The Anclote Power Plant nest is one of the most popular and fre-
quently visited nests in Florida with tourists and photographers lin-
ing the road to stop and see the prominent bald eagle pair which
seem relatively undisturbed by people, unlike most eagle pairs which
Above: Progress Energy’s Corey Zeigler and Wayne Richardson exam the fallen
are easily disturbed. The speed limit along Anclote Road remains a tree.
topic of consideration and an effort will be made to lower the limit.

The ultimate fate of the eagles is, of course, unknown. Last year the
nest produced 2 young and fledged 2 young. Where they nest next
is among one of the anticipations for next season. There are other
suitable nesting trees in the area at this time, right next to the tree, to
the west and to the north. They have little wiggle room with excep-
tion of due west as there are other eagle’s nests in every direction.

Pole spikes like these should be reported

and an effort should be made to remove
them. Locally please report the pres-
ence of the spikes to Barb Walker at 727
-789-0183 or to the Suncoast Seabird
Sanctuary at 727-391-6211.

Using the wrong pole spikes can cause

severe injury to birds. Suncoast Seabird
Sanctuary rescuers report seeing birds Above: Andrea Pico Estrada Webb sits on top of the fallen Anclote Power Plant
impaled on the spikes. nest known as PS014.
 Clearwater Audubon Society Membership Application
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Please enclose check to Clearwater Audubon Society for Chapter membership, or National Audubon Society for National membership

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P.O. Box 97
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Attention: Barbara MacDonald, Membership Chair

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Clearwater Audubon Society
PO Box 97 Non Profit Org
Clearwater, FL 33757
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WHAT IS THE CLEARWATER AUDUBON SOCIETY?

Reach us by calling 727-442-9140 or visit us at www.clearwateraudubon.org
Our purpose is embodied in our motto: Conservation • participation in bird surveys, which provide data for
though education & our activities include: vital ornithological research;

• protection of nesting, wintering and migrating birds • participation in local nature festivals;
through Project Colony Watch, rescue of chicks fallen
from rooftop nests, Project Eagle Watch, and participa- • publication of our bimonthly newsletter, Wingbeat, and
tion in the county-wide beach nesting bird survey; our website, at www.ClearwaterAudubon.org;

• education, including Audubon Adventures for elemen- • advocacy at the local, state and national levels.
tary school students, environmental education scholar-
ships for teachers and students, free birding classes for
the public, and a speakers bureau; YOU CAN HELP!

• sponsorship of projects at local nature parks; Whatever your interests or skills, we can use your help
protecting birds and the environment. If you like working
• field trips to prime birding locations in Florida, through- outdoors, writing, speaking, organizing, baking, or just
out the United States and internationally; meeting new people, we have opportunities for you. Call
the Clearwater Audubon Society at 727-442-9140 or an
• monthly meetings held October through May featuring officer listed on page 2 and we’ll tell you how you can
speakers on a wide array of environment-related topics; help.

Our Motto: Conservation Through Education Supporting our community since 1959