May 2, 2024 – Join Choctawhatchee Audubon as Jim Cox discusses the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This bird was listed as endangered in 1970. The old-growth pine forests and prescribed fires needed to sustain the woodpecker were in short supply during this period and most populations were in noticeable decline. Biologists working with woodpeckers were pessimistic about future prospects, but conditions began to change in the early 1990s with the advent of new management tools and development of a comprehensive recovery plan that set clear recovery goals for long-term stability. The recent proposal to downlist the woodpecker took place before those recovery goals were met and has led to controversy over the proposed change. Cox will provide an overview of the 50+ year saga of woodpecker recovery and management and the outstanding conditions needed for full recovery.
The program will be in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 pm. Come join in for a great time and refreshments!
May 4, 2024 – Saturday morning field trip to Laidlaw Preserve for birding with Bay County Audubon Society. Led by Neil Lamb leading 850`774`9733, or call Margaret 850`376`2025. You may opt to begin in Niceville; we will leave at 7:00 am from the CVS, Oak Creek Shopping Center parking lot, or you can meet us at 8:00 AM at the Preserve entrance gate. If coming from the Crestview area, take Interstate 10 east. Take Exit 112 (Bonifay – Panama City Bch) and drive South on FL Hwy 79 about 5.5 miles (specifically 1/3 mile S of Union Hill Rd). The entrance is on the West side of FL 79, which is a divided 4-lane. If coming from the FWB/Niceville/Destin/Freeport areas, drive East from Freeport to Ebro and there turn left onto FL Hwy 79. Drive to Vernon and continue on Hwy 79 another 4.7 miles to Union Hill Rd intersection, where you’ll back-track on the southbound lanes about 1/3 of a mile to the Preserve entrance road. Some cars will already be waiting at the preserve entrance. Bring drinking water and a sack lunch. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.
May, 11th – Malcolm Swan will lead us through Eglin Piney Woods for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and other specialties of tall and frequently-burned pine forest. Meet 7:30 am at the Eglin AFB Armament Museum parking lot, 100 Museum Dr, Eglin AFB. We’ll search for Bachman’s Sparrow and Northern Bobwhite, too. Go online to purchase a Jackson-Guard Pass for Eglin Reservation prior to this date. https://eglin.isportsman.net/
Happy Birding!