Take Action for Bird-Safe Buildings!

From Audubon's Action Center:

"Millions of birds are killed every year by colliding with buildings, especially during migration. In fact, studies estimate that between 300 million and one billion birds are killed each year from these collisions, making it one of the top causes of bird deaths.

We have the solutions that can reduce these needless deaths. From turning off building lights at night, to using bird-friendly glass or other materials, or limiting the use of glass, these simple and cost-effective practices can drastically cut down bird deaths.

The Bird-Safe Buildings Act, led by Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), will ensure that new or renovated federal buildings adopt bird-friendly guidelines. It will not only make public buildings safer for birds, but would also create a strong model to help inspire further action in states and cities across the country.

Birds need to navigate countless modern hazards while they undertake their incredible migrations. We need to do everything we can to make sure they get to their nesting grounds safely every spring."

Click here to take action now and urge your Member of Congress to support the bipartisan Bird-Safe Buildings Act!

2018/2019 Season Ending Soon

The end of our current activities season is coming up at the end of this month, so don't miss your chance to join us! Click the event titles for more info:

• Our last Beginning Bird Walk of the season will be held on Sunday, May 5 at Fort Caroline National Memorial in partnership with the National Park Service and the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.
• The Florida Shorebird Alliance is hosting Shorebird Steward Training from 1-3 pm on Tuesday, May 7 at the Ribault Club. RSVP here or contact Audubon Florida's Chris Farrell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
• Several great field trips are coming up this month as well: Kingsley Plantation on May 4, Fort Mose on May 18, and Huguenot Memorial Park on May 19! Check our Calendar of Events for more information on all of our activities.
• Got bird pics? Join us for our annual "Best of us: Photo Sharing and Potluck Dinner" end-of-season get-together starting at 6:30 pm on Monday, May 20 at the Charles M. Neviaser Education Institute of Community Hospice. Contact Deb Kainauskas at 904-254-0148 to reserve your spot for sharing your beautiful bird photographs. Special guest Shannon Blankinship, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER Advocacy Director, will present a short talk at the beginning of the meeting about the St. Johns River and the need for our community to become more resilient in the face of storm surge and rising waters. Don't miss it!
• Our final Crosby Sanctuary Bird Walk and Work Day is coming up on Saturday, May 25 - it's your last chance until the fall to experience this wonderful place for yourself!

After our summer break, we will resume our field trips and programs in September 2019. We hope to see you soon!

Love nature? Want to help share that love of nature with others? Consider applying to join Duval Audubon Society’s Board of Directors.

Founded in 1939, Duval Audubon Society is a chapter of Audubon Florida and the National Audubon Society. We currently have approximately 1,100 members in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties and are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Our chapter is dedicated to the enjoyment of birds and other wildlife. We have a primary focus on the preservation of a diversity of species and habitats through education, conservation, environmental leadership and community involvement. We offer a variety of field trips, programs, and volunteer opportunities that are open for anyone to attend.

We are an all-volunteer chapter governed by a Board of Directors who work together to determine the activities offered by the organization to further our mission, “Connecting people with nature, conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife.”

Currently there are three Board vacancies and we encourage anyone interested in serving as a Board member to apply. Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings and participate in chapter activities on a regular basis. Board Officers are appointed for a one-year term, and Directors serve for two years.

Here is a brief description of the current and upcoming Board openings:

• The Clay County Conservation Chair (a Director position) works on conservation issues in the Clay County area. This position serves a two-year term but may continue if willing and approved by the Board. 

• The Education Chair (a Director position) works with the President and Vice President to present educational outreach programs to school groups and other organizations in Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties. The Education Chair serves a two-year term but may continue if willing and approved by the Board. 

• The Volunteer Chair (a Director position) helps with recruiting volunteers from the chapter membership and the community for chapter projects and activities such as leading field trips, representing the chapter at outreach events, helping with monthly cleanups, and other projects as determined by the Board. The Volunteer Chair serves a two-year term but may continue if willing and approved by the Board.

If you are committed to helping to connect people with nature, please consider applying to join us in managing our chapter. You don’t have to be a great birder but having a love for nature and a passion for protecting and conserving birds and other wildlife would make you a wonderful addition to our team!

Send your completed application to Duval Audubon Society President Jody Willis: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or PO Box 16304, Jacksonville, FL 32245.

Questions? Please feel free to contact Jody or any current Board member.

Thank you!

Help our migrating and nesting shorebirds by keeping your distance!

This time of year, beachgoers, fishermen, and boaters are enjoying our coastal areas in northeast Florida.

It's also the time of year when shorebirds undertake some of the most spectacular of long-distance migrations of any North American birds. Nearly two-thirds of the species that breed in North America journey to their arctic nesting grounds in the spring after wintering in Central and South America. Many species traverse more than 15,000 miles in this annual circuit. Red Knots fly 9,300 miles from the southern tip of South America to the Arctic, stopping along the way to rest and feed before resuming their arduous journey. It's critical for them to be allowed to feed without being disturbed - for some, it may make the difference between life and death! Please, keep your distance and don't allow children or pets to run and cause the bird to "flush."

In addition, shorebirds like Royal Terns, Least Terns and American Oystercatchers are beginning their nesting season on our Northeast Florida beaches. Some shallow beach nests and eggs are well-camouflaged. Even small chicks can be easily overlooked and stepped on. We have a decreasing population of several species so awareness can be critical to their reproductive success. Please take care and say well away from nesting areas to avoid disturbing the birds. Eggs and chicks become vulnerable to our hot sun and predators when a parent is forced to leave their nest from disturbance.

One way to help Florida's beach-nesting birds is to become a Bird Steward at a beach or rooftop site. At beach-nesting sites, stewards who volunteer help ensure beachgoers do not enter fragile nesting areas and help educate visitors about the remarkable species that rely on Florida's shores for survival. Audubon will train you on the bird protections and biology you will need to be successful. Interested individuals should like spending time on the beach and interacting with the public.

There are several volunteer shorebird monitoring programs in our area - doing bird surveys, monitoring Least tern rooftop nests, bird stewarding and beach-nesting bird monitoring. All are an important step for shorebird awareness and protection in our area! It is also a good opportunity for folks to learn more about shorebirds and contribute to our community and our citizen science effort. Please contact Chris Farrel of Audubon Florida (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to learn how you can participate!

Take Action to Protect Wildlife: Contact your Government Representatives!

Florida is growing in leaps and bounds, more than one million more people now than in 2010! It’s hard to miss all the new development. For us and the birds and wildlife, it is our responsibility to ensure that new development happens in the most environmentally safe way possible. Duval Audubon Society will try to keep you informed of related current issues and how you can make your voice heard.

While you may get alerts from organizations asking you to sign petitions, calling or emailing your representative is much more effective. A call is the best and only takes a minute. You only need to identify yourself and indicate if you support or don’t support the issue involved. If it is a particular bill, the number of the bill should be noted.

To find out who represents you in government, link to the following websites:

U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov/representatives/find/

U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov/senators

Florida House of Representatives: www.myfloridahouse.gov

Florida Senate" www.flsenate.gov/senators/find

Jacksonville City Council Members: www.coj.net/city-council.aspx

Mayor Lenny Curry: www.coj.net/mayor-curry.aspx

Nassau County Commissioners: www.nassaucountyfl.com

Clay County Commissioners" www.claycountygov.com/about-us/board-of-county-commissioners