The Audubon Observer, April 2022
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RECENT RARITIES Last month we shared the stories of two of our members’ exciting adventures to Maine to see the amazing Steller’s Sea Eagle that appeared there at the end of December. But over the last few months there have been some thrilling rarities right here in Florida, and many of our members have gotten to add these fabulous birds to their life lists. Here are a few of the unusual bird species recently sighted in our area:
A fairly rare dark (or "blue") morph Snow Goose was spotted at M&M Dairy on the north side of Jacksonville in early February
These are just a few of the rare bird sightings that motivated local birders to get outside and go birding over the last several months. We can’t wait to see what rare bird will pop up next! ~ Carol Bailey-White, President JOIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS!
At the end of our current “season” on June 30, 2022, we will have several board director openings, including Conservation Director for Duval County, Education Director, EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Director, Programs Director, and Volunteer Director. In addition, we are currently without a Vice President, an officer position that will be critical in the coming year as the current president’s final term will end on June 30, 2023. Our proposed board officers and directors for 2022/2023 are: Officers:
Directors:
Board members attend monthly board meetings (held virtually via Zoom) and participate in chapter activities on a regular basis. Officers are appointed for a one-year term, and directors serve for two years. Board members may continue serving beyond their initial term if willing and approved by the board and the general membership. Board members should become a member of the Audubon organization if not already a member. If you are interested in joining our board to help our chapter achieve its mission, we encourage you to apply (or download and complete our paper application form and send via US Mail to Duval Audubon Society, PO Box 16304, Jacksonville, FL 32245). If there are multiple candidates for any of the officer positions (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary), an election will be held. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about joining our team. Thank you! SPOTLIGHT SPECIES: PRAIRIE WARBLER
Male Prairie Warblers are easily distinguished by their brilliant yellow coloring, black eye stripe and crescent below the eye, and black streaking on the sides and flanks. During breeding season, males also sport a rusty patch on their upper backs. Immature males (more likely seen in the fall) and females typically have similar but much paler coloring and markings. Listen for their delicate song in the springtime, a rising series of high-pitched buzzes, and watch for movement in the tree canopy. They seem to especially love our live oak trees, where they can find abundant insects to fuel their migration. EARTH DAY CLEANUP CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
We'll supply bags, gloves and grabbers, we just need YOU and your help! Please wear close-toed shoes or boots, and clothes that can get dirty. FOR YOUR SAFETY, NO SANDALS OR FLIP-FLOPS PLEASE! Please register on our Meetup site so we'll know how many to expect. We look forward to seeing you there! UPCOMING ACTIVITIES Here's what's happening this month:
We look forward to seeing you soon! All content by Carol Bailey-White unless otherwise noted. Duval Audubon Society, Inc.
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A 
Huguenot also hosted an 
Several 
and many local birders successfully added this bird to their life lists. Snow Geese are sporadic visitors to our area during the winter months, but the dark form is much less commonly seen than the all-white form, so it was a treat to see this bird happily grazing with a group of Canada Geese. Jay Kauffman’s photo of this unusual bird is at left.
Northern Cardinals that are yellow instead of the usual red have been spotted in several places across the southeastern US over the last several years and have gotten 
It’s that time of year when we consider nominations for our board of directors. We are an all-volunteer chapter governed by a board of directors who work together to plan and coordinate 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.”
April marks the peak of spring migration for many songbird species, and the striking 
Looking for a way to honor our home planet this Earth Day? Join us for a cleanup starting at 8:30 am on Friday, April 22 at the 
