CONSERVATION UPDATE: LIGHTS OUT NORTHEAST FLORIDA
By Elizabeth Filippelli, Conservation Director
AUDUBON FLORIDA ASSEMBLY
 Happy Holidays to all and here’s hoping Fall birding has hit your sweet spot. This month’s conservation update is chock full of good news for everyone, so grab a nice warm beverage and sit back and enjoy. I had the opportunity to attend my first Audubon Florida Assembly event with Nora Bertacchi, Duval Audubon's Secretary. We saw many old friends and made new ones. The most amazing thing happened, our hard-working Lights Out Northeast Florida team received the Audubon Florida Education Award for 2024! I was humbled and thrilled to accept our first award and have an opportunity to gush and brag about our amazing team of volunteers and collision monitors. We are grateful to Audubon Florida for the recognition and for the opportunity to highlight the Lights Out Program. We know that we do not aspire to awards, however we recognize that awards bring attention! I was delighted that after the award ceremony, three Florida chapters and two Conservation Leadership Initiative students reached out to me and said they are interested in starting a Lights Out Program in their areas. Woo Hoo! All this great progress is dedicated to our collision monitor volunteers, and partners Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and St. Johns Regional Audubon.
PS – Meeting Audubon’s Chief Conservation Officer Marshall Johnson and strategizing to partner on bending the bird curve in NEFL was a highlight. Reach out to me at Elizabeth.filippelli@duvalaudubon.org if you are interested in learning more.
THE JAGUARS CONNECTION
 Amazing progress to report this month regarding our partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars leadership and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) on our bird threat concerns with their new stadium design. Our initial meetings have been fruitful, and the Jaguars leadership team is in the process of retaining ABC for a consulting contract! With ABC being the premier bird collision expert in the world, Lights Out Northeast Florida (LONF) is proud that Jaguars leadership will now have access to the top experts in the field. Next up for the Jags is a comprehensive review of our LONF Fall Collision Data and a tour of the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens showcasing the bird-friendly visual marker installations there. A special note of thanks goes to COJ Sustainability Manager Ashantae Green for connecting LONF with Jaguars leadership.
FEATHER FRIENDLY WINDOWS PROJECT AT MOSH
As we shared last month, the Feather Friendly visual marker installation at Jacksonville's Museum of Science and History is on target for Dec 3rd. We just received notice that our grant request from National Audubon in support of this project has been approved! The grant will provide funds for the DIY Feather Friendly product, supplies, and a pizza lunch for the volunteers helping with the installation. As you may recall, our bird-friendly window audit revealed that MOSH’s inner courtyard area is highly reflective and a threat to birds. MOSH, a leader in conservation advocacy, wants to partner with us to make their reflective glass windows safer for birds. Be on the lookout for the joint Press Release and the exciting installation before and after pictures on our social media. Ashantae Green will be stopping by on Dec 3rd to cheer us on and support our mission. Signage at the installation is important to educate the public; if you would like to contribute to signage costs, please reach out to me at Elizabeth.filippelli@duvalaudubon.org.
HUGUENOT MEMORIAL PARK MANGEMENT PLAN MEETING
by Elizabeth Filippelli, Conservation Director
A special thank you to our Bird Steward volunteers who came out in force for the Huguenot Memorial Park Management Plan public comments meeting on November 19th. We each had the opportunity to not only provide public comments on the draft plan but also have one-on-one open conversations with COJ Park Stakeholders. We appreciate meeting Jacksonville City Councilman Mike Gay and thank him for his support. Special thanks to Honorable Mayor Deegan and COJ’s Park Staff for providing an engaging community connection. More details will be shared in early 2025.
AUDUBON GRANT TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
by Elizabeth Filippelli, Conservation Director
 We are excited to announce that Duval Audubon Society has been awarded a “Plants for Birds” grant from Audubon Florida and Florida Power & Light. Our goal with this funding is to create a magical wellness-nurturing nature habitat within Eartha’s Farm and Market (EFAM). EFAM, an initiative of the Clara White Mission (a 501c3 nonprofit), and is an inspiring 10.5-acre urban farm located in the historic Moncrief Springs neighborhood of Jacksonville.
The grant funds will allow us to continue our mission to build “Urban Oases of Nature and Wellness” (UOONW) in Jacksonville’s Northside area. The UOONW project will provide the community with education and access to bird watching, nature walks, wellness events, native plant education, and citizen science programs such as Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch and Project FeederWatch. We are striving to flip the script on nature and wellness connections. Instead of inviting the community to our field trips and nature learning events, we will bring nature to them! This funding will allow our chapter to begin a journey of community connections in urban places where some children have limited or no access to nature and nature activities. If you would like to join the Joy Team please reach out to me or Outreach Director Johnna Bellen.
RIBAULT SCENIC DRIVE PARK WILDLIFE HABITAT CERTIFICATION
By Johnna Bellen, Outreach Director
 Duval Audubon Society is proud to have teamed up with Wild Birds Unlimited of Jacksonville. Together with DAS Conservation Director Elizabeth Filippelli and Community Outreach Director and Wild Birds Unlimited store manager Johnna Bellen, we presented Ribault Scenic Drive Park with a Wildlife Habitat Certification through WBU's partnership with the National Wildlife Federation. Special thanks to Wild Birds Unlimited Jacksonville for donating a feeding station, feeders, and food to the park. Thanks also go to the City of Jacksonville Parks Department, LISC Jacksonville, St. Johns Riverkeeper, Harriet Tubman Freedom Fighters, and 4H, for the native gardens, benches, and picnic tables. With the help of wonderful neighbors, the feeders will be monitored and kept full for all the beautiful birds we will attract. This is the first of many Urban Oasis of Nature and Wellness habitats we plan to create in the area.
UF SURVEY ON BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY IN SOCIAL MEDIA
By Carol Bailey-White, Editor
 University of Florida Ph.D. candidate Andrés León is conducting a research study entitled “Bird Photography's Rise on Social Media: Motivations and Factors Shaping the Birders’ Community.” This study is part of his PhD dissertation, and it aims to explore the factors influencing the growing trend of displaying and sharing bird photographs on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and other online channels.
He requested our help in distributing the survey link for anyone interested in sharing their views about this topic. The survey is brief, taking only 10-15 minutes to complete, and can be done at a time convenient for each participant. Participation is entirely voluntary, and there are no known or anticipated risks involved. All responses will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used strictly for academic purposes. The names of the respondents and any personal information will not appear in the research or publication.
Please click here if you would like to participate in this interesting survey!
THE BEST OF US: VIRTUAL PHOTO SHARE PROGRAM
By Carol Bailey-White, Editor
Speaking of bird photography, this month's program on December 14 will offer the chance to show off your favorite bird photos from 2024 and see others' pics as well!
Here's how it will work:
 STEP 1: Prepare a PowerPoint presentation with 5-10 of your very best/most memorable photos taken in 2024.- STEP 2: Register to participate in the Virtual Photo Share program.
- STEP 3: Email our moderator Kate Zeray at kate.zeray@duvalaudubon.org to reserve a spot in the queue (first come first serve).
- STEP 4: Join the Zoom meeting on Dec 14th at 1:00 PM and you will be able to screen-share your presentation when called upon by the moderator.
Time limit: 5 minutes per person.
Feel free to participate even if you don't have photos to share - everyone is welcome! Register here to attend.
Additionally, the winner of the Birds of Florida field guide giveaway will be announced during the December virtual meeting! Please enter to win here. Donations are not required to enter, and you don't have to be present to win (although we hope you will join us!)
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Here's what's happening this month:
- Bird Walk for Beginners @ Fort Caroline National Memorial: 9 - 11 am, Sunday, December 1, 2024 (more info here)
- Orange Audubon's North Shore Birding Festival @ Lake Apopka North Shore: Thursday, December 5 - Monday, December 9, 2024 (learn more)
- The Best of Us: Virtual Photo Share Program: 1 - 2:30 pm, Saturday, December 14, 2024 (register here)
- Jacksonville CBC: All day, Saturday, December 28, 2024 (more info)
JaxParks hosts many events for nature lovers, too! Click here and select EVENT CALENDAR to learn more.
Duval Audubon Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 16304
Jacksonville, FL 32245
www.duvalaudubon.org
   
|
