The Audubon Observer, May 2024
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CROSBY SANCTUARY NATIVE GARDEN EXPANSION PROJECT
In total we planted approximately 65 individual plants including the following species, fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora), pineland lantana (Lantana depressa), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Leavenworth’s tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii), seaside goldenrod (Solidago maritima), downy ragged goldenrod (Solidago petiolaris), slender goldenrod (Solidago stricta), horsemint (Monarda punctata), Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens),coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), sand cordgrass (Spartina bakerii), climbing aster (Symphyotrichum carolinianum), eastern smooth beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatus), woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), tall ironweed (Vernonia angustifolia), and Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa). They were mostly planted in groups of four or five plants to enhance the show upon bloom. Vines such as Carolina jessamine, coral honeysuckle and climbing aster were planted along the fence line to entwine and climb. Plant labels are currently being made that will help visitors recognize each species.
We hope to see you at Crosby in May on the third and fourth Saturdays from 8 am until 12 pm. The Prothonotary Warblers are back and can be seen (and/or at least heard) along the swamp trail! KIWI: FRUIT, BIRD, OR HUMAN?
The islands that comprise Aotearoa/New Zealand were the last habitable land mass to be settled by humans. Prior to the arrival of the Māori between 1250–1300 A.D. (to be followed by Europeans starting in the 17th century), the only native mammals were several species of bats and marine mammals. But birds abounded - particularly ground-nesting flightless birds. Unfortunately, with the arrival of introduced mammal predators (such as rats, possums and mustelids), it is estimated that New Zealand lost 40-50% of its bird species over the past 1,000 years. Nevertheless, modern-day New Zealanders place great value on restoring their native flora and fauna. Due to flightless birds’ particular vulnerability to predation, conservation efforts in New Zealand focus on creating bird sanctuaries free of invasive species such as stoats (aka Eurasian ermines), allowing native birds to regain a foothold. Key to these efforts is the conservation breeding of endangered native bird species to help rebuild populations in the wild. During my trip I had the opportunity to visit the Te Puia Kiwi Conservation Centre in Rotorua (North Island), which is also home to the National Kiwi Hatchery. Because these shy birds are nocturnal, we had to enter their darkened enclosure very quietly, silencing our phones and refraining from taking photos or videos. While the female stayed well hidden behind vegetation, we did get to see the male foraging quite close to the glass panel. If you can’t get enough of these unique birds, you can also visit Queenstown’s Kiwi Park (South Island), a privately owned sanctuary where you can get up close and personal with other native wildlife as well.
In short, Aotearoa/New Zealand is a superb place to visit! Its unique natural history, multi-cultural heritage, stunning landscapes and welcoming spirit make it truly a world traveler’s delight. MERLIN BIRD ID: A REVOLUTION IN BIRDING It may be hard to believe, but Cornell Lab of Ornithology's free Merlin Bird ID app is ten years old this year! It was initially released in 2014 as a step-by-step question-and-answer guide, asking where and when you saw the bird, the size of the bird, what colors you noticed, and what it was doing when you saw it. The app would then suggest birds that best matched the parameters you entered. The step-by-step wizard is still available on the app, but additional features have been added that allow users to even more quickly identify birds. The Photo ID feature, added in 2017, allows users to upload their own photos to the app, which then displays likely matches. I haven’t used this feature much because my cell phone doesn’t do a great job of capturing tiny, fast-moving birds, but those who have zoom cameras that are linked to their phones (mine is not) might find this feature useful.
This amazing app has made bird identification accessible to more bird enthusiasts than ever before, but users need to realize that Merlin is not infallible and sometimes gets it wrong. I recommend never relying solely on the Merlin app for an identification, but once you know what Merlin thinks it is, try hard to find the bird and confirm it for yourself before reporting that sighting on your eBird list (if you use eBird). Here are a few tips to get the most accurate results from Merlin:
The Merlin Bird ID app (especially the Sound ID feature) has had an incredible impact on the popularity of birding since its inception in 2014, and now more than 15 million people around the world use the app. It can truly enhance your birding experience if you use it wisely. Enjoy! UPCOMING ACTIVITIES Here's what's coming up this month:
Hope to see you soon! Duval Audubon Society, Inc.
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We’re proud to announce that the Carolyn Antman Native Plant Garden at our 
Our chapter was lucky enough to receive a Collaborative Grant award from 
Actually, all of the above! If you travel to New Zealand (as I did this past January), you will discover that New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis, enjoy the juicy kiwi fruit, and cherish the elusive nocturnal 
Throughout my stay I had the privilege of spotting a number of local birds, including the 
The feature that I (and probably most Merlin users) use the most is the 
