Tampa Audubon Society

By Mic McCarty, Field Trip Coordinator We’ve all watched the pecking order at our backyard bird feeders and as birds forage at the beach. Have you ever wondered why birds act like they do?  What makes a grackle’s feather appear black until the sun shines on it, making it suddenly appear  iridescent blue? Why do some birds mimic other birds? Are birds walking on their feet or do they walk on their toes?   There are several books that delve into these questions. For a less in-depth look, check out David Sibley’s   What It's Like to Be a Bird . This book is “. . . geared as much to nonbirders as it is to the out-and-out obsessed, covering more than two hundred species and including more than 330 new illustrations by the author.” Available from most book retailers, you can order an autographed copy here .     Another good read is John Kricher’s   Peterson Reference Guide to Bird Behavior.   “This book makes it possible to move beyond identifying birds to understanding some of the under

Participate in the National Audubon Society’s 123rd Christmas Bird Count!  We'll hoot for owls in the pre-dawn dark and count every bird we find. Participants do not have to count all day — count for whatever portion of the day you can. If you live in our count area, you can report the species you see from your home. The count areas are divided into circles. Circles are further divided into sectors, which are counted by Tampa Audubon and other individuals. Hillsborough County has two circles - the Alafia Circle and Tampa Circle.  Here are three ways to join: To join the Tampa Audubon sectors in the Alafia Circle (Dec. 18) or the Tampa Circle (Dec. 31), contact Mary Keith . To join the Alafia Circle count (outside the Tampa Audubon sectors) on Dec. 18, email  Charlie Fisher .  To join the Tampa Circle  (outside the Tampa Audubon sectors)  on Dec. 31, contact David Bowman .    Important! Pre-registration is required. Visit the TAS website or contact Mary Keith for more information. C

By Wild Birds Unlimited, Tampa Family traditions…in many ways these are what make the holidays so highly anticipated and uniquely special.   Maybe it’s that very special meal, complete with all of your family’s favorite recipes and fixings. Heaven forbid if someone goes rogue and changes the menu!   Perhaps it’s the tradition of a house filled with holiday music and the special decorations that are now long-standing family mementos. What a feeling it gives the moment you walk in the door. For many of us, our backyard birds are part of our family’s holiday tradition, too.    Have you ever noticed that you make a special effort to make sure that your feeders are topped off and ready for each family gathering? Do you realize that all of the young children that visit your home have come to expect lots of birds in the backyard? Have you noticed that every year, all of your friends make comments about how much they enjoy your special yard? Yes, birds are already part of your family’s traditi

See the end for a FREE offer from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, just for members of Tampa Audubon!! Use all the information you can get, including shape, size, color, pattern, behavior, habitat, range, and sounds. Try to see more than one characteristic; always try for at least two or more. See the whole bird; pay attention to everything from bill to tail. Sketching birds can help. If you know the common birds really well, the rare birds will stand out. Expect variation in every species. Learn how birds and feathers move so you know how a single bird can change its appearance. Size is only relative; compare a bird with something, even with itself. Watch birds with other people and learn from those with more experience. The magic of master birders is familiarity; the more time you spend watching birds the better a birder you will become. Everyone makes mistakes in bird identification. Everyone. Learn from yours. Tips  courtesy of   Bird Academy , Cornell Lab of Ornithology, from its 

Hello Audubon Friends, We should all take a deep breath as the summer has come to an end, and what is hopefully the close of the hurricane season. With Thanksgiving and the December holidays, we all should also take a few minutes to count our blessings.  I want to do that now, with you.   There is so much for us to be grateful for, in our Audubon world. I can share with you some of my points of gratefulness. I am sure that you have many to add to my list.   First, I am grateful for my family. That goes without saying.   I am grateful for the opportunity to get out in the field with Audubon members and friends, to see birds, dragonflies, butterflies, turtles, alligators and even snakes (!), in our special local habitats.  Because of national wildlife refuges, state parks, county preserves, aquatic preserves, and land conservation organization preserves, we have abundant places in our region to see wildlife, to walk or bike or kayak or boat in beautiful landscapes.  These places have bee