The St Petersburg Audubon Society is returning to Belize's Chan Chich and Hidden Valley lodges!  This will be our second trip--as a group--to a place most people swore they would never leave after the senses were attacked during the first ten minutes.  On our first visit to Chan Chich, we got out of the airport van and were greeted by a singing Red-capped Mannikan three feet from us at eye level.  The bird remained long enough that everyone got pictures.  I was tempted to touch it to make sure it was real!

I have put together a series of answers for the most frequently asked questions.  If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.

I cannot stress enough that there is great interest in this trip.  There are 12 spots left of the 14.  It takes only a $100 deposit per person to hold your spot.  Make checks out to St Petersburg Audubon Society and make a note "Belize trip."  Send your check to: St. Petersburg Audubon :: P.O. Box 49087 St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087.

Click on the Read More... link for more information.

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is a beloved house pet with over 77 million pet cats nationwide.  Of these, currently about 43 million spend some time outside.  Additionally, there may be 60 to 100 million homeless stray and feral cats.  Domestic cats have become a common feature not only of our backyards and city streets but also of our parks and other wild lands.  Domestic cats are non-native to Florida.  Animal behavior experts note that cats will hunt and kill even if well fed.  Domestic cats are very effective predators on prey animals including rabbits, squirrels, mice, lizards, snakes, and many species of wild birds.  They are not a part of natural ecosystem.  Scientists in Wisconsin estimate that cats kill at least 7.8 million birds per year in that state alone.  Even well-fed cats and cats with bells on their collars kill birds and small mammals.  Cats compete with native predators and spread disease.  They can be a nuisance and kill poultry and other small domestic livestock. 

Ever seen the emerald eyes of an Anhinga in mating plumage, the display dance of a Great Egret, the punk hairdo of baby Herons and the bald look of newly hatched Brown Pelican only a parent can love?

Here is your chance: join us for the Coffee Pot Bayou Bird Island Boat Cruise, Sunday evening, May 11!

Meet at 6.30 PM by the bait house at the end of the St. Petersburg Pier. Parking is available for a fee at the beginning of the Pier; a free trolley takes you to the end. Back at the Pier between 8.30 and 9 PM.

Cost is $20 per person. Space is limited. Make checks to SPAS and mail to Monique Borboen-Abrams, 2601 9th Ave N., St. Petersburg, FL33713. Call Monique at 727-230-0732 with any questions.

During this evening cruise, we will spend about one hour circling Coffee Pot Bayou Island, allowing very close looks at the 11 species of birds that nest there like Roseate Spoonbills, Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants and several species of herons and egrets.

The cruise will be narrated. Bring your binoculars.  We charter the Dolphin Queen, a boat spacious and stable enough to allow people to move around. It has a bathroom and offers a limited selection of snacks and beverages for sale.

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April 2008 Newsletter

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Thanks to these businesses for providing generous financial support to the Beach Nesting Bird program!

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