Our history

The first National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on Christmas Day, 1900, when 27 birders noted all the birds they saw during the day. Those birders covered 25 different areas, mostly in cities in the Northeastern U.S.

Florida Audubon Society (FAS) was formed in Maitland, Florida.

Founding of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Florida Audubon Society for the Protection of Birds by Katherine Bell Tippetts (later renamed the St. Petersburg Audubon Society). The first meeting is held at the Belmont Hotel.

St. Petersburg Audubon Society (SPAS) posts summaries of state bird laws against killing of songbirds or game birds out of season.

Tippetts convinces the publisher of The Boys World to remove air-gun ads.

SPAS is involved in an effort to get state laws to protect American Robins. FAS developed a bill outlawing the killing or capture of American Robins. SPAS sent the state legislature a petition that, with signatures, was 70 feet long.

FAS and Tippetts urge passage of a law to establish Florida Fish & Game Commission.

During the first decade, SPAS members make annual, end of the year excursions to “Bird Key” (now known as Indian Key).

Congress passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

SPAS develops a how-to manual for boys on building bird houses and sponsors a bird house contest.

SPAS publishes an informational booklet about the organization and includes a summary of the bird laws of Florida.

SPAS becomes a leader in creating bird sanctuaries. Pinellas County has 11.

SPAS and FAS help support the federal migratory bird laws.

SPAS helps fund a warden to protect bird colonies on local islands until they receive federal protection in 1921.

Tippetts is elected the first woman president of FAS and serves until 1924.

By 1923, 30 municipal bird sanctuaries are established in Florida.

FAS persuades the legislature to make bird study required in public education.

SPAS creates and supplies Junior Audubon classes in Pinellas schools.

SPAS comes up with the idea for naming a state bird. Following a vote through the schools, the Eastern Mockingbird is chosen (renamed the Northern Mockingbird ).

As Chair of the Division of Conservation for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), Tippetts encourages states and women’s groups to name a bird for each state.

Daisy Morrison becomes first Chair of SPAS Pinellas CBC and serves in that capacity for the next 35 years. The first Pinellas CBC was held in the Gulfport area and 50 species were recorded.

Tippetts publishes a pamphlet of birds of the states (for use in education) in Nature Magazine.

Rousseau Bird and Game Reservation is established in Pinellas County.

The St. Petersburg Wildlife Sanctuary is established by an act of the Florida legislature.

Tippetts steps down as SPAS President and becomes President Emeritus. Mrs. Edward J. Laurence becomes President for one year.

Mary Louise Mills (formerly the Vice President 1937-40) becomes President. Through the leadership of Tippetts and Mills, outdoor nature education, supplemented with indoor programs in Pinellas County, becomes the forerunner of the nature center movement now sponsored throughout the U.S. by National Audubon society (NAS).

SPAS meetings are suspended during war years. However, Mary Lou Mills continued educational events in schools, as well as field trips for the Boy Scouts and weekly bird walks.

Dr. Herbert R. Mills, Tampa pathologist and conservationist, pays the salary of Warden Fred Schultz to oversee the bird sanctuaries in Tampa Bay. Dr. Mills helped establish the Tampa Bay Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries and worked with Rachel Carson to point out the dangers of pesticides.

The Log of Whisky Stump is published by FAS. The report was prepared by Dr. Herbert R. Mills (husband of Mary Louise Mills) and describes waterfowl’s importance to ecology in Tampa Bay. He noted that a rookery that had been trying to establish itself since 1921 (700 birds) had grown to 50,000 birds at the time of this report.

SPAS business meetings resume, weekly field trips, Junior Audubon Clubs and education programs are held.

SPAS begins NAS screen tour and lecture series.

Katherine Bell Tippetts passes away at the age of 85.

It is noted that huge numbers of American Robins are seen during this winter.

Screen tours are suspended temporarily for financial reasons. Roger Early presents nature lectures in various locations from 1954-58.

Forty-five field trips are held this year and huge flocks of American Robins were noted an unusual.

The membership dues to SPAS was included in NAS dues for the first time.

Screen tours begin again and run through 1976. At times attendees numbered as many as 1,850 people. They are held at Christ United Methodist Church on Central Avenue.

A weekly nature series begins in the St. Petersburg Times Sunday edition written by Carl Radder (SPAS President 1958-66). The series continued for 10 years.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is created and named for Boyd Hill, the Parks & Recreation Director for the City of St. Petersburg.

SPAS is incorporated in the State of Florida as a non-profit entity. The home of Mary Louise Mills, located on Bayou Grande, is designated as SPAS’ official organizational headquarters.

Carl Radder (SPAS President 1958-1966) becomes compiler for the CBC for the next 2 years.

Pinellas County is home to 21 Bald Eagle nests, 38 eagles, and 10 “eaglets”.

Dr. Glen Woolfenden, ornithologist at University of South Florida-Tampa, becomes Chair/compiler of the Clearwater-Tampa-St. Petersburg CBC. He compiled a 30 year report of local CBC species 1940-1970.

Summer field trips are started. Craig Cochrane, SPAS Sanctuary Committee Chair, helps negotiate lease of Bush and Indian Key Wildlife sanctuaries and FAS Sunshine Skyway Wildlife Sanctuary.

Between 1964-1966, Eugene H. Burr, SPAS Vice President obtains permission to post 14 spoil islands at FAS Wildlife Sanctuaries in Boca Ciega Bay. He is named honorary FAS wildlife warden.

SPAS formally becomes a chapter of FAS. SPAS’ first naturalist is hired John Thompson, SPAS provides outdoor nature instruction to children to cooperation with St . Petersburg Park Dept., Boy Scouts and other groups. This effort spurs creation of the Junior Audubon Rangers.

First record Least Terns nesting on rooftop at Milton Roy Co. on Park Street.

Carl Radder (former SPAS President) receives the Governor’s Conservation Award.

An Oil spill in Tampa Bay occurs. 840,000 gallons of oil is spilled when tanker runs aground. Over 254,000 shore acres are contaminated and thousands of birds killed. SPAS takes the lead in trying to save oil birds.

SPAS is instrumental in the establishment of Florida Ornithological Society (FOS). SPAS continues to contribute to FOS research fund.

Pinellas CBC reports 144 species. SPAS annual membership now stands at 600.

SPAS Audubon Alert letters are created to encourage members to write letters to policy makers on important conservation species.

Pinellas CBC reports 159 species, highest in 35 years.

Weedon Island is purchased by the state as a historical site.

SPAS long distance field trips are suspended due to energy crisis.

SPAS By-laws are revised and approved.

Egmont Key is designated as a U.S. Wildlife Refuge.

A scholarship is designated for a student at St. Petersburg Jr. College and named in honor of Sally Pomeroy.

SPAS first newsletter is published and edited by Dion Powell.

Four Bald Eagle nests are confirmed in Pinellas County

Chan Vincent becomes organizer of local CBC (1974-1984).

SPAS membership climbs to 800.

SPAS participates in plans for Sawgrass Lake Environmental Education Center with Joe Maier (SPAS Board member) designing the educational program.

Pinellas CBC tops 167 species.

SPAS begins to hold meetings at The Science Center.

SPAS donates 2 Mulberry trees to Ft. Desoto Park for the benefit of migrating birds.

SPAS membership reaches 1,000

SPAS participates in U.S. Bicentennial celebration display at Tyrone Mall featuring the work and history of Audubon. SPAS receives a commendation from the St. Petersburg Bicentennial Committee for the display. The display travels to FAS convention in October.

SPAS convinces Pasadena Gold Club to designate an area as a Bald Eagle sanctuary.

SPAS begins to host day-long bus field trips.

Pinellas County Parks Department plants 7 more Mulberry trees at Ft. Desoto Park on behalf of SPAS.

SPAS establishes Youth Environmental Research Grant at the Science Center.

SPAS monitors Bald Eagle nests and reports status to State Game & Freshwater Fish Commission.

SPAS participates in a variety of issues re: hearings on roads, bridges, game law, oil spill recovery, and the Cross Florida Barge Canal.

Mary Louise Mills is honored by FAS with a special award for her work in helping establish Tampa Bay Sanctuaries - “for her untiring efforts and sacrifices in behalf of the wildlife of Florida and contributions to the education of all concerning the value of the wild heritage of the state”.

A SPAS’ award program is developed to honor student science fair winners.

First overnight field trips are launched

Brooker Creek Preserve is established.

SPAS puts op “caution bird nesting area” signs at Ft Desoto and on an island in Boca Ciega Bay.

Summer bird count reports 117 species.

Weedon Island Preserve opens to the public.

SPAS sponsors a local “Year of the Coast” to raise awareness of the fragility of coastal environments.

Mary Lou Mills dies at the age of 82.

SPAS newsletter now has a masthead featuring a Great Blue Heron contributed by artist Lauren Cooper.

200th anniversary of designation of the Bald Eagle as a national symbol of the U. S. Pinellas has 3 active nests. SPAS letterhead features a Bald Eagle.

Friends of Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is established.

Scholarship Endowment Fund is developed to honor the memory of SPAS’ members and to provide scholarships to National Audubon ecology camps and workshops.

NAS starts Audubon Adventures Program and adopt-a-class campaign.

Butler Durham passes away (former SPAS President). The Scholarship Endowment Fund (established in 1983) is named in honor of Butler Durham.

Non-game wildlife program is passed by state Legislature and funded by vehicle registration check off.

Florida Breeding Bird Atlas project begins. Organized by Florida Ornithological Society, Larry Hopkins is the first Pinellas coordinator.

Dr. Glen Woolfenden published a book - The Florida Scrub Jay: Demography of a Cooperative Breeding Bird. SPAS provided some of the funds to support this research.

Summer bird coast is at an all time high of 142 species.

Newsletter is redesigned and the masthead now features a Brown Pelican.

SPAS hosts a “Coastweeks” celebration at Ft Desoto Park.

Project Feeder Watch is launched from Cornell University of Ornithology.

County Commissioners agree to acquire 7 areas over the next 2 years for conservation and education purposes including Joe’s Creek, site of a Bald Eagle nest.

SPAS begins NAS Audubon Adventures program in schools for 4th graders.

SPAS’ first birding field trip for children is held at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.

National Endangered Species Act is reauthorized.

SPAS participation in first clean-up on Egmont Key.

Joe’s Creek is secured, resulting in the preservation of 250 acres.

Friends of Weedon Island is established.

Pinellas Trial included in Rails-to-Trails.

Newsletter is redesigned with White Ibis on the masthead.

SPAS holds its first Bird-a-Thon.

SPAS co-sponsors “Earth Waves” community radio show.

SPAS first Spring birding retreat held at The Pines near Brooksville.

SPAS builds and installs nesting platform at Ft. Desoto in the hope of attracting Great Horned Owls.

Newsletter naming contest is held - the new name is Wingspan.

Nesting shorebird area on Shell Key are roped off and monitored by SPAS’ volunteers.

Save Our Shorebirds is created by Debra Davies, SPAS’ Conservation Chair.

150 young Least Terns are counted on rooftops.

Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society is formd (FNPS)

Newsletter column starts “Pinellas Birds” by Ron Smith.

Osprey platform is built and placed on Boca Ciega Bay with SPAS’ volunteer help in cooperation with JMC Communities and Florida Power.

SPAS helps with habitat restoration projects at Ft. Desoto Park.

SPAS receives bequest from estate of Lucy Rising and establishes the Lucy Rising Endowment Trust to provide income for SPAS’ programs and projects.

Newsletter is redesigned with a flock of White Ibis on the masthead, designed by Lum Pennington. This continues until at least 2007.

Oil spill off Egmont Key - SPAS volunteers rescued oiled birds at Ft. Desoto.

SPAS’ first annual joint meeting with FNPS Pinellas Is held.

37 classrooms are provided with Audubon Adventures program.

Wingspan is now printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.

Shell Key posted as nesting area due to the dedication ad hard work of Joyce King, Paul Blair, Barb Ranck and Alva Sholty.

New Years’ Day Birding Open, first held in 1992 and conceived by Paul Blair to raise funds for Audubon of Florida’s Coastal Island Sanctuary.

SPAS’ Board adopts purpose statement: The mission of the St. Petersburg Audubon Society is to promote environmental education and, through responsible activism, to promote, restore, and preserve a quality of environment for both people and wildlife.

Ten species of birds are nesting on Shell Key (up from 5 in 1992).

A barge collision causes the release of 330,000 gallons of oil into the waters off Egmont Key. Pinellas Seabird Rehabilitation Center coordinates 100s of volunteers. About 352 oiled birds are recovered and treated. Most oil birds were recovered in the area of John’s Pass, 80% were Brown Pelicans.

SPAS provided Audubon Adventures to all 4th grade classrooms in Southern Pinellas County (186 classrooms)

Four miles of twin is stretched over 2 miles of posts surrounding protected nesting areas on Shell Key.

Tampa Bay National Estuary Program awards grant to SPAS to post public information sign regarding Shell Key nesting birds.

Bird-a-thon raises $5,500 ad logs 172 species in support of the Audubon Adventures program.

SPAS participates in the Spring North American Migratory Bird Count

SPAS first shorebirds identification class is held.

Weekend birding trip to Withlacoochee State Forest, as well as bus trips to Merritt Island and Payne’s Praire.

SPAS sponsors Conservationist of the Year Award at the first joint Conservation Celebration held in partnership with FNPS-Pinellas.

Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission launches: “Wings over Florida” awards program to encourage birders to keep track of species.

SPAS helps clear an area at Boyd Hill Nature Park for new aviary.

SPAS hosts 25th anniversary meeting of the Florida Ornithological Society.

George Eliason, SPAS’ representative to SWFWMD’s Environmental Advisory Committee is elected its Chair.

SPAS is selected by FAS as outstanding Chapter of the Year for its work to preserve Shell Key as a beach-nesting bird habitat.

First annual Great Backyard Bird Count begins, Sponsored by NAS.

SPAS sponsors a mural at the Science Center that is painted by artist Bill Hisle and depicts the differences in length of birds’ wing spans.

SPAS presents awards to students at Science Fair.

SPAS co-sponsors Florida Birding Festival.

SPAS helps with Least Terns rooftop survey.

In 1999, Florida Audubon and National Audubon unite in Florida to become “Audubon of Florida” (AOF).

Shell Key management plan is developed for “Shell Key Preserve,” and adopted by Pinellas County Commission. Shell Key Preserve is to be managed by Pinellas County Environmental Lands Division.

SPAS donates $2,500 to Pinellas County Environmental Foundation in memory of Don Black, SPAS Board member and environmental activist. SPAS also donates $1,500 to Pinellas Science Center in Don’s memory.

NAS Audubon Adventures receives APEX 2000 award for Publication Excellence in the category of Education and Informational Programs.

Pinellas County bird check list is updated by Larry Hopkins, Lyn Atherton, Ron Smith and Paul Blair.

SPAS honors student science fair winners

Rich Paul (Audubon Florida Coastal Island Sanctuary Manager) receives Chuck Yeager award from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

SPAS launches Least Tern Conservation Program (Pinellas County has had as many as 43 rooftop nesting colonies, the most of any Florida County).

SPAS introduces a neighborhood outreach project in partnership with FNPS.

Ken Kaufman, conservationist, author, and creator of the Kaufman Field Guide Series, offers 2 bird walks to benefit SPAS while he is visiting in St. Petersburg.

SPAS receives Tampa Bay Estuary Program grant of $2,700 for the neighborhood outreach program.

Joyce King (SPAS’ President) receives National Audubon’s Bushnell Conservationist of the Year award. Joyce also represents the Gulf Coast region (10 chapters) on the Audubon of Florida’s Board of Directors.

City of St. Petersburg gives Environmental Volunteer of the Year award to Barbara Zias and Bill Bilodeau for the neighborhood outreach program.

SPAS participates in Florida Birding and Nature Festival at Eckerd College

Tina Tern, a booklet of activities and lesson plans for 4th graders, is developed in collaboration with SPAS, Clearwater Audubon Society, and Tampa Bay Estuary Program.

SPAS contributes a bench and trellis to Boyd Hill Nature Park in memory of Jerry Shrewsbury (Past President).

SPAS receives grant from Tampa Bay Estuary Program to produce 2,000 copies of Tina Tern.

SPAS recognized Monique Abrams and Beth Forys with a Conservationist of the Year award for their work with beach and rooftop nesting birds.

SPAS partners with other organizations to plant native vegetation at Pinellas Point Park using a plan developed by Ray Wunderlich III.

There are 25 rooftop Least Tern colonies over 400 uses of the chick-a-boom area recorded. Beach nesting birds suffered this season from the effects of Hurricane Dennis.

Over 500 native plants are planted at Clam Bayou.

Audubon Academy is held at Eckerd College (2005-2007).

SPAS launches new website.

Beach-nesting and rooftop birds benefit from corporate sponsorships from Seminole Electric and TECO.

Monique Abrams is elected to the Florida Audubon Society’s Board of Directors, representing the Gulf Coast Region (10 Audubon Chapters).

Hundreds of thousands of American Robins are seen this winter.

New Year’s Day Birding Open becomes the Rich Paul New Year’s Day Birding Open in honor of Rich who passed away in 2005.

Coffee Pot Bayou land use and map changes take effect and prevent development of this rookery island.

Shell Key Management Plan update to exclude pets and alcohol.

SPAS launches a bird photo collection drive to document species found in Pinellas County

St. Petersburg has the national high number in the Great Backyard Bird Count at 1,710,219 birds.

Nesting occurs on 23 rooftops (including 6 Oystercatcher nests). Egmont Key beaches have 550 Black Skimmer nests.

Dave Kandz, SPAS’ Conservation Chair, is appointed to Pinellas County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

Artificial starter burrow are installed at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg in hopes of attracting Burrowing Owls that use to nest there.

Pinellasbirds.com website of information and sightings is launched by Ron Smith.

Coffee Pot Bayou Bird Island is purchased by anonymous buyers.

Lorraine and Don Margeson and Dr. Harold Albers (SPAS Board), receive the St. Petersburg City Beautiful Environmental Award.

A grant to support SPAS and Eckerd College’s partnership to protect beach-nesting bird habitat is lower Tampa Bay is received from Forever Green, an initiative of the National Audubon Socity.

Pinellas Point Neighborhood Association partners with SPAS to have an area of the park at Pinellas Point name in honor of Katherine Bell Tippetts.

SPAS celebrates 100 years of conservation.