ASE Web

The December 2008 issue of the Everglade Kite is now available online.

A half-dozen ASErs joined leader Ben Kolstad in braving the cool weather and windy conditions at Green Cay today, netting 40 species as their reward. “The usual suspects” were all there: many a moorhen, cratefuls of coots, a bushel of blackbirds (red-winged, of course), and a cackle of grackles, boat-tailed. We missed Sora, but saw [...]

This just in from the FWC:
Dr. James Rotenberg with the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington is participating in the NC component of a range-wide project monitoring wintering Painted Buntings and would like to expand his winter feeder watch program to include Florida.  He has about 2000 Painted Buntings color [...]

December’s bird of the month is the subject of our presentation at the general membership meeting. Dr. Richard Raid will tell us all about the Barn Owls of the Everglades Agricultural Area. You can participate as well: bring your own pictures to display during the meeting. Continue to help choose a bird of the month [...]

Our friendly neighborhood lawyers have derailed Everglades restoration yet again. Mod Waters, the original and still the most important element of restoration, which long predates CERP, has been put on hold yet again, as the Miccosukee tribe objects to the project in court. From Audubon of Florida:

Construction of a 1-mile bridge along an eastern portion [...]

From the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology comes this plea for help from birders in the Sunshine State. Let’s do our part!

Calling All Florida Bird Watchers
More eyes needed to tally state birds

Ithaca, NY- Bird watchers in Florida are fortunate to have an amazing diversity of birds to observe, from the stunningly beautiful, rainbow-colored Painted Bunting to [...]

The Miami Herald reports the approval of the SFWMD board for the new deal. Just yesterday, AoF circulated a press release touting the virtues of the revised deal, which allows the state to purchase the US Sugar lands, but leaves the other assets to the company. Here is an excerpt from AoF’s press release:
The deal, which must be [...]

From Audubon of Florida’s recent email update:

State Revenue Shortfalls Prompt 10% Budget Reductions for Natural Resource Agencies
As a result of state revenue shortfalls, Governor Crist has requested 10% budget cuts from all state agencies. The current state budget situation is daunting, and no agency will be immune from the belt-tightening necessary to help our state [...]