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This is a very abbreviated version of the Newsletter, If you want to read the original please click HERE for a pdf version of the newsletter (you must have Adobe Acrobat© to read this file.

May 2008 Presidents Message 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for all your phone calls concerning our Cape Coral Burrowing Owl. Many people have reported new burrows, burrows in need of maintenance, and burrows that have been disturbed. Others have called to report people who have covered up burrows or harassed the owls. The months of February through July are nesting season and, unfortunately, we will lose many owl chicks to cats, hawks, monitor lizards, and other predators. Perhaps an even greater threat to their survival is the sometimes reckless behavior of those in our community who show little regard for the wildlife whose natural environment we share.

We are calling upon the community during this important time of year to be our eyes and ears and to continue to call us when you see something that needs attention. People from all over the world visit Cape Coral and marvel at the unique wildlife many here take for granted. It is important that we continue to emphasize to our city officials that they can create and sustain a healthy, nondestructive eco-tourism for the Cape. This will certainly translate into dollars for our businesses.

I ask you to call all council members and let them know that part of Cape Coral's paradise is being able to enjoy our thriving wildlife! Burrowing owls, ospreys, eagles, pelicans, migratory birds, tortoises, manatees, dolphins, and other amazing creatures are all around us. How lucky can we be? How many cities in Florida are so blessed?

In conclusion, I want to thank all those who volunteer to maintain the owl nests and others who have helped to promote our mission. Thank you, board members, for continuing your commitment. Keep on keeping on for those who cannot speak for themselves!

Pascha Donaldson, President

  info box

 

The nest cleaning committee would sincerely like to thank our new volunteers, Helena Hemming, Paul Carney and Ken Hodgson for helping us maintain and stake our Owl burrows and Gopher nests.  We certainly appreciate your help.  We hope you have a great summer up north and look forward to seeing all of you in the fall.

To all our regular volunteers, Carl Eason, Jose Rodriguez, Catherine Hughes, Ruth Parks, Susan Porreca, Pascha and Ed Donaldson and Mary McCaffrey, it's going to be a long hot summer, so get ready! 

Thank you,                                                                      

Bernadette McNee

Wildlife Preservation Committee

 

Recently, several members of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife had the opportunity to protect the small surviving population of the Florida Scrub Jay located in Northwest Cape Coral.  Pascha and Ed Donaldson, Carl Eason, Susan Porreca, and Beverly Saltonstall helped City officials cordon off entire city blocks to protect the Jay’s habitat. 

 

Florida Scrub Jays – What Are They?

by

Tom Allen  Wlidlife Biologist

 The Florida Scrub Jay is about the size of a Blue Jay, blue and gray in color, but differing in that it has no feathered crest on its head.  Adults have a blue head, while young birds have a brownish colored head.  Also unlike the common Blue Jay, which enjoys a wide and varied range throughout our area, Scrub Jays utilize specific habitats. Scrub jay

Scrub Jays range over much of the western United States and into Mexico, but the Florida Scrub Jay, unique in behavior and physical appearance, is restricted to scattered small populations in the sand-pine scrub or oak-scrub habitats of peninsular Florida.  In Southwest Florida there are small populations in and around Port Charlotte, but the species does extend as far south as Alva and northern parts of Cape Coral.  Populations of this unique bird have dwindled rapidly because of habitat loss through urban and agricultural development. The Florida Scrub Jay is officially listed as threatened both on the state and federal levels. Estimated numbers of the species have declined in recent years, perhaps by as much as 30% to a mere few thousand statewide.  In Cape Coral there are only a few pairs of these birds at best.  Protecting the remaining scrub habitat is paramount to the future success of the species.  Presently, there is also an organized drive underway to designate the Florida Scrub Jay as the official state bird, replacing the Northern Mockingbird, which is the state bird for many states. This designation would bring needed awareness to the Florida Scrub Jay and its struggle for survival.

 Because this bird requires a maintained specific type of habitat, it is unlikely that a “viable” population can be supported on anything but the largest scrub preserves. However, these small isolated populations scattered throughout the region may be very important in maintaining the overall success of the species.  Therefore, Scrub Jays need to be protected wherever they occur.  As little as 5 to 10 acres can support a pair of birds, although 25 acres is needed to support a family group.  In northern Cape Coral jays can be found on empty lots that still have clumps of scrub habitat, consisting of oaks overgrown with vines.  Many of these lots are not connected, but are in close enough proximity that the jays can move freely from one site to the next.         

Distinguishing male Scrub Jays from females is difficult, so most jays have been fitted with plastic colored leg bands that identify each individual. As yet the Cape Coral birds have not been banded.  These band combinations have been used on Scrub Jays for over 20 years and do not harm or distress the birds in any way. 

Banding is necessary to help us learn more about the movements of pairs throughout their territories and for improved management practices.

Scrub Jays are remarkably tame.  They depend heavily on oak acorns for their winter food supply, but they also love peanuts and will land on you to take one from your hand.  Like crows, they will steal silverware and other shiny objects.  Actually, Scrub Jays are omnivorous, selecting a wide variety of foods.  Besides acorns and peanuts, they will eat seeds, insects, tree frogs, turtles, snakes, lizards, bird eggs, nestlings and young mice.  In the fall they typically bury acorns in sandy soil to feed on when other food sources are scarce during winter.  Those acorns that are unfound will often germinate to sprout new trees, making the Scrub Jay an important conservationist!  Compared with other jays, Scrub Jays are relatively quiet birds.  Their calls vary, but a raspy quay, quay, quay is typical.  Females commonly make a hiccup sound.

Florida Scrub Jays build a stick nest lined with palmetto fibers in thick shrubs or bushes and lay 3 to 4 speckled eggs.  Eggs hatch 18 days later, and the young are ready to leave the nest within 3 weeks of hatching.  Scrub Jays are more social than most birds, and the young will remain with the family for up to 3 to 4 years, helping out with the chores of rearing young, watching for predators and defending the family’s territory.  A family group may consist of as many as 8 birds.

Interested citizens can help to protect this beautiful bird by reporting sightings to the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife at 239-980-2593.  Together with Cape Coral city personnel, we may be able to preserve the remaining bird families for our future enjoyment.

Goliath Gopher Dies   

The largest ever recorded Gopher Tortoise died recently in Fort Myers, as a result of a construction accident.  After a large piece of construction equipgopher tortoise with broken shellment fell on the Tortoise and crushed its shell, workers, thinking it was dead, buried the Tortoise.  Two weeks later the tortoise, nicknamed Phoenix, dug himself, but later died of his wounds.

Photo, taken by the Humane Society shows the crush injury.  This Tortoise, measured 16.4 inches long which was an inch longer than the previous record.  Gopher Tortoises typically average 9 to 11 inches in length. It also weighed 26.45 pounds which is far more than the typical weight of about 15 pounds.

It was estimated that Phoenix was between 40 and 50 years old.

 

 

To our Friends of Wildlife:

The Burrowing Owl nesting season is upon us. There are some precautions we need to be aware of:

During the nesting season (Feb to July) we try not to trim the Owl nests where we notice "decoration" (dog poop,
shredded paper, old socks, stuffed animals, dolls, etc) or when one of the Owls is very protective of the nest and
doesn't want to fly away. Unless the nest is grossly overgrown, we will trim, as quickly as possible, and leave
them alone. We don't want to stress out our Owls and their chicks. We wait until the chicks have fledged, and
then we will go back and trim up the nests.

Another thing to be aware of is that during this nesting time a "satellite" burrow may be dug. If you approach a
nest, please watch where the Owl flies. It is possible that he has dug another burrow, and will fly right to it, in
which case this new burrow will have to be staked.

Please everyone, while you are out walking, biking or driving around, be observant of any new Owl burrows on
empty lots. You can notice them by seeing a mound or maybe an Owl sitting there. The best time to observe is
in the morning or late evening. Carry around a pad and pen and make note of where the new burrow is so that it
can be staked out. We can also provide you with perches or PVC to mark the burrow.

The only way to keep our City Bird in the Cape is with your help.
Remember when you witness harassment please call FWC at 888-404-3922 and if you see injured wildlife call
CROW at 472-3644. If you have any general questions or concerns, call Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife at (239)
980-2593.

The citizens of Cape Coral must take responsibility for the preservation of the Burrowing Owl if we intend to
preserve them for generations to come. If you would like a starter burrow on your property or would like to learn
how to care for a burrow in your neighborhood, please call 980-2593, and a CCFW member will be glad to help
you.

Thank you,
Bernadette McNee
Wildlife Preservation Committee

 

 

Earth Week Events

          CCFW members Pascha Donaldson, Charlie Ewell and Beverly Saltonstall gave Earth Week lectures at the following Schools; Gulf Elementary, San Carlos School, Pelican Elementary, Caloosa Middle School and Hector Cafferata Elementary.  Thank you notes were received from the children for our participation.

 

Our postal address is:

PO Box 152761

Cape Coral, Fl 33915

United States

About CCFW Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is comprised of citizens of Cape Coral and surrounding communities who want to help the areas

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You can get more Cape Coral wildlife news and information by visiting our web site at ccfriendsofwildlife.org If you have additional questions, please email us at

contact@ccfriendsofwildlife.org (239-980-2593)