CEDAR POINT EARTH DAY CELEBRATION – April 22, 2023

PRAS participated in this important event with a booth to distribute information and an activity for children. We had 30 people stop by to talk with us and several children went home with the feathered bird they made. Our PRAS president, Bren Curtis, made a presentation on the Florida Scrub Jays which was very well received. Many thanks to PRAS members, Vicki, Evelyn, Phyllis and Bren for working at the booth. It was fun to network with other organizations present and get to know our own PRAS members better. Next time join us!

FREE GUIDED NATURE TOURS AT AUDUBON PENNINGTON PARK

Join Rob Mills, and Peace River Audubon, for a guided walk at Audubon Pennington Park. The walks will start on May 6, 2023 and continue every Saturday at 8:30 AM. The park is located at 1153 Alton road, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Our guided tours will include information on the plants, trees and wildlife in the park. Audubon Pennington Park is a 7.9 acre park that Charlotte County leases to the Peace River Audubon Society. Maintenance is provided by PRAS volunteers and the County. The park features a Cypress swamp, Oak hammock, and Pine flatwoods. Amenities include a parking lot, trails, and a few scattered benches. We recommend bringing water, bug spray and sunscreen. Tours last approximately one hour. You don’t need to register… just be there at 8:30!

PRAS Meeting – Thursday, May 18 with Eileen Gerle about “Owls”

You are invited to attend our last PRAS meeting of the season on Thursday, May 18, at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 for networking and refreshments. Our meeting will be held at Movement Church (First Alliance) at 20444 Midway Blvd, Port Charlotte, 33952. At 7 we will start our program on OWLS, given by Eileen Gerle who is an educator at Cedar Point Environmental Center and on the board of the Venice Area Audubon Society. At the meeting we will also be presenting our members with the new slate of officers for the 2023-2024 season. Please join us!

Eileen Gerle hails from Long, NY, where she made her living as an Environmental Educator and Naturalist. Before moving to Venice eight years ago, she visited Florida frequently with the sole purpose of birding, and soon after her move joined Venice Area Audubon Society and Sarasota Audubon. She has been an active volunteer for VAAS ever since, and is currently on their board of directors. Although officially “retired”, Eileen teaches birding classes for Adult and Community Enrichment and is an educator for CHEC at Cedar Point. She also recently published a book entitled “One Ugly Ass Bird – Memorable Moments from time spent with Mother Nature”.

Photo of Great Horned Owls by PRAS member, Bill Kimber.