Peace River
Peace River Audubon Chapter Conservation
Peace River Audubon is concerned about our Gulf Coast nesting shorebirds and three other species. 4 members (Cathy Olson, Bren Curtis, Mike Weisensee, Brant Julius and Robert Kraft have contractual agreements to monitor shorebirds on Manasota Key (Stump Pass State Park) and Palm Island for the 2025 nesting season. Perils of these species include storms (hurricanes, tidal surges & over washes), climate induced heat, predators (coyote, raccoons and avian - Fish Crows, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Great Egrets mostly and human disturbances (shell collectors, beach walkers, boats with dogs, motorized hang gliders). Beach Stewards increased measurable nesting success in 2022-23. Please view the video to gain an understanding of the perils of a Least Tern Chick.
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READ 3 IMPACT STORIES AND VIEW AUDUBON'S SWFL CONSERVATION PRIORITIES ALONG WITH OUR CHAPTER'S HISTORY OF 2023 PROGRESSES BELOW:
Peace River Audubon's Progress toward 2024
SW Regional Priorities
SW Florida
Watersheds
Progress toward priority 1
A few PRAS members attended the 2023 October 3PR meeting and the last Mosaic Workshop in
Arcadia to rally against radiation road surfaces. Several members participated in the 3 minute
public hearing opportunity to speak for the water quality of the Peace River and perils of
phosphate mining. A few members have attended talks and fund raising for the newly formed
“Heal our Harbor” group. President, Bren Curtis gave a talk on the Conservation of The Peace
River including bird species within the spillway at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center.
PRAS has many outreach programs including support for local resolutions to commissioners and
legislators toward avoiding herbicides, fungicides, pesticides (other ‘cides that have the purpose of
killing something) in addition to excess fertilizing which pollutes water quality. PRAS supports
many resolutions and legislature positions through the Everglades Coalition and 1000 Friends of
Florida. Bren Curtis successfully proposed a session for the 2023 Everglades Coalition Conference
as part of the Wildlife Team: Climate Change Perils of Wildlife Management Plans with moderator,
Jaclyn Lopez, Stetson University, formerly Center for Biodiversity and panelists Brad Cornell,
Audubon Western Everglades; Craig van der Heiden, Miccosukee Tribe; and Kim Dinkins, Save the
Manatees. The session was well attended!
Link https://www.evergladescoalition.org/_files/ugd/599879_b489ea1669e24eeabccffb749a8e5a39.pdf
Progress toward priority 2
PRAS started a new Florida Scrub Jay initiative to create a Sand Live Oak Tree Corridor from
Charlotte County to Archbold Biological Station. PRAS supports the Florida Wildlife Corridor and
protection of the Florida Panther and Ghost Orchid.
Link: https://floridawildlifecorridor.org/
Our chapter worked with the Environmental Conservancy Of North Port & Surrounding Areas on
fund raising projects for purchase of lots with or near existing FL Scrub Jay Populations. PRAS
members participated in Surveys of Jays undertaken in Charlotte County in addition to exploration
expeditions to Archbold Biological Station. PRAS gave conservation presentations about FL. Scrub
Jays at CHEC and the Cape Coral Library’s Childen’s Scrub Jay Art Project. PRAS explores grant
opportunities like the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative: Land Trust Small Grant
Program (6 $5000 grants for capacity and partnership projects and the 8 $25,000 grants for
management & restoration projects). PRAS has received the $2,500 FPL/Audubon Plants for Birds
Grant four years in a row to start a Charlotte County Native Plant Nursery at CHEC, publish and
distributed 3,000 the Birds Talk and Plants Listen Children’s Activity Booklets during the Covid
Pandemic, coordinated a Native Plant Giveaway Day with UF/extension and created a Native Plant
Yard Certification Program. PRAS advocates for Pelicans at Skyline Pier and the state bird to be
the Florida Scrub Jay. Bren Curtis and Cathy Olson are contracted Shorebird monitors.
Progress toward priority 3
Charlotte County is still in the SW Florida Resiliency MOU. Members of our committee attend
resiliency webinars and conferences like the CHNEP Climate Summit. Several members attended
Stanford University’s Nobel Laureate professor, Dr. Terry Root, talk in Punta Gorda on Climate
legislation March 2023.
Progress toward priority 4
Our past chapter President Caniff was awarded a US Presidential award for creating CHEC with community collaborations. Our local chapter continues to support a bird blind, educational activities and fund raising events both monetarily and with member volunteering. PRAS encourages diversity, equity and inclusion by donating annually to CHEC summer camp scholarships in Title 1 areas. Our current president, Bren Curtis has mentored three of Audubon’s CLI college students majoring in environmental studies from FGCU and is currently mentoring a fourth student.