Camp Bayou has become a community partner in Project BudBurst. This means that specific Camp Bayou plants are highlighted in the larger BudBurst system so that visitors can participate in a citizen science programs specially focused on native Florida plants found at the preserve. The folks at BudBurst have even set up a dedicated webpage- with poster and flyer downloads- to help folks learn about these plants that are near and dear to our hearts.
From the Project BudBurst e-newletter (which you can sign up for on our BudBurst page :o):
Camp Bayou-Our Newest Partner
Camp Bayou, located in Ruskin, Florida, is our newest Community BudBurst partner. The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center will engage their visitors, volunteers, and school groups in making plant phenology observations through Project BudBurst. Learn more about Camp Bayou on the plants they are monitoring at http://budburst.org/community/cby.php.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Protect Beach-Nesting Birds- Pinellas
Volunteers Needed to Help Protect Beach-Nesting Birds
Florida's beach-nesting birds are struggling to survive. Without active protection, these birds could disappear from our beaches.
The biggest threat to beach-nesting birds is disturbance from people visiting the beach. This threat increases when the birds lay their eggs in spring and summer, which coincides with peak recreational use of the beaches. The eggs and chicks are camouflaged to match their sandy environment and are difficult to see.
As a Bird Steward volunteer, you can play an important role in protecting the birds nesting on our beaches, and give their babies a better shot at survival.
Bird Stewards are needed every weekend from May 18 through Labor Day, wherever the birds are nesting on public beaches, usually Indian Shores, Ft. DeSoto, Egmont Key and 3 Rooker Bar.
An Anchor Steward will be on-site each weekend from 10-4 at Ft. DeSoto and Indian Shores. they provide training as well as umbrellas, chairs and all the info you need to be a great Bird Steward. Volunteers work 3-hour shifts.
In addition to protecting the birds, you also have the chance to share what you are learning with people of all ages. It's a fun way to connect children with nature and inspire a new generation of environmental stewardship.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Southern Pinellas
Ft Desoto & Indian Shores - bnb@stpeteaudubon.org
Egmont Key - galibird@tampabay.rr.com
Northern Pinellas
3 Rooker Bar - jhood2@tampabay.rr.com
Florida's beach-nesting birds are struggling to survive. Without active protection, these birds could disappear from our beaches.
The biggest threat to beach-nesting birds is disturbance from people visiting the beach. This threat increases when the birds lay their eggs in spring and summer, which coincides with peak recreational use of the beaches. The eggs and chicks are camouflaged to match their sandy environment and are difficult to see.
As a Bird Steward volunteer, you can play an important role in protecting the birds nesting on our beaches, and give their babies a better shot at survival.
Bird Stewards are needed every weekend from May 18 through Labor Day, wherever the birds are nesting on public beaches, usually Indian Shores, Ft. DeSoto, Egmont Key and 3 Rooker Bar.
An Anchor Steward will be on-site each weekend from 10-4 at Ft. DeSoto and Indian Shores. they provide training as well as umbrellas, chairs and all the info you need to be a great Bird Steward. Volunteers work 3-hour shifts.
In addition to protecting the birds, you also have the chance to share what you are learning with people of all ages. It's a fun way to connect children with nature and inspire a new generation of environmental stewardship.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Southern Pinellas
Ft Desoto & Indian Shores - bnb@stpeteaudubon.org
Egmont Key - galibird@tampabay.rr.com
Northern Pinellas
3 Rooker Bar - jhood2@tampabay.rr.com
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Jay Watch Training
Audubon Florida is now enrolling volunteers for 2013 Jay Watch training sessions!
Jay Watch training sessions are FREE to participants.
All trainings will be held in the morning. Site specific time, location, and other information can be obtained by contacting the person listed for each training.
~An overview of Florida Scrub-jay behavior and review of the survey protocol will be followed by field practice with the Scrub-jays:
- Saturday, May 11—Duette Preserve, Manatee County
- Friday, May 17 — Cross Florida Greenway, Marion County
Contact: Jess Rodriguez- Jess.Rodriguez (at) myFWC.com
- Saturday, May 18 — Lyonia Preserve, Volusia County
- Thursday, May 23 — Shamrock Park, Sarasota County
- Saturday, June 1 — Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Martin County
- Saturday, June 1 — Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Park, Polk County
- Wednesday, June 5 — Lake Wales National Wildlife Refuge -Flamingo Villas tract, Highlands County
Contact Jacqui Sulek- jsulek (at) audubon.org for all training days except May 17
Participants will learn :
- About Florida Scrub-jay cooperative breeding behavior
- Population trends and factors affecting population stability
- Standardized Jay Watch survey methods employed statewide June 15 —July 15
Jay Watch training sessions are FREE to participants.
All trainings will be held in the morning. Site specific time, location, and other information can be obtained by contacting the person listed for each training.
~An overview of Florida Scrub-jay behavior and review of the survey protocol will be followed by field practice with the Scrub-jays:
- Saturday, May 11—Duette Preserve, Manatee County
- Friday, May 17 — Cross Florida Greenway, Marion County
Contact: Jess Rodriguez- Jess.Rodriguez (at) myFWC.com
- Saturday, May 18 — Lyonia Preserve, Volusia County
- Thursday, May 23 — Shamrock Park, Sarasota County
- Saturday, June 1 — Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Martin County
- Saturday, June 1 — Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Park, Polk County
- Wednesday, June 5 — Lake Wales National Wildlife Refuge -Flamingo Villas tract, Highlands County
Contact Jacqui Sulek- jsulek (at) audubon.org for all training days except May 17
Participants will learn :
- About Florida Scrub-jay cooperative breeding behavior
- Population trends and factors affecting population stability
- Standardized Jay Watch survey methods employed statewide June 15 —July 15
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Camp Bayou schedule
What's New at Camp Bayou?
Get ready for some outdoor educational fun at Camp Bayou in the next few weeks! Some activities planned at Camp Bayou include:
- Birding Walk for the Great Backyard Bird Count at 9am, Saturday, February 16. All ages welcome to walk the trails to try to spot all the bird life on the site in one hour. These numbers will be sent to Cornell University to include in their citizen science campaign to take a real-time snapshot of where the birds are. Free.
- Family Naturalist Hour starts at 9:30am on Saturday, March 2. Come out for a butterfly walk to count the butterflies along the trails and in the Butterfly Habitat. Data will be recorded for the Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network, All ages- Free.
- Camp Bayou will host the League of Environmental Educators in Florida (LEEF) mini-conference on Saturday, March 9. Whether you work in a school or park, homeschool your child or just have a love of the Florida outdoors and a passion for sharing your knowledge, consider registering for this event. For adults only- see registration for cost details.
- Light up the Night Hike starts at 7:30pm on Friday, March 15. Start by looking for the Comet Pan-STARRS in the evening sky, then hike- without flashlights- into the deepening darkness along the trails, ending at the campfire for s'mores and night sky stories. $5 donation requested per person; all ages; limited to 20 participants. Contact Dolly to register- 813-641-8545 or campbayou@gmail.com .
- Save the Date for the Spring Open House, Saturday, March 16 from 9am-1pm. Details to be announced but expect the usual outstanding schedule of activities, including trail walks, speakers, nature stations and crafts, information tables from local environmental organizations and the newest favorite game- cockroach races! Free admission.
These events are Be Out There!, Get Outdoors Florida, "Let's GO"- Children and Nature, No Child Left Inside, and Let's Move Outside inspired initiatives.
Camp Bayou is neither a campground nor a summer camp. It was an RV park before the County's ELAP program purchased the land but it is now open for day use only, open to the general public. Through volunteers, donations, membership and grants, the RCDF offers pre-scheduled programs to schools, youth groups, adult groups and families plus it's open from Thursday- Saturday from 9am-2pm for passive recreational pursuits such as wildlife watching, nature photography and trail walks. General admission is still FREE.
The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a public- private partnership between Bayou Outdoor Learning and Discovery, Inc. (BOLD), Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. (RCDF) and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. More information is on the web at http://www.campbayou.org/ or call 813-641-8545.
Pictured: Dr. George releases the racers at the first cockroach races held at the Fall Open House. Who will win this time?
Photo credit: Becki Stafford
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