CENTENNIAL
CELEBRATION
PROGRAM

PELICAN ISLAND
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

March 14, 1903- the day that changed the history of wildlife conservation in America. On that day, President Theodore Roosevelt issued an Executive Order establishing Pelican Island, located along the east coast of Florida, as a federal bird reservation. This act marked the first time that the federal government set aside land for the primary purpose of conserving wildlife. Pelican Island and the refuges that followed would become America's only network of lands dedicated to wildlife conservation.

A century later, there are 540 national wildlife refuges protecting nearly 100 million acres of habitat across America. From bison to butterflies, and salmon to sandhill cranes, national wildlife refuges conserve land for more than 1,000 species of fish and wildlife. Refuges provide unparalleled recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. More than 35 million people visit national wildlife refuges each year to enjoy the wonders of nature.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Pelican Island Preservation Society, and our many partners and sponsors are proud to welcome you to the Celebration of a Century of Conservation and the 11th Annual Pelican Island Wildlife Festival. Join us as we begin a second century of wildlife conservation.

Kroegel:

Map of the Festival area.

Public facilities at Pelican Island NWR

Regional Street Map

The Centennial Trail:

To mark the 100th anniversary of Pelican Island and the National Wildlife Refuge System, the refuge and Indian River County will open new public facilities on refuge lands near the original island. The new facilities include parking areas, restrooms, foot trails, fishing areas, and The Centennial Trail, a 3/4 mile boardwalk with an 18 foot observation tower to view Pelican Island.

Pelican Island Public Facilities Area

The public is invited to visit the Centennial Trail at the Pelican Island Viewing Area during the Wildlife Festival, where staff and volunteers will be on-hand to explain the history of the refuge system and Pelican Island. The new facilities will be open daily thereafter from 7:30 am to sunset.

Kick-off events:

Sunday, March 9

Wednesday, March 12

Thursday, March 13

12:30 - 1:00 pm
Bald Eagle Demonstration
Featuring Challenger the Bald Eagle

1:00 - 2:00 pm

• Time Capsule Exhibit Dedication Ceremony
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams will unveil an exhibit showcasing artifacts from some of America's 540 national wildlife refuges.
• Entertainment by the Peabody Orlando Ducks and Jim Foote as Theodore Roosevelt.

• Tours of the National Wildlife Refuge System Time Capsule Exhibit by Dr. Mark Madison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Historian.
  
• Waldenbooks will host Edmund Morris, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Theodore Rex, and Karen Hollingsworth, whose photographs are featured in the new Smithsonian Book of National Wildlife Refuges, at a special Centennial book signing.
• Have your photo taken with the Blue Goose, symbol of the refuge system.
• Pelican Island Preservation Society raffle.
• Public exhibition of Pelican Island Wildlife Festival Youth Poster Contest and Pelican Island Commemorative Stamp coloring exhibition.

|| Friday | Saturday | Sunday || Birding Tours | Partners, Sponsors & Vendors || 2003 Fest | PIPS | PINWR ||

Friday, March 14

12:00 noon - 1:00 pm
Centennial Ceremony and U.S. Postal Service Commemorative Stamp First Day of Issue Ceremony
Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams, and other conservation dignitaries are joined by the U.S. Postal Service to mark the 100th anniversary of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

7:00 pm
Arlo Guthrie Concert
A free public concert featuring Pete Harris and Sebastian's own Arlo Guthrie. Sponsored by the Sebastian Area Chamber of Commerce.

9:00 pm
Fireworks Show
Sponsored by the City of Sebastian.

Special Exhibit Areas

• Visit the U.S. Postal Service booth to purchase Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Commemorative Stamp T-shirts, pins, tote bags, caps and cachets. Riverview Park is the only place in the country where the first day cover for this stamp is available.
• Don't miss an opportunity to talk with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff from around the country, who will have exhibits about national wildlife refuges and other Service programs. Open 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• See the Exhibition of Flags along Indian River Drive. All 540 national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts in the National Wildlife Refuge System are represented. Flags were sponsored in part by refuge staff, refuge Friends groups and volunteers of national wildlife refuges. For a list of refuges and wetland management districts whose flags were sponsored, go to pelicanisland.fws.gov.

Food vendors at Riverview Park throughout the day.

Refuge Commemorative Stamp:

In conjunction with the National Centennial Celebration on March 14, 2003, the U.S. Postal Service will hold a First Day of Issue Ceremony at Riverview Park in Sebastian, Florida. This will be the first day this first-class stamp is sold, and on that day, Sebastian will be the only place in the country the stamp can be purchased and canceled. For each new stamp, the U.S. Postal Service generally selects a specific location as the place for the first day of issue dedication ceremony and the first day postmark. The new stamps generally are only sold in this location on the day of issue, and go on sale at post offices around the country the following day.

The stamp features a photograph of a brown pelican by Dr. James Brandt. Pelican Island first garnered national attention in the early 1900s as the last breeding ground for brown pelicans on the east coast of Florida. It was this national attention that led President Theodore Roosevelt to establish Pelican Island as the first official national wildlife refuge in the United States.

The commemorative stamp is a 37-cent First Class stamp with text at the bottom which reads "Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge 1903-2003." The issuance of this stamp by the U.S. Postal Service signifies the importance of this event in American history.

Carl T. Herrman is the art director for the commemorative Pelican Island stamp and has been an Art Director for the U.S. Postal Service since 1992.

For more information on commemorative stamps and the U.S. Postal Service, go to www.usps.com.

|| Friday | Saturday | Sunday || Birding Tours | Partners, Sponsors & Vendors || 2003 Fest | PIPS | PINWR ||

Saturday, March 15

Saturday's Features

• Jack Hanna of Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures Live Wildlife Show, 12:00 noon
• U.S. Postal Service Pelican Island Commemorative Stamp Booth
• Special Centennial Book Signings at the Vero Beach Book Center Booth
• Public Exhibition of the Photography Contest Entries and the Student Poster Contest Entries

Centennial Raffle at the Pelican Island Preservation Society Booth; items include:

• l Spotting scope with tripod and scope carrier; Commemorative Centennial "Pelican" Binocular; Birder's vest; and Field Guide donated by Eagle Optics
• l Kayak, paddle and life jacket donated by Kayaks etc.

Main Stage

9:45 am
Release of a rehabilitated brown pelican

10:00 am
Ma Jaya River School Music Ensemble

11:00 am - 11:15 am
The Feather Wars Skit

11:15 am - 11:40 am
Keynote Speech: Jim Foote as President Theodore Roosevelt

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Live Wildlife Presentation by Jack Hanna of Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures

1:00 pm
Live music by The Shade Tree Pickers - Bluegrass

1:45 pm
Live music by Blue Eyed Monsters - The Story of Pelican Island Song and other Contemporary Music

2:30 pm
Live music by Rich Mermer and Larry Smith - Finger style guitarist and instrument builder

3:15 pm
Live music by Charlie Cowles - Guitarist and master musician

Center Stage

2:30 pm
Live Birds of Prey Presentation
The Avian Reconditioning Center, Scott and Carol McCorkle, Falconer and Wildlife Rehabilitators

Kid's Activity Area
Environmental Education Activities

• Earn a Jr. Refuge Manager Badge
• Make Centennial Wildlife Buttons
• Make a Manatee
• Bird Beaks
• Mama Fauna's Pizzeria
• Fossil Find
• Wildlife Puppet Show
• Migration Headaches

Wildlife Seminars

11:30 am - 12:30 pm
The Great Florida Birding Trail
Lori Haynes, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
"Let's Go Wild" - A Multimedia Presentation of the National Wildlife
Refuge System - Karen Hollingsworth (Don't miss Karen at the Centennial book signing.)

2:30 am - 3:30 pm
The History of Pelican Island
Paul Tritaik, Refuge Manager, and Ruth Stanbridge, County Historian

Boat Tours

Every 1/2 hour from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Pelican Island Tour (1 hour)
Tours sold on first come, first serve basis; $5/person

Kayak Tours

9:30 am and 1:00 pm
Pelican Island Eco-tour (2 1/2 hours, weather dependent); $20/person

Every hour from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Indian River Lagoon Spoil Island Tours (1 hour) $10/person

All day from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Free Kayaking Demonstrations

At The Environmental Learning Center (ELC)

Directions: From Wabasso on US1, turn east on CR 510. Turn right on Wabasso Island Lane before the tall bridge. ELC is on the right.

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Butterfly Seminar: A Birder Looks at Butterflies

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Pelican Island Sunset Bird Watching Boat Tour

At Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Open from 7:30 am to sunset

Directions: US 1 to 510 east to A1A, 3.7 miles north on A1A, turn left onto Historic Jungle Trail, .6 miles, turn right into the Viewing Area.

|| Friday | Saturday | Sunday || Birding Tours | Partners, Sponsors & Vendors || 2003 Fest | PIPS | PINWR ||

Sunday, March 16:

Sunday's Features

• Jim Fowler of Wild Kingdom Live Wildlife Show, 12:00 pm
• U.S. Postal Service Pelican Island Commemorative Stamp Booth
• Special Centennial Book Signings at the Vero Beach Book Center Booth
• Public Exhibition and Awards Presentation of the Photography Contest Entries and the Student Poster Contest Entries
• Pelican Island Centennial Raffle at the Pelican Island Preservation Society Booth

Raffle

• l Spotting scope with tripod and scope carrier; Commemorative Centennial
  "Pelican" Binocular; Birder's vest; and Field Guide donated by Eagle Optics
• l Kayak, paddle and life jacket donated by Kayaks etc.
• Raffle proceeds support refuge projects.
  Drawing Sunday at 3:00 pm.

Main Stage

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

10:00 am
Pelican Island Elementary School program

11:00 am - 11:15 am
The Feather Wars Skit

11:15 am - 11:40 am
Keynote Speech: Jim Foote as President Theodore Roosevelt

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Live Wildlife Presentation by Jim Fowler of Wild Kingdom

1:00 pm
Live music by Barry Brogan - Finger style and slide guitarist who just can't get enough of the blues

1:45 pm
Live music by Doug Moss - Fine singer and guitarist that will cover all your contemporary favorites

2:30 pm
Live music by Jazzmin - This trio will be performing all your jazz favorites

3:15 pm
Live music by Harp and Harmony - Peggy and Tim Behrendt perform as a duo on harp, keyboard and harmonica

Center Stage in Park

1:30 pm
Amateur 'Natural Florida' Photography Contest Awards Presentation
First Place Prize Sponsored by Eagle Optics

Youth Environmental Poster Contest Awards Presentation

3:00 pm
The Pelican Island Centennial Raffle Drawing Sponsored by Eagle Optics and Kayaks etc.

3:15 pm
Live Florida Turtles, Snakes and Alligator Presentation Pat and Jerry Loll, Wildlife Rehabilitators

Kid's Activity Area
Environmental Education Activities

• Earn a Jr. Refuge Manager Badge
• Make Centennial Wildlife Buttons
• Make a Manatee
• Bird Beaks
• Mama Fauna's Pizzeria
• Fossil Find
• Wildlife Puppet Show
• Migration Headaches

Wildlife Seminars

11:30 am - 12:30 pm
"Let's Go Wild"
A Multimedia Presentation of the National Wildlife Refuge System - Karen Hollingsworth

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
South Florida's Endangered Species
Tylan Dean, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services

2:30 am - 3:30 pm
The Indian River Lagoon
Ed Garland, St. Johns River Water Management District

Boat Tours
Sponsored by Harbor Princess Touring Adventures.
Tickets and departure at the Yacht Club across from Riverview Park

Every 1/2 hour from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Pelican Island Tour (1 hour)
Tours will be sold on a first come, first serve basis; $5/person

Pelican Island

9:30 am and 1:00 pm
Pelican Island Eco-tour (2 1/2 hours, weather dependent); $20/person

Every hour from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Indian River Lagoon Spoil Island Tours (1 hour) $10/person

All day from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Free Kayaking Demonstrations

At The Environmental Learning Center (ELC)

Directions: From Wabasso on US1, turn east on CR510. Turn right on Wabasso island lane before the tall bridge. ELC is on the right. For more information, call the ELC at 772/589 5050.

7:30 am - 9:00 am
Pelican Island Sunrise Bird Watching Boat Tour

9:30 am - 10:30 am
Butterfly Seminar: A Birder Looks at Butterflies

At Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge

Open from 7:30 am to sunset

Directions: US 1 to 510 east to A1A, 3.7 miles north on A1A, turn left onto Historic Jungle Trail, .6 miles, turn right into the Viewing Area.

|| Friday | Saturday | Sunday || Birding Tours | Partners, Sponsors & Vendors || 2003 Fest | PIPS | PINWR ||

Great Florida Birding Trail Guided Tours

Pre-registration required, space is limited.

Call Audubon at 772/567-3520 for information and to pre-register. After Friday, 12:00 noon, March 14th, pre-register at the Pelican Island Audubon Society booth in Riverview Park.

Directions also available at Audubon booth.

8:00 am - 11:00 am
Sebastian Inlet State Park
Tour begins on the North Entrance with light walking tour to see wading and shore birds, ocean view and mangroves for migratory songbirds.
Guide Billi Wagner

8:00 am - 11:00 am
Blue Cypress Conservation Area
Canoeing a trail developed by Sebastian High School Students in impounded marshes harboring migratory birds, resident ducks, and wading birds including limpkins. Canoes and gear will be provided.
Guide George Anderson

8:00 am - 11:00 am
Indian River County Wetlands Treatment Facility
Visit boardwalk and overlook system for an excellent view of wading birds, ducks, and shorebirds.
Guides Patrick Pitts and Denny Coats

8:00 am - 12:00 noon
T. M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area
Walk around dikes to view ducks, shorebirds, hawks, swallow-tailed kites, crested caracara.
Guide Roy Brook

8:00 am- 12:00 noon
St. Sebastian River State Buffer Preserve (North Entrance)
Ride in back of pickup and some walking to observe Bachman's sparrow, scrub-jays, red-cockaded woodpeckers, migratory songbirds, and swallow-tailed kites.
Guide David Simpson

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Saturday / 7:30 am - 9:00 am Sunday
Environmental Learning Center
A pontoon-boat ride to Pelican Island to observe storks, pelicans, egrets, and other birds.
Guide Kenn Kaufman

8:00 am- 12:00 noon Sunday only
Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA)
Canoe on the backwaters of the Indian River Lagoon to visit a major Florida rookery. Canoes and gear provided to observe shore and wading birds nesting.
Guides Richard Baker and Alice Rowe

|| Friday | Saturday | Sunday || Birding Tours | Partners, Sponsors & Vendors || 2003 Fest | PIPS | PINWR ||

Centennial Sponsors and Partners:

These partnerships have made the new refuge public facilities possible:

Exhibitors and Vendors Directory:

A Special Thanks to All Our Exhibitors Who Make This Festival a Success

Environmental Education, Nonprofit, Historical

Live Wildlife and Touch Tanks

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuges, Nonprofit Refuge Friends Groups

As a special feature for the Centennial, more than thirty exhibits representing national wildlife refuges and other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service activities will be displayed.

Commercial

* Festival sponsor

Arts & Crafts

Food

Festival Sponsors and Partners

Additional Sponsors:

Festival Partners

|| Friday | Saturday | Sunday || Birding Tours | Partners, Sponsors & Vendors || 2003 Fest | PIPS | PINWR ||

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