Pelican Island Preservation Society

LAND ACQUISITION UPDATE

Progress continues on acquiring the key buffer area between the Pelican Ialdn and Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuges. The Conservation Fund has closed on Phase 2 of the acquisition of the Michael property. About 13 acres of the tract remains to be acquired as Phase 3. This segment is located on the east side of the property. The Fish and Wildlife Service has requested funding for this phase as part of their Fiscal Year 2003 budget request. After completion of acquisition of the Michael property, approximately 50 acres will remain to be acquired. Unfortunately, we understand that we do not have willing sellers on the largest remaining tract of about 45 acres located on the south end of the buffer area. We remain hopeful that this property may become available in the future so that the entirety of the originally-proposed 300 acre buffer area can be added to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Walt Stieglitz, President

GOOD NEWS - JERRY AND PAT LOLL WILL BE THE SPEAKERS AT THE PIPS JUNE 24TH PROGRAM!!

Jerry and Pat Loll will be presenting a special program on Native Florida Reptiles for PIPS members and for interested residents of Indian River County. This is a great program for children - and parents, too. The Lolls have been doing wildlife programs for PIPS since the very first Wildlife Festival, which was about 12,000 years ago! Just kidding, folks–it only seems like 12,000 years ago!!! The Lolls are licensed wildlife rehabilitators and regularly present programs at the Erna Nixon Park, schools and other venues. They will bring with them a baby gopher tortoise, a baby alligator, box turtle, an indigo snake, an owl, a native Florida Pine Snake, and a red-tailed hawk that is a new addition to the program.

REMEMBER THE DATE: MONDAY, JUNE 24TH , 7:30 PM AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER.

Bring the whole family and invite your neighbors for this educational and fun program.

Jon Kevin Norman is a 6th grade student at the Sebastian River Middle School. Jon was a third place winner for this year's poster contest in March. Prior to this year, PIPS had a Poster and Poem Contest for the annual Wildlife Festival. This year, we changed our focus somewhat and just sponsored a Poster Contest for elementary and 6th grade students for all Indian River County schools, public and private. Jon sent us a brief essay entitled "Making a Difference."

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

One thing I can do to help reserve the endangered species in my region is to organize fund-raisers while educating people about nature and protecting the environment. I would purchase land so people would not be able to build on it. I would leve the land in its natural state keeping pine needles down and hving a scrub area for endangered species, such as the Gopher Tortoise, Scrub Lizards, and Scrub Jays.

One to two pine trees would occupy each acre. This would keep the hawk population down and the scrub jays would have a better chance of survival.

I live in their neighborhood and it is my responsibility to make sure they survive and thrive. I have enjoyed being a member of the Pelican Island Eco Troop for the past four years. I look forward to continuing my active role in the importance of saving an endangered species.

Jon Kevin Norman, Sebastian River Middle School

Editor's note: Jon Kevin Norman is a graduate of the Eco Troop of the Pelican Island Elementary School. It appears he has learned a lot about the endangered Scrub Jay.

Thank you, Jon, for submitting this essay. Keep up the good work.

NEWS FROM THE REFUGES

Mark Graham, Wildlife Biologist for Pelican Island and Archie Carr NWRs, has given us some statistics on nesting at Pelican Island and turtle nesting at Archie Carr. He reports "that Wood Storks are having a good season at Pelican Island. As of the last survey on May 22nd, there have been an estimated 176 wood stork nests, compared to 90 last year. But the real news is that 207 wood stork chicks were counted, compared to only 38 chicks last year. Great Blue Herons had an estimated 10 nests (24 last year). Brown Pelicans have had an estimated 70 nests so far this season (49 last year). Estimated nests for other birds are as follows: Great Egrets 13; Double-crested Cormorants 13. Cattle Egrets 6; Snowy Egrets 3; Little Blue Herons 1; Reddish Egret 1; White Ibis 1. Although only 1 Tri-Colored Heron nest was estimated, 9 chicks have been seen. Obviously, interior nests are not all seen."

From Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, Mark reports the following: "As of June 6, 2002, turtle nests on the refuge are: Loggerhead sea turtles 4890; Green sea turtles 108; Leatherback sea turtles 16. Based on the pattern of green sea turtles having big nesting years every other year on our beach, this year is predicted to be a large one for greens."

Thanks for the update, Mark!

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

At the April 22, 2002 annual meeting, the following officers and board members were elected by voice vote:

Officers (all 1 year terms):

President
Walt Stieglitz

Vice President
Ilka Daniel

Secretary
Denise Leeming

Treasurer
David Cox

Board Members (2 year terms, expire April, 2004):
Terese Harber
Jorie Butler Kent

Board Members (1 year term, expire April, 2003):
Tim Glover
Mary Ann Krueger

Board Member Jill Geisz continues on the board and her term expires April, 2003.

Want to contact any of these good folks??? Check out the listing with phone numbers on page 4 of this newsletter.

MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE BALANCE OF 2002 AND CONTINUING UNTIL APRIL, 2003. ALL PIPS GENERAL MEETINGS STARTING IN OCTOBER, 2002 WILL BE HELD AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED AND ENLARGED NORTH COUNTY LIBRARY. THE JUNE, 2002 PIPS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE ENVIRON- MENTAL LEARNING CENTER IN WABASSO. ALL MEETINGS WILL START AT 7:30 PM.

Meeting dates:

June 24, 2002 (AT THE ELC)
October 28, 2002 (AT THE NORTH COUNTY LIBRARY)
January 27, 2003 "
February 24, 2003 "
April 28, 2003 "

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: THE 2003 PELICAN ISLAND WILDLIFE FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MARCH 15, AND SUNDAY, MARCH 16, AT RIVERVIEW PARK IN SCENIC DOWNTOWN SEBASTIAN!!!

Here are the winners of the March 10, 2002 Poster Contest:

GRADES K THRU 1:

1ST Place: Mariah Moore, Grade 1, Ma Jaya River School;
2nd Place: Linsey Cairns, Kindergarten, Sebastian Elementary School;
3rd Place: Olivia Zugay, Grade 1, Ma Jaya River School.
HONORABLE MENTION: Eden Serkedakis, Taylor Caldwell, and Chris Supplee, all Grade 1, Pelican Island Elementary; Angelica Rios and James Richards, both Kindergarten, Sebastian Elementary; Amanda Fischer, Mo Shiva Guthrie, both Grade 1, Ma Jaya River School.

GRADES 2 AND 3:

1ST Place: Marquiseanna Williamson, Grade 3, Sebastian Elementary;
2nd Place: Lorena Marrero, Grade 3, Mrs. Pearsaul's Class, Highlands Elementary;
3rd Place: Maria Arango, Grade 3, Mrs. Pearsaul's Class, Highlands Elementary.
HONORABLE MENTION: Andrea Mahovetz, Marissa Lamonda, and Chelsea Brady, all Grade 2, Pelican Island Elementary; Holden Nagle, Grade 3, and Chantal Companion, Grade 2, both from Sebastian Elementary; Chasity Buck, Grade 3, Highlands Elementary; Abigail LaCroix, Ayu Sutriasa, and Jewel Lotus Blakeslee, all Grade 2, Ma Jaya River School.

GRADES 4 AND 5:

1ST Place: Sarah Barnhart, Grade 5, Osceola Magnet School;
2nd Place: Richard LiMato, Grade 5, North County Charter School;
3rd Place: HenryWeathersbee, Grade 4, Pelican Island Elementary.
HONORABLE MENTION: Cody Allen Gressinger, Grade 4, Billy Rizzo, Danielle Thomas, Catherine Tallant, and Ramiro Solis, all Grade 5, North County Charter School. Kirk Henf, Grade 5, Pelican Island Elementary; Sara Sanchez, Grade 5, Osceola Magnet; Kelsi Trahan, Grade 4, Mrs. Jackson's class, Sebastian Elementary.

GRADE 6:

1st Place: Brian Story, Sebastian River Middle School;
2nd Place: John Schauman, Gifford Middle School;
3rd Place: Jon Kevin Norman, Sebastian River Middle.
HONORABLE MENTION: Gabrielle Dunne, Oslo Middle School; Michael Brown and Erin McBride, both from Gifford Middle School; Jorge Munos and Steven Underwood, Mrs. Rockwood's class, Sebastian River Middle.

Congratulations to all the winners and a large "Thank you" to all the students who entered this year's Poster Contest.

PIP's Oficers and Directors 2002-2003
REMEMBER - THIS IS YOUR ORGANIZATION, NOT JUST OURS.
Do not hesitate to call any of the Board Members with suggestions, comments or criticisms.

President Walt Stieglitz 772-663-9750

Vice President Ilka Daniel 772-589-8973

Secretary Denise Leeming 321-723-0316

Treasurer David Cox 772-388-6058

Directors: Jill Geisz 772-388-0022

Tim Glover 772-589-0636

Terese Harber 772-589-1180

Jorie Butler Kent 772-388-0145

MaryAnn Krueger 772-581-7472

ANY SUGGESTIONS??? ANYONE??
eMail your suggestions to:
mailto:info@pelicanislandfriends.org

Please send your comments or call Ruth Davis at: 772-589-3687.