St. Lucie Audubon Society

January Field Trip to Viera Wetlands and Merritt Island

It's dinner time this Crested Caracara spotted on the day-long field trip north to Viera Wetlands and Merritt Island National Wildlife Preserve. Among the sightings was a Masked Duck, a Florida rarity. Check out the trip report with bird list and photos. Photo by Hart Rufe.

Results of 2009 Christmas Bird Count now available

Message from the President:

PROTECT OUR RIVERS

The Conservation Corner of the December SLAS newsletter had an informative article by Ed Bowes (Conservation Chair) on environmental pollutants. This carried on the theme of the presentation on detection of pollutants in the Indian River given at the November SLAS general meeting.

I recently read an article about feminizing male large and smallmouth bass written by Eric Hagesman. He notes that a nine-year study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that up to 91% of male largemouth and up to 100% of smallmouth bass were intersex in the hardest-hit area, the Southeastern U.S. The intersex bass were sampled in the Apalachicola, Savannah and Pee Dee rivers. Feminized fish may not be able to reproduce. This could drive the bass into extinction.

Hormones (estrogen from birth control pills), endocrine substances and pharmaceuticals flushed from our toilets into rivers appear to be the most likely culprits. Agricultural run-off with growth hormones is also high on the list.

In September, the EPA identified nine hormones in our water. At this time, we have no idea what they might do to humans.

Hagesman closes his article with this thought, "We can hope that the thought of drinking water that turns male fish into females will spur us to clean up our rivers."

Federal regulators have now listed some drugs as contaminants in our drinking water and have now launched a nationwide survey to check for pharmaceuticals at water treat plants.

Join SLAS to help clean up our environment not only to protect our wildlife but also protect ourselves.

Thank you for your support. Remember to renew your membership and pay your dues.

Dan Walma, President of St. Lucie Audubon Society