Finally, the last month of this terrible year has come. We all are looking forward to having a vaccine available and our lives going back to normal.  I am sending you my warmest wishes for a healthy holiday this month and my greatest wishes for a “normal” New Year!

Our December presentation will be Samantha McGee from St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Environmental Specialist, who will talk to us about the “Ecology and Management of the Amazing Red-Cockaded Woodpecker” on December 3rd. Please mark your calendar and watch for your zoom invitation in the email along with our monthly newsletter for December. If you know someone who is not a member and wants to join in, go to our website: www.stlucieaudubon.org and find the meeting information to get a link to get an invitation to join in our meeting. The public is welcome to join in!

Also in December, we will have our annual Christmas Bird Count organized by Ed Bowes on Saturday, December 19th.  If someone is new or wants to join in, please let Ed Bowes know by contacting him via stlucieaudubon@gmail.com

Eva Ries, past President and County employee has some news for our members only. “The St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department is seeking 2-3 St. Lucie Audubon Society volunteers available 2 times a week (weekday mornings), 2-4 hours a day, for a minimum 8 week commitment. Volunteers will assist the county's field coordinator with an avian conservation project at county sites. Volunteers should be able to walk some distances, watch and listen for birds, record information to assist the Field Coordinator, and abide by state/county field work standards and laws applicable to Listed Species. Training and expectations will be provided to volunteers prior to working in the field.  Volunteers must complete and return county background check (at no cost) forms prior to beginning volunteering." Anyone interested can contact Eva at: www.OneMoreGeneration.org or email at: avian@onemoregeneration.org  She can also be reached by phone: 404/388-6887. This sounds like a great opportunity for our members and I hope we can help with this project by having a few volunteers come forward.  Please consider being a part of this team!

National Audubon and Florida Audubon have begun a new initiative for all Audubon chapters.  It is a new commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Audubon has made these ideals a strategic importance. “Protecting and conserving nature and the environment transcends political, cultural, and social boundaries. Respect, inclusion, and opportunity for people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives will attract the best ideas and harness the greatest passion to shape a healthier, more vibrant future for all of us who share our planet.” 

It is my hope that our chapter will begin discussions on how to increase diversity of our membership and supporters in the New Year.  We can begin by reaching out to anyone you might meet or know who loves nature (and birds) in your life.  We want to share our passion and expand our reach in all our diverse communities.

Keep safe and healthy please! 

Ellen Lynch, President