Audubon Newsletter May 2017 Christine Hepburn

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This is a Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia.) It s showy, fragrant flowers bloom for months, beginning in April.

1 Audubon Newsletter May 2017 Christine Hepburn In case you were wondering about the gorgeous purple blooms on a tree across from the driving range (and also in Frank Park), Nina Podrasky identified the tree and sent this photograph. This is a Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia.) It s showy, fragrant flowers bloom for months, beginning in April. This species came from Central and South America but is not considered a problem plant in Florida. And its flowers do provide food for bees and other animals.

2 Plant of the Month. Our featured plant species for this newsletter is a defining and beloved feature of our landscape at Wilderness, the Palm Tree. There are actually eleven different species of Palm Tree (in nine different genera) that are native to Florida, and over two thousand more species worldwide. Palm trees are all in the family of plants named Arecaceae and they are not truly trees ; they don t have bark and don t develop an annual layer of wood (and thus cannot heal themselves after an injury.) Surprisingly given their size, Palms are botanically closer to grasses both are monocots, meaning they have one seed leaf. The palm trees that we love to see silhouetted high up against the darkening sky are Royal Palms (Roystonea regia) and Cabbage Palms (Sabal palmetto), both native to Florida. This Royal Palm is near the driving range. Note the smooth bark and long, feathery leaves. Royal Palms also have a smooth green crownshaft below the leaves and are considered self-pruning as long as they are well fertilized.

Cabbage Palms by the lake past the tennis courts with a healthy, rounded shape. The Cabbage Palm is the State Tree of Florida and we have many at Wilderness.

3 Cabbage Palms by the lake past the tennis courts with a healthy, rounded shape. The Cabbage Palm is the State Tree of Florida and we have many at Wilderness. The younger trees generally have trunks covered in criss-crossed boots (see photo below). We learned from The Naples Botanic Garden s presentation here in February that it is important to leave the boots intact because they keep the treetop from breaking off in high winds. They also are used by wildlife and plants. The scientific name of the Cabbage Palm Sabal palmetto does not mean that it is the same or even closely related to the Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens). The Saw Palmetto, another Florida native that is numerous at Wilderness, tends to grow horizontally rather than vertically.

Saw Palmetto leaves, with boots on a Cabbage Palm trunk visible behind them. Palm trees are very valuable to wildlife. Many bird species eat the fruit of the Royal and the Cabbage Palms.

4 Saw Palmetto leaves, with boots on a Cabbage Palm trunk visible behind them. Palm trees are very valuable to wildlife. Many bird species eat the fruit of the Royal and the Cabbage Palms. Our endangered Big Cypress Fox Squirrels will also eat the fruit, though they prefer Pine seeds. The Cabbage Palm s white flowers attract Honeybees and other insects, and frogs, lizards and insects live in the Palm s crown where moisture collects. The Saw Palmetto is one of the most utilized plant species of all, known to provide cover to over 100 bird species (including the endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrow), 27 mammals, 25 amphibians, 61 reptiles (including the Gopher Tortoise), and a host of insects. The more naturally the palm trees are able to grow, the more value they are to wildlife (and the more Wilderness looks like a tropical wilderness). Thinking about the pruning of Palm trees has changed in recent years with experts now agreeing with the following, quoted from an article by Susan Haddock, UF/IFAS (University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services) Extension Hillsborough County (my bolding): A healthy and properly pruned palm should have a full-rounded head with

5 leaves down to the trunk. Many consumers have become accustomed to seeing palms that resemble feather dusters and assume incorrectly that the feather duster look is healthy. The feather duster look is also known as the hurricane or Mohawk cut. This over pruning results in a weaker palm structure as the palm trunk will become thin at the head and more likely to fail during high wind events. This thinning is called pencil necking. The excessive removal of leaves that creates this unnatural look also induces nutritional deficiencies. The article concludes: Palms should be trimmed and not pruned. Only completely dead leaves should be removed. It is best not to trim leaves that are not completely dead, even though they may look unsightly, as these unsightly leaves provide the potassium source for new leaves. If unsightly leaves are removed, the new leaves will pull potassium from the remaining lower, once healthy leaves. These healthy leaves will soon look unsightly too and with continued leaf removal, eventually the canopy will decline and the palm can die. In some locations the Palms must of course be pruned for safety or view reasons (the Royal Palms in particular will drop their dead fronds) but we could reduce the pruning of Palm trees and generally follow the guidance in the quote above. Habitat Improvement Continues The Audubon Committee is thrilled to announce that our CEO, Scott Bertrand, and Golf and Condo Superintendents have agreed that the recent practice of not mowing all the way up to lake edges will be extended to all lake edges including those in the condo areas. The no-mow buffer will be a minimum of 12 inches, in some places up to a foot wider. The resulting higher vegetative buffer around lakes will be very helpful to many forms of wild life, plus it also contributes to the lakes water quality, not to mention easing the mowing process. This is considered a best management practice and is likely to lead to more wading birds to enjoy. New Committee Members? If you are interested and enthusiastic about birds and other wildlife, consider applying for the Audubon Committee. It s fine if you don t know a lot if you are interested in learning and sharing knowledge about birds and natural ecosystems. In addition to providing education, the Audubon Committee works to promote the conservation and enhancement of our wildlife habitat. We therefore interface with the Greens, Grounds, and other Wilderness Committees

and make recommendations to the Board. We welcome general ambassadors for wildlife, plus we are looking for someone who will plan and manage events such as dinner presentations.

6 and make recommendations to the Board. We welcome general ambassadors for wildlife, plus we are looking for someone who will plan and manage events such as dinner presentations. We are also in need of computer skills to help with creating a plant guide to Wilderness. If you know Power Point and/or other means of integrating photographs and text, please consider the Audubon Committee. Wildlife Notes from the 2017 Season We seem to have fewer Anhinga nests than in previous years and again had no owls nesting, for the 4 th or 5 th year in a row. But our human residents enjoyed seeing Bald Eagles, nesting Osprey, occasional Otters, Fox Squirrels, and Bobcats. And, in addition to the many glories of the usual birds at Wilderness, some residents were treated to A Brown Pelican fishing our lakes. Pelicans usually fish in the gulf and seeing one at Wilderness was once shocking, but it s no longer rare. Brown Pelican resting near the Hole 3 tee.

A Turkey on the fairway! Seen on the 8 th hole (below) and several other places. This is the first known turkey sighting at Wilderness since 2011. Turkey on the 8 th Hole.

7 A Turkey on the fairway! Seen on the 8 th hole (below) and several other places. This is the first known turkey sighting at Wilderness since Turkey on the 8 th Hole. (Photo from John Poffenburger) A native Green Anole, the first one I ve ever seen here. Green Anoles have been largely displaced here at Wilderness and elsewhere by Brown Anoles who originated in Cuba. Experts feared that the Green Anole would be driven to

extinction but now see hope that the species will persist, adapting by moving higher off the ground than the Cuban invaders. This native Green Anole was on a palm tree beside the Tennis Courts.

8 extinction but now see hope that the species will persist, adapting by moving higher off the ground than the Cuban invaders. This native Green Anole was on a palm tree beside the Tennis Courts. A Turtle laying eggs, on the 18 th Fairway (and this was also seen near the 17 th tee.) Probably a Florida Cooter, one of our common turtles. The nests are often raided by raccoons or armadillos.

9 Maura May sent this photo taken by Peter Birch.

10 A juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk found on the ground by the grounds staff. It was taken to the Conservancy of SW Florida for rehabilitation. The young Red-Shouldered Hawk near the intersection of Wilderness Way and Clubhouse Drive. (Photo from Tim Mace)

11 The high-pitched shrieks, and occasional sight, of a Limpkin for several days in January and again in late April. Limpkins were common at Wilderness and Hole-inthe-Wall many years ago. (Photo from Audubon Field Guide. No photo at Wilderness, yet)

Finally, although bobcat sightings are not big news at Wilderness, here is a photo of a fine specimen near 104 Clubhouse Drive that Tim Mace sent in.

12 Finally, although bobcat sightings are not big news at Wilderness, here is a photo of a fine specimen near 104 Clubhouse Drive that Tim Mace sent in. This bobcat appears to be large and to have a relatively long tail, but it IS a bobcat, not a panther. A summer Audubon newsletter will talk about the April Plant Tour led by naturalist Patrick Higgins and the March presentation by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida of the results of the study they did here at Wilderness. HAPPY SPRING!

TWIN ISLES COUNTRY CLUB AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARY PROGRAM

TWIN ISLES COUNTRY CLUB AUDUBON COOPERATIVE SANCTUARY PROGRAM What is the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program? The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program helps golf courses to enhance wildlife habitats