The Pileated Woodpecker
The Newsletter of the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society
AUTUMN
2015
Vol.40 No 1
PO Box 957, Sanibel FL 33957
Our Mission: Promoting Interests in Wildlife on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and
fostering the Cause of Conservation with Emphasis on Birds and their Habitat.
Newsletter reply only: 440 Glory Circle, Sanibel, FL 33957,
Board Members
Jim Griffith
President.
Phyllis Gresham
Vice President
Susan Harpham,
Secretary
Malcolm Harpham
Treasurer
Kevin Bowden
Betty Harig
Joanne Heroy-Giller
Bill Jacobson
John MacLennan
Dale McGinley
Tom Mustachio
Hugh Verry
239-579-0720
sdiwi@cox.net
AN UPDATE ON THE C-43 RESERVOIR PROJECT
The following Article is
from the Aug 14, 2015,
issue of the “Florida Water
Daily” newsletter:
http://
floridawaterdaily.com/2015/08/14/
sfwmd-awards-contractfor-caloosahatcheereservoir-construction/
The South Florida Water Management District today approved a contract authorizing the start of early construction on the massive Caloosahatchee River (C-43)
West Basin Storage Reservoir project. The work is a precursor for achieving water
storage benefits before the entire reservoir is complete. “While just the first step in
construction of the reservoir, this work is crucial to making tangible improvements in
the health of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary,” said SFWMD Governing
Board Chairman Daniel O’Keefe. “This is yet another example of the recent progress that is being made on restoration projects throughout our region.”
The $10.8 million contract awarded to Blue Goose Construction, LLC, begins the
first phase of work on the reservoir. The contract includes:
 Demolishing existing agricultural features such as buried pipes, culverts, irrigation pump stations and above-ground facilities across the 10,000-acre reservoir site

Construction of 7 compacted, above-ground earthfill mounds reaching 56 feet high at select locations to
help compact the ground to support future structures

Moving approximately 1.8 million cubic yards of fill for the mounds, enough to fill 1 acre of land to a height
of 1,100 feet, or 120 feet higher than the Eiffel Tower
Preparation of the foundation for construction of the 16-mile dam that will surround the reservoir
The work is the first step for the SFWMD to undertake expediting construction of the facility as part of Governor Rick Scott’s commitment to South Florida ecosystem restoration. The project as a whole is a joint effort
between the District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP). Today’s action follows a June vote by the SFWMD Governing Board that authorized entering
into an agreement designed to help the District receive federal cost credit for expediting construction.
The C-43 reservoir project was authorized by Congress in the Water Resources and Reform Development
Act (WRRDA) of 2014. It will one day hold approximately 170,000 acre-feet of water to be used during dry
periods to help maintain a desirable minimum flow of fresh water to the Caloosahatchee Estuary. During the
rainy season, the reservoir will capture and store excess stormwater and regulatory releases from Lake
Okeechobee, helping to prevent excessive freshwater flows to the estuary.
Since 2012, the SFWMD has put the reservoir property to use with emergency water storage of summertime
rainfall and high runoff. Temporary pumps and levee improvements have helped capture approximately 4.2
billion gallons of water that would have otherwise flowed to the river.
The Pileated Woodpccker AUTUMN 2015 page 2
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA AUDUBON
2016 LECTURE PROGRAM
SCHEDULE
Held at the Sanibel Community House
2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL
7:30PM Start Time - Doors open at
6:30PM
Suggested Donation - $5.00 per person
January 7, 2016 – “Making a Difference for Birds” – Join wildlife
photographer, educator and guide,
Shawn Carey as he again kicks off
our lecture season by sharing his
latest Migration Productions video
presentation showcasing the extraordinary work of three individuals: Norman Smith’s
Snowy Owl Project, Dr Stephen Kress’ Project Puffin
and Tom Sayers’ Kestrel Box Program.
January 14, 2016 – "Lee County
Conservation 20/20 Preserves: The
Natural Place to Play" – Cathy Olson, Conservation Lands Manager,
Lee County Parks and Recreation
educates us on unique public nature
lands of the 20/20 Program system
with emphasis on the many locations
of interest to both birders and nature
enthusiasts.
January 21, 2016 – "Birds in
Southwest Florida -- Diversity
and Adaptations for Survival"
– Avian authority, Dr. Jerry
Jackson of FGCU and host of
WGCU’s public radio show,
“With the Wild Things” will focus
on "Gee Whiz" things you might not know about the behavior, ecology, and interactions that allow our local birds
to survive here both in natural and unnatural habitats.
January 28, 2016 – “When Eagles Roar – Tales of an
African Birding Adventurer” –
James Currie, internationally
known birder and Host & Creator of Nikon’s Birding Adventures TV show will present a
don’t miss program on his
worldwide birding adventures.
February 4, 2016 – “On
Heron Time (I've Got the
Blues)” - Rejoin Rick
Bunting, as he utilizes his
unique perspective to create a photo essay on the
family activities of the favorite bird of many, the
Great Blue Heron.
February 11, 2016 –
“Subtropical Field Notes: An
Amateur's Appreciation of SW
Florida Birds.” – Amy Bennett
Williams, Senior writer, watchdog, and storyteller for The NewsPress Media Group, will utilize her
special verbal and writing skills to
give us a unique perspective on
our local birds.
February 18, 2016 – “Birds of
the Caribbean” – Ken Burgener, world birder and founder
of CarefreeBirding.com is back
to take us on a unique trip to discover the intriguing birds inhabiting the exotic lands of the Caribbean.
February 25, 2016 –
“SUNDA -A Land of
Birds, Beasts & Dragons” – Well-known California birding teacher and
lecturer, Bob Lewis,
birder, photographer and
traveler will present scintillatingly colorful images
of the exotic birds & animals of what was Sunda
and is now Indonesia & Malaysia.
The Pileated Woodpccker AUTUMN 2015 page 3
Volunteers Needed – 2015
Christmas Bird Count
San-Cap Audubon will conduct its annual
Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on Saturday,
December 19, 2015. The results of the local count will be forwarded to the National
Audubon Society for inclusion in the 116th
National Christmas Bird Count. Volunteers are needed. Birding skills are desirable but not necessary. If you have not
participated in the Sanibel-Captiva CBC
before and would like to, you may obtain
addition information by calling (239) 2461054.
NOTES FROM FLORIDA’S CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
https://www.audubon.org/news/the-115th-cbc-florida
The 73 CBCs held during the 115th season set the all-time record for Florida. Florida’s CBCs accounted for 9329 accepted
observations of 357 taxonomic forms and 2,611,243 individuals, comprising 290 native species, the reintroduced Whooping
Crane, 14 of the 15 countable exotics, 38 non-countable exotics, two hybrids (Mallard × Mottled Duck and Ring-necked Duck
× Lesser Scaup), one color morph (“Great White Heron”), one
intergrade (“Wurdemann’s Heron”), and 10 species-groups.
Eight species—Greater White-fronted Goose, Black Swan,
Black-necked Swan, Key West Quail-Dove, Lesser Nighthawk,
Buff-bellied Hummingbird, La Sagra’s Flycatcher, and Tennessee Warbler—were recorded solely during count week.
Eleven CBCs, including three inland exceeded 149 species:
Alafia Banks (168), Jacksonville and West Pasco (165 each),
Dec. 20 was the day of the annual Christmas Bird Count for
*Zellwood–Mount Dora (161), St. Marks (158), Sarasota (156),
the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society and the 120 birders
St. Petersburg and Merritt Island N.W.R. (155 each),
who were in the field spotted 14,154 birds divided among 102 *Gainesville (154), *Lakeland (151), and Apalachicola Bay–St.
Vincent N.W.R. (150). Six CBCs, including three inland (*), taldifferent species. That is up slightly from 2013's totals of
lied more than 50,000 individuals: *Orange River (854,201, with
about 12,000 birds and 96 species. (In 2012, 104 species
850,000 Tree Swallows), Cocoa (151,032, with 70,000 Lesser
Scaup), *Kissimmee Valley (105,931, with 65,000 American
were seen.) Bill Jacobson, the Master Tabulator, said. “Just
Coots), *Lakeland (73,280), West Pasco (57,484), and St. Pelike every year, we had some species that had higher numtersburg (50,253). Six species (Great Blue Heron, Killdeer, Blue
bers than the average and others were lower.” The Count
-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray Catbird, Palm Warbler, and Common
Yellowthroat) were tallied on all 73 counts.
managed to find one Great Black-Backed Gull, the first in
. Notes from last year’s Christmas Bird Count:
many years; twelve Lesser Black-Backed Gulls were also
Nine species exceeded 50,000 individuals statewide: Tree
Swallow (962,660), American Coot (171,535), Lesser Scaup
and it replaced the five Black Scoters that were seen in 2013 (146,055), Laughing Gull (108,356), American Robin (84,834),
Fish Crow (76,784), Ring-billed Gull (67,262), White Ibis
(Black Scoters were not spotted in 2014). Osprey numbers
(62,096), and Red-winged Blackbird (60,806). In contrast, 14
are closely watched on Sanibel-Captiva. In 2013, 398 were
native species or natural vagrants were represented by a single
counted and that was the highest total of any Christmas Bird individual each (excluding species-groups and count-week reports): Eurasian Wigeon, Common Merganser, Neotropic CorCount; in 2014, 365 were counted. Another excellent number morant, Great Cormorant, Purple Sandpiper, Black-chinned
Saturday came from the closely monitored Snowy PloverHummingbird, Tropical Kingbird, Gray Kingbird, Bell’s Vireo,
Brown Creeper, Wood Thrush, Swainson’s Warbler, Louisiana
SCCF monitors Snowy Plover nesting and last season was
Waterthrush, and Western Tanager.
spotted (vs. six in 2013). A Surf Scoter appeared this year,
seen as a successful one with 28 in 2014, more than double
The 5376 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks on 32 counts indicated
continued population growth. In contrast, only 72 Fulvous WhisThere were 17 Bald Eagles in 2014, down a bit from 2013’s
tling-Ducks were tallied statewide. High totals among 209
22. The Tree Swallow presented the most individuals from
Egyptian Geese were 57 at Kendall Area, 43 at Fort Lauderdale, and 41 at Dade County. Canada Geese continue to quione species with 1,883 being counted. This bird demonetly increase in the peninsula, with counts of 300 at Jacksonstrates how bird populations can fluctuate on count day- in
ville, 71 at Bradenton, and 60 at Emeralda–Sunnyhill. Other
2013 only nine were seen, all in one area. This year six of the feral waterfowl include 4085 Muscovy Ducks on 52 counts and
3069 (mostly feral) Mallards on 48.
nine areas had Tree Swallows with one area recording 712
last year's number of 12, which Jacobson said is average.
and another 587. Second on the most-abundant list was the
ubiquitous White Ibis with 1,793. Willet, a very common
shorebird, was third with 1,018 with more than half coming
from one of the nine areas. Brown Pelicans numbered 805
with White Pelicans checking in at 256.
There were 15,169 American White Pelicans on 49 counts and
18,356 Brown Pelicans on 51, including 60 of the latter inland
at Lakeland. Statewide, storks and wading birds totaled
130,147 individuals, among these 4186 Wood Storks, 219
“Great White Herons,” 159 Reddish Egrets, 62,096 White
Ibises, 9252 Glossy Ibises, and 1434 Roseate Spoonbills.
The Pileated Woodpccker AUTUMN 2015 page 4
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, DECEMBER 20, 2014
SPECIES
2014
2013
2012
10yr
avg
28yr
avg
87-96
avg
SPECIES
Anhinga
107
74
101
106
125
139
Bittern, Least
1
0
0
0
0
0
Blackbird, Red-winged
0
3
0
7
62
143
Bunting, Indigo
0
0
0
0
0
0
Bunting, Painted
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cardinal
58
65
96
67
52
34
Catbird, Gray
92
95
125
99
84
74
Frigatebird, Magnificent
Coot, American
42
40
32
32
42
67
573
314
599
413
595
743
0
0
0
0
1
14
31
46
14
555
444
513
0
0
Dove, Ground
33
Dove, Eurasian Collared
2013
2012 10yr avg
28yr
avg
87-96
avg
175
199
149
176
214
196
9
5
4
10
10
11
161
134
163
162
290
268
Falcon, Peregrine
1
1
1
1
1
0
Flicker, Northern Yel. Shftd
1
0
1
2
18
36
Flycatcher, Great Crested
5
5
4
4
6
6
47
378
25
66
57
25
Gannet, Northern
2
2
10
6
3
0
Godwit, Marbled
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Goldfinch, Am.
0
0
2
9
25
48
9
4
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray
49
42
63
47
96
138
303
715
1,139
Grackle, Boat-tailed
35
33
38
76
105
119
0
0
0
1
Grackle, Common
123
171
163
395
304
170
33
58
44
60
90
Grebe. Pied-billed
61
77
55
52
61
71
58
79
96
111
125
85
Grebe, Horned
0
0
0
0
1
2
474
345
649
621
521
499
Gull, Bonaparte's
0
0
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Gull, Great Black-backed
1
0
0
0
0
0
22
2
0
8
4
0
Gull, Herring
6
67
20
32
76
78
219
25
0
77
169
178
744
1653
690
1,225
2,036
1,917
0
0
0
0
27
66
12
6
11
3
1
0
43
40
29
85
110
138
121
287
381
265
526
760
Duck, Green-winged
0
0
1
3
2
1
Hawk, Broad-winged
2
2
0
1
0
1
Duck, Hooded Mergan-
2
4
4
3
3
4
Hawk, Cooper's
5
0
3
3
1
0
Duck, Lesser scaup
0
0
18
6
3
0
Hawk, Northern Harrier
1
0
1
1
0
0
Duck, Mallard
0
0
0
1
0
0
Hawk, Red-shouldered
46
40
39
41
48
56
Duck, Mottled
91
118
108
109
81
61
Heron, Great Blue
88
42
99
72
81
94
Duck, Pintail
0
0
0
0
2
4
Heron, Green
23
4
7
9
19
34
Duck, Northern ShovDuck, Red-breasted
Merganser
0
0
0
0
0
1
Heron, Little Blue
265
219
75
163
206
216
Heron, Tri-colored
74
52
63
64
93
114
23
95
42
47
85
124
Heron, Black-crowned night
9
8
2
7
9
8
Duck, Redhead
0
0
2
1
0
0
Heron, Yellow-crowned night
37
9
59
30
44
59
Duck, Ring-necked
0
0
1
0
0
0
1793
1061
879
1,085
1,139
1,116
Duck, Ruddy
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
2
4
5
7
466
286
2
216
256
213
Kestrel, Americanl
16
18
29
25
28
32
Eagle, Bald
17
22
22
14
9
5
Killdeer
77
35
77
65
56
47
Egret, Cattle
35
12
29
23
36
34
0
0
0
0
1
1
Cormorant, DoubleCowbird, Brown-headed
Crow, American
Crow, Fish
Cuckoo, Mangrove
Dove, Mourning
Dove, Rock
Dove, White-winged
Dowitcher, Short-billed
Duck, Am. Wigeon
Duck, Blue-winged teal
Dunlin
Egret, Great
2014
Egret, Reddish
Egret, Snowy
Gull, Laughing
Gull, Lesser black-backed
Gull, Ring-billed
Ibis, White
Jay, Blue
Kingbird, Eastern
The Pileated Woodpccker AUTUMN 2015 page 5
SPECIES
Kingfisher, Belted
2014 2013
2012
10yr
avg
28yr
avg
87-96
avg
29
12
37
40
56
73
164
46
20
62
304
715
Loon, Common
4
3
6
13
11
8
Merlin
2
1
2
1
1
1
Mockingbird, Northern
35
21
28
41
61
82
Moorhen, Common
63
22
39
61
113
166
365
404
468
339
290
229
Ovenbird
0
0
0
0
0
1
Owl, Barn
0
0
0
0
1
1
Owl, Great-horned
1
0
0
2
2
1
Owl, E. Screech
9
2
5
2
4
5
Oystercatcher, Am.
0
2
0
16
9
7
Parakeet, Monk
0
2
0
0
0
Pelican, Brown
805
849
1224
1,392
Pelican, White
256
561
208
286
160
20
29
28
22
167
225
52
0
0
Plover, Semi-palmated
27
Plover, Snowy
SPECIES
2014
2013 2012 10yr avg
26
45
56
9 1212
641
260
0
7
1
3
6
0
0
0
0
1
27
18
99
114
176
287
Tern, Royal
348
424
822
589
782
898
Tern, Sandwich
177
295
872
726
611
490
Thrasher, Brown
0
0
0
0
0
1
Towhee, Eastern
0
0
0
0
2
4
Turnstone, Ruddy
200
318
110
199
275
343
Vireo, Red-eyed
0
0
1
0
0
0
Vireo, Blue-headed
1
0
0
2
2
2
0
Vireo, White-eyed
3
1
3
2
3
3
1,183 1,023
Vireo, Yellow-throated
1
0
0
24
Vulture, Black
0
3
2
15
23
35
20
19
Vulture, Turkey
45
218
430
163
224
255
131
169
213
0
0
0
1
5
10
0
0
1
2
Warbler, Black and White
Warbler, Comm Yellowthroat
14
16
6
15
19
18
7
67
45
39
28
Warbler, Palm
163
133
288
155
160
138
28
12
2
6
13
17
Warbler, N. Parula
1
0
0
0
1
1
Plover, Wilson's
0
0
0
1
10
24
Warbler, Pine
1
4
16
6
3
1
Rail, King
0
0
0
0
0
1
Warbler, Prairie
3
0
3
3
10
16
Robin, Am.
0
0
38
12
30
62
Warbler, Yellow-rumped
87
105
235
224
306
183
Sanderling
563
620
377
702
Warbler, Yellow-throated
2
4
6
6
6
6
Sandpiper, Least
81
32
21
36
72
71
Waxwing, Cedar
0
0
0
0
4
0
Sandpiper, Spotted
21
9
17
23
31
33
Willet 1018
615
187
410
455
469
Sandpiper, Western
Sapsucker, Yellowbellied
26
21
30
80
119
166
3
2
6
6
5
6
Scoter, Black
0
5
48
5
2
0
Scoter, Surf
1
0
0
0
1
0
Shrike, Loggerhead
1
0
2
4
3
Skimmer, Black
6
271
577
196
Snipe, Wilson's
0
0
0
Sparrow, House
0
0
Spoonbill, Roseate
13
Starling, European
295
Osprey
Phoebe, Eastern
Plover, Black-bellied
Plover, Piping
917 1,150
16
25
Swallow, Tree
1883
Tern, Common
0
0
Tern, Caspian
0
Tern, Forster's
87-96
avg
31
Knot, Red
Stork, Wood
28yr
avg
0
Woodpecker, Downy
8
4
5
3
4
3
Woodpecker, Pileated
55
41
55
52
49
49
Woodpecker, Red-bellied
175
136
149
147
138
131
Wren, Carolina
9
9
45
17
13
8
Wren, House
8
0
19
10
5
1
0
Wren, Marsh
1
0
0
0
0
0
137
123
Yellowlegs, Greater
2
2
3
13
10
10
0
1
1
Yellowlegs,Lesser
6
0
2
6
8
7
0
2
13
27
Total Birds 14154 12411 14060
Total Species
102
96 104
13,933
100
16,494
102
17,555
103
29
31
53
53
38
160
428
295
315
326
Total Participants
119
120
125
The Pileated Woodpecker AUTUMN 2015
page 6
BIRDING NOTES:Notes from Birdwatchers Digest about
Belted Kingfishers; pictures from France Paulsen’s Blog
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA AUDUBON SOCIETY
2016 BIRD WALKS
SATURDAYS 8:00 AM…SUGGESTED
DONA-
TION $ 2.00 / PERSON:
In the winter, male Belted
Kingfishers tend to remain NO DONATION ACCEPTED AT “DING” DARLING
in the northern nesting
WILDLIFE REFUGE
areas, protecting their territory. Females are more
OPEN TO ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE, FROM
likely to migrate to southNOVICE TO EXPERT
ern areas, thus it is more
www.san-capaudubon.org
likely that you will see a
BIRD WALKS
female Belted Kingfisher
(with the brown bib) in
Dec 19 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Sanibel than a male (no
bib).
- one of the reasons that Tree Swallows stay up north
for so long is that they have adapted their diets to eat
berries when insects are scarce.
-October 13, 2015: CROW recently received a total of 69
red knots from Ft. Myers Beach who were weak and unable
to stand or fly. Due to the volume of red knots, multiple
agencies assisted with their rehabilitation including
the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Save Our Seabirds and Peace River Wildlife Center. All have recovered
and were released last week. Here are some being released on Sanibel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv6kL-RzpRs
. BIRDWATCHING
NOTES:
-The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival takes
place in Titusville FL from 20-25 Jan 2016. For more information, go to
www.SpaceCoastBirdingandWildlifeFestival.org or call
321-268-5224.
 an excellent study on mangroves, titled “Mangroves
for coastal defense: Guidelines for coastal managers
and policy makers” is available at tinyurl.com/
MangrovesWI-TNC
- Ozzie the Bald Eagle, RIP: Ozzie and Harriet, a
paired couple of Bald eagles, became famous as the
subjects of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam,
www.SWFLEagleCam.com. It
is with heavy hearts, we share
the news that Ozzie passed
away recently. It was a gift to
observe his and Harriet’s bond
over the last three seasons and
we will remember his dedication,
commitment and love for many
years to come. Fly High & Free
Ozzie. (A replacement for Ozzie
is now in the nest)
Jan
2 BAILEY TRACT
Jan
9 DING DARLING REFUGE
Jan 16 BUNCHE BEACH
Jan 23 POND APPLE TRAIL
Jan 30 BAILEY TRACT
Feb
6 DING DARLING REFUGE
Feb 13 POND APPLE TRAIL
Feb 20 DING DARLING REFUGE
Feb 27 BAILEY TRACT
Mar
5 BUNCHE BEACH
Mar 12 BOWMAN’S BEACH
Mar 19 DING DARLING REFUGE
Mar 26 POND APPLE TRAIL
Apr
2 BUNCHE BEACH
Apr
9 SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE
DIRECTIONS
BAILEY TRACT: Take Island Inn Rd across from Bailey’s. Free parking
at end of road in field at back entrance to the Bailey Tract.
BOWMAN’S BEACH: Park in the beach parking lot at the end of Bowman’s Beach Road. Meet at the Wooden Bridge on the way to beach.
Non-Resident parking $3.00/hour
BUNCHE BEACH: Across causeway approx.
2.5 miles. Right on John Morris Rd to beach parking lot. Waterproof
shoes a must. Parking fee $ 2.00/hour
DING DARLING REFUGE: Meet in overflow
parking lot near trolley stop. Free Parking.
POND APPLE TRAIL: Meet in the FRONT parking lot of Matzaluna Restaurant on Peri-winkle Way. Free Parking.
SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE: Meet in the Fishing Pier parking lot at the
Lighthouse. Non-Resident parking $ 3.00/hour.
The Pileated Woodpccker AUTUMN 2015 page 7
REMEMBERING ELAINE JACOBSON
Mary “Elaine” Jacobson, 73, of Jaffrey NH and Sanibel FL died July 10, 2015, at Monadnock Community
Hospital in Peterborough NH after a period of failing
health. She was born in Boston MA April 3, 1942,
daughter of John T. Biagi and Annetta (Simoni) Biagi.
She grew up in Hyannis MA., later moving to Milton
MA, where she graduated from Jeanne d’Arc Academy. After marriage she settled in the Monadnock
Region NH and raised her children.
—————————————
————————————
Thanks to France Paulsen for
this wonderful tribute to Elaine:
When I became a volunteer for Ding Darling, I had
the pleasure of attending
many plant walks that were
taking place every Tuesdays at the Bailey Tract
In 1980 she met her husband, William “Jake” Jacoband this is where I got to
son. Together, they traveled west to Arizona where
meet Mary Elaine Jacobshe obtained her Bachelor of Arts at the University of son. She was very passionate about the fauna and
Arizona. They then moved to the Portland OR area
loved to share her knowledge, she was also a fun
and got married, and she began her career as a phar- gal, very warm and generous. She also gave her
maceutical representative. In 1985, to be closer to
time to the Sanibel Captiva Audubon Society group
family, the couple returned to Dublin NH where she
and I vividly remember how she would greet everycontinued her 18-year career before retiring from
one who came in and made them feel as if they
Aventis Pharmaceuticals. They moved to Jaffrey NH were the most important people in the room, myself
in 2007 and spent their winters in Sanibel FL since
included.
jointly retiring in 2000.
Since I walk the Bailey Tract on a regular basis, I
can't help but remember her comments and her
Elaine was very active in their Sanibel community.
exuberance as I look at the wild flowers in bloom, I
She and her husband volunteered at the J.N. “Ding”
see now that she is within the blooms....
Darling Natural Wildlife Refuge. As a self–taught ex- though I miss hearing her voice.
pert on the local Florida flora, she would conduct
weekly plant walks for visitors to the wildlife refuge.
Just recently I read: "There is no death only a
The Jacobsons were also guides on bicycle-birding
change of worlds" and I truly believe that she has
tours, held weekly in the refuge. Elaine was a board
found eternal blooms to tend to.
member and the program chairperson for the SanibelCaptiva Audubon Society. In that capacity, since
Mary Elaine - these are for you.
2005, she planned and coordinated their very suchttp://www.birdstring.blogspot.com/2015/09/
cessful annual weekly lecture series in January and
eternal-bloom.html
February on birds and the environment. In addition,
as a volunteer at the Sanibel Captiva Conservation
Foundation (SCCF), she was a leader and organizer
of their native plant education program, "Weeds &
Seeds." During the summer, she was either home in
Jaffrey, where she loved gardening, or taking RV trips
with her husband to locations such as the coast of
Maine, Canada and western United States.
Elaine will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was always enthusiastic
about everything she was interested in, and it was a
contagious enthusiasm. With a unique knack for making friends, she was the kind of person her friends
always loved seeing. A vibrant and lively person who
enjoyed life to the fullest while being amazingly giving
and loving, Her curiosity and excitement about
plants, nature, history and her passion to explore the
world were admired by many. The world seemed
brighter around Elaine.

AUTUMN 2015
The Newsletter of the Sanibel-Captiva
Audubon Society
P.O. Box 957 Sanibel, Florida 33957
Newsletter reply only:
440 Glory Circle
Sanibel, FL 33957
sdiwi@cox.net 239-579-0720

An Update on the C-43 Reservoir Project

The 2016 Lecture Series

2015 Christmas Bird Count

Birding and Birdwatching
Notes

The 2016 Walks Schedule

Remembering Elaine Jacob-
FIRST C
LASS MA
IL
son
Sponsored by
Please visit
www.san-capaudubon.org
Note, updated web page (the
hyphen is required)
We encourage any and all of you who are still
receiving the hard copy newsletter to switch to on
-line delivery: a) it will be in full color!; and b)
each copy not printed and mailed will save
SCAS approximately $1.50. Contact your editor
at sdiwi@cox.net. Thanks in advance!
We’re proud to
give back to the community
we call home