We welcome you to our monthly programs. All monthly meetings will be at the Social Hall in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1239 Del Webb Blvd W, Sun City Center. Meeting dates and times are listed below. The doors open at 1:00 PM for a social and sign-up time, the general public is invited. Cookies and coffee will be provided or bring your own beverage of choice. The meeting and program begin at 1:40 PM.
Monday, October 16, 2023
Marine Fisheries Restoration in Florida
Dr. Jason Lemus and Kerry Mesner
Research Administrator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
Marine Fisheries Enhancement Center, Apollo Beach
After a brief historical introduction by Dan Roberts, Dr. Lemus will present the major tenets of responsible stock enhancement and an overview of the new facility in Apollo Beach (which EAS saw in development on a field trip last year) including its novel approach to seawater sourcing and the recirculating aquaculture technologies used at the facility. He also will present details on techniques of intensive fish production, maturation, and spawning as they relate to approaches for fish enhancement.
Monday, November 20, 2023
Managing Bird Colonies for Conservation
Mark Rachal
Manager, Audubon Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries
Mark will focus on Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Program and its history in Tampa Bay. He’ll talk about bird surveys, habitat management and bird sanctuary conservation of these significant waterbird colonies, including 3 designated as Critical Wildlife Areas by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission along the Florida Gulf Coast.
Monday, December 18, 2023
Seagrass Restoration in Tampa Bay
Dr. Ed Sherwood
Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Seagrass is a vital component of the ecosystem in Tampa Bay, providing habitat, nursery areas, food sources, carbon sequestration, and, of course, oxygen. Dr. Sherwood will share his informed perspective on seagrass status, habitat conditions, and restoration efforts for the bay.
Monday, January 15, 2024
EAS’s 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!
Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther
Craig Pittman
Journalist, Author, Environmentalist
It wasn’t so long ago when a lot of people thought the Florida panther was extinct. They were very nearly right. That the panther still exists at all is a miracle—the result of a desperate experiment that led to the most remarkable comeback in the history of the Endangered Species Act.
It wasn’t so long ago when a lot of people thought the Florida panther was extinct. They were very nearly right. That the panther still exists at all is a miracle—the result of a desperate experiment that led to the most remarkable comeback in the history of the Endangered Species Act.
Monday, February 19, 2024
The Nature of Owls
Barbara Walker
Manager, Moccasin Lake Nature Park
Barbara is currently developing the birds of prey program at Moccasin Lake Nature Park. She will bring at least four owl species for us to enjoy and learn about.
Monday, March 18, 2024
Audubon Florida’s work for our state
Julie Stocksdale
Eagle Audubon Society
For more than a century Audubon has encouraged people to take care of the places that make Florida special. Julie will talk about the many ways our state organization promotes stewardship and appreciation of public land and water through sanctuaries, nature centers, programs, and support for chapters such as EAS. She also will focus on Jay Watch and amaze us all with her experience in this program in July 2023.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Eco-Engineers
Ashley Waite
Director of Museum Experience
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
They live deep in the forests and down in the swamp. Along the breezy coasts and the bottom of the ocean. They are Eco-Engineers – plants and animals that profoundly impact their ecosystem. Through their presence or behavior, eco-engineers create microhabitats – unique areas within an ecosystem. Ashley will discuss some of Florida’s eco-engineers and why our landscape wouldn’t be the same without them.
Eagle Audubon Society 