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The Trailhead is located in Lake County, Florida. map

For more information, please contact info@scrubjaytrail.org
(352) 429-5566

open:
sat - wed : 8:00-5:00

Email photo contributions
of wildlife or plants seen
on the trail to this address: photos@scrubjaytrail.org

November 28, 2009 Trailday Newsletter
Happy Thanksgiving Trailblazers !

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 28th, from 8am -11am we begin our year end wrap-up on the trail. We will start by taking down the chinaberry trees in phase two of the project and if time allows we will move to phase 1 and work on clearing invasives around the trees and groundcovers.

Please bring chainsaws,gloves and pruners if you have them. The trail has several garberia bushes in full bloom. A must for the photographers in the group. Also the migratory songbirds, blue birds, American kestrels, sandhill cranes, whooping cranes and of course our beloved scrub-jays are all very active.

This Thanksgiving season we are truly grateful to our sponsors, financial donors and the hard working volunteers who give so much of their time and talent all year long. Without your support the Florida Scrub-Jay and Trail would not be able to keep moving forward as it has, bringing recognition and restoration to Florida's only endemic bird.
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When you visit next time you will see an amazing amount of clean-up that has been done.

Biologist, electrician, NWF Habitat Steward and
Scrub-JayTrailblazer, Laurel now lives in Colorado and we miss her greatly.

This month she surprised us when she came back to Florida for a couple weeks of vacation. She asked if there was anything she could do on the Trail? Needless to say we had a list a mile long. Over the days she was here she cleared an area near the shade house for a tool shed that will be built soon, cleared out the shade house and behind the greenhouse, removed and sorted through the wood from the old barn,( yes the miniature donkeys now have a new barn), installed a new spot light under one of the oak trees, fixed the lights for the signs and trees at the front entrance, and cleaned up the entire front entrance and fence line.

Wow! Laurel has an enormous amount of talent and a heart as good as gold. Thank you for your contribution Laurel.
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This past month has once again been very productive. So many of you stepped up to the plate and here is what you accomplished:

Wekiwa Springs Fall Festival at Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka
Our booth was supported by Judy Clark, Dan Cleary, Joyce and Bill Stefancic, Kathy and
Benny Williams and of course Aggie Armstrong and the folks at Wekiwa Springs State Park.

Water, Wings, Wild Things Polk Nature Fest at Circle B Reserve in Lakeland
Our booth was supported by Bruce Brown, Dan Cleary, Joyce and Bill Stefancic and of course Tabitha Biehl-Gabbard and the folks at The  Polk County Environmental Lands Program.

October 24th Trailday
We celebrated John Thomton's birthday. John's one birthday wish was for his friends to come and help clear a section of the Trail followed by a cookout. They came out in force and cleared a huge portion of the trail.  Everyone worked hard and played hard and ate all kinds of festive food.

Eagle Scout Project Completed
Keanne Cadiente, a member with Boy Scout Troop 86, designed and built a beautiful 45 seat amphitheater as his Eagle project.

The Eagle award is a performance-based achievement that requires earning 21 merit badges in various Scout craft subjects, and developing and completing a project that will benefit the community. Keanne, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Clermont, solicited the help of ­­45 scouts, friends and family members to accomplish his project. The saying "nature giveth and nature taketh away" is so true in this instance since the 4"x14"x12' timbers were from a local barn that was destroyed in a hurricane several years ago.

This new addition to the Trail now enables other scout troops, organizations and groups to enjoy this latest educational and cultural area. A must see for all!

Lake County Adopt a Roadway Clean-Up
Another clean-up proved to be successful as 18 volunteers headed out onto Monte Vista Road in Clermont. Items collected were shredded tires, a stereo speaker cover, animal bones, propane tank, assorted food wrappers, cans, and bottles.

The winner of The Florida Scrub-Jay T-shirt with the most unique item goes to Jacob Weis with a spring loaded television cable connector.

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International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council ( IWRC) Symposium
We spent 5 days in Virginia Beach studying different techniques used in rehabilitating birds and mammals. Working in conjunction with Jason Palm, DVM we can never be too ready for the call we get with an injured scrub-jay.

Anyone interested in the rehabilitation of injured wildlife should contact us at:  info@scrubjaytrail.org 

Also, locally you can become a member of The Florida Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (FWRA)  www.fwra.org

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Florida Scrub-Jay Orientation- Clermont
Guided Tour- December 5th '09 8am-11am

13th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival -Titusville
January 27-February 1, 2010
www.nbbd.com/fly

First Annual Florida Scrub-Jay Festival-Deltona, February 20, 2010
This festival will rotate to prominent scrub-jay territories throughout Florida each year.

9th Annual National Wildlife Federation Habitat StewardsTraining- Clermont
March 6,7, 8, 2010
click here for more details

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We will have plenty of hot chocolate, coffee and tea to keep you warm and as always feel free to bring a breakfast dish, although it is not required.

Please RSVP if you will be attending tomorrow's Trailday.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

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