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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 |
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February 23, 2008 Trailday Newsletter
Hello Trailblazers, |
 Tomorrow,
February 23, being the the 4th Saturday of the
month, is time for
the Scrub-Jay Trail Day. Please plan to attend, and feel free to
contribute to the breakfast table. If you would be so kind as to RSVP,
even at this late date, we would appreciate knowing how many plan
to attend.
Please bring a rake, if possible. We'll be working on
the area around the National Wildlife Federation certified habitat
section.
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With
all good intentions, we planned a 2007
Year-Ender Newsletter, but somehow, 2008 grabbed us and
dragged us forward. Taking a brief look back, here is what occurred
in the last quarter of 2007
and the beginning of 2008.
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| Christmas
on the Trail |
The holidays here were exceptional, as many contributors gave generously:
Private Donation - An anonymous donor delivered 350 sand live oaks for the new extension of the Trail.
Financial Support - The SunTrust/Zamia Family
Trust presented the Florida Scrub-Jay Trail with a generous gift
of $8,000. This grant provided the Trail with tractor implements
to help in the restoration of Phase 2.
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| Eagle
Scouts |
 Eagle Scout Steven Scott, with Scout Troop 86 who did such great work on Phase 1 of the Trail last year, returned with fellow scouts and family for a one-year reunion. They worked on the Trail for several hours, had a great time and accomplished a lot.
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| Webelos
Pack 998 |
 Webelos
Pack 998 spent several hours on the Trail, clearing,
planting and installing low volume irrigation.
It's encouraging
to see the youngest family members enjoying the outdoors.
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| Mark
Trail - on the Scrub-Jay Trail |
Many of you are familiar with the nationally
syndicated comic strip, Mark Trail.
For more than 50 years, soft-spoken
comic-strip star and veteran outdoorsman Mark Trail has been teaching
people to preserve our natural resources - woods, water and wildlife - for
future generations. Created by Ed Dodd in 1946
and drawn by Jack
Elrod since 1978, Mark Trail appears in 175 newspapers,
reaching nearly 23 million readers worldwide.
We thought it would be appropriate
for Mark Trail to speak of the Florida scrub-jay, so we contacted
Jack Elrod, Mark Trail's artist and writer, and presented the scrub-jay's
story to him. Sure enough, in October, the scrub-jay starred in
a Sunday edition, nationwide! Mr. Elrod was kind enough to send
us the color version of the strip, complete with autograph, for
all to appreciate. This will proudly be on display once it is properly
framed and protected from the elements.
Recently, we were invited
to visit with Mr. Elrod at his studio and were treated to an impressive
tour. During our visit, Mr. Elrod presented the Florida Scrub-Jay
Trail with the original paste-up artwork of the scrub-jay strip,
and several copies of his work, which will also be displayed at
the Trail.
Our thanks and gratitude go out to Jack Elrod
for his kind hospitality and concern for the Florida scrub-jay.
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| Garden
Club |
 The Hibiscus Circle of the Clermont Garden Club toured the Trail.
Then, the Trail went to the Garden Club and presented a program
in the Florida scrub-jay.
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| Special
Guests on the Trail |
 For
8 years, we have had a very special relationship with the
National
Wildlife Federation.
The seed
money for the Florida Scrub-Jay Trail was made possible by a grant
from the NWF
Species Recovery Fund.
 This
relationship continues today,
and we were recently visited by
Sue
Sturges, Manager of Regional Education Programs with National
Wildlife Federation. Sue presented Habitat Stewards and Trailblazers
an
update of NWF's new programs, including the
Flyway Cities program, and the No Child Left Inside initiatives.
 Later
that afternoon, we were treated
to a surprise visit by Walter
Sturgeon with Operation Migration.
Walter
is part of the crew that escorted 17 Whooping Cranes to
Florida.
His account of the trials and tribulations of getting
these endangered cranes safely migrated for such a long journey,
was fascinating.
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| Spring
Cleanup comes early |
 Special
thanks go out to Dan Cleary and Rudy
Parker for their great carpentry contributions. The
successfully restored the greenhouse adjacent
to the shade house.
(photo: work while still in progress)
Their next project is the rebuilding the Herb
Pavilion that
got destroyed by hurricanes past. This will provide a cool spot
for people and plants alike. We're looking forward to having this
building back in use. What a great luxury it is to have 2 accomplished
carpenters looking after the facilities here at the Trail!
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| Phase 2 work underway |
Much has been accomplished on the new phase of the Trail. Many retired citrus trees have been either removed or pruned, invasive grasses and weeds have been herbicided, and 500
sand live oaks stand ready for planting. When complete, this scrub-jay restoration area will provide over 1400
scrub and sandhill trees, shrubs and groundcovers, that will create a viable habitat for the scrub-jay and its companion species.
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| National Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards Training |
On March 8, 9 and 10, we will
be hosting the National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward training.
This is a 3
day program designed to activate volunteers to green
up and beautify their neighborhoods by creating wildlife habitat
in schools, homes, churches and municipal places. This training
program is free. There is a $95.00 charge for 7 meals and course
materials.
This is a great program, as many of you can attest.
If
you have any friends or neighbors who are interested in actively
getting involved,
please have them call 352-429-5566 or
email
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