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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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October
24,
2009 Trailday Newsletter
Hello Trailblazers !
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Scrub-Jay
Update |
Scrub-Jay Update
Our jays continue to be very elusive. They are beginning to come
around a bit more than last month but still scurrying to cache
this years acorn crop . Competition is fierce this year with
an abundance of woodpeckers caching acorns and mockingbirds competing
for the last of
the Fall insects.
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Trailday
Activity |
Trailday
Activity Saturday, October 24th 8-11ish Followed by a Cookout/Party
for
John Thomton's Birthday
Work hard, play hard and always eat. We'll start off in
the usual way, a bite to eat/drink on the Trailhouse porch followed
by a bit of exercise, see trail activity below followed by a cookout
and many activities like volleyball, horseshoes, lawn darts, bean
bag throw, golf practice range (watch those scrub-jays) and more.
Please feel free to contribute your favorite dish for
the cookout and let us know if you are a vegetarian or not as well
as how many in your party will attend and eat with us.
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Common Ragweed
Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.
- on the day's "remove" list -
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This month's activity will follow in last
months footsteps. Our number one invasive this year has been the
ragweed, and this is what we will tackle on Saturday. One thing
you will notice is that over the years of focusing on removal of
one or two exotics ,we now are down to the sandy soils that we
have been working towards. This open sandy soil is a key element
in securing the proper habitat for the scrub-jays to cache their
acorns and food sources. The Florida paint brush, rosemary and
garberia, are in varying stages of purple/pink bloom while the
silver- leaved aster is budding and beginning to show its vibrant
yellow blossoms.
Remember the prickly pear cactus is also everywhere
so keep to closed shoes, hats, gloves, and a rake and clippers
if you have them.
If you'd like to bring something for the breakfast
table, that is appreciated but not required.
Please RSVP by Thursday(22nd) at Noon so
we have enough food.
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| October
Activities |
Wekiwa Springs State Park Fall Festival,
Apopka
October 24th 10am-2pm
While many of us will be at the Trail several
Trailblazers will be having fun at the 3rd annual Wekiwa Springs
Festival with The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail booth. Plenty of children's
activities, along with Scrub-Jay Trail T-shirts and scrub-jay front
license plates will be available for sale.
A portion of the proceeds
go towards the 1st annual Scrub-Jay Festival coming up on
February
20, 2010. If you haven't had the opportunity to attend this festival
before you will enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Springs
and all the activity.
Address: Wekiwa Springs State Park ,1800
Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL, 32712
407-884-2008
Water, Wings and
Wild Things Naturefest 2009 at Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland
October
31st 9am-3pm
Trailblazers will be manning our booth
at this 1,267 acre property of forests, marshes and sandhill
along the shores of Lake Hancock. Enjoy the new multi million
dollar environmental education complex or attend an environmental
workshop or hike the native habitats while observing wildlife.
This festival is very popular with young and old alike.
Address: Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland 33803
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| November
Activities |
Next Guided Tour
Saturday, November 7th marks the next Scrub-Jay
Trail Orientation from 8am-11am.
If you or someone you know has not had a chance to tour the Florida
Scrub-Jay Trail, this is a good opportunity. Get a close up view
of the scrub-jays and learn how you can help in saving this threatened
bird. Share this event with everyone you know and care about that
has a love for birds and the outdoors.
The event is free, however, we do request you RSVP ( )
as we like to keep the group small.
Florida Scrub-Jay "Adopt-A-Roadway" Program
Our next scheduled Florida Scrub-Jay Trail "Adopt A Roadway" Clean-up
is scheduled for Saturday, November 21 from 8am-11am,
followed by a cookout. This is becoming quite the event ... never
know what you will find!
Vests go fast so get your RSVP In ASAP.
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| New
Picnic Tables and Benches |
A
huge thank you goes to Dan Cleary for his design
and construction of the picnic table and benches that he made for
the Building Blocks Learning Center clients.
These adults with developmental
disabilities come to B.B.Brown's Gardens (located at the Trailhead)
every Tuesday and Friday where they grow wonderful fruits, vegetables
and cut flowers. Dan saw a need for them to have a place to eat
their lunch and created the perfect table. Thank you also goes
to Rudy Parker for helping in the assembly.
When this table is not being used by
Building Blocks Learning Center it is available for other groups.
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| Bluebirds
have Arrived |
 Our
first bluebirds arrived at the Trail the week of September 21st.
A total of 8.
This is considerably earlier than any other year
before. Four years ago they arrived in January. Three years ago
in December and last year the week of Thanksgiving.
As you may recall,
our boxes are shared by downy woodpeckers, bluebirds and flycatchers
all usually winning the nesting box in that order as the species
has its brood or two and decides to leave, the next bird takes
his place.
We are in need of volunteers to install more boxes.
We have a few boxes here however they need posts and assembly and
then we also could use some more boxes, for those of you that are
handy in making them.
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| National Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards Training |
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Next year marks our 9th year of hosting
NWF Habitat Stewards Trainings and we are very proud
and honored to have this partnership.
Our next training will be March
6,7,and 8, 2010. This course is for those who are interested
in making a difference in their community while learning about
creating wildlife habitats in backyards and public places. We
are proud of the 160 individuals who have successfully completed
the course and gone on to make great impressions in their communities
throughout Florida.
This 3-day course covers how to create a
Florida Wildlife Habitat, with guest speakers,
field trips and
the culmination of a National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certified
Garden.
Registration is now open.
For further information
contact or call 352-429-5566
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Trail
Open for Community Projects |
Please contact for
ideas for your next community project.
The cool weather is here today (gone tomorrow??) and groups are starting to book projects. Don't be left behind. We have plenty of opportunity for your groups. The birds and visitors will thank you and you'll feel very special about your contribution.
Looking forward to seeing you.
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