Annual HOLIDAY POT LUCK DINNER and LECTURE “Audubon’s Fight for the Everglade Snail Kite and the Everglades” by Paul N. Gray, Ph.D., Audubon Florida Science Coordinator
Tuesday, Dec 5, Dinner 6:00 p.m. Meeting & Lecture 7:00 p.m.

Join us for Dr. Paul Gray’s presentation about the status of the Everglade Snail Kite. Snail Kites suffered a 75% population decline in the early 2000s but have rebounded strongly since. The rebound is the good news; the bad news is that this rebound is due almost entirely to exotic invasive apple snails that create their own side effects. Meanwhile, native Florida apple snail populations remain very low, indicating ongoing water management problems. Paul will cover the biology of the Kites and the political battles Audubon must wage to protect our ecosystems and Snail Kites from human damage.

Dr. Gray, Science Coordinator of Audubon of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee Watershed Program, provides technical support to Audubon’s policy teams. He is working with various agency technical and policy teams to design and implement restoration and stewardship plans in the region. Paul has been working in this area for more than 20 years. His educational background includes a BS from the University of Missouri, an MS from Texas Tech University, and a PhD from the University of Florida in 1993. He is currently the Co-chair of the Snail Kite Coordinating Committee.

“Florida is a biologist’s paradise and I like being with an effective conservation group and being part of the good we do. My hobbies are reading, gardening, kayaking, hunting and fishing. Join me for a presentation mixing ecology, history, hydrology, politics AND KITES!” said Paul.

The meeting is free and open to the public. Bring a dish and join us at Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, rooms 101 and 102, 6301 W. Summit Blvd in West Palm Beach. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the food will be served at 6:00 p.m., and our annual holiday meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. People with last names that begin A–J will bring salads and veggies; K-R deserts; S-Z main dishes. Please bring ready-to-serve food since we have no kitchen. We will supply the drinks. There are great items donated for our traditional raffle. Come join in the fun – we look forward to seeing you!

ALSO AT THE Dec 5 MEETING: Bird of the Month: Eastern Meadowlark. Come learn from Clive Pinnock about this bird.