Morning Celebration With the Birds

Please register for event at: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00002B6n8LIAR
:.GREAT NEWS!! Due to the hard work of members of Sierra Club, Audubon, COJ Parks, Friends of Riverside Parks, IXIA Native Plant Society, which make up the membership of Riverside Park Kind Reach Program and last but not least Timucuan Parks Foundation; Jacksonville City Council has approved the funding to restore Riverside Park.
This is WONDERFUL NEWS for the nesting birds and waterfowl who reside in the park. Riverside Park has been an important urban rookery and long-standing fly way and for Herons, Egrets, Ibis, Blue Jays and Rock Pigeons. Various Species of Ducks also utilize the pond as a primary nesting site for their offspring. Back in its original heyday the park was the crown jewel in Jacksonville. Through the efforts of the Riverside Parks Kind Reach Program, Native plants have been planted and areas restored for nesting birds. The new funding will not only continue this process but restore the pond and to a more natural state and make it more conducive for waterfowl and their young.

So Come Join Us in Celebration and bring your morning Joe and we will provide some treats, (Sorry but it is a city park or I would say bring Champagne) for a toast to the birds and hear our speakers. We are hoping to have a surprise speaker also.

Elizabeth Filippelli, and David Doran of the Duval Audubon Society and Lisa Williams from Sierra Club, will present a program on what you can do to save our migrating birds and our local bird population.
Elizabeth will present fun ways to help migrating birds and advocacy advancements in the park. David, a middle school counselor and science teacher, will tell us about how our local students have participated in Student Bird Survey Project and those results. He is the sponsor of the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Birders Club. Lisa will talk not only about Native Plants and how they help the birds but speak about Doug Tallamy, noted American Entomologist, Ecologist and Conservationist. She will stress Tallamy’s studies on the essential role that Oak Trees, a key stone species, play in supporting our biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

There will be a raffle for native plants giveaway too!!!

Afterwards, we will have a guided walk through the park listening and learning about the birds that make it their home. We will be in the middle of Fall Migration and we should see and hear some of our amazing migrating songbirds as they stopover on their migration path to their winter homes.

Sierra Club will provide rolls and or snacks. Please bring your coffee in tea in a reusable cup that you can take back home with you.

Our Presenters: Elizabeth Filippelli, is currently serving as Vice President and Director of Conservation Co-Lead of the Northeast Florida Lights Out Program for The Duval Audubon Society. She is also Program Manager for the Timucuan Parks Foundation. Elizabeth is a passionate conservation leader and advocate working to protect Florida's natural environment and wildlife. Elizabeth's work with Lights Out North Florida (LONF) focuses on building partnerships with City of Jacksonville Leaders. She is focusing on spreading awareness of the perils to birds of artificial light pollution.
Lisa Williams has been a member of the Sierra Club for decades and served as a member of the SCNEF Executive Committee for 10 years. She is currently the Program Chair, and author of the monthly series, Planting with a Purpose. She is certified as a UF Master Naturalist and has received the state Florida Panther award and the local NEFL Leadership and Service award. She has also received the Garden Club of America’s Weezie Smith Horticultural Award for her efforts advocating for and teaching about native plants.

Davie Doran is currently serving as the Education and Youth Outreach Director for the Duval Audubon Society, a role he stepped into about a year ago. As part of his role, he sponsors the Northeast Chapter of the Florida Young Birders Club, a group that meets once a month to watch birds together. He has worked in the field of education for the last four years, first as a science teacher but more recently as a middle school counselor and loves his job. He joined the Riverside Park Project crew over the summer. David as well as his group of student volunteers, are excited to contribute to the project and help our nesting birds.
Location of Where to Meet: We will be located at the big open area not far from the playground. This is College and Myra Street entrances. There are benches located around the area but if you may wish to bring a folding chair as the first 15 -30 minutes will be centered around a talk before the walk begins. Look for the Sierra Club sign.