October 27th - Today I joined other conservation leaders and representatives of private and public landowners and environmental agencies at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound for the second discussion on formation of the (Peninsular) Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative.  The basic idea is to bring landowners together for a look at strategies that may lead to an overall conservation plan for Florida with an emphasis on the Peninsula.

One proposed idea is to use the Florida Wildlife Action Plan as the basis for discussions.   I proposed greater emphasis on coastal conservation, especially in light of Gulf Recovery efforts.  I also suggested that a landscape plan would need to take into consideration state water resources.   The Cooperative is open process and is still evolving in its purpose.  Audubon will continue to participate and work to make the plan a vehicle for protection of birds, wildlife and water resources.

The entire day was informative and interesting, but my favorite part came when I happened to catch a glimpse of an American Kestrel chasing after a Red-bellied Woodpecker (unsuccessfully) through the pine flat-woods of the State Park.