Auction to Benefit Nature Programs  

When the pandemic preempted Skidaway Audubon’s May 11 “FUNdraiser” golf tournament, the determined group of volunteers got crafty. 

Forty-six carefully crafted wildlife-themed yard art pieces that were to be part of the tournament festivities now are the centerpiece of an online auction that kicks off on May 18. 

Up for auction are colorful representations of 14 butterflies, 10 bluebirds, six large 3D turtles, four smaller turtles, six large bats, and six small bats. Each figure is made of wood, hand painted, and was crafted here on Skidaway Island. All are coated in polyurethane so they can be displayed either indoors or outdoors and will include garden stakes where needed. 

Audubon’s Dawn and Vince Cordo donated most of the wood and did most of the sawing, sanding, and painting with a little help from other Audubon volunteers. It took weeks and weeks of work, but it was all for a good cause. 

The auction will help fund Skidaway Audubon’s many island-wide environmental projects. An all-volunteer organization, Skidaway Audubon maintains the largest network of bluebird houses in the Southeast, the largest Diamondback Terrapin rescue project in the Southeast, a state-of-the-art bird cam, an invasive tree removal program, a garden to help reverse the worldwide loss of pollinating insects, bat houses to reduce mosquito populations, weather stations to promote water saving irrigation practices, and its newest project, the installation of flowering plants to attract the vanishing Monarch butterflies and other pollinators. 

Proceeds from the sale of the wooden butterflies will help fund the pollinator projects; the sale of the wooden turtles will help fund the Diamondback rescue project; the sale of the wooden bluebirds will help underwrite the birdhouse project; and the sale of the wooden bats will support the bat house project. 

The auction opens at 10 a.m. on May 18 with a minimum starting bid of $25 for each item. Bidding closes at 5 p.m. on May 24. To bid, visit www.skidawayaudubon.org/yard-art-auction and help continue essential environmental projects on Skidaway Island. 

Fill out a new bid sheet each time you bid. Winners will receive an email with instructions for picking up their yard art. Winners will pay at the time of pickup, by cash or check payable to Skidaway Audubon. Top butterfly bidder gets first choice from among the butterflies, second highest butterfly bidder selects next, etc. Same with the big turtles which also have varied coloring. All other creatures are identical. 

The art pieces range in size from 35 to 16 inches. The butterflies and the 3D bluebirds are about 20 inches across. The 3D turtles are 30 inches long, while the turtles in profile are 35 inches long. The large bats, which can double as great Halloween decorations, are 33 inches across, and the small bats are 16 inches. 

“They certainly are a great way to add something colorful to your garden that the deer can’t eat!” said Skidaway Audubon President Carolyn McInerney. 

In addition to the many projects listed above, Skidaway Audubon has conducted a speaker series and special events such as the hawks and owls presentation at the athletic field, and partners with the Bottle Brigade litter patrol and Sustainable Skidaway, to promote environmental awareness and stewardship. 

“The golf tournament is our one big fundraiser of the year, so having to scrap all of our plans and come up with alternatives in these uncertain times is a real challenge,” said McInerney. “We’re hoping for a good response as we try to navigate these unchartered waters.” 

Giant wooden butterflies, bluebirds, bats, and turtles, all locally crafted, will be auctioned by Skidaway Audubon to raise funds for its many island-wide environmental initiatives. Bidding starts May 18 online (www.skidawayaudubon.org/yard-art-auction).