Skidaway Audubon News: New Book Just in Time for the Holidays!

Are you looking for a unique present for the nature lovers on your holiday gift list? Skidaway Audubon has just what you need! Hot off the presses is the first edition of Songbird Village, an 83-page, full-color book all about Skidaway Audubon’s Dave Scott Bird Trail.

The hardback book was compiled by Sarah Lucas and Brenda Ecken, Skidaway Audubon’s co-chairs of the Dave Scott Bird Trail. Established more than 30 years ago by former resident Dave Scott, the trail of birdhouses that started along the fringes of The Landings’ golf courses has grown into one of the largest networks of birdhouses in the Southeast. A long list of dedicated volunteers have worked hard to maintain and expand the trail and give the songbird population a needed boost.

Songbird Village includes historical information, adorable photos of baby birds, interesting facts about the songbirds, stories from many of Audubon’s bird trail volunteers, as well as useful information about care and maintenance of birdhouses. So far, the expanded trail of birdhouses has housed four types of birds: Eastern Bluebirds, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Carolina Chickadees, and even Tufted Titmice!

Sales of this unique book directly benefit Skidaway Audubon’s bird trail. The requested donation is $35 payable by cash, or by check made payable to Skidaway Audubon for the Bird Trail. You also can visit www.SkidawayAudubon.org and click Projects > Bird Trail > then click the blue box for the book. Questions about the book can be emailed to ForTheBirds430@gmail.com.  

Do you need additional, very meaningful holiday gifts? Skidaway Audubon has a few more ideas below for thoughtful gift-givers.

• Locally-Made Birdhouse - Landings resident Bobbie Boyce has been as busy as a Christmas elf, crafting bird houses from beautiful teak, pine or cedar wood. She has generously made each of her creations available for a $50 donation to Skidaway Audubon. To find out what is available and place an order, email Skidaway Audubon President Dawn Cordo (cordodawn@gmail.com).
• What’s That Bird?  - Are you looking for a great stocking stuffer for those who love our feathered friends? You’re in luck! To help residents identify birds of all kinds, Skidaway Audubon has available the very useful 2021 version of the Birds of Skidaway Island pamphlet. The full-color, fold-out pocket guide is a handy, must-have resource, available for $5 at The Landings Association office and free to members of Friends of Skidaway Audubon by request. For more information or to request a copy, email  FriendsofSkidawayAudubon@gmail.com.
• Skidaway Maps - History buffs on your shopping list will appreciate a very detailed map of Skidaway Island that features all of the island’s historic sites and natural areas. The Skidaway Island Historical and Natural Sites Map highlights a variety of interesting aspects of Skidaway history, including ancient, giant sloths, tales of rum runners, and General Oglethorpe’s arrival. The reverse side describes and maps 25 neighboring places worthy of a visit. The maps were created with a grant from Landlovers as part of the Sustainable Skidaway initiative to preserve and highlight the island’s natural and historic features. The maps are $10 each and are available at The Landings Association office. Sales benefit Skidaway Audubon. Flat maps suitable for framing also are available. To obtain a flat version of the map, email cordodawn@gmail.com.
• Friends of Skidaway Audubon -  A membership in Skidaway Audubon is thoughtful gift for the nature lover on your holiday shopping list. Annual membership is just $35 a year, available through Friends of Skidaway Audubon. For more details, visit skidawayaudubon.org.
• Charitable Giving/Donations:  Residents and businesses interested in supporting Skidaway Audubon’s conservation mission can visit SkidawayAudubon.org at any time and simply click on the Donate Now button to make an instant online donation. Donations are tax deductible and can be made anonymously or in honor of a loved one. Contributions also can be made on a recurring, monthly basis. For those considering year-end charitable giving, Skidaway Audubon has teamed up with Merrill Lynch advisors on the island, who can facilitate donation options such as gifting stocks, tax-free distributions from retirement funds, and other beneficial strategies. As an all-volunteer non-profit with no overhead or paid staff, every penny donated to Skidaway Audubon helps enable the continuation of its conservation and education initiatives. This year, Giving Tuesday, a worldwide effort to encourage this and other forms of giving with a purpose, is scheduled for November 28.
• Kroger Rewards -  To make your holiday spending benefit local projects, sign up  for the Kroger Community Rewards program. Simply go to Kroger.com, link your Kroger Plus shoppers card to the Community Rewards program, and select Skidaway Audubon as the organization you wish to support. A percentage of your purchases (excluding tobacco, alcohol and gasoline) will be donated to Skidaway Audubon, at no additional cost to you.

In addition to the bird trail, Skidaway Audubon maintains an award-winning Diamondback Terrapin rescue project, a state-of-the-art bird cam, an invasive tree removal program, pollinator gardens at Sparrow Field and elsewhere to help reverse the loss of beneficial insects, bat houses to reduce mosquito populations, an island-wide litter patrol, and weather stations to promote water conservation. It also offers a speaker series and special events such as the live raptors exhibition, and promotes environmental awareness and stewardship.

“Your support helps Audubon protect our unique and treasured island environment, and is greatly appreciated by our hard-working volunteers,” said Skidaway Audubon President Dawn Cordo. “And maybe you’ll be helping out Santa a bit with his gift giving, too!”