On March 8, 2025 fourteen people participated in the Pepper Creek bird walk including a young boy around 8 years old who kept his interest up the whole trip!
It was a lovely morning and we had a nice mix of 29 different species. Four Swallow Tail Kites provided some aerial acrobatics and a Hermit Thrush gave everyone good looks.
It was nice to see some winter resident birds still around while also welcoming back our Northern Parulas.
Marine Science Center
Citrus County Audubon welcomed Earnie Olsen, Supervisor of the Marine Science Center to this month’s chapter meeting. Mr. Olsen provided a brief history of the Center which was established in1967 and is a part of the Citrus County School System.
Throughout the school year students in grades 4 and 7 are brought to the center where they get to experience enrichment activities which for some include their first time on boats or even going into the water. They snorkel, trawl for specimens, overcome fear, and interpret data. The most important thing though, is they never forget. High school students enrolled in certain environmental and other science classes also use the facility as part of their studies.
In a year’s time, over 2300 Citrus County kids experience a creative hands-on and fun learning experience that relates to their own home town. When space and time allow, students from other counties use the facilities.
During the summer the Center stays busy with Coastal Camp Citrus for Middle and High schoolers. In the past this included overnighting but between COVID shut down and then a series of hurricane that have destroyed most of the infrastructure, the Center can only provide daytime sessions.
The mission of the Citrus County School District is to educate all students through relevant curriculum and experiences for life in an ever-changing world.
Mission of the Science Center is to increase student environmental literacy through hands-on laboratory and field-based educational experiences in local aquatic, estuarine, and marine ecosystems.
Earnie is an example of how successful the Marine Science Center is, as a student in Citrus County, he attended classes that enhanced his desire to learn more. Now, he is helping other kids with hopes for similar results.
Citrus County Audubon proudly contributes for two summer camp scholarships that allow a couple of kids to experience something very special.
To learn more visit their website: https://mss.citrusschools.org