Friends of the Venice Library and Venice Area Audubon
Join Forces to Provide Education about Birds

The Friends of the Venice Public Library and Venice Area Audubon have partnered this year to increase education about local birds for children and adults throughout South Sarasota County.

Eileen Gerle, a Certified Florida Master Naturalist and Venice Area Audubon Board Member, will present “The Fabulous Birds of Southwest Florida” on Tuesday, February 13th at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Room of the William H. Jervey, Jr. Library, 300 Nokomis Ave South, Venice.

Gerle will provide an introduction to many of the birds seen at our beaches and in our backyards, and present tips for beginning birders.

The Friends of the Venice Library will distribute a copy of The Kids’ Guide to Birds of Florida by Stan Tekiela to each student who attends one of Venice Audubon’s Second Grade Birdwatchers’ field trips at the Venice Rookery this winter.

Audubon’s Birdwatchers program has been serving South Sarasota County second graders for 40 years. It has been recognized with several awards from Florida Audubon. The program includes two lessons led by Audubon instructors in classrooms and on their school campuses. The culminating activity, a field trip to the Venice Rookery, enables students to see nesting birds and their habitats. This year 1300 students from eleven elementary schools will participate in the program.

The Friends of the Venice Public Library envisions the library as the heart of the community. Through library programs and partnerships with other local non-profit organizations, the Friends strive to encourage children and adults to become lifelong learners and readers.

For more information about Venice Area Audubon, visit veniceaudubon.org. For more information about the Friends of the Venice Public Library, visit venicefriends.org.

Photo Captions

Students in Taissa Bushnell’s second grade class at Cranberry Elementary School in North Port are excited to receive their birding books from the Friends of the Venice Library. (Photo by Taissa Bushnell)

Students learn how to use binoculars and scopes with Audubon volunteer Bob Clark at the Venice Rookery as part of Venice Area Audubon’s Second Grade Birdwatchers Program. (Photos by Janet Knudsen)