Tropical Audubon Society
Annual Members Migration
S U N D A Y, A P R I L 26, 4 - 6 PM
South Florida Historian Cesar Becerra to Deliver
Keynote Speech
“Everglades Guardians Past & Present”
AWARDS - BIRD WALK - FOOD - LIVE MUSIC
Tickets: FREE for active TAS members; $10 for Non-Members
HUMMINGBIRD SPONSOR: United Community Bank
Honoring our Local Conservation Heroes
Elizabeth Fata Carpenter, Executive Director of the Everglades Law Center
Polly Redford Citizen Conservation Award
— Presented by Lauren Jonaitis, Tropical Audubon Society Executive Director
Pamela Sweeney, Chief of Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management’s Water Resources Coordination Division
Daniel Beard Government Conservation Award
— Presented by Craig Grossenbacher, Miami Waterkeeper Senior Advisor
Jean D'Oench Field, Tropical Audubon Ambassador
President’s Board Appreciation Award
— Presented by Tropical Audubon Society President José Francisco Barros
TAS members and friends are invited to celebrate local conservation heroes, and hear from Members Migration headliner Cesar Becerra will explore “Everglades Guardians Past & Present,” on April 26, 4-6pm. The noted South Florida historian will retrace the people and pivotal moments that shaped the 20th-century movement to protect the world’s most unique and extraordinary wetlands ecosystem.
In addition to Earth Month, April also marks 50 years of Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) occupancy and stewardship of the historic Doc Thomas House, which has served as our headquarters since April 1976.
Attendees can also take a bird walk (it’s Spring Migration!), savor Sports Grill sliders, RNDC Bird Bar libations and enjoy live music by Wire Jays.
TAS will host a Conservation Awards Ceremony recognizing outstanding environmental role models in their respective fields of endeavor — citizen volunteers and public servants who have dedicated themselves to protecting and preserving area wildlife, critical habitat and/or our region’s natural resources.
Polly Redford Citizen Conservation Award: Elizabeth Fata Carpenter, Executive Director of the Everglades Law Center — Presented by Lauren Jonaitis, Tropical Audubon Society Executive Director
Dan Beard Government Conservation Award: Pamela Sweeney, Chief of Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management’s Water Resources Coordination Division — Presented by Craig Grossenbacher, Miami Waterkeeper Senior Advisor
President's Board Appreciation Award: Jean D'Oench Field — presented by Tropical Audubon Society President José Francisco Barros.
SCHEDULE
4-5 pm, Live Music by The Wire Jays, Picnic & Punch
Gather in the shady picnic grove to enjoy music by The Wire Jays and savor complementary Sports Grill sliders and refreshing libations from the RNDC donation Bird Bar.
ABOUT The Wire Jays: Alighting on the Keystone stage for their premier performance with the Birds, this dynamic group of conservation-minded UM Frost musicians are bringing Bluegrass into the 21st century. By taking risks with the classic string-band instruments associated with the genre, they've created their own distinctive "Newgrass" sound. Comprised of juniors and seniors (Benji Dienstfrey/guitar, Vivienne Frederick/vocals, Tucker Motyka/banjo and Fritz Sullivan/mandolin), we're assured the Jays will flock with us again next season!
4:30-5pm, Bird Walk
TAS Field Trip Coordinator and board member Brian Rapoza will lead a Bird Walk through the society’s 2.2-acre Steinberg Nature Center grounds. Expect to see Spring migrants darting among the Tropical Hardwood and Pine Rocklands demonstration forests that comprise the sanctuary.
5-6pm, Keynote Speaker, Conservation Awards Presentation & Annual Meeting
Award-winning author, filmmaker and South Florida historian Cesar A. Becerra will present “Everglades Guardians: Past & Present,” a look at the passionate people and pivotal moments that shaped the 20th-century movement to protect the Everglades, Audubon’s early role in advocating for wading birds, and the activists who coalesced to help establish the now-iconic Everglades National Park. Becerra will connect these historic milestones to the present day, including the decades-long, monumental work-in-progress effort to restore the River of Grass. Through these history-making stories, he’ll highlight the generations of Glades guardians spanning three centuries — wardens, scientists, Miccosukee and other activists — who made it their mission to help protect the world’s most extraordinary wetlands ecosystem.
ABOUT the Keynote Speaker: Cesar A. Becerra is an award-winning author, filmmaker and historian whose work explores the rich environmental and cultural history of South Florida. Hailed by the Miami Herald as an “Everglades Evangelist” for his passion for the River of Grass, Cesar’s research focuses on the people, places and pivotal moments that shaped the movement to protect the Everglades and the region’s unique ecosystems. Through writing, film and public presentations, Becerra brings the stories of South Florida’s conservation pioneers — and the landscapes they fought to protect — to new generations.
Next, TAS will host a Conservation Awards Ceremony recognizing outstanding environmental role models in their respective fields of endeavor — citizen volunteers and public servants who have dedicated themselves to variously protecting and preserving area wildlife, critical habitat and our region’s natural resources.
The Birds THANK our
Sponsors & Partners
HUMMINGBIRD SPONSOR
United Community Bank
Hospitality Sponsors
REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING COMPANY
SPORTS GRILL
Music Partner
Wire Jays
Media Partners
Community Newspapers, Coral Gables Magazine, edible South Florida, SoMi Magazine
Sponsorship opportunities are available and offer a meaningful way to align your organization with conservation leadership and community impact. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please contact lauren@tropicalaudubon.org.