Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/92622
Sarasota News Leader November 9, 2012 ing some of the best water conservation prac- tices in the state." The scenic landscapes and unique wildlife that the Sarasota area boasts in abundance were an important part of this decision as well. Those with an adventurous spirit — and a penchant for early rising — were given the opportunity on the first morning of the assem- bly to go on official field trips to picturesque and ecologically diverse locations in the area, including the Myakka River State Park, the Celery Fields and South Lido Beach. These trips gave visitors an opportunity to appreci- ate the area's flora and fauna firsthand and helped add salience to the presentations they would see throughout the weekend. Of particular importance to Audubon Florida was the field trip to the Celery Fields, which consists of more than 300 acres and features at least 216 species of birds.This property, owned by Sarasota County, is a prime exam- ple of the importance of land and water con- servation because, aside from being home to such a diversity of birds and other fauna, it Page 71 is used as the county's primary stormwater collection zone. Sarasota Audubon has collaborated with the county in restoring more than 80 acres of the site to a wetland habitat for the fauna, and it has a campaign under way to raise funds to construct a nature center on the property, to add the functions of education and recreation to the spot's list of features. Setting the Audubon Florida 2012 Assembly in Sarasota benefitted not only the local chap- ter — by raising awareness statewide of the Celery Fields project — but also the confer- ence itself, which saw an unexpected spike in attendance. "I want to credit Sarasota with the fact that we have more people coming to the assembly than we've ever had before, and I think it has something to do with the location," Draper said, prior to the official start of the assembly. "People want to come to Sarasota!" Audubon Florida has always reserved special concern for the conservation of birds. All of the field trips offered during the assembly featured birdwatching and placed a heavy emphasis on the impor- tance of maintaining Florida's diverse array of bird species.