There are many opportunities available with Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., the Deep South Region, and the National Club regarding Backyard Habitat, Butterfly Gardens, Birds, Bees, and Butterflies. Please read below for more information about how you can get involved.

Backyards provide an essential habitat for many species of birds. You can draw many types of birds to your yard, even our state bird the Mockingbird, which is a superb songbird and mimic. It can be heard singing all night especially under bright springtime moonlight. Ensuring that birds have good sources of food, nesting sites, clear water, and protective cover becomes more important every day, as more habitat is lost to development, degradation and fragmentation. Birds are important indicators of environmental health and play a significant role in maintaining the earth's ecological balance-propagating plant life as pollinators and seed dispersers and controlling insect populations. Birds bring beauty and enjoyment to our lives. Let us remember pesticides are toxic to organisms beyond the targeted pests and their use is rampant in this country and pervasive in major river basins and aquifer systems. Try to reduce all pesticides, but eliminate those used on lawns. We have always enjoyed the beauty of birds so no matter where you live there are birds that need your help. 

AUDUBON CENTER for BIRDS OF PREY and the 

BALD EAGLE STAMP PROGRAM

Did you know the Audubon Society has been collecting commemorative stamps for the Bald Eagle Stamp Program since 1968? The sales of these collectable stamps are sold and all proceeds go to help sick and injured birds of prey. The program is called Audubon Center for Birds of Prey Bald Eagle Stamp program. The Florida Audubon Center for Birds of Prey was founded in 1979 in Maitland, Florida and has treated over 12,000 injured or orp

haned birds of prey (raptors) releasing more than 40% of these former patients back into the wild. Volunteers sort donated collectable stamps which are then sold to collectors. 100% of the proceeds go to help the birds. The collection and sale of special stamps has generated thousands of dollars for the Florida Audubon Society Center for Birds of Prey.

Commemoratives may best be described as the special “pretty” stamps that are issued for limited periods of time – perhaps flowers or birds or special state stamps for example. U.S. Commemoratives usually larger in size; also usually come in sheets, rather than rolls.

What not to collect are regular issue stamps, also known as definitives. Regular issue stamps are small, often squared and printed in the billions which limit their value. These stamps usually come in rolls, or in the small pocket folders. 

Do not attempt to tear or peel off the stamp from the envelope it is stuck to; simply cut away leaving l/4” all the way around the stamp to avoid damage. Only undamaged stamps can be used.

COLLECTABLE STAMPS INCLUDE:   

*Any stamp collections

*Any foreign, commemorative (one time printing of a stamp commemorating a specific person, place or time), airmail or special handling stamps.

*Any State or Federal hunting and fishing license stamps

*Mint plate blocks (especially older ones)

Members: Start cutting and saving your stamps, have someone assigned in your club to collect them at meetings and mail them or get them to your District Director and she/he can bring them to the State meeting twice a year. Non-Members: Contact Jeri Decker, Birds & Butterflies Chairman

Did you know there are over 20,000 different types of bees?

Bees are incredibly important for both the environment and human society. Here are a few reasons why bees are important:

1. Pollination: Bees are excellent pollinators. While collecting nectar, bees unintentionally transfer pollen from the male part of a flower (the stamen) to the female part (the stigma), facilitating the fertilization process and enabling the production of seeds and fruits. This is crucial for the reproduction of many plant species, including those that are important for human food production.

2. Biodiversity: Bees play a significant role in maintaining biodiversity. By pollinating a wide variety of plants, they contribute to the preservation of different ecosystems and habitats. Bees help sustain the diversity of flowering plants, which, in turn, supports other organisms like insects, birds, and mammals that depend on those plants for food and shelter.

3. Food production: Bees are essential for agriculture. Many crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds, rely on bee pollination for optimal yields and quality. It's estimated that bees contribute to the production of approximately one-third of the food crops consumed by humans worldwide. Without bees, the availability and diversity of our food supply would be significantly reduced.

4. Honey production: Bees produce honey, a natural sweetener that has been used by humans for centuries. Honey is not only delicious but also has various health benefits. Beekeeping and honey production also support local economies and provide livelihoods for many people worldwide.

Regarding the types of bees, there are over 20,000 known species of bees globally. These species can be broadly classified into several groups, including honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees. Honeybees, such as the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera), are social bees that live in large colonies and are managed by beekeepers for honey production. Bumblebees are

also social bees but have smaller colonies. Solitary bees, on the other hand, do not live in colonies and build individual nests. Examples of solitary bees include mason bees, carpenter bees, and leafcutter bees. Each type of bee has its own unique characteristics, behaviors, and ecological roles.

Bees Certification Form

One Green Planet Amazing Bee Photography