A Summary History of Grand Harbor Audubon
Deb Fletcher and Vicky Tulloch, two of the original founding members of Grand Harbor Audubon, presented a history of our Audubon at the Annual Audubon Meeting and Garden Party in April of 2022. This, our 15th anniversary, was a time to celebrate and reflect on the founding and history of Grand Harbor Audubon.
The land Grand Harbor occupies today was once a citrus grove, mostly grapefruit. The original developer, Richard Schaub, most likely selected this nine hundred-acre property because it was one of the last deep-water harbors in Florida. He was granted a dredging permit and the fill was used to widen U.S. Highway 1. At the time, the site was mostly wasteland, made up of depleted groves surrounded by degraded wetlands. Millions of dollars were spent to create new salt and fresh water marshes and to connect the wetlands to the Indian River Lagoon. Invasive and non- native flora were removed and replaced with native plant life. As the indigenous vegetation began to thrive, the birds, the fish, and the wildlife returned. Schaub experienced financial problems in the mid-1980’s and Grand Harbor went on to have multiple developers over the next thirty-seven years until 2021, when the community common ground was turned over to the residents and Grand Harbor Golf and Beach Club was turned over to the members. Ron Andrews, our first golf course superintendent and later Vice President of Development, achieved the designation of our two golf courses as Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries in 2001. Over half of Grand Harbor’s nine hundred acres have been devoted to a marina, estuaries, golf, and fresh water ponds.
In 2007, Jim Bercaw, Deb Fletcher, Bette Nielson, Neil Stalter, Vicky Tulloch, and golf course superintendent Bobby Wallace gathered to retain the certification when it became known that it was about to lapse, and Grand Harbor Audubon was formed. At first, Grand Harbor Audubon was an affiliate of the Pelican Island Audubon Society using their bank account and charitable status. In 2013, Grand Harbor Audubon separated from Pelican Island Audubon, establishing its own bank account and 501(c)(3) designation. From the beginning, it was apparent that volunteers were needed to make our program sustainable and to carry out the vision and mission of Grand Harbor Audubon. Membership, friends, family, and neighbors have joined together to make these first fifteen years a success. Much was learned and accomplished, with great fun along the way!
Our mission has been to provide resources and educational programs aimed at motivating all of our members to make a commitment to our natural environment, including native plants, waterways, and wildlife, especially birds and butterflies. Each new season begins with Audubon Day in November. This, our only fund raiser, includes golf and tennis tournaments and concludes with cocktails, dinner, and prizes in the clubhouse. After Audubon Day, our programs have included live animal shows that featured snakes, alligators, birds of prey, bobcats and other wildlife; speakers on environmental issues; and Audubon member presentations.
The February bird walks are always a hit. Sixty to seventy bird enthusiasts gather together at 7:00 in the morning to be guided around the community by experienced birders. The 90-minute walk ends with a continental breakfast and discussion. The bird walks proved so popular that a second day was added to the schedule. One year, a series of three well-attended birding classes
was offered. But, one of the most successful accomplishments was the publication of “Birds of Grand Harbor”, a pictorial guide of the many birds that can be seen in our community.
Audubon has installed bird boxes, houses, gourds, platforms, and perches for the various birds throughout the community. The most obvious one was the thirty-six-unit bird palace. It was close to the main road, near the River Course 17th green, but unfortunately deteriorated due to extreme Florida weather. The palace has been replaced recently with another beautiful, large apartment- style birdhouse. The new palace and the gourds are highly sought-after homesteads for the purple martins who return to Grand Harbor every January to nest. Audubon has also added five screech owl boxes, three osprey platforms, and a beehive, which one day may result in Grand Harbor honey!
The Nature Gardens were established on site to showcase native flowers, plants, and trees for the education and enjoyment of our residents and visitors. After surveying the forgotten corners of Grand Harbor for a suitable spot for the gardens, a neglected sable palm grove just south of the aqua range was chosen. Some native plants had already taken residence there among the invasive weeds and overgrowth. Joan Klimm took charge of the native plant section and Don Morris developed the butterfly garden. Many volunteers joined the efforts to establish the gardens by digging, planting, weeding, and watering them, and now the garden plants provide a steady source of food for butterflies, birds, and insects.
In support of our educational mission, four interpretive panels were installed. Two of the panels feature pictures of the birds of Grand Harbor. A third panel displays information about manatees found in our estuaries. When you walk, bike, or drive in the community, these panels are strategically placed along our main roads for easy viewing. The fourth panel, about butterflies, is at the entrance to the Nature Gardens.
A real challenge has been the attempt to improve the health of Grand Harbor’s thirty-four ponds. St. Johns River Water Management District and Indian River County have jurisdiction over all the ponds. Grand Harbor Audubon, therefore, must comply with all their requirements and restrictions when adding plantings either to the ponds or littoral areas. Over the years, Audubon has contributed thousands of aquatic plants and bank grasses to various ponds, concentrating on those that border roadways. These plantings provide shelter, nesting materials, and food for all sorts of wildlife, from wading birds to small fish and crustaceans, to otters and turtles. Additionally, in concert with the developer, rocks have been randomly added along some of the pond banks. The rocks provide erosion protection and have become popular perches for the birds as well. Floating rocks were also added to many lakes, and the birds love them, especially cormorants and anhingas as they dry their wings!
Working together with the community, the club, and golf maintenance, property that would be enhanced by the addition of native and Florida-friendly trees has been identified. The orange- blossomed Geiger tree near the River 17 green adjacent to the Victoria Community; a lovely purple-blossomed jacaranda on River 2 and Harbor Drive South; five slash pines west of Harbor 15 along Harbor Village Drive; three foxtail palms and three poinciana trees at the entrance to the Harmony Community; and two rainbow eucalyptus, one on the south side of the Nature Gardens and the other at the 53rd entrance to Grand Harbor, are some of Audubon’s plantings.
The most recent undertaking is Audubon Island, a long-neglected spot across the bridge by The Falls’ pool. The island is a gem of native plantings, from a large stand of buttonwood trees to live oaks to palmettos and coonties. The bridge that gives access to the island was refurbished. A crushed-shell path wanders among the trees, and benches have been added. Pine needle mulch completes the natural look. Audubon restored both the irrigation and electricity to the island.
Popular off-site field trips have been arranged for our members and the community. Over the last fifteen years, a number of scenic places throughout Florida have been visited, including: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; the Forever Florida Nature Preserve; the Orlando Wetlands Park; the Kissimmee River Restoration Project; and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, to name a few.
Each year we hold our annual meeting and end the season with a garden party, followed by a stroll through our lush Nature Gardens while enjoying refreshments and a glass of wine. At the meeting we review the past year’s accomplishments and elect new members to the Audubon Board and advisory committees. From a five-person Steering Committee in 2007, a Board of Directors was soon established to lead and govern Grand Harbor Audubon. Audubon’s successes must be credited to the vision and energy of our past and present Board of Directors.
By far, the most important achievement over these past fifteen years is the real sense that Grand Harbor Audubon’s programs, newsletters, gardens, and bird walks have helped raise the community’s awareness and appreciation of our natural environment, whether encouraging a lifelong interest or simply awakening a basic curiosity. Grand Harbor Audubon recognizes and appreciates our community’s involvement through their ongoing support, generosity, and volunteer participation, which makes all of Audubon’s efforts possible. Let’s hope our successful collaboration continues for the next 15 years!
Written by Deb Fletcher and Vicky Tulloch, edited by Lyn Groves, for the Annual Meeting and Garden Party, April 18, 2022.