Wildflower Bunch members were treated at the August meeting to an enthusiastic and fact-filled presentation by Big Canoe resident and Atlanta Audubon Society volunteer Theresa Hartz Rasmussen. An avid birder for more than 25 years, she has traveled around the world observing and photographic these intriguing winged creatures. She has sighted and identified more than 340 species of birds in Georgia. As an Audubon Society volunteer, she leads field trips and gives in-depth lectures on bird identification and bird behavior for Atlanta Audubon’s Master Birder Program. But her expertise doesn’t stop there. Theresa is also a certifier for the Atlanta Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary certification program. At the August meeting she taught WFB members all about this program, walking the group through the requirements for having your property earn the Wildlife Sanctuary Certification or, if not becoming certified, making your landscape more welcoming for birds and other wildlife. Atlanta Audubon has certified more than 500 properties. At least seven Big Canoe properties have been certified.

As seen in Smoke Signals

Avid birder Theresa Hartz Rasmussen

This sign is presented to each property which has earned Audubon Wildlife Certification

Theresa photographed this summertime resident of our area, an indigo bunting

This wood thrush often fills the woods and gardens of Big Canoe with a flute-like song

A wildlife-friendly water feature in Bill and Jane Hickman’s Wildlife Sanctuary Certified garden in BC

Diverse shrub border of several species of native Viburnum, Agarista popifolia, Fothergilla, with a yellowwood tree in the background, provide birds with seeds, fruit and insects. Wildlife Sanctuary garden of Cynthia and David Hendry

Bonnie Plikaytis(center)has created a Wildlife Sanctuary Certified Garden Georgia LeMar (L), a surveyor for certification and Theresa Hartz Rasmussen (R)

Bonnies stumpery provides shelter for a variety of wildlife, including a box for bluebird nesting

Tom Scarborough proudly shows that his Big Canoe Garden is a certified sanctuary for wildlife

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2019 August Meeting