|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Hundreds of Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) members and friends flocked to the conservation group’s 2.2-acre, wooded Steinberg Nature Center, 5530 Sunset Dr., on the last weekend of April for its two-day Earth Month finale — a celebration of Nature and her conservation heroes, with bountiful food and drink on tap, along with a rich repertoire of live music.
Birdstock, held on Saturday, Apr. 26, featured a stellar playbill of conservation-minded talents — Acoustic Anarchy, solo artist Danny Rein, and female-led rock band Skyrise. Each donated their time to help Tropical Audubon Society protect wildlife, and preserve and restore South Florida’s unique and fragile ecosystems. Bird Bar libations courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company washed down the vibrant fare dished by Nacho Bizness.
Festivities continued on Sunday, Apr. 27, with the society’s annual Members Migration meeting and picnic, supported by Title Sponsor the Cortada Foundation, Hummingbird Sponsor Leica Store Miami and Hospitality sponsors Republic National Distributing Company and Sports Grill.
Hosted by TAS president José Francisco Barros under bluebird skies, the afternoon program unfolded to the tunes of Funk Pedal, followed by an inspiring keynote delivered by pioneering Miami eco-artist Xavier Cortada, who was presented by Cindy Lerner.
Cortada spotlighted “The Underwater,” his community-driven climate campaign that leverages art to visualize South Florida’s elevation and vulnerability to sea level rise.
“The challenge is: How do we get people to care?” Cortada asked. “How do we make the climate crisis feel immediate, feel urgent? Art reframes climate from abstraction to a personal reality. It invites curiosity…it connects the dots in ways facts cannot.”
TAS Senior Conservation director Lauren Jonaitis honored the enduring service of Federal Fish & Wildlife and National Park Service employees, past and present.
“Conservation is more than a profession; it’s a calling,” she said. “Those who answer that call deserve our deepest gratitude and unwavering support.”
Next, three outstanding South Floridians were recognized for their dedication to environmental protection:
Daniel Beard Government Conservation Award: Frank Ridgley, DVM, Zoo Conservation & Veterinary Services Manager, Zoo Miami, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces, presented by Ron Magill (remotely).
Polly Redford Citizen Conservation Award: Patty Phares, board member, Institute for Regional Conservation & Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, presented by George Gann.
TAS Board Appreciation Award: Stephanie Clements, former TAS Education and Advocacy director, for expanding TAS programs and inspiring local advocates for our region’s environment, presented by José Francisco Barros.
Attendees also enjoyed an on-site Bird Walk led by Daniel Mlodozeniec, as well as an exclusive sale of Lenox Collection vintage bird figurines.
For more information, call 305-667-7337 or visit www.tropicalaudubon.org.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
