Pelican Island Audubon Society

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Staff

Executive Director Donna Halleran

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I feel very fortunate in that my interest in birds, the natural world in general, and photography have all benefited from working for Pelican Island Audubon Society. Over the years, I have seen Pelican Island Audubon transform from a birding group that offered only one field trip and one meeting a month to a multifaceted eclectic organization with multiple birding field trips and meetings a month, along with adult education courses, an afterschool science program for elementary school students, and a native plant & tree nursery that, along with providing plants for native plant landscaping at private homes, also places native plant teaching and demonstration gardens throughout the community. And, of course, Pelican Island Audubon went from having an office in downtown Vero Beach to its own education center – Audubon House at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area – to serve as its headquarters. Given the eventful past, I look forward with great anticipation to see what develops for Pelican Island Audubon Society in the future!

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Environmental Educator Jennifer Satterly

I love everything about nature and in turn I’m passionate about connecting others with it in a variety of ways. I have worked as an environmental educator since 2017 connecting kids and adults with the natural world through after school classes, summer camps, school field trips, women’s workshops, kayak guiding and more. I founded a homeschool group, Homeschool Adventure Club, in 2020 that meets once a week with parents and children with the goal to expose them both to the natural world around them along with building their relationships. I am a certified Florida Master Naturalist and have had the joy of teaching those classes as well. I worked for a kayak shop on the Sebastian River for years and even had my own rental and guiding business for a while. I believe that we are not separate from nature but instead, we are nature. My goal through connecting all of these people to nature is to get them to fall in love with it because if they love it, then they will want to take care of it.

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The Board of Directors is composed of elected Officers and Directors and a number of appointed Board Members.

Officers, term expires

Getting a Ph.D. in Zoology & Genetics from the University of Illinois working with mosquitoes led me to the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore.  They sent me and my family to Lahore, Pakistan to do research on mosquito borne diseases like Malaria and viruses at their Pakistan Medical Research Center, (9 years as Director), and administrating other projects 1966-1979. Returning to Baltimore as  Professor and Director of U. of Maryland’s International Health Program, the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Institute of Health sent me on numerous trips to speak to nations around the world.  The world-renown  Florida Medical Entomology Lab, University of Florida/IFAS lured me to Vero Beach to become Professor and Director (1982-98).  Loving canoeing and getting out in nature in Florida, I’ve worked to educate and advocate for a healthy environment, joining  the Indian River County Land Acquisition Committee (1990-2010, Chair 2003-05, 07-09), and still on the Indian River County Environmental Control Hearing Board  (1994-2004, 2009-Present) and Pelican Island Audubon Society President and Board Chair (2003-present).

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My mother, father and I moved to Florida in 1948 when I was nine months old, so I’m almost a native Floridian. After graduating from Florida State University in 1970, I pursued a career as an actuary that lasted for 42 years. I’ve lived in Vero Beach since 1995. It has been an honor for me to serve as a volunteer and Board member of PIAS. Our Chapter has many programs that greatly benefit Indian River County, and we hope to continue this success.

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Dr. William F. Loftus is an Aquatic Ecologist, now retired from the U. S. National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey after 32 years of service. He served as program manager for Everglades freshwater ecology studies and was the south Florida Biology lead for USGS. Dr. Loftus received a B. S. in Biology from King’s College in Pennsylvania, and an M. S. from Central Michigan University where he studied food partition by Alaskan salmon smolts.  He received a Ph.D. from Florida International University for his dissertation on mercury transfer in the Everglades aquatic food web. His career has focused on the composition and ecology of freshwater communities in southern Florida and the Caribbean basin to develop restoration alternatives and monitoring for the Everglades. He has more than 70 publications on fishes, butterflies, reptiles and aquatic plants. International research locations included Mexico, Belize, US Virgin Islands, the Galapagos Islands and Malawi. His work includes inventories of fishes for Everglades, Big Cypress, Biscayne and Virgin Islands national parks, and Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve in Yucatan, a long-term research and monitoring program for Everglades fishes and invertebrates that continues, experiments to resolve predator-prey and native/non-native fish interactions, and the conservation of rare fishes and crayfish. Though retired from federal service, Dr. Loftus continues to work towards the conservation of fishes and aquatic habitats in Florida.  He is a board member of Pelican Island Audubon Society and a volunteer for several environmental groups in Florida, California and Pennsylvania.

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I retired to Florida and fell in love with birds. Before retirement I worked in information technology in the health care field. Data has always been a big part of my career. Good decision making depends on clean and reliable data. Every day there is a great opportunity to learn more about nature and how we can help nature survive and thrive. Pelican Island Audubon Society is a wonderful organization providing opportunities to help in so many areas.

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Corresponding Secretary Open

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Steve Goff
Treasurer
2027

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Elected Directors, term expires

Dr. Albert Alley is a board-certified ophthalmic surgeon who retired from active practice several years ago.  He is the founder of the organization, World Blindness Outreach (WBO), that is dedicated to alleviating preventable and treatable blindness at home and around the world. WBO has done programs in 26 countries around the world and has performed over 10,000 eye operations on indigent patients.  Dr. Alley continues to serve as president of this organization.  Since taking Juanita Baker’s basic birding class several years ago, he has become an avid birding enthusiast and is always ready to become involved in a birding mission or program.

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I’m a retired high school educator who spent 44 incredible years teaching graphics, photography, and art. Originally from Italy, I immigrated to Connecticut with my family at the age of nine, and that is where I met my wife, raised our two sons and spent endless hours in my garden. While I treasured those years, I discovered that warmer weather suits me much better, and I couldn’t be more delighted to now call Vero Beach home. I truly enjoy being surrounded by the incredible nature and beauty here. Recently, I’ve found a special home with the Pelican Island Audubon Society, where I enjoy caring for native plants and deepening my understanding of environmental conservation. One of my greatest joys is connecting with like-minded people and sharing memorable experiences while exploring wildlife and birds.

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I received a Ph.D. in Plant Sciences from the University of Bath (UK) and then pursued a 30+-year career as a research scientist in Agricultural Sciences living in France, Kentucky, northern California, and finally relocating to Vero Beach in 2001.  Raising a family here I came to enjoy kayaking, hiking and other activities in our local environment together. Having recently retired I have been able to engage more fully with my childhood love for and fascination of nature, taking up birding and volunteering with Pelican Island Audubon primarily supporting the Native Plants program. I have enjoyed helping to install and maintain several of the native plant demonstration gardens around Vero and learning about Florida native plants from fellow volunteers. It is very fulfilling to be involved in promoting the benefits of native plant gardening with our community, particularly with the growing number of enthusiastic native plant customers we receive at Audubon House and those we meet at Pelican Island Audubon outreach events. I also greatly enjoy participating in and helping to lead the Pelican Island Audubon’s guided birding trips. These are a great way to get to know fellow naturalists and to explore the wonders of our native habitats together. I look forward to meeting you out there!

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In 1970, when I was in 10^th grade I started with Tropical Audubon society. I always liked birds, as far back as fifth grade.  I was in the electrical business as a lineman for 44 years.  I like working at Pelican Island Audubon society leading hikes and volunteering. I like taking pictures of birds and nature and traveling out of the country on bird watching/sight-seeing trips.  I enjoy entertaining while playing my guitar and singing.  

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Bonnie Swanson, 2027
I am a graduate of Western Illinois University with a BS,MS and an EdS in Education and Administration.  About 40 years I relocated to Vero Beach with my family and began work in the Indian River County Schools.  I have served as Principal in four of the schools here, but one of those Principalships offered me the opportunity to work with Pelican Island Audubon Society.  With their support, the students of Pelican Island Elementary School carried out a project to save pristine scrub habit, the home of their beloved scrub jays and gopher tortoises.  I am so glad to be part of this action oriented organization as coordinator of the Audubon Advocate Program serving 5th grade under-resourced students!!

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Appointed Board Members, term expires

Justine Carter
2027

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Janet A. Courtney, PhD, is the founder of FirstPlay® Therapy and is an internationally recognized clinician, author, and speaker specializing in infant mental health, family play therapy, and nature-based therapies. She is passionate about nature-based approaches to healing and served as lead editor of the book, Nature-Based Play & Expressive Therapies: Interventions for Children, Teens, and Families. Her work integrates the healing elements of nature to support regulation, resilience, and connection within parent-child relationships, while also guiding children to awaken to a deeper ecological sense of self.

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Will Johnson is a lifelong Floridian and naturalist whose pursuits span field ornithology, environmental education, and climate mitigation. He has recorded over 400 bird species in Florida — including 329 in Indian River County alone — and holds multiple appointments to state ornithological initiatives, including eBird Reviewer for five east-central Florida counties and member of the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee, the seven-member body that maintains the official scientific record of Florida’s avifauna.

Will writes for the American Birding Association’s Field Naturalist and speaks regularly at birding festivals and environmental organizations statewide. At PIAS, he has contributed as a field trip leader, guest speaker, art exhibitor, and board member. Will graduated from Dartmouth College in 2023 with a degree in environmental studies and now works at the intersection of ecological restoration and climate finance.

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John Nelson is on the Board of Directors of Audubon Florida and is the voice of The Audubon Moment as heard on Public radio. He is also a Florida Master Naturalist and an accomplished wildlife and birding photographer. He recently retired as the president of Audubon of Martin County after 10 years of service.

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Hadi Shalhoub, D.O.

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PAST PRESIDENTS (1964 – present)
March 20, 1964 – Merritt C. Farrar, Temporary Chairman
April 14, 1964 – Merritt C. Farrar elected President
March 16, 1965 – Maggy Bowman elected President
March 2, 1966 – Mrs. Mabel Michael elected President
March 11, 1971 – Dr. Herbert W Kale, II, elected President
March 13, 1975 – Mike Ziegler elected President
May 6, 1976 – Maggy Bowman elected
Sept. 20, 1976 – Herb Kale elected President.
Oct. 8, 1976 – Barbara Burr elected President
March, 1977 – Maggy Bowman elected President
March 2, 1981 – Ray Fernald, elected President
March 18, 1985 – Stuart Miner elected President
October 6, 1986 – Judy Orcutt elected President
August 31, 1987 – Maggy Bowman elected President
March 19, 1991 – Donna Anderson elected President
March 15, 1993 – Jens Tripson elected President
March 17, 2003 – Richard H Baker elected President