HISTORY

Suwannee Audubon (Society) was formed in 1984 by Joanne and George “Grif” Griffin* who started the group to fill an obvious need in the Suwannee valley for a real Nature / Environmental organization. Up until that time the forests, swamps and streams we reconsidered as properties and “resources.” Developers from south Florida eyed the Big Bend as a high profit opportunity. Large dairies eyed the area for its cheap land and comparative agricultural soundness, at least for pasture. Other interests, too many to list, tried to move in. Some succeeded; some did not.

During the 1980’s and 90’s the club grew and began to exercise some political clout especially through the work of Joanne Griffin,President who became a “regular” at the Suwannee River Water management District meetings. Joanne worked closely with the late Judith C. Hancock in efforts to stop irresponsible acts by phosphate companies on the upper Suwannee and to head off rules and legislation that would compromise isolated wet lands and hasten the demise of native amphibians.

Suwannee Audubon (we dropped the “Society” part in recent years) held regular meetings with a membership ranging in age from 20 to 80. A great group! Today, Suwannee Audubon has many members not only local and regional but throughout Florida and elsewhere in the nation.

Although regular meetings are no longer held, SuwAud continues to publish a spicy quarterly newsletter,WINGS, and sponsors several FIELD TRIPS each year. The trips are designed to italicize both the beauties and the problems of the present Suwannee Area Scenario. Field trips have proved to be among our most popular functions. Not only do members participate; usually the public is invited.