Burrowing Owl Festival in Cape Coral has new meaning after Hurricane Ian
From dressing up as a mascot on Ground Owl Day to talking with Cape Coral leaders about protecting the gopher tortoises and burrowing owls and helping build paid membership to 550, Pascha Donaldson can’t say she’s actually retired.
She's just retired as president of the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) and Cape Coral Wildlife Trust (CCWT).
“I don’t need a title,” Donaldson said. “I’m still on the board, still answering calls and taking interest with issues. I like to be heard.”
However, in a sign that she’s stepping back, Donaldson won’t be attending this weekend's 21st Burrowing Owl Festival & Wildlife and Environmental Exposition. Instead, she, her husband Ed, and two other couples are going to Costa Rica with friends she’s had for 60 years.
“It’s the first (festival) I’ve missed in 16 years,” Donaldson said. “I don’t have to set an agenda. They’re gonna do a good job. The team is pulling together.”
Smooth transition
CCFW publicist Lori Haus-Bulcock and Michiale Schneider, this year’s festival director, agreed but Schneider added, “Continuity is so important, but I couldn’t have done this without her. She may not be physically here, but she has helped in so many phases.
“She’s mentored and shepherded me through this process. Hand down, she’s off the charts. Her commitment, everything she does and says is because she’s so passionate about wildlife. The No. 1 reason a lot of people come here is because of the wildlife so we must preserve and protect it.”
Michiale said this year’s festival is important since many burrowing owls and gopher tortoises were killed because of the hurricane. A resident of North Fort Myers, she said she saw owls near her home – a rarity – because they either were disoriented or needed to find a new home.
“These little guys were waterboarded,” she said. “And when 150 mph and water come on the beach, the holes are filled in and the gopher tortoises were buried.
“With the increased development, we need to protect the owls and gopher tortoises, the bunnies and all the wildlife. I’m a nature photographer on the side and I’m always fascinated by the behavior of animals. Birds are building new nests and because their habitat has been destroyed, they’re looking for another one. And with eagles and ospreys, they can get territorial.”
Visitors to the festival can learn more about Cape Coral's wildlife during Saturday's festival at Rotary Park in Cape Coral.
There will be educational exhibits and live animals, burrowing owl informative exhibits, environmental and wildlife speakers and live Florida animal presentations. Also expect butterfly house tours, flora and fauna tours, owl and photography bus tours, kids arts and crafts, photographers and craft vendors, live music, food and business vendors.
A $5 donation is requested for attendees over the age of 12 with event proceeds going toward local wildlife protection, preservation and education.
The owls found us
After moving with her husband from Miami where she was a teacher and active in the community, Donaldson said the owls “kind of found us.” After she saw an ad, previous president Michael Orchin – now passed away – shared the whole learning process about the owls, including that it was the official city bird.
While still substitute teaching, Donaldson shared the surroundings and environment with her students.
“What a precious commodity we have here,” she said. "We don’t have the beaches, but we do have the wildlife. Few have what we have here.”
With the help of other CCFW and CCWT volunteers, here are six areas that Donaldson is proud to have accomplished:
1. Working with the city in partnership to get burrowing owl and gopher tortoise ordinances reflecting the state rules.
2. Working with city officials so 3,000 owl burrows would be trimmed. “We still trim a number on county property, private lands, churches and schools to clean out burrows that may be blocked,” she said.
3. Educating students and service groups about burrowing owls and other protected species for 16 years.
4. Educating people on who to call when there are violations on our wildlife or new burrows to mark out.
5. Creating new ideas for the Burrowing Owl Festival. “We created the silent auction and art contest for Cape Coral students for many years.”
6. Having a city-wide contest to have a logo for CCFW.
When asked about Donaldson, Haus-Bulcock said, “She’s meant everything. The true purpose of what we do is to protect the owls and ensure their longevity. Pascha is always the one to lead or to go out alone and inspect every single burrow she comes across and reports to us as a board. Does it need a sign, does it need a pole? Are 4-wheelers running over burrows? What are people across the street doing? And she has so many contacts. Her rapport with the mayor, the council, that’s her forte.
“She’s a champion and observer for what we do.”
If you go
What: Burrowing Owl Festival & Wildlife and Environmental Exposition
Where: Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25
Cost: $5 donation is requested for attendees over the age of 12. Event proceeds go toward local wildlife protection, preservation and education.
Schedule of events
7:30 a.m.: Photographer’s Bus Tour, $65 per person. Reservations must be made by Feb. 23 through Eventbrite. Arrive between 7-7:15 a.m. for 7:30 a.m. departure. Tour runs util 11 a.m.
10:30 a.m.: Burrowing Owl Bus Tours (repeated at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.), $5 per person
10:30 a.m.: Talk, Gopher Tortoises
Noon: Talk, Environment, Water Quality in Southwest Florida
1:30 p.m.: Talk, Burrowing Owls
Also: Adam's Animal Encounters; Kid's Corner - Crafts and Activities; exhibitors and vendors; fair food and treats; silent auction and more
Information: ccfriendsofwildlife.org or (239) 549-4606.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral Burrowing Owl Festival has new meaning after Hurricane Ian
