[an error occurred while processing this directive]

By WILLIAM BYGRAVE
News Chief

BABSON PARK -- Take a walk around the grounds of the Ridge Audubon Center, just off State Road 17. You never know who -- or what -- you'll meet.

Among the denizens hiding in the brush and the thickets, one may encounter a gopher tortoise, some chalky blue stem or even a gray fox.

All of those -- and plenty of other species -- enjoy living on the center's grounds. A portion of the land underwent a prescribed burn at the end of July. Fires are a natural occurrence in the Florida sandhill habitat and the burned ground encourages new growth of grasses and plants to provide a fresh food supply for animals and birds. If nature doesn't cooperate with lightning strikes, sometimes the center's personnel have to give a helping hand and do a controlled burn to refurbish the natural habitat.

Just as the habitat was "refurbished," to attract more birds and animals, a refurbishing of a different type is happening to the nature center building and yard. This one is to attract new members and visitors.

This is taking place as the busy season kicks in. Along with this, Ridge Audubon Society has a fairly hefty calendar of events for members -- new and old -- and anyone else interested in participating.

The variety of calendar events includes: field trips, family days, parties, family day clean-up, potluck dinners, "nighthawk" meetings, a winter solstice observation; bird counts, and a number of family-oriented events.

Area businesses are also encouraged to become involved with the center. They, along with people in the community, may also wish to donate items to help refurbish the center.

Work is being done from top to bottom on the building that was built in 1960. That work started last Saturday, and is intended to help make the center "into a vital part of the community again," according to center naturalist Yvonne Babb and assistant naturalist Melyssa Stone.

Babb hopes the center will be ready in another two weeks, in time for the membership meeting.

The Ridge Audubon Center now has more than 200 members, many of whom are also members of the state and national Audubon societies. As the new season builds up steam, Ridge Audubon is actively seeking new members. New memberships are $20, and a free T-shirt is included as part of the fee.

As many members are part-time residents, they will be returning to see quite a few improvements made to the center and the grounds.

Members who haven't been to the center in the past year, will find the grounds alone have been spruced up.

"Much of the vegetation hadn't been burned and the landscaping hadn't been maintained," Babb said.

In addition to the prescribed burning, center members have chipped away at the backyard. Stone said "prior to last weekend, the back yard was very shady."

The yard was filled with exotics which have been chopped down and made into brush piles to attract birds and animals.

"We try to attract as big a variety of wildlife as we can," she added. Visitors can see first-hand how to make gardens that will attract birds and butterflies to their yards.

That's all part of the educational mission of the center, said naturalist Babb.

"We welcome all volunteers and people who are interested in nature," she said. "We educate people about the unique values of the Lake Wales Ridge and its birds and habitats. Many people like birds, but not all of them will go to their feeders. There are a zillion birds out there."

With the yard clearing having taken place, glimpses of Crooked Lake are now possible through the remaining foliage.

Back inside, Babb and Stone hope the center's exhibits and educational resources will attract more visitors -- especially teachers.

For that to happen, cosmetic work in the exhibit should help.

"We had mismatched filing cabinets," Stone said. "Now they are all being painted the same color."

Paneling in the main room was removed and the wall was painted yellow. The center's kitchen is also being revamped "so it will look more like a kitchen in a home," Stone said.

As the "old stuff" is carted out of the center and new paint goes on, a committee will "look at the structure of the building and see how to best utilize what we've got," said center vice president Barbara Gordon.

In addition to Gordon, the committee consists of John Moore, president; Geoff Babb, second vice president; Lorelei Hagen, treasurer; Ann Freiling, recording secretary; and board members Steve Morrison, Martha Sehi, Robert Connors and Ken Morrison.

Gordon said the need for renovation can be compared to a house.

"Once the building gets older -- like our homes -- it becomes essential that you maintain it," she explained. "Buildings age as people do, it it gets to the point where it needs 'face cream.'"

The project was boosted by a $1,000 donation from Wal-mart.

"Without that donation,we'd have to tap into the general fund which has been stressed due to roof and other structural needs," Gordon explained.

A part of the donation will be used for paints, tools and for addressing other facility needs. Another part will go toward upgrading the educational area, which will have terrariums "and hopefully, animals," she added.

In addition to special field trips, Babb can give guided walks to people who call in advance to set up a time.

Ridge Audubon also has a current wish list for people in the community who may wish to donate items. The list includes: hanging file racks, a shelf and rack set-up for brooms, a shop vacuum, landscape timbers, aquariums, terrariums, magnifying lenses and garden hoses.

To make a donation or for information about the center and its programs, call 638-1355. The center museum hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.