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Audubon Christens Boat For Champion

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By MARK HOLAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

BALLAST POINT - The research vessel Rich Paul is a 20-foot Bay Rider.

The boat's shallow draft will allow Audubon of Florida researchers to get near shorebird nesting islands in Tampa Bay and other parts of the state. It will be used to conduct population surveys and for environmental education and habitat restoration.

The boat, christened Tuesday at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, is named for Paul, who championed Audubon's Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries.

Paul died of cancer in November 2005. He was 59.

"This is huge. It's a big thing emotionally," his widow, Ann Paul, a regional coordinator for Audubon, said after the ceremony.

"He really was happy out on the water," she said. "And this is replacing a 26-year-old boat, so this is not a trivial gift."

The boat was purchased with an $18,000 grant from Gulfstream Natural Gas System. The company became acquainted with Rich Paul in 1999 as it began installing a 700-mile underwater pipeline to Port Manatee from south Alabama. Gulfstream wanted to use a 65-acre spoil island near the port to stage drilling work near the shoreline.

The island had become overgrown with invasive species in the 30 years since it was created from dredge spoils, ruining the barren high-ground nesting habitat required for shorebirds such as oystercatchers, least terns, black gulls and laughing gulls.

"Under Rich's guidance, the island restoration project was developed and successfully implemented, and today serves as a sanctuary for rare coastal birds," said Al Taylor, Gulfstream's vice president of operations.

Paul served five years on the board of the company's Environmental and Recreational Trust program. Gulfstream says it has donated $375,000 since 2001, including grants to Tampa Bay Watch and Friends of Weedon Island.

"I will always remember the thoughtfulness, wisdom and care with which he approached our grant selection," Taylor said.

Ann Hodgson, Audubon's coastal sanctuaries manager, said the boat will be kept at a group member's home and launched from a trailer to monitor 115 coastal bird colonies throughout Florida.

"Through the dedication of this vessel, this group is going to carry on the work of Rich Paul," she said.

DONATIONS TO AUDUBON

Audubon of Florida needs about $200,000 a year to pay for boat fuel, maintenance, insurance and other costs associated with monitoring shorebirds. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to: Audubon of Florida, 410 Ware Blvd., Suite 702, Tampa FL 33619. For information, call (813) 623-6826 or go to www.audubonofflorida.org.

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 835-2102 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

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