A Home for Ozzie

OZZIE A Home for

Written by Amy Stratton Costa and Jake FitzRoy Illustrations by Vernon Payne

UNF

A Home for Ozzie Written by Amy Stratton Costa and Jake FitzRoy Illustrations by Vernon Payne

Published by The University of North Florida Board of Trustees – Jacksonville, Fla.

This book is dedicated to Dr. Robert W. Loftin and John M. Golden: “Pioneers and Protectors” of the Nature Trails and Sawmill Slough Preserve

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n 1973, Dr. Robert Loftin, professor of philosophy and expert ornithologist, helped establish the land that is now permanently designated as the Sawmill Slough Preserve and Nature Trails. “Doc” Loftin began the tradition of outdoor adventure trips at UNF and founded the Sawmill Slough Conservation Club. He was an ardent protector and educator for the University’s natural resources. In 1993, the UNF Nature Trails were dedicated in his memory as the “Robert Loftin Nature Trails.”

Dr. Robert W. “Doc” Loftin

Chief Ranger John M. Golden

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ired in 1984 by the Department of Campus Recreation, John M. Golden was the first ranger for the Nature Trails. He was the devoted keeper of the Nature Trails and the University’s wild lands for more than 20 years.

He created and taught the first environmental education programs on the Nature Trails and designed what is now the UNF Nature Trail system and its educational signage. He was given the Mayor’s Individual Award for Environmental Protection and was also the recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wild Neighborhoods Grant, which funded educational programs for Title 1 schools. During his tenure, he educated and brought nature into the lives of thousands of children in the North Florida area.

The John M. Golden Educational Pavilion was dedicated in his memory in 2008 and is now the home site for environmental education programs that use the Robert Loftin Nature Trails.

Special thanks to Becky Purser, the director of Recreation, for her years of service to UNF and Eco Adventure. Her continued leadership and enthusiasm has allowed Eco Adventure to thrive, and without her support, this book would not have been possible.

Ozzie is an osprey who just left his parents’ nest.

He hasn’t found a home to call his own yet.

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One evening, he went to visit Rascal Raccoon, who lived in a tree hollow.

“Hi Ozzie. What brings you to my tree?”

“Hi Rascal Raccoon.

May I live here?”

“Sorry, Ozzie, but my kits are inside and I have no room to spare.

We sleep here during the day, and I leave to find food at night.

Don’t give up though, there are lots of places to live out here.”

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The next day, Ozzie went hunting for fish over Lake Oneida.

He spotted a place on the lake that he thought might make a good home.

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On Lake Oneida, the rangers built a deck for the turtles to warm themselves in the sun.

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“Hello red-bellied turtles.

May I live here?�

As Ozzie swooped down to land on the deck, he scared the red-bellied turtles into the water.

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“Sorry, Ozzie, but we use this deck to get warm during the day. At night it’s windy, cold and damp. It is no place for an osprey to sleep.”

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Ozzie was looking for a home when he spotted Becky the Bobcat in the forest.

“Hey Becky! May I live here?”

“Here? I’m just taking a catnap, but I wouldn’t live out in the open like this.

At night, creatures like me are out hunting.”

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“I’m a hunter, too! But I only eat fish,” said Ozzie.

Becky said, “If I had bigger claws like yours, I’m sure I could catch fish, too!”

She told Ozzie to fly to the sandhill and find Gus the Gopher Tortoise. His burrow is a home for many animals.

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“Hello Gus. My name is Ozzie. May I live here?”

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“Hello Ozzie! I almost never turn away an animal from my burrow, but I’ve never heard of an osprey living underground.”

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“Besides, I already have a Florida mouse, gopher frog and lizard here with me.

My burrow is already quite full.�

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“Sometimes people make homes for animals. I heard they put up a box for birds in the swamp. Maybe you should go and take a look.�

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“Hello Mr. Wood Duck. Are you using this home? May I live here?”

“Our chicks just left the nest today, so the box is open! I’m not sure you’ll fit, though. You’re much larger than us.

You wouldn’t want to get stuck.”

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“No, that wouldn’t be good at all.”

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Ozzie flew to the top of a large pine tree to think of where to try next. A tiny mouse climbed out to meet him.

“Hello Ozzie. I’m a golden mouse.

I’ve seen you on your travels for a home, and I think I can help you.

Let me show you my nest.”

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“Golden mice build nests high up in the trees. My first nest wasn’t very good, but I kept at it until I got better. I’m sure if you tried, you could build a great big nest!”

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Ozzie was flying over the forest and heard Harriet the Osprey call out his name.

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“Hello Ozzie!”

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“Hello Harriet!”

“Ozzie, I’m building a nest. Could you help me carry this branch?”

“I’d love to!” Ozzie said.

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“I found the perfect tree for a nest,� Harriet said.

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“Would you want to help me build this nest?” Harriet asked.

“When it’s done, we can live here together.”

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“Yes!” Ozzie exclaimed.

He was so excited. He could finally have a place to call home.

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About this book: Eco Adventure is a part of the Department of Campus Recreation within the Division of Student Affairs at UNF. We strive to engage the public and students in the outdoors and are proud to present this book as a way to engage the next generation in the amazing habitats of Northeast Florida.

All proceeds of this book will go to the environmental education initiatives at UNF’s Eco Adventure.

These programs were founded to promote, maintain and bring the community to the five miles of trails that explore swamps, pine forests, lakes, streams and oak hammocks in the almost 400-acre Sawmill Slough Preserve. The trails are located on campus and are open to the public every day of the year.

We hope your family learns to love this place as much as we do. Your support of our trails and the Preserve is critical for the future of this unique place.

If you would like to donate to the UNF Nature Trails Foundation, please contact us at: http://www.unf.edu/recreation/ecoadventure/UNF_Nature_Trail_Foundation.aspx For more information about our environmental education programs, including book-related field trips and birthday parties, please contact us.

Eco Adventure’s Environmental Education Program: Website: www.unf.edu/recreation/ecoadventure/ E-mail: rectrail@unf.edu Office: (904) 620-5952

Published by The University of North Florida Board of Trustees. 2015.

All rights reserved. All proceeds of this book go to UNF Environmental Education initiatives.

No part of this book may be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission from the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to: UNF Eco Adventure, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224 ISBN 978-0-692-40915-2 Illustrations by Vernon Payne.

The artist used Prisma pencil and watercolor to create the illustrations for this book.

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This book was co-authored by Amy Stratton Costa and Jake FitzRoy. Illustrations by Vernon Payne.

Amy Stratton Costa is the assistant director of Eco Adventure at UNF. She oversees student gear checkout, student trips, the Osprey Challenge Course and the environmental education programs. She has more than 25 years of experience in environmental and experiential education with schools and organizations around the country.

Jake FitzRoy coordinates the environmental education programs for Eco Adventure.

Programs include K-8 field trips, Eco Camp and weekend programs such as nature hikes that utilize this book.

Vernon Payne is a graphic designer for UNF and was a friend of both “Doc� Loftin and John Golden. He has drawn for decades, and his beautiful illustrations have brought these characters to life on the page.

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Come and explore the sections of nature trails that our story is based on!

Each character’s home can be found where their face marks the spot.

Our story follows Ozzie the Osprey, a bird of prey who is the mascot of the University of North Florida. He meets and interacts with several animals on his search for a place to live.

All of these species can be found within the Sawmill Slough Preserve, and the scenes are based on places along the trails.

See you on the Nature Trails!