DESCRIPTIONS OF 1999 FIELD TRIPS

Later, on your own, your tour includes admission to the Tour with destinations to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, LC-39 Observation Gantry, and the International Space Station Center.

Visit the Launch Status Center at 1:30 p.m. for a special communicator-narrated Space Shuttle– Update, including live video shots of the operational buildings inside Kennedy Space Center.

Pre-registration is required and each tour is limited to the first 24 registrants.
Special Tour Schedule: November 11-14 from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $35 and includes the Destinations Tour, a learning kit, and the Special Launch Briefing at the Launch Status Center at 1:30 p.m. daily.

Special Combined Tour Offer: If guests register for both KSC tours, one tour will cost $35 and the additional tour will be reduced to $21. Total cost for both tours: $56.

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Mosquito Lagoon Estuary Boat Tour
Trip Leader: Dr. Grant Gilmore

One of Dr. Gilmore's primary research objectives at the Kennedy Space Center is to understand the life history and ecology of marine and estuarine communities in this region of Florida so that human interactions with marine animals and plants can be managed to conserve and promote these wonderful and diverse living ecosystems. One way to do this is with newly developed technologies, in this case, passive acoustic (listening) techniques using underwater microphones (hydrophones). The aquatic environment is extremely noisy, particularly at night. Sound carries much faster (5 times faster) in water than in air and many fish use sound to communicate, mostly for reproduction.

We will enjoy a sunset dinner cruise down the Intracoastal Waterway from New Smyrna Beach to the Mosquito Lagoon, stopping at several locations to listen for and record the sounds of the red and black drum as they call their mates to spawn. The black drum male and female talk to one another with rhythmic robust sounds that are so loud that we must turn the speaker volume down to protect our ears. We may also hear other animals from the lagoon including manatee, dolphins, other fish and even shrimp, which sound like castanets.

Pre-registration is required and is limited to the first 32 registrants.
Tour Schedule: November 11 and 12, 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Motorcoach to New Smyrna will leave from Brevard Community College at 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 includes dinner.

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The Environmentally Endangered Lands Program Field Trip
Trip Leader: Anne Birch

This trip offers an exciting opportunity to take an environmental tour of Brevard County, allowing you to become acquainted with the wonderfully diversified habitats found along Florida's Space Coast. The visionary thinking of the citizens and the leadership of Brevard County led to the founding of the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (EELP) in 1990. The EELP mission is to formulate a strategy for the purchase and management of examples of ecosystems that are rapidly disappearing in the region. EEL lands are acquired to meet three directives: 1. conservation of the natural resources; 2. environmental education; and 3. passive recreation. To date, more than 13,000 acres have been preserved through the EELP and its partners. This sanctuary network represents a collection of protected natural areas that form a regional conservation effort focused on protection of biological diversity.

Learn how the EELP has structured its acquisition and management planning to balance the need for preservation of the natural resources while meeting the demands for public use. The field trip will bring you to four sanctuaries located throughout the county, each exhibiting different habitats and challenges associated with public use. Anne will be your tour guide on the bus. Her knowledgeable and spirited staff of Land Managers and Volunteer Coordinators will greet you at each EEL sanctuary for a journey through "the Real Brevard".

Pre-registration is required.
Tour is limited to the first 25 participants.
Tour Schedule: Nov. 10 from 9:00a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bus leaves from Brevard Community College
Cost: $25 - Includes box lunch.
Cost: $30.00

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Cruickshank Historical Field Trip
Trip Leaders: Betty and Karl Eichhorn and Lee Snyder

Two early influential members of the Indian River Audubon Society were Helen and Allan Cruickshank. Well known nature photographers, this extraordinary couple wrote several books on Florida wildlife and history, were instrumental in establishing Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and organized the first Cocoa Christmas Bird Count. The Cocoa CBC led the nation for many years, recording more than 200 species several times.In recognition of their incredible contribution to Florida, the Cruickshank Trail was created at the MINWR, The Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary was established in Rockledge and Florida Audubon annually awards the Allan D. Cruickshank Memorial Award for service in environmental education.

Join Betty and Karl Eichhorn and Lee Snyder, all personal friends of Allan and Helen Cruickshank for a very special historical field trip to some of the Cruickshank's favorite local birding spots including Pluckebaum Road, Sarno Road to Lake Washington and the Duda Ranch. The Eichhorns have collected some history, stories and anecdotes to tell. They also have audio tapes of Allan doing the tally after several Christmas Counts. They aren't hi-fi, but Allan's booming voice comes through. During the tallies, Allan would tell stories, give birding lessons and tell jokes. He was quite entertaining. They also have a tape of Helen when she gave a slide program during the 1970 Florida Audubon Society State Convention in Cocoa Beach. People who want to know about the Cruickshanks will enjoy listening to these tapes. Birds that might be seen include Florida sandhill crane, burrowing owl, snail kite, crested caracara, loggerhead shrike, bald eagle, limpkin, wading birds and shorebirds.

Pre-registration is required.
Each tour is limited to 25 participants
Tour Schedule: Nov. 11, 12, 13 from 7:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
Bus leaves from Brevard Community College
Cost: $20.00

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North Brevard Hotspots
Trip Leader: Doug Stuckey and Lorne Malo

Florida's Space Coast has much to offer in well known birding sites like Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral national Seashore, Turkey Creek Sanctuary and Sebastion Inlet State Park. Bet we have our share of lesser known areas - places like Hatbill Park, Salt Lake, Scottsmoor Landing, Seminole Ranch, Fawn Lake, Hammock Road and the Florida Inland Navigational District Dump site. These areas might produce tantalizing species like brown-headed nuthatch, Bachman's sparrow, eastern bluebird, limpkin, roseate spoonbill, reddish egret, bald eagle, wood stork, Florida scrub jay, Florida sandhill crane and peregrine falcon. Join veteran birder Doug Stuckey on a whirlwind tour through the pines and palmettos of North Brevard's scrublands and wetlands to show you our favorite not-so-famous hotspots.

Pre-registration is required.
Each tour is limited to the first 25 participants.
Tour Schedule: Nov.11-Nov.13 from 7:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Bus leaves from Brevard Community College.
Cost: $20.00

Whooping Cranes and Dry Prairie Habitat
Trip Leaders: Judith Buhrman and Eric Stolen

Take a fascinating trip into the Florida outback to view members of the second largest flock of wild whooping cranes in the world. This tour will take you to the Crescent J Ranch, Forever Florida, the Allan David Broussard Conservancy and Overstreet Ranch for an in depth look at the Florida dry prairie habitat. At the Overstreet Ranch, participants will climb into the back of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission trucks with Wildlife Biologists Marty Folk and Kathy Sullivan for a ride deep into the ranch to Lake Jackson to look for whooping cranes. You might see alligators, bald eagles, deer, gray foxes, otters, snakes, sandhill cranes, wild turkeys, vultures, hawks, crested caracaras, snail kites and more on either ranch. At Forever Florida, participants will board custom made, photographer friendly, "Cracker Cruisers" for a tour through dry prairie, cypress swamps, grasslands, pinewoods, creeks and dense oak hammocks. Don't miss this rare opportunity to visit one of Central Florida's huge working cattle ranches, the Overstreet Ranch, site of the whooping crane releases. Due to rough terrain this is not recommended for people with back problems.

Pre-registration required.
Trips are limited to the first 26 participants.
Tour Schedule: Nov. 12 - 13 from 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Vans leave from Brevard Community College
Cost: $45 - Includes box lunch.

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Wildflowers
Trip Leader: Dr. Walter Taylor

When Spanish explorers stumbled into North America, they landed on Cape Canaveral,very near to what is now the Kennedy Space Center. They named their newly discovered territory La Florida meaning "Land of Flowers" because they found flowers blooming profusely everywhere they went. Brevard County harbors a wide range of blooming wildflowers throughout the year - with the fall season being most particularly beautiful. The diversity of natural habitats found on Florida's East Coast produces and abundant variety of plant communities. Normally you would have to be a graduate student at the University of Central Florida in order to have the privilege of working with Dr. Taylor in the field. Don't miss this unique opportunity to spend time with one of Florida's most interesting amd knowledgeable wildflower experts.

Pre-registration is required.
Each tour is limited to the first 25 participants.
TourSchedule: Nov.11 and Nov. 13 from 12:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Bus leaves from Brevard Community College
Cost: $20.00

Butterflies
Trip Leaders: Buck and Linda Cooper

Ride with Buck and Linda as they tour the rural areas of North Brevard County looking for butterflies. This should be an excellent time of the year to see monarchs, fritillaries, zebra longwings, white peacocks, buckeyes, sulphers, hairstreaks, viceroys, gueens, swallowtails, skippers, moths and more. More than 35 species of butterflies were spotted at the Festival last year. There's usually lots of dragonflies around at this time of the year also as well as a profusion of wildlflowers. You will thoroughly enjoy time spent with this entertaining couple as they search for the "Sparkling Jewels of Florida."

Pre-registration is required.
Each Tour is limited to the first 25 participants.
Tour Schedule: Nov. 12 - 13 from 12:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Bus leaves from Brevard Community College
Cost: $20.00

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Black Rails and Rail Habitat Trip
Trip Leader: Mike Legare

Enjoy a sunset walk with Wildlife Biologist Mike Legare at the St. John's National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is closed to the public, so take advantage of this rare opportunity to experience this pristine marsh. While walking into the marsh, Mike will talk about black rails, their secretive habits, habitat and the research he conducted on these elusive birds at this site. As dusk approaches, Mike will stop at different areas to listen for black rails calling. Wear long pants, old shoes and mosquito repellant.

Pre-registration is required and is limited to the first 40 registrants.
Trip Schedule: November 12 and 13, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Seminar precedes field trip at 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Brevard Community College .
Meet at the gate to St. John's, approximately 2 miles west of I-95 on SR 50 at 5:00 p.m.
Free.

Florida Scrub Jays and Scrub Fire Ecology
Trip Leader: Dave Breininger

Join Dave on a NASA tour bus for a free trip on Kennedy Space Center to areas closed to the public where Dave has been studying several scrub jay families for years. The tour will go into scrub habitat that these birds live in to get a glimpse of these fascinating birds and the interesting social structure that they build around them. Topics of discussion will be focused on Florida scrub-jay habitat use, demography, and sociobiology in different types of habitat with an emphasis on fire ecology.

Pre-registration is required and is limited to the first 40 registrants.
Trip Schedule: November 11, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; November 13, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Bus leaves MINWR Visitors Center at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Seminar precedes field trip at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Cost: Free.

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Sunset Birding, Hayride at the Refuge

Accompany a Refuge Ranger on a hayride around Black Point Wildlife Drive and watch the sunset bird show from an ideal vantage point. See huge flocks of wading birds and waterfowl fly right overhead as the sun sets and stars begin to appear. Take a slow ride through a Florida Paradise.

Pre-registration required and is limited to 40 people.
Trip Schedule: November 13, 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Park and meet at the entrance to Black Point Wildlife Refuge on SR 406 on the refuge.
Cost: $15 and includes a snack and soft beverage.

Youth Birding Tour
Trip Leader: Cary Salter

Bird watching is far more than a hobby, especially for kids. It is an open door to the world of nature, a touch point that connects young people with the outdoors. Kids do want to know everything, and bird watching is a way of piquing their interest in nature. Youngsters, like adults, will find far more in the outdoors than just birds. Bird watching inevitably leads to a discovery of turtles, butterflies, wildflowers, and all the interconnections of nature. Join our Fish & Wildlife Service volunteer and experienced refuge birder, Cary Salter, for a spectacular birding experience around Black Point Wildlife Drive.
All youths under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Interested youth groups should call the refuge Visitor Center for reservations

Pre-registration is recommended.
Trip Schedule: November 13, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Meet at the refuge Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m.
Cost: Free

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Birding the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) and Canaveral National Seashore
Trip Leader: Bill Pranty

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the 2nd largest refuge in Florida, is a unique barrier island consisting of 140,000 acres of salt marshes, freshwater impoundments, brackish estuaries, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks and coastal strand scrub and dunes. The refuge is home to more threatened and endangered species than any other wildlife refuge in the continental United States.
Considered to be one of the state's prime birding sites, 331 species of birds can befound on the wildlife refuge including the Florida scrub jay, roseate spoonbill, reddish egret, American wood stork, white pelican, bald eagle, black-bellied plover, American avocet, marbled godwit and northern pintail. Over 23 species of waterfowl and 19 species of shorebirds can be found on the refuge during the winter months. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to experience one of the nation's premiere birding areas with one of Florida's leading birding experts!

Pre-registration is required.
Tour is limited to the first 25 participants.
Tour Schedule: Nov. 11 - 12 from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Bus leaves from Brevard Community College.
Cost: $20

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