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Nikon and The Brevard Nature Alliance present the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Brevard Community College, Titusville Campus 1311 North U.S. Highway 1, Titusville January 24 - 28, 2007 -- Titusville, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
Florida Birding, Wildlife & Nature Festivals
Because of its unique geographical location in the southernmost part of the North American continent, Florida is visited by many species of birds. The only tropical habitat on the continent is located in Florida, as well as the confluence of two flyways. With its diverse habitats and favorable climate, unique history and a multitude of cultures, Florida provides a fantastic setting for numerous festivals and events. We invite you to visit Florida Festivals and Events to learn more about them. Meanwhile, here's a sample of some of the many exceptional birding, wildlife and nature events planned for the coming year.January 20 - 22, 2006, Naples
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: www.rookerybay.org/ - (239) 417-6310
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BIRDING FESTIVAL
Did you know that Southwest Florida's unique environment provides essential habitat for more than 250 species of birds? Whether you are a birding expert or simply enjoy the view, you should plan to attend the Second Annual Southwest Florida Birding Festival.January 24-28, 2007, Titusville
This is our web site. We hope that you will enjoy as many of these wonderful festivals as you can. Our Festival Home Page.
SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVALJanuary 27 & 28, 2007, Orange City
10:00 am to 5:00 pm -- Blue Spring State Park is Florida's most significant warm water refuge for the endangered manatee. This two-day environmental festival in Valentine Park in Orange City features educational exhibits on endangered wildlife, children's rides, food, crafts, craft show and free rides to see the manatees. Info: (386) 775-9224. www.themanateefestival.com/
ORANGE CITY/BLUE SPRING MANATEE FESTIVALFebruary 17 - 20, 2006, Fort Lauderdale
Sponsored by the Broward Audubon Society, this 3-day birding and ecology festival in Everglades National Park includes naturalist-guided birdwatching in the main and Shark Valley sections of the park. Included: luxury coach transportation to sites and trails, 2 nights lodging at the Flamingo Lodge, 7 meals, full use of park facilities, exhibitors, evening seminars on birdlife habitats, and restoration of the Everglades. Optional boating, canoeing, kayaking, biking, fishing, and back-country hiking are available. Contact the Broward County Audubon Society at 954-776-5585 or (954) 963-2428 or e-mail birdfest2005@browardaudubon.org, www.browardaudubon.org
EVERGLADES BIRDTREKFebruary 18, 2006, Christmas
Experience the world's first large-scale wetlands treatment system, a magnet for all types of wildlife. Features include birdwatching tours, photo shoots, bicycle tours, native plant walks, bird banding and mist-netting demonstrations, wildlife shows, historic reenactments, live music, Native American demonstrations, and bus tours will travel along the wetland berms. Contact Mark Sees, 407-568-1706, www.cityoforlando.net, go to Parks, click on Wetlands or www.nbbd.com/festivals/OrlandoWetlands.
ORLANDO WETLANDS PARK FESTIVALFebrurary 18, 2006, Cape Coral
10am - 4pm at Rotary Park. Info: (239) 772-7332. Burrowing Owl Festival.
BURROWING OWL FESTIVALMarch 4, 2006, Orlando
1st Backyard Habitat Fest at the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve. A 440-acre preserve is ome to the Carter Environment Center which houses a variety of exhibits and provides environmental programs. Stroll down miles of trails that meander through a wilderness. 8777 State Road 535. Info: 407-876-6696.
BACKYARD HABITAT FESTIVALMarch 11, 2006, Sebastian
Environmental exhibitors will be on-hand with live wildlife, arts and crafts, and environmental displays. Feature presentations include live wildlife shows and live music. Many family activities are available including boat tours, kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon, kid's activities, bird watching and history tours. Call 772-562-3909, ext. 258, www.nbbd.com/npr/pips/festival.html
PELICAN ISLAND WILDLIFE FESTIVALMarch 30, 31 and April 1, 2007, Moore Haven
See the return of the Swallow-tailed Kites to Fisheating Creek to nest plus more than 400 other bird species in our area. The revamped Big "O" Birding Festival 2007 itinerary will include birding tours Saturday and Sunday conducted in the morning and afternoon, along with lectures by birding experts at noon and with dinner during the festival. Several popular tours, such as the "Owl Hoot" and others remain on the schedule, while new ones, including the Hendry County STA-5 with the Hendry-Glades Audubon Society are in the works. Friday, March 30, 2007 will feature a "Kids are for the Birds" activity day. The Arts and Crafts show at the Doyle Conner building in Moore Haven will feature nature photography by John Moran, whose "Journal of Light" exhibit will be part of the lecture series during the festival, along with a presentation by birding artist Lydia Thompson, and also, keynote speaker Susan Cerulean, author of "Tracking Desire. A Journey After Swallow-tailed Kites." Attendance is estimated at 700 plus over the three day festival. Birding vendors are especially desirable and food vending space is limited. Indoor space is $40 and outdoor space is $35. For more information or to register as a vendor, please visit our website at www.bigobirdingfestival.com. Phone: Tracy Whirls, 863-946-0300; Email: twhirls@gladescountyedc.com.
BIG "O" BIRDING FESTIVALMarch, 2006 - TBD, White Springs
Annual birding event and held in conjunction with the WILD AZALEA FESTIVAL. Contact: Columbia County Tourist Development Council, PO Box 1847, Lake City, FL 32056; 386-758-1312; www.floridabirdingfestival.com. Attendees will have an opportunity to explore the PCS lands (which are normally not open to the public), visit the Alligator Lake Recreation Park, Big Shoals in Hamilton County (view the new Woodpecker Trail), and Ichetucknee Springs State Park with an optional canoe trip.
SUWANNEE RIVER VALLEY BIRDING FESTIVALApril - TBD, Tallahassee
Showcasing Florida's Big Bend area, family activities include tours to Wakulla Springs State Park and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Other features include a sunrise birding cruise, birding, plant, wildlife and other guided tours, seminars, vendors, multiple outdoor learning stations including bird banding, optics and ecosystem health, educational exhibitors and creative hands-on learning stations for children. Contact Bob Thompson, 850-561-7281, robert.thompson@dep.state.fl.us, www.floridaconservation.org/festivals.
WELCOME BACK SONGBIRDS & WAKULLA WILDLIFE FESTIVALApril 2006 - TBD, Brooksville 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Held at Chinsegut Nature Center located north of Brooksville in Hernando County. Activities offered include: bird banding, butterfly, bird and wildflower walks, birds of prey program, birding 101 program, puppet show, bird calling contest and more. Contact Kristin Wood, (352)754-6722, kristin.wood@fwc.state.fl.us, www.MyFWC.com.
WELCOME BACK SONGBIRDS/EARTH DAY FESTIVALApril 8, 2006 - Fellsmere
Hosted by the Coastal Preserves Alliance, this festival will include nature tours by boat, canoe, kayak, wagon and foot, presentations and exhibits. Highlights include birding excursions to observe the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and threatened Florida scrub-jay, and boat tours to explore the beauty of the St. Sebastian River. Contact Joy Call at the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, 321-953-5004 or visit www.nbbd.com/npr/cpa/
GOBY FESTApril 2006 - TBD, Titusville
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at Merritt Island NWR, home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Canaveral National Seashore and the largest population of Florida Scrub Jays in the world! Highlights include birding field trips, seminars and kayak trips to one of the state's most diverse wading bird rookery islands. Contact the Merritt Island NWR Visitor's Center, 321-861-0667, www.nbbd.com/festivals/WelcomeFestivals
WELCOME BACK SONGBIRDS FESTIVALMay 11 - 14, 2006, St. Augustine
Ahaven for outdoor photographers and bird lovers with more than 75 field trips, boat trips, kayak excursions and workshops presented by leading experts taking place during spring migration. All of the events are designed to put people where they can easily observe nature in the wild. For more information go to the Festival website at www.visitoldcity.com/birding_nature/. A complete guide to the festival may be obtained by calling the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau at 800.653.2489.
FIRST COAST BIRDING NATURE FESTIVALSept. 19 - October 1, 2006, Marathon
The exotic tropical Florida Keys provide the setting for this family oriented event. From the National Key Deer Refuge, to spectacular offshore coral reefs and quiet backwaters, this festival highlights the best of the Keys. Activities include hawk-watching, stargazing, evening keynote speakers, snorkeling trips, backcountry kayaking trips, bird watching trips, American Crocodile program, wild bird rehabilitation center tours, seminars, an environmental fair and a butterfly garden. Contact James Bell, 305-872-0774. -- www.keysbirdingfest.org/
FLORIDA KEYS BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVALOctober 6-8, 2006, Port St. Joe
The non-profit organization, Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves, Inc., presents our Sixth Annual Florida Panhandle Birding and Wildflower Festival. Volunteers, local partners and many experts commit themselves to bringing together a wide variety of talks and field trips on the natural history, local fauna and flora and birds of the Florida Panhandle. There are guided land and water trips to St. Joseph Bay, St. Vincent Island, Little St. George Island, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Apalachicola Bay and other locations for bird watching and nature study. Lectures and field trips have limited space available. Registration is currently available online.
FLORIDA PANHANDLE BIRDING & WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL
Call 850-229-1797 or e-mail info@birdfestival.info if you have additional questions. www.birdfestival.infoOctober 7, 2006, West Melbourne
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. -- Erna Nixon Park, 1200 Evans Road, West Melbourne, FL. A celebration of Florida's past, present, and future! Entertainment by: the Florida Cracker Cloggers, Almostnormal, Men in the House, Bill Suiter, Standing Bear, Kris Kahl, Sharon Osuna, The Storyhub Players - Native American displays, traditional & local crafts, native plant & wildlife exhibits, environmental organizations, historical displays, caterering by Marsh Landings. All parking at W. Side of Melbourne Square Mall, Pole #4, free shuttle to and from the park. For more information call or stop by Erna Nixon Park: 321-952-4525. http://www.brevardparks.com/nature/ernanixon.htm.
CRACKERFESTOctober 7, 2006, Umatilla
9:am - 5:pm -- Learn about the Florida Black Bear and the importance of protecting Florida's natural habitats. Activities include field trips to the Ocala National Forest, presentations on Florida bears and other wildlife and a "Florida Authors Corner." Other activities include a kid's pavilion, food, arts & crafts, a teddy bear repair clinic, live music, a Florida Black Bear maze and educational exhibits. Our key note speaker is Dr. Tom Hotor on the corridors of Floridas Forest call the O2O, (Osciolla to Ocala Forest). Six field trips starting at 9:30AM and last one at 2:00PM (2:00PM may be reserved for special groups with advanced notice). Contact 407-323-1298, www.flblackbearfest.org
FLORIDA BLACK BEAR FESTIVALOctober 7, 2006, Port Charlotte
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Charlotte County Sports Complex located at 2300 El Jobean Rd/SR 776 in Port Charlotte. The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program - (866) 835-5785 - is pleased to sponsor the sixth Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival a day for the family to explore, learn and enjoy the area's beautiful natural environment. Explore and learn about the incredible wildlife and natural environment of the Charlotte Harbor estuaries and watershed, including guided walks in Tippecanoe Environmental Park. You'll enjoy guided walks, wagon rides, exhibits, displays, live animals, nature crafts and art, guest speakers, children's activities, music, good food and more!
CHARLOTTE HARBOR NATURE FESTIVALOctober 8-14, 2006, Sanibel Island
The 16th Annual "Ding" Darling Days celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week, the 60th Birthday of J. N. "Ding" Darlingling National Wildlife Refuge, and the birthday of the refuge's namesake, father of the he Duck Stamp program. Bunche Beach birding tours, a kids fishing day, live animal shows, photo workshops, island eco-tours, the 2005 Duck Stamp Artist presentation, and book signings and talks by major wildlife authors highlight the week's activities.This year, we're adding a kids fishing day and photo workshop on Sunday to kick off the week. The festivities culminate at the refuge on Saturday, with a free day of Butterfly House touring, family activities, live animal presentations, narrated tram rides, environmental exhibits, and food. www.dingdarlingdays.com. FEATURING:
"DING" DARLING DAYS
- Bobby Harrison, one of the pair of qualified birders who recently logged an ivory-billed woodpecker sighting in Arkansas' Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, will speak at BIG ARTS on Thursday, Oct. 12 and teach a photo workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 11.
- Lynne Cherry, children's author of the award-winning The Great Kapok Tree and a locally significant book about hurricane impact titled The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle, will speak and do a book-signing on Saturday Family Fun Day, Oct. 14.
November 2 - 5, 2006, Cedar Key
Cedar Key is surrounded by thousands of acres of protected lands, including the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges and the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve. It is rare to find such accessible yet diverse habitats so unaffected by today's urban and agricultural sprawl. The Nature Coast Wildlife Experience will expose participants to a variety of lectures and trips spotlighting our unique area. Contact Judy Johnson, 352-543-0099 www.naturecoastwildlifeexperience.org.
NATURE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE EXPERIENCENovember 11, 2006, Ponce Inlet
Sponsored by the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center. Fun activities for the entire family. Lectures on Florida birds, tours of the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Center and more. Saturday will be a day of booths, lectures, and on Friday and Sunday there will be a number of field trips. Sunday will feature a pelagic trip to the western edge of the Gulf Stream, off Ponce Inlet aboard the 65' Sea Spirit. The area, known locally as The Steeples, is a productive location of underwater cliffs and seamounts that cause upwellings and current edges. It is especially good for pelagic species during migration. For information: mbrothers@co.volusia.fl.us or call 386-304-5545.
MIGRATORY BIRD FESTIVAL – Wings on the Windwas November, Titusville
Our next festival will be held January 24-28, 2007. Our Festival Home Page.
SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
www.spacecoastbirding.com
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