2007 FIELD TRIPS
Festival field trips are designed to showcase the best regional wildlife sites as well as the exceptional research and preservation work being conducted in this area. Unless otherwise noted, all trips depart from the traffic circle in front of the Gymnatorium at Brevard Community College, Titusville Campus. Due to the importance of arriving at designated sites by certain times, vehicles will leave promptly when indicated. Please arrive 15 minutes early. Please note that in order to keep the Festival as cost efficient as possible for our guests, some of the field trips and workshops have been changed to car pools instead of utilizing hired transportation services.
NOTE: Central Florida is very "birdy" and many will be seen en route. Stay alert and be prepared to look quickly when someone calls out a passing bird.
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Specialty Tours
What to Wear????
January is typically Florida's coldest month, however temperatures can fluctuate wildly. You can expect the average temps to be in the 40s and 50s at night and the 60s and 70s in the daytime. Temps can dip into the 30s at night and never leave the 50s during the daytime after the passage of a strong cold front.
Rain is very scarce in January however a passing cold front may be accompanied by a squall line. It is best to plan to layer your clothing. It can be very cold in the morning at sunrise and then warm up nicely during the day. It will be chilly out on the water on kayak and boat trips, so dress warmly.
Be sure to bring rain gear if you are going on the pelagic trip! More than likely, the wind will blow and spray will fly. It has been our past experience that the Gymnatorium can be on the chilly side too. Bring a sweater or a jacket if you are an exhibitor.
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Birding's Unsung Leaders
Recently, Kevin Karlson wrote a wonderful piece entitled "Birding's Unsung Heroes" for Wildbird magazine that highlighted 18 of the most influential young birders in the nation. In Kevin's words, "These individuals have dedicated their lives with unparalleled passion to enhance the experiences of other birders in the joys of birding, or to scientific study and conservation of avian life. For this we are eternally grateful."
We are proud that six of the birders Kevin featured are associated with the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival. Five of them are here this year working hard to ensure that you have a great time. When you see Jeff Bouton, Cameron Cox, Mike Freiberg, Larry Manfredi and David Simpson, make sure you congratulate them for their efforts and their recognition.
To see an excerpt from Kevin's article highlighting those six individuals, click here.
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Wild Side of the Kennedy Space Center
Trip Leaders: Dr. Ross Hinkle, Sarah Linney and Sam Fried
This trip is sponsored by the Kennedy Space Center Visitor's Complex
Join Dynamac Corporation Chief Scientist Dr. Ross Hinkle for a bus journey through the working launch complex of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and into the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Learn how KSC, working with the Fish and Wildlife Service, sets the standard for how nature and technology can co-exist peacefully and benefit one another. Ross will talk about the ongoing ecological studies at KSC related to such areas as fire ecology, remote sensing and global climate change. Some endangered wildlife you might see include the Florida manatee, Wood Stork and the threatened Florida Scrub-Jay. The tour will travel along parts of the nation's most biologically diverse estuary, the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River, Florida scrub and pine flatwoods habitat. For security reasons at the Kennedy Space Center, we are restricted to offering this trip only to U.S. citizens.
www.dyna, www.KennedySpaceCenter.com
Departs ONLY from KSC Visitors Complex (GATE 3)
Pre-registration is a must!
Jan 28, 9:30am-12:30pm: Limited to 45 registrants; $35.00/person
Plants (and other things) of the North Brevard Area
Trip Leaders, Jim Stahl and Jay Barnhart
The diverse habitats in and around Brevard County include mature deciduous/semi-tropical forests, pine flatwoods, oak-palm hammocks, cypress swamps, freshwater marshes, brackish lagoons, lakes, scrub, sedge meadows, coastal dunes and ruderal (disturbed). With so many habitats, the region supports numerous plant species - majestic trees, shrubs, beautiful wildflowers, grasses and sedges and ferns. On this trip we will observe and discuss many species of plants and their habitats, plus anything else (birds, reptiles, butterflies and other insects) that we might come across. The sites we will visit will be selected during scouting trips just prior to the field trip so that areas with the best blooming plants will be on the itinerary. We will carpool from the campus gymnasium, and a moderate amount of walking on dry trails will be required.
Meet in front of the BCC Gymnatorium at 9:30AM to organize the car pool.
A Wildflowers Seminar will precede the field trip, 8:00am-9:15am in Gymnatorium Room 119. Bring money for lunch at one of Titusville's fine dining establishments.
Jan 24, 9:30am-3:15pm: Carpool; Free
Historical Sights of Canaveral National Seashore
Trip Leaders: John Stiner, Tom Penders and David Hartgrove
With Special Thanks to the Indian River Anthropological Society
When European explorers touched the shores of the New World in the late 15th century, the northern areas of the Space Coast had been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples who were called the Timucua. They left behind a wealth of archaeological sites and resources, many of which have yet to be discovered. Among these resources are some of the largest and most extensive prehistoric shell mounds in the nation. Many were so high they were used as major navigational landmarks during early colonial times. More than 100 Pre-Columbian mounds lie within the boundaries of Canaveral National Seashore. This field trip visits three of them and the El Dora Statehouse. One of the oldest archaeological sites in Florida, Seminole Rest is a 4,000-year-old Timucuan shell midden located on the Oak Hill waterfront. Named for its resemblance to a giant turtle and used as a navigational aid for centuries, Turtle Mound shows up on Spanish maps as early as the 16th century. A climb to the top reveals a scenic panorama of ocean, estuary and beaches. Castle Windy is a smaller mound that lies in the shadows of thick coastal maritime hammock right along the edge of Mosquito Lagoon. Birding can sometimes be quite good along the trails to and on the mounds as middens provide resting space and feeding areas for Neotropical migratory songbirds. The El Dora Statehouse is a restored 1800s pioneer home that stands as the last remnant of an old Florida waterway community. This is a great trip combining historical sights and coastal birds. Price of tour includes lunch at rustic JB's Fish Camp on Mosquito Lagoon.
*John Stiner's services are provided at no charge by the National Park Service.
www.nbbd.com/godo/cns, www.nbbd.com/npr/archaeology-iras, www.nps.gov/cana
Jan 26, 8:30am-5:00pm: limited to 19 registrants; $50.00/person
Dicerandra Scrub Sanctuary Walk
Trip Leaders:Judy Gregoire, Ray Ashton, Jay Barnhart, Jim Stahl and Dean Pettit
This Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands property consists mostly of scrubby flatwoods and a large depression marsh. It is adjacent to the Titusville Wellfield, which also supports scrub, extending the protection area and enhancing the Sanctuary. Protected plant and wildlife species documented on site include Florida Scrub-Jay, indigo snake, gopher tortoise and Dicerandra thinicola, a rare scrub mint known only to occur in the northern region of Brevard County. Your guides for this hike will be Judy Gregoire, North Region Land Manager for the EELs Program; Ray Ashton, Executive Director for the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative; avid wild mushroom hobbyist Jay Barnhart; retired biologist Jim Stahl and Dean Pettit, Chair of the Titusville Environmental Commission, who spearheaded the establishment of a multi-use recreational trail through the classic scrub habitat at the Titusville Wellfield.
www.eelbrevard.com, www.fnps.org, www.fnai.org/descriptions.cfm, www.ashtonbiodiversity.org
Meet at the entrance to the Dicerandra Scrub Sanctuary
Directions: From I-95 take SR-50 Exit 215 east 3 miles. Turn right on Key Largo Drive, go 0.4 miles and turn right on Karen Drive. Go less than 0.1 mile, turn right and go to the end of Melissa Drive. Enter on foot.
From US-Hwy 1 go west 0.7 miles on SR-50. Turn left on Key Largo Drive-follow directions above.
Jan 26, 9:00am-12:00pm: Limited to 30 registrants; Free
Ancient and Modern Mariners of the Deep
Trip Leaders: Duane DeFreese and David Hartgrove
Sponsored by Hubbs Sea World Research Institute
Join Hubbs Sea World VP of Research Dr. Duane DeFreese for a look at some of the world's oldest and more recent mariners. Inhabiting earth for 150 million years, sea turtles have long intrigued people, figuring prominently in the mythology and folklore of many cultures. This fascinating trip will visit two sites. The Marine Science Center is a rehabilitation center for injured marine turtles as well as an important environmental education center. It includes turtle tanks; a 5,000-gallon artificial reef and aquarium; manatee, whale and fish exhibits; a wet/dry lab; nature trails through maritime hammock and boardwalks over coastal dunes; as well as a brand new seabird rehabilitation sanctuary. Completed in 1887, the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark. At 175 feet, it is the second tallest lighthouse in the U.S. and the tallest open to the public. A climb to the top reveals a breathtaking view of inlet, estuary and beaches. With a glorious beacon shining over 16 nautical miles, maritime museum and lens restoration shop featuring the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse first-order Fresnel lens, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse offers a tremendous opportunity to learn of our great maritime heritage. Price includes lunch at the beautiful Inlet Harbor Seafood Restaurant.
www.hswri.org, www.cccturtle.org, www.marinesciencecenter.com, www.ponceinlet.org
Jan 27, 8:00am-5:00pm: Limited to 20 registrants; $60.00/person
Pine Island Conservation Area Archaeological Project (Sams Site)
Trip Leader: Thomas Penders
With Special Thanks to the Indian River Anthropological Society
This trip will take participants through 2000 years of history. Visitors will get to see two houses associated with one of the prominent pioneer families in Brevard County history. One home is among the oldest in the county. Participants will also get to see members of the Indian River Anthropological Society work on the ongoing excavations of a 2000-year-old occupation site associated with the Malabar culture. Visitors will be able to look in the screens as the soil is sifted by the archaeologists and see artifacts exposed for the first time in 2000 years. Artifacts can tell how people made a living, what they ate, where they came from or traveled to, if they traded with other people, etc. Malabar was first defined by Irving Rouse in 1951 as a unique culture located within the confines of the Indian River, beginning at the northern headwaters of the coastal Indian River lagoon and extending to its southern opening at the St. Lucie Inlet. It can be described as a transition zone between the Glades culture to the south and St. Johns culture to the north. Characteristics of the culture included the absence of corn agriculture and differences in language, religion and social organization.
www.nbbd.com/npr/archaeology-iras
Note: There are no bathroom facilities on site and the terrain can be rough so wear comfortable shoes. There will be NO access to the fossil site due to safety concerns.
Jan 28, 8am-12:30pm: Limited to 21 registrants; $25.00/person
Birding and Wildlife Tours
South Brevard County
Trip leaders: David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson) and Andy Bankert with
Jan 24: Cameron Cox (Nikon);
Jan 25: Mike Freiberg (Nikon)
This field trip will leave early in order to observe Red-cockaded Woodpeckers leaving their nest cavities at sunrise. First stop is the St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve State Park. This 22,000-acre site serves as a home to many of the sought-after pinewoods specialties. Six families of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers call the preserve their home. Bachman's Sparrows are abundant, though difficult to see in the winter months. Brown-headed Nuthatches are often encountered among the mixed-species feeding flocks. There will be a hayride through the interior of the preserve where David, who works at the preserve, will give you the inside scoop on how the preserve is managed for these special birds and their habitats. Next stop will be the T. M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, recently diked and flooded in order to maintain waterfowl habitat for species such as Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks. Marsh birds such as Purple Gallinule and Limpkin are often seen here. This site may require some walking to get to where the birds are. After lunch we will head to Sebastian Inlet State Park. The beaches and tidal pools host many gulls, terns and shorebirds. Buntings and sparrows can be found in the weedy edges near the dunes. Gannets and jaegers stream by on the ocean when winds are conducive to migration. If the inlet is birdy, we'll spend the rest of our time there. If not, we will fill the time with a few bonus spots on the way back to Titusville.
www.nikonsportoptics.com, homepage.mac.com/simpsondavid/index.html
Lunch is served at Marsh Landing in Fellsmere. Enjoy some down-home southern cooking while learning a bit about the history of this interesting area in the former Fellsmere Estates Building. This was one of the hubs of the Great Florida Land Boom of the 1920's. Lunch is included in field trip price.
Jan 24 & 25 - 4:30am-5:00pm: Limited to 19 registrants; $65.00/person - FILLED
Lake Monroe Conservation Area
Trip Leaders: Lorne Malo and Maria Zondervan (SJRWMD), Carlos Bethancourt (Canopy Tower) and Luis Segura (Trogon Tours)
St Johns River Water Management District Biologist Lorne Malo will lead this walk into the Lake Monroe CA. This conservation
area contains 90% of the floodplain of Lake Monroe and covers more than 3 miles of St Johns River and Lake Monroe
shoreline. Wetlands make up 94% of the conservation area. The fields, marshes, hammocks, flatwoods and scrub at this
site are good for marsh birds, warblers and sparrows. Numerous wading birds and raptors are expected along with
deer and alligators. Wild Turkey, Florida Scrub-Jay, Bachman's, Vesper and Grasshopper Sparrows, American Bittern,
Wood Stork, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Bald Eagle, Short-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Crested Caracara, Merlin,
Peregrine Falcon, Virginia Rail, Limpkin and Sandhill Crane have all been recorded here. This is a 4 to 5-mile walk; some of
which may pass through mud and standing water.
sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide, www.canopytower.com, www.trogontours.com
Meet in front of the Gymnatorium at 6:00am in order to make car pool arrangements.
Jan 24, 6:00am-12:15pm: Limited to 25 registrants; $15.00/person
Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area & Orlando Wetlands Park
Trip Leaders: David Hartgrove, Jim Danzenbaker (Brunton), Debi Shearwater (Shearwater Journeys), Casey Dorsch (FWCC) and Mark Sees (City of Orlando)
Shaped by alternating cycles of fire and flood, Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area is a mosaic of marshes, swamps, pine flatwoods and hammocks that support wading birds, marsh birds, waterfowl, raptors and pineland specialties such as Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird and Red-headed Woodpecker. Some of the threatened and endangered species found here include Bald Eagle, Wood Stork, eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise, Florida black bear and, on rare occasions, the Florida panther. At Orlando Wetlands Park, Manager Mark Sees will join the group to lead a tour of nearly 1200 acres of beautiful created wetlands that include cattail and bulrush marshes, mixed and open marshes, hardwood swamps and a lake. Numerous wading birds and wintering ducks, and often Purple Gallinule, Least and American Bittern, Limpkin and King Rail can be found foraging in the marshes.
www.cityoforlando.net, search parks, www.brunton.com, www.shearwaterjourneys.com
Jan 25 - FILLED -- Jan 24, 6:00am-12:15pm, Limited to 22 registrants; $35.00/person
Viera Wetlands
Leaders: Dave Freeland, Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis (WINGS Birding Tours)
Viera Wetlands is a series of connected ponds created to treat wastewater from the Central Brevard area. Since opening in 2001, this site has rapidly gained recognition as a premier birding destination. During fall and winter, a remarkable diversity of bird species uses these wetlands and nearby prairie hammocks and cabbage palm savannahs. An active Bald Eagle nest is visible from the dike road, two families of Crested Caracaras maintain territories around the wetlands, and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are regularly seen. Thousands of wintering ducks concentrate here, including Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mottled Duck, Hooded and Red-breasted Merganser, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck. Ponds on the north side of the complex are productive for shorebirds when water levels are low, especially during migration. Since opening in 2000, Viera Wetlands has been visited by several rarities, including the first North American record of Mangrove Swallow.
www.spacecoastbirding.com/articles/FirstMangroveSwallow.pdf
Jan 26 & 27 - FILLED -- Jan 24 & 28, 6:00am-12:15pm: Limited registrations; $35.00/person
Black Rails and the St Johns National Wildlife Refuge
Trip leaders: Mike Legare (USFWS) and Michael O'Brien (WINGS Birding Tours)
Join Mike Legare, US Fish and Wildlife Service Lead Biologist at Merritt Island NWR, on a sunset hayride through the pristine salt marsh habitat of the restricted St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge. At various stops through the marsh, Mike will talk about Black Rails, their secretive habits, salt marsh habitat and the research he conducted on these elusive marsh birds. The marshes of the St Johns River west and northwest of Titusville are the only marshes along the St Johns where Black Rails are found. That's because saline water seeps to the surface from a layer of salty water that lies above the Florida aquifer in this area, creating marine-type habitats in the midst of a huge freshwater floodplain. These biological islands are home to the same vegetation that you will find in the salt marshes of the Merritt Island NWR. As the sun sets on the marsh horizon, Mike will stop at different places and play tapes to try to entice Black Rails to call.
www.wingsbirds.com
Please meet in front of the Gymnatorium at 4:00pm to compress into a car pool that utilizes as few cars as possible.
Dress warmly as it will be chilly out on the marsh. Wear old shoes and bring water.
Jan 24 & 25, 4:00pm - 6:45pm: Limited to 20 registrants; $20.00/person - FILLED
Zellwood/Lake Apopka
Trip Leaders: Gian Basili (SJRWMD) and Adam Kent (FWCC) with
Jan 25: Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis (WINGS Birding Tours)
Jan 26: Jeff Bouton (Leica) and Alvaro Jaramillo (Field Guides Birding Tours)
Despite its long history of great birding, this area may well be one of the very best, but least- known birding areas on the entire Eastern Seaboard. Thousands of acres of marshes on the north shore of Lake Apopka were drained back in the 1940s, creating huge muck farms that produced row-crops. A series of dikes and canals were created, and the farms fed millions for more than a half-century. Common farming practices required that the fields be flooded each summer to kill nematodes. Over a period of several weeks the water was drained back into the lake, creating an ideal habitat for migrating shorebirds at exactly the right time. By the early 1950s birders began to visit the area and always received great cooperation and understanding from the land owners, from the early farmers to the St. Johns River Water Management District which purchased the farmlands in the late 1990s in order to restore wetland habitat and improve water quality in Lake Apopka.
The summer of 1998 was the last time that the farmers flooded the fields, and many of them remained flooded when the water management district took ownership. By that fall a unique habitat consisting of impoundments of varying depths and fields of mud and weeds was created. Shorebirds that would have left in previous years remained into winter and were joined by unprecedented numbers of waterfowl and, in the fields of weeds, large numbers of sparrows, flycatchers and other passerines. Foreseeing the possibilities, Wes Biggs assembled a team of birders, and the first Zellwood/Apopka Christmas Bird Count tallied an amazing 174 species with another 10 seen during count week; a new North American high count for an inland location. As the winter progressed, however, a major bird die-off took place. Apparently years of farming left residual pesticides in the soils, and fish that moved from canals into the flooded fields accumulated toxic levels of pesticides in their tissues. Unfortunately fish-eating birds, such as American White Pelicans began dying off, a result of pesticide-induced toxicosis. Flooded areas were drained and the area was closed to the public. Years of research have resulted in a better understanding of how these pesticides behave in wetland systems, and how to clean-up problematic areas and create high quality wetland habitats.
About one half of the area remains closed to the general public, but more areas will be opened in the next few years. Despite the area having limited access, the SJRWMD has been very supportive of the birding community, allowing continued access under special circumstances. For example, they encourage people to participate in their monthly bird surveys, and provide a great deal of help each year with the Christmas Bird Count which still records 150 or more species each year. Highlights in past years include as many as 13 species of sparrows, including rarities such as LeConte's and Clay-colored, and large numbers of flycatchers. More than 100 Western Kingbirds and up to a dozen Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have been seen at a huge winter kingbird roost. In recent years Cassin's, Tropical and Gray Kingbirds have shown up as well as numbers of Ash-throated Flycatchers
SJRWMD staff has also made special accommodations for viewing rare birds when they are found. The first state records of Rough-legged Hawk and Eurasian Kestrel are the best examples. The first state record of Ferruginous Hawk, second state record of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, White-cheeked Pintail and Ross' Goose are among some of the other rarities that have been found there over the years.
www.wingsbirds.com, www.leica-camera.us/home/, www.fieldguides.com
Bring money. The bus will stop at a carry-out restaurant before the return trip.
Jan 26 - FILLED -- Jan 25, 5:30am-2:00pm: Limited to 29 registrants; $50.00/person
Little-Big Econ State Forest
Trip Leaders: Lorne Malo (SJRWD), Carlos Bethancourt (Canopy Tower) and Luis Segura (Trogon Birding Tours)
St Johns River Water Management District Biologist Lorne Malo will lead this trip to visit two sections of the state forest,
starting at the Barr Street entrance of the Demetree Tract with a hike through open fields and riparian woodlands to
the Econlockhatchee River. Here Sedge Wren, Hermit Thrush, Red-headed and Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-headed
Vireo, Northern Parula, Orange-crowned and Black-throated Green Warbler, and Northern Oriole might be found.
Next we'll visit the Kilbee Tract portion of the State Forest along the St. Johns River in search of raptors, marsh birds,
shorebirds, waterfowl and songbirds. Approximately 160 species of birds have been recorded at the Little-Big Econ
State Forest. Walking distance for combined sites will be 5 to 6 miles; some of which may pass through mud and standing water.
sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide, www.canopytower.com, www.trogontours.com
Meet In front of the Gymnatorium at 6:00am in order to make car pool arrangements.
Jan 25 6:00am-12:15pm: Limited to25 registrants; $15.00/person
North Brevard Hotspots
Trip Leaders: Doug Stuckey and Larry Manfredi (Larry Manfredi Birding Tours) with
Jan 25 Cameron Cox (Nikon);
Jan 26: Sam Fried (Flights of Fancy Adventures);
Jan 27: David Simpson
Northern Brevard County has much to offer in well-known birding sites like Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. We also have productive, yet lesser-known areas -- Seminole Ranch, Hatbill Park, Buck Lake, Salt Lake, Scottsmoor Landing, the F.I.N.D. Site, Hammock Road and others. Along with the usual wading birds, shorebirds and waterfowl, various woodpeckers, Painted Bunting, Loggerhead Shrike, Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, Bald Eagle, Wood Stork, Florida Scrub-Jay and Sandhill Crane are possible. Hop on the bus for a trip through the pines and palmettos of North Brevard's scrublands and wetlands to learn about some of our favorite, not so famous hotspots. This trip had the highest species count of any festival field trip in 2005 with 115 species accumulated on the three field trips. Specific sites to be visited will be determined during pre-festival scouting trips. This field trip requires some moderate walking.
sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide, www.nikonsportoptics.com, www.southfloridabirding.com
Jan 25, 26 & 27, 6:00am-12:15pm: Limited to 22 registrants; $35.00/person - FILLED
Central Florida Specialties
Trip Leaders: Wes Biggs (Florida Nature Tours) and Dave Goodwin with
Jan 26: Mike Freiberg (Nikon);
Jan 27: Cameron Cox (Nikon)
The extensive wetland and prairie complexes of Central Florida host a variety of wading and waterbirds including almost all of Florida's herons and egrets, Least and American Bittern, Glossy and White Ibis, Wood Stork, Limpkin, King Rail, Anhinga, grebes, shorebirds and various ducks as well as a unique suite of birds that includes the Sandhill Crane, Crested Caracara, Burrowing Owl, Mottled Duck and Grasshopper Sparrow. This tour will start at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in the early morning hours to try to catch a glimpse of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Other pineland species expected at Three Lakes include Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler and Eastern Bluebird. White-tailed Kite is a possibility. Next stop is Overstreet Landing on Lake Kissimmee to look for Whooping Cranes that have been reintroduced to the Kissimmee River prairie. Overstreet Landing is a good place to look for Snail Kite, Bald Eagle and various raptors, Mottled Duck and other waterfowl, Long-billed Dowitcher, Purple Gallinule and Limpkin. Crested Caracara, Eastern Bluebird, American Kestrel, Sandhill Crane and Wild Turkey may be seen along the road. After lunch, a trip to Lake Lizzie Park will hopefully produce Red-headed Woodpecker and Florida Scrub-Jay. If time allows, other possible sites to be visited include Whaley's Landing, Cypress Lake and Lake Kissimmee. Price includes lunch at Forever Florida wilderness preserve.
www.nikonsportoptics.com, www.floridaconservation.com, www.whoopingcrane.com, www.foreverflorida.com
Jan 26 & 27, 5:00am-5:00pm: Limited to 22 registrants; $65.00/person
Kayak the Lake Monroe Conservation Area
Trip Leaders: Lorne Malo, Maria Zondervan and Mike Mahan
Trip Sponsor: A Day Away Kayak Tours
Join St. Johns River Water Management District biologists Lorne Malo and Maria Zondervan for a birding adventure by water.
Meet at Cameron Wright Park before dawn as wading birds begin to rise from their roosts and fly overhead en route to
their feeding areas. From there we'll paddle northward on the St. Johns River to Thornhill Lake and Brickyard Slough
within the Lake Monroe CA. This trip is recommended for beginning and experienced paddlers in good physical shape.
Numerous wading birds and raptors are expected. American Bittern, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night-Heron,
Wood Stork, Bald Eagle, Cooper's, Sharp-shinned and Short-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon,
Barred and Barn Owl, Purple Gallinule, King and Virginia Rail, Limpkin and Sandhill Crane are possible. If the weather is
too rough for kayaking, we will hike Instead on higher ground in search of Wild Turkey, Florida Scrub-Jay, raptors, marsh birds,
warblers and sparrows. Please bring water and snacks.
sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide, www.nbbd.com/kayaktours
Directions: Meet at Seminole County's Cameron Wight Park at 6:30am at SR 46 and the Lake Jessup Bridge.
From I-95 and SR 46, go west on SR 46 for 21.7 miles. The park is on the northwest side of the bridge. Drive time is about 30 minutes from BCC Titusville.
Jan 26, 6:30am-12:00pm: Limited to 20 registrant; $25.00/person, Bring your own boat; $15.00/person
Canaveral Marshes and Blue Heron Wetlands
Trip Leaders: Judy Dryja, Dan Click, Matt and Lora Heyden
Explore the engineered wetlands of Blue Heron, an outstanding birding site and magnet for wildlife, and the neighboring fresh-water floodplain habitats of Canaveral Marshes. American Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Hairy Woodpecker, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Gadwall, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Bobolink and Gull-billed Tern are just a few of well over 100 bird species sighted at Blue Heron. The upland hammocks of Canaveral Marshes will be visited, one of which sits atop a Native American shell midden. Volunteers who conducted monthly surveys in 2001 and 2002 recorded approximately 154 species of birds on this property, including American Bittern, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Mottled Duck, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Long-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Crested Caracara, King and Virginia Rail, American Pipit, Wilson's Snipe, Sedge and Marsh Wren and Peregrine Falcon. Birders may get their feet wet on the moderate hike at Canaveral Marshes and see alligators, sometimes lots of them, at Blue Heron.
sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide, www.nbbd.com/kayaktours
Meet in front of the Gymnatoriumat 6:30am in order to make car pool arrangements.
Jan 26 & 28, 6:30am-12:15pm: Limited to 25 registrants; $15.00/person - FILLED
Florida Scrub-Jays and Plant Ecology of the Scrub
Trip Leaders: Dave Breininger, Paul Schmalzer and Sarah Linney
Sponsored by NASA and Dynamac International, Inc.
Scrub habitat evolved when North America was much drier and desert animals from Texas and Mexico colonized Florida. When the oceans rose, the plants and animals remained and evolved into an ecosystem unlike any other in the world. Florida's desert-like prehistoric sand ridges are home to wondrous animals such as gopher tortoises, indigo snakes, scrub lizards, Crested Caracara and Burrowing Owl. Dozens of plants and animals living in Florida scrub are found nowhere else in the world. One of these animals is the Florida Scrub-Jay, which lives among the low growing scrub oaks, eating and "stashing" its acorns. Join Dynamac's wildlife ecologist, Dave Breininger, and plant ecologist Dr. Paul Schmalzer on a NASA tour bus through restricted access areas of the Kennedy Space Center to a scrub research site where participants can view several Florida Scrub-Jay families and their interactions. Along the way, Paul will give emphasis to some of the rare plants, including grasses that are found in scrub habitat. For security reasons at the Kennedy Space Center, we are restricted to offering this trip only to U.S. citizens.
www.usgs.gov search Florida Scrub-Jay, www.archbold-station.org, www.dynamac.com
A free seminar at 8:00am precedes the field trip.
The seminar will be held at and the field trip will leave from the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.
Jan 26 & 27, 9:30am-12:30pm: Limited to 42 registrants; Free - FILLED
Afternoon Hayride
Trip Leaders: Dorn Whitmore and Mike Legare
Watch the afternoon bird show from an ideal vantage point! Join Merritt Island NWR Chief Ranger Dorn Whitmore and Refuge Biologist Mike Legare for a slow ride through a Florida paradise on this hayride around Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. There is no better way to view so many birds!
www.fws.gov/merrittisland, www.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/BlackPoint/
Meet at the entrance to the Black Point Wildlife Drive on MINWR.
Park on the grass along the roadside - make sure your car is off the road. The hay wagon will return to the departure point. Please dress warmly!
Jan 26, 2:30pm-5:30pm: Limited to 25 registrants; $15.00/person - FILLED
Hal Scott Regional Preserve
Trip Leaders: Lorne Malo, Xavier Munoz (Neblina Forest Birding Tours) and Sam Fried (Flights of Fancy)
Join St. Johns River Water Management District Biologist Lorne Malo in pursuit of some of east Orange County's resident birds and pineland specialties. The vast expanse of pine flatwoods and open prairies of Hal Scott Preserve straddles the Econlockhatchee River in eastern Orange County, protecting the resources of the river. The trip leaves early to start at an active Red-cockaded Woodpecker colony as the birds awaken from their roost. From there the group will explore pine flatwoods and the Econlockhatchee River swamp in search of other common resident species, including Eastern Bluebird, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Bachman's Sparrow, Wood Duck, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle and Barred Owl. With some luck, visitors may find Wild Turkey, Whip-poor-will, Red-headed, Hairy and Pileated Woodpecker (8 woodpecker species on 2003 festival field trip), Hermit Thrush, Orange-crownedWarbler, Sedge and Marsh Wren, King Rail, and Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawk. In addition to many bird species, alligators, deer, gopher tortoises, otters, bobcats and indigo snakes may also be found. This is a 4-mile walk; some of which may pass through mud and standing water.
sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/recguide, www.neblinaforest.com
1/27 - FILLED --
Jan 28, 5:15am-12:15pm: Limited to18 registrants; $35.00/person
Hike Lake Proctor Wilderness Area
Trip Leader: Tony Flohre
Florida Trail Association
Join Florida Trail Association member Tony Flohre, an informative activity leader from the Indian River Chapter, for a morning walk through the diverse habitats of the Lake Proctor Wilderness Area in Geneva. The outer loop of the 6-mile trail system leads several miles through this 475-acre tract, where you'll experience a little bit of every Central Florida ecosystem from sand pine scrub and bayhead to sandhills, pine flatwoods and wetlands. Birding is excellent along the flatwoods ponds on the west side of the loop. Wildlife is abundant in this preserve. Watch for Sandhill Crane, Pileated Woodpecker and Wood Duck; you may even encounter white-tailed deer. This trip will require a fair amount of walking, some in hilly areas.
www.floridatrail.org
Directions: Meet at the parking lot for Lake Proctor Wilderness Area at 8:00am. From Sanford, go east on SR 46 through Geneva. Just beyond the intersection of SR 426 and SR 46, keep alert for the trailhead parking area on the left. From Mims, go west on SR 46 almost to the traffic light in Geneva. Parking area will be on the right. If you reach the stoplight, you went too far. Bring water and snacks. Drive time from Mims is approximately 20 minutes.
Jan 28, 9:00am-12:30pm: Limited to 25 registrants; Free
Pelagic Birding Offshore New Smryna Beach
Trip Leaders: Debra Shearwater and Jim Danzenbaker with Andy Bankert, Wes Biggs, Jeff Bouton, Murray Gardler, David Goodwin, Larry Manfredi, David Simpson and Andy Wraithmell
Sponsored By Brunton Optics
Pelagic birds are species that are usually not seen close to land. Long-time birders know that a pelagic trip can be as exciting as birding can get, and offshore pelagic trips in Florida offer a new frontier. Join us onboard the 100-foot fishing boat, Pastime Princess, as we steam out of Ponce Inlet to look for some of the most sought-after species in Florida. Our destination is an undersea formation known as "The Steeples," a productive location of underwater cliffs and seamounts that cause upwellings and current edges, especially along the western edge of the Gulf Stream. Among our targets will be Northern Gannet; Northern Fulmar; Greater, Manx, Cory's and Audubon's Shearwater; Pomarine, Parasitic and Long-tailed Jaeger; Wilson's, Leach's and Band-rumped Storm Petrel; Sooty and Bridled Tern; Black-legged Kittiwake; Masked and Brown Booby; Red and Red-necked Phalarope; and Sabine's Gull. There is even a chance at this time of the year that we might find a Razorbill or Dovekie, exceedingly rare birds for anyone in Florida! Bottlenosed and spotted dolphins and loggerhead sea turtles are commonly seen. The endangered northern right whale is a possibility as the destination is within their wintertime calving grounds. Seabirds from the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary at the Marine Science Center will be released if any are ready at the time of the trip. There will be food available for purchase on the boat or you can bring a small cooler with your lunch. Be sure to bring full rain gear and wear waterproof shoes as it is likely that the wind will blow and spray will fly!
www.brunton.com, www.shearwaterjourneys.com, www.marinesciencecenter.com
Directions: From I-95, get off at Exit #249 and go east approximately 3 miles. You will pass WalMart and Walgreens on the right. Get into the left lane and look for K-Mart on right and a sign that says Business 44 Left. Take this left fork and follow the road over the railroad tracks and through the traffic lights (Dixie Freeway). The road becomes Canal Street and ends at the water. Turn Left onto Riverside Drive and continue north on Riverside Drive until you reach the Pastime Princess/Sea Harvest restaurant on the right. From US 1, go east on Canal Street to the dead end at the water. Turn left on Riverside Drive and go to Pastime Princess/Sea Harvest Restaurant on the right. Drive time from Titusvillle is about 45 minutes. Please be at the boat by 6:30am. Pastime Princess 800-881-2628 or 386-428-0201.
www.pastimeprincess.com
January 29, 6:30am-5:00pm: Limited to 90 Registrants; $100.00/person - FILLED
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