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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 23 - 28, 2008 -- Titusville, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
2008 SEMINARS
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Operation Migration
Flying With Birds - Saving a Species
Operation Migration will have a booth in the Exhibit Area. Please visit them for additional information about this program and learn how YOU can become involved in these exciting activities.
Visit the web site at:
www.operationmigration.orgPresenter: Joe Duff
Funding to bring Operation Migration to the Festival is provided by:
Jim And Jonnie Swann Corporation
Barbara Hoelscher and family
The Brevard Nature AllianceCome and hear the incredible story of how Whooping cranes, the world's most endangered crane, are being taught to migrate following ultralight aircraft.
Operation Migration plays the leading role in the project, which is reintroducing Whooping cranes to Eastern North America. Described as, "The wildlife equivalent of putting a man on the moon," you will be enthralled and awed as you learn how this ambitious project is safeguarding Whooping cranes from extinction.
See one of Operation Migration's working ultralight aircraft, and learn the inside workings of this amazing project from Joe Duff, someone who knows what it is like to fly with birds! Mr. Duff, co-founder and CEO of Operation Migration, is also its senior pilot, and has accumulated more hours in flight alongside more species of birds than any other human.
Presentations will be: Friday, 1/25 from 1 - 2pm in the Auditorium
Saturday, 1/26 from 10:30am - 12noon in the AuditoriumSeating for these free presentations are first come - first seated up to 150 persons. Donations are eagerly and gladly accepted to keep the ultra-lights flying as well as covering other expenses associated with this great program. Please visit the web site to see how you and your family can become involved.
Archaeology and Anthropology
The Windover Site: A Glimpse of Life in Florida 7,000 Years Ago
Presenter: Dr. Rachel K. Wentz
Sponsored by the Florida Public Archaeology Network
The state of Florida has produced some of the oldest human skeletal remains in North America. The Windover site, a mortuary pond located in east-central Florida near present-day Titusville, was first discovered in 1982 during construction within the Windover Farms suburban housing development. Mortuary ponds are shallow ponds into which burials were placed. Similar sites have been discovered throughout Florida, but Windover represents the largest sample of its antiquity in North America.The well-preserved remains of over 168 individuals were excavated and date to around 7000 years ago. The excavation of Windover spanned three field seasons (1984-1986). One of the most fascinating aspects of preservation from Windover was the recovery of human brain tissue from over 90 crania. The state of preservation at Windover has permitted cellular and molecular analyses and provides a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the people of Florida's Archaic period. Along with exceptionally preserved skeletal remains were beautifully crafted artifacts buried alongside many of the individuals. These included bone and wooden tools, ornamental shells and beautifully woven textiles, which were wrapped around the individuals before they were placed in the pond.
This presentation will examine the life and death of people from Windover. The Regional Director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network, East/Central Region, Dr. Rachel Wentz specializes in bioarchaeology, the examination of health and illness through the analysis of human skeletal remains in archaeological contexts. Her research has shown that the people from Windover suffered from many forms of illness and injury, including fractures, infection, arthritis and nutritional deficiencies. Come learn more about what life was like for these early Floridians.
www.flpublicarchaeology.org
Jan. 26, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 123; $5.00
International Travel and Adventure
The Best Birding Spots of Central Panama
Presenter: Carlos Bethancourt
Canopy Tower Ecolodge and Nature Observatory
One of the "birdiest" countries in the world, the small nation of Panama boasts a BIG bird list of 965 species, greater than that of the United States and Canada put together! Sixty-five percent of those species inhabit the forests around the Panama Canal, where birding is easy and very productive. Highlights generally include great views of toucans, puffbirds, motmots, trogons, antbirds, tanagers and manakins. Panama also hosts a superb assortment of mammals, including two- and three-toed sloths, howler monkeys, capuchins, Geoffrey's tamarins, tamanduas, woolly opossums, capybaras and kinkajous. Raptor migration is spectacular, offering sights of 75,000 Swainson's Hawks and Broad-winged Hawks in the air at once. In 1997, visionary Raul Arias de Para seized an opportunity when he took over an abandoned U.S. Air Force radar tower and converted it into The Canopy Tower, an exclusive ecolodge offering its guests an extraordinary opportunity to appreciate the rich and diverse fauna and flora of Soberan’a National Park and the unique culture and history of the Panama Canal Zone. Raul recently opened a second ecolodge, The Canopy Lodge, which is set in a verdant canyon just above El Valle de Ant—n, also known as Crater Valley, 57 miles outside of Panama City. Carlos Bethancourt is the Canopy Tower's top birding guide.
www.canopytower.com
Jan. 23, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00
Jan. 26, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
The Magic Birding Circuit of Ecuador
Presenter: Dr. Jorge Cruz
San Jorge Ecolodges and Botanical Reserves - Quito
Due to its several distinct climates, Ecuador has an amazing variety of bird life. Equaling more than 25% of the world's avian population, Ecuador's 1600-plus species offer more bird diversity in less space than any other country in the world. San Jorge owns four private reserves known as The Magic Birding Circuit, with over 800 species of birds. From San Jorge Botanical Reserve, join us as our explorations take us to San Jorge de Tandayapa Hummingbird Reserve, San Jorge de Cosanga-Yanayacu Reserve adjoining Antizana National Park, and to San Jorge de Milpe Orchid & Bird Reserve, next to Mindo. San Jorge Ecolodge and Botanical Reserve is the only private reserve outside the republic's capital of Quito. A traditional 18th-century Spanish eco-resort, San Jorge is located in the high barren plains and highland rainforest situated among 200 acres in Ecuador's Pichincha Foothills. The Magic Birding Circuit tours are based from two hotels -- San Jorge Eco-lodge in Quito and the new San Jorge de Milpe Eco-lodge (next to Mindo), which are central to the four climate steps of Ecuador: the high barren plains, highland rainforest, paramo cloud forest and subtropical rainforest making it the ideal retreat for some of the best birding in Ecuador.
www.ecolodgesanjorge.com
Jan. 25, 9:00am-10:00am: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Jan. 26, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 123; $5.00
South Georgia - Island of Ice and Penguins
Presenter: Jim Danzenbaker
Kowa Sporting Optics
Located 1000 miles off the southeastern tip of South America, South Georgia conjures up images of a remote mountainous island with snow covered peaks, vast penguin colonies and beaches covered in fur seals. South Georgia is home to four species of breeding albatrosses and four species of penguins. It boasts huge colonies of King Penguins (200,000 pairs per colony) and about seven million Macaroni Penguins. With a wingspan of 11 feet, Wandering Albatrosses breed on islets in South Georgia's northern bays. The island has the world's southernmost passerine and is home to a carnivorous duck. South Georgia also played an important role in history. This was the starting point for Sir Earnest Shackleton's epic journey of discovery southward and his final resting place. Grytviken, an abandoned whaling station, was the center of whaling activity during the dark days when this industry flourished. Twenty years ago, a skirmish on South Georgia was the first act of the Falklands War. This presentation will focus on the bird and mammal life of this sub-antarctic island. We will explore all of this through a pictorial of photographs, and you are invited along for the ride.
http://www.kowascope.com/frontend/landing_sports.asp
Jan. 26, 2:45pm-3:45pm: Auditorium; $5.00
Canada's Arctic: The Yukon, Northwest Territories and the Dempster Highway
Presenter: Sam Fried
Flights of Fancy Adventures, Inc.
Winding like a gravel ribbon for 450 miles through the boreal forest and across the arctic tundra, the Dempster Highway offers unparalleled scenery and opportunities for birding and wildlife viewing. Golden Eagles, Long-tailed Jaegers and Willow and Rock Ptarmigans are common birds seen from the road. Gyrfalcons and Peregrine Falcons build their aeries on roadside cliffs, and 25 species of ducks and swans are easily observed. Northern Hawk-Owls sit atop spruce trees as we pass by. In tundra areas, Smith's and Lapland Longspurs breed while Northern Wheatears can be found in the talus slopes. Mammals will not be overshadowed as we encounter moose, gray wolf, caribou, snowshoe hare, grizzly and black bears. Truly one of the continent's most exciting drives, the Dempster Highway is the road to adventure in the land of the midnight sun!
magesfried@aol.com
Jan 23 & 25, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Birds of the Bahamas
Presenter: Dr Peter G. Merritt
Hobe Sound Productions
Dr. Peter G. Merritt will show video and discuss the ecology and distribution of birds that he recently videotaped in the Islands of the Bahamas, including Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Great Inagua and San Salvador. The presentation features many Bahamian specialties, such as the Bahama Mockingbird, Bahama Parrot, Bahama Woodstar, Bananaquit, Cuban Emerald, Cuban Pewee, Great Lizard-Cuckoo, Greater Flamingo, Key West Quail-Dove, LaSagra's Flycatcher, Red-legged Thrush, Thick-billed Vireo, West Indian Woodpecker, Western Spindalis, White-cheeked Pintail, Zenaida Dove and more. Highlights of the presentation include video footage of the endangered Kirtland's Warbler in its winter habitat on Eleuthera, the rare susbspecies of Brown-headed Nuthatch on Grand Bahama Island and spectacular seabird colonies off the coast of San Salvador. A past president of the Florida Ornithological Society, Dr. Merritt is the executive producer of the Video Guide to Florida Birds, a two-hour program that teaches the identification of over 200 species of birds in Florida, and Everybody Loves Birds, a 30-minute program designed to teach lower-school children the identification of 50 species of North American birds. He is currently producing the Video Guide to Bahama Birds.
www.hspi.us
Jan. 23, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Jan. 25, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
Peru's Fabulous Wealth of Birds and Culture
Presenter: Xavier Munoz
Neblina Forest Birding Tours
With 1700 species of birds, Peru is an unparalleled destination for bird enthusiasts. Manu National Park is home to the highest concentration of bird life on earth. Boasting some of the most spectacular scenery in South America, the country is a paradise of natural history wonders and superlative biodiversity. From the central high region of the Andes, with its massive snow-covered peaks and extraordinarily steep canyons to the immense sand dunes and dramatic stone wastelands of the desert regions of the coast and the enormous rainforests of the Amazon basin, the natural beauty of Peru is unsurpassed. As stunning as the scenery is, it's the multiple layers of great civilizations that make Peru so intriguing. You can wander around colonial cities that have preserved the legacy of the Spanish conquistadors, visit the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, ponder the enigma of the Nazca Lines and gaze upon the spectacular ruins of the mystical lost Incan fortress of Machu Picchu. The Ecuadorian company Neblina Forest started as a lodge in the cloud forest of Mindo in 1991. In 1994 they began taking reservations, training guides and leading tours throughout Ecuador, establishing themselves as the first birding company based in South America. They now operate tours in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Colombia and Guyana.
www.neblinaforest.com
Jan. 25, 11:30am-12:30pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Jan. 26, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
The Unique Galapagos Islands: A Real Alive Museum
Presenter: Xavier Munoz
Neblina Forest Birding Tours
Treasures of this World Heritage Site abound. In the Galapagos, wildlife is truly extraordinary. Many species are found nowhere else in the world. Don't be surprised if you have to step carefully over a nesting Blue-footed Booby or wait for a young Galapagos sea lion to uncurl from resting on the daypack you left on the beach. The Galapagos Islands have been protected since 1834 and, in 1986, its pristine marine environment gained added protection. Responsible tourism is a key factor in promising continued protection; our itinerary is carefully designed with that in mind. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn more about conservation efforts to control exotic species such as goats, rats, pigs and cats. The Galapagos Islands bear the last unspoiled and pristine ecosystems of the world where animals are tame because of their recent exposure to human presence. Tremendous global efforts of conservation are made to protect them. This presentation will allow you to admire via wonderful pictures how close you can be to a real paradise in these islands. Neblina Forest promotes ecotourism to the Galapagos Islands as a way to provide responsible income to local people. The company can arrange year-round individual trips or charters to the Galapagos with the unique purpose to share with the world this national pride.
www.neblinaforest.com
Jan. 23, 2:15pm-3:15pm: Auditorium; $5.00
Jan. 26, 10:15am-11:15am: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Mexico: Birding Wonderland
Presenter: Kim Risen
NatureScape Ventures
Mexico is a scenic and varied wonder with amazing diversity in habitats and birdlife. Many birders have their first taste of the tropics on their first journey to Mexico. In fact, Mexico is the international birding destination most often visited by U.S. birders. Its proximity to the United States, the presence of modern airports and inexpensive airfares to many parts of the country and an avifauna that is high in both total species (more than 1050) and endemics (more than 100) are a tantalizing combination. Many birders are surprised to find that, in the New World, Mexico is second only to Brazil in the number of endemic bird species that are found within its borders. It is these endemic bird species that attract birders from around the world. If you want to see these rare birds, Mexico is the ONLY place in the world to find them. Each corner of Mexico has its unique flavor in food, culture and birdlife. When the birding becomes slow, you can explore Mayan temples in the Yucatan, Aztec ruins in the central volcanic belt and Zapotec and Mixtec tombs in Oaxaca, all while enjoying each region's unique cuisine. There is something for everyone to enjoy when you visit Mexico! We'll take a visual tour around Mexico, sharing with you the great birds and birding that are found there. A bit of history, interesting tidbits and a brief background of the natural history will illustrate why Mexico is among the most rewarding birding experiences anywhere!
www.naturescapenews.com
Jan. 23 & 25, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00
The Valdés Peninsula, Its Birds and Mammals
Presenter: Luis Segura
Trogon Tours, Argentina
Patagonian steppe, marine habitats and distinctive fauna combine to make this fascinating area an adventure unlike any other. The Atlantic coast of Patagonia has the highest numbers and widest diversity of marine mammals to be found in southern South America. Images of orca whales taking sea lions from solitary gravel beaches on the Valdes Peninsula have been the substance of innumerable nature films. The peninsula is home to the largest breeding population of southern right whales on earth, with over 800 individuals spending three-quarters of the year in its remote pristine waters. In addition, 32,000 southern elephant seals, 8000 southern sea lions and large numbers of several dolphin and porpoise species share this environment. Birds in the Valdes Peninsula are unique. Six Argentine endemic birds live in this wildlife paradise: Band-tailed Earthcreeper (also called Eremobius), Rusty-backed Monjita, Carbonated Sierra-Finch, Patagonian Canastero, White-throated Cacholote and White-headed or Chubut Steamer-Duck. Huge colonies of Magellanic Penguins can be found here, the most famous of which is at Punta Tombo. Inside the peninsula, one nesting colony of these birds has 60,000 active nests. Marine mammal and bird species vary depending on seasonality, but they are present year-round. Luis is a co-founder and co-owner of Birding Argentina/Trogon Tours, which is currently running successful birding, nature and cultural tours in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Antarctica.
www.trogontours.com
Jan. 23, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
Jan. 25, 10:15am-11:15am: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Wildlife of the Brazilian Pantanal and Cerrado
Presenter: Luis Segura
Trogon Tours, Argentina
Located on Brazil's Bolivian border, the Pantanal is the largest wetland on Earth. Its habitats range from semi-deciduous and evergreen forests to palm woodlands and true "Pantanal" (seasonally flooded grasslands with scattered clumps of Cerrado scrub on elevated patches of land). Enormous numbers of lakes and rivers cross the region, constantly renewing the wetlands. The Pantanal is considered the easiest place to see and photograph an incredible collection of neotropical fauna. Dry season shrinking of vast flooded areas concentrates fish for waders, caimans and carnivorous mammals. Giant otters, crab-eating raccoons, foxes and a myriad of herons and storks seek this food resource. The Pantanal is also home to the most spectacular neotropical cat of all: the jaguar; chances to see one here are high! The Cerrado's very characteristic vegetation corresponds to "arboreal savannas" of other tropical continents. Dominating west-central Brazil and extending into Paraguay, it is formed by sparsely scattered low trees and bushes with twisted branches, thick grooved bark and leathery leaves. Termite nests are prominent, providing a great attraction to nesting birds that tunnel into their depths and for termite feeding mammals such as the giant anteater. A naturalist's journey to Brazil could not possibly be complete without visiting the Pantanal and Cerrado, a place where the most remarkable animals of the neotropics live. We invite you to discover these unique ecosystems in their entire splendor.
www.trogontours.com
Jan. 25, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Jan. 26, 11:30am-12:30pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Penguins of the World
Presenter: Debra Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys
Everyone sees penguins in a different way. Ocean adventurers, exceptional divers and amazing survivors, penguins have managed to adapt to the harshest climate on earth, spending their lives in the frigid sea and on ice and snow-covered slopes. Join Debra Shearwater for an in-depth look at these appealing creatures. Using slides, she will discuss every species of penguin in the world -- emperors, kings, gentoos, rockhoppers, chinstraps, adelies, Galapagos, macaronis, royal and little -- 18 in all. She will discuss their special adaptations to a life at sea, their sense of vision and smell, their behavioral adaptations, breeding courtship and distribution. You'll find out why the color yellow is so important to penguins in establishing relationships and how they waterproof themselves. From Australia to the Falkland Islands, these gentle animals were easy prey for explorers, whalers and other fishermen. Even today, waste and oil spills threaten their lives and homes. Debra has personally traveled to many of the world's penguin centers and captured thousands of images of these very special and delightful of all birds!
www.shearwaterjourneys.com
Jan. 24 & 25, 4:00pm-5:00pm: CDR; $5.00
Traveling and Birding - The Perfect Combination
Presenter: Simon Thompson
Ventures Birding and Nature Tours
Ventures Birding Tours owner and confirmed travel addict Simon Thompson will take you on a journey around our planet in search of birds. Despite the hazards from dangerous animals, political unrest and today's logistical travel worries, birding as an excuse to travel the world still holds a great attraction for many people. And what birds they are! From a blizzard of hummingbirds and tanagers in Ecuador to brightly colored parrots in Australia and warblers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina; you have an outrageous pallet of color and variety of birds that would impress even the most jaded traveler. Join Simon as he travels from continent to continent on his quest for birds. Simon Thompson owns and operates his own birding and natural history tour company, Ventures, Inc. He leads small groups of naturalists and birders both within North America and to many locations throughout the world, including the Peruvian Amazon, Belize, Galapagos, Greece, France, England and Australia. Ventures also runs day trips in North and South Carolina and offers trips to many top birding sites throughout the U.S.
www.birdventures.com
Jan. 23 & 24, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
Madagascar
Presenter: Joanne Williams
Joanne Williams Photography
Joanne will present a new narrated musical slide production featuring images from her latest "recon" adventure and new tour destination to Madagascar. This isolated island is about twice the size of Arizona and has some of the highest biodiversity on the planet. Of roughly 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, about 150,000 are endemic, Âmeaning they exist nowhere else on Earth. Although Madagascar has "only" 258 bird species, 115 of them are endemic. Madagascar also possesses five endemic families of birds. Madagascar has more unique genera than any other African country. Unique to the island are more than 50 types of lemurs, 99 percent of its frog species and 36 genera of birds. Here are a few interesting facts: Madagascar houses 100 percent of the world's lemurs, half of its chameleon species, 6 percent of its frogs and none of its toads. Some species found in Madagascar find their closest relatives not in Africa but in the South Pacific and South America. This great island hosts many of the world's little-known and little-seen secrets, some of which Joanne has been able to capture with her camera! She will also provide other information regarding her upcoming tours and workshops. www.joannewilliamsphoto.com
Jan. 23, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Auditorium; $5.00
Jan. 26, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 123; $5.00
The Bird Magic of Peru
Presenters: Virgilio and Ramiro Yabar
Amazonia Lodge Tours
When you think of Peru, do you think of Cuzco, Machu Picchu, land of the Incas, Lake Titicaca, rainforests, cloud forests, Amazon River, Peruvian festivals and markets, the Inca Trail, canopy walks? Peru is slightly smaller than the state of Alaska. It is a country rich in diversity with breathtaking landscapes and very friendly people. Maybe you are thinking of the Andean Condor, Cock-of-the Rock, Humboldt Penguin, Inca Tern, Marvelous Spatuletail, Blue-crowned Motmot or Toco Toucan. How about 1800-plus bird species (almost 20% of the world's birds), 137 species of hummingbirds, and 132 species of tanagers? Join the adventure as Virgilio and Ramiro take you along the coast, down rivers, through canyons, up mountains and into the jungle to explore some of the top birding areas across Peru.
www.amazonialodge.com
Jan. 24, CANCELLED
Jan. 26, CANCELLED
Bolivian Bird Adventures
Presenters: Virgilio and Ramiro Yabar
Amazonia Lodge Tours
Bolivia is truly a hidden gem that you don't hear much about. It has very few tourists and only a handful of birders every year. Bolivia is about the size of Texas and California combined with only 8 million people. Today a full two-thirds of Bolivia's populace are Indians, descendants of the Incas and Aymars. The large size of Bolivia combined with its sparse population and varied geography makes it a great place for viewing wildlife. Join Virgilio and Ramiro as they take you to La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Samaipata, Amboro National Park, Madidi National Park, El Cutal Ranch north of Trinidad and Noel Kempff National Park to explore some of the top birding areas across Bolivia.
www.amazonialodge.com
Jan. 25, CANCELLED
Domestic Travel and Adventure
Great Florida Birding Trail: The Next Generation - Mark Kiser
Presenter: Mark Kiser
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
East Florida, the oldest and largest section of the Great Florida Birding Trail, is being reopened in 2007 to add even more sites. Come learn about this latest project as well as the Birding Trail's mission, publications, highway signs, future projects and how you can get involved. The Birding Trail helps conserve and enhance Florida's bird habitat by promoting birding activities, conservation education and economic opportunity. We'll showcase some of the 400-plus sites (including little-known gems) and birds that make Florida special. The Birding Trail is a project of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, supported by the Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Free Birding Trail publications will be available (along with hats and T-shirts for sale) at the booth. Mark Kiser is FWCC's Birding Trail Coordinator.
www.floridabirdingtrail.com
Jan. 23, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
The Fabulous Dry Tortugas
Presenter: Larry Manfredi
Larry Manfredi Birding Tours
Sixty-eight miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico are seven tropical, coral islands with white, sandy beaches and stunning emerald-green waters. First named Las Tortugas (The Turtles) by Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon in 1513, these reefs soon read "Dry Tortugas" on mariners' charts to show they had no fresh water. Rich in history and the site of a major seabird colony, these islands seem to be an oasis for lost or stranded passerine migrants that pass this way while flying to and from their northern breeding areas. One great wildlife spectacle happens yearly between March and September as some 100,000 Sooty Terns gather on Bush Key for their nesting season. In season, a continuous succession of songbirds and other migrants flies over or rests at the Dry Tortugas. Strategically set, these islands lie across a principal flyway from the United States to Cuba and South America. In this updated presentation, you will see photos of many migrant and pelagic birds as well as Fort Jefferson and Loggerhead Key taken over a period of 12 years of leading birding trips to the Dry Tortugas. Larry Manfredi was born and raised in Miami. Having lived in South Florida for more than 30 years, Larry is familiar with locations of all the Florida specialties.
www.southfloridabirding.com
Jan. 24 & 26, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Seabirds and Marine Mammals of Monterey Bay
Presenter: Debra Shearwater
Shearwater Journeys
Attracting visitors from all over the world, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the largest federally protected area in the lower 48 states. Encompassing 5300 square miles of open water, its boundaries span near-shore and deep-ocean habitats. Its deepest point lies 10,663 feet below the surface in the Monterey Submarine Canyon, which is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. Coastal habitats in the sanctuary afford important feeding, breeding and resting areas for many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. From Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants to sea otters and migrating gray whales, this rich area sustains an abundance of marine life. Offshore habitats are equally varied and supportive of life. Black-footed Albatrosses fly in search of squid to feed their young. It is here on the open sea that millions of Sooty Shearwaters feed on schools of anchovies and wheeling flocks of Buller's Shearwaters spend the winter in search of food. Ashy Storm-Petrels raft in flocks after feeding at night. Common Murre fathers bring their newly fledged chicks to these rich waters and Rhinoceros and Cassin's Auklets are found in large numbers on the canyon edges. Migrating Arctic Terns, Sabine's Gulls, Pomarine and Long-tailed Jaegers and Xantus' and Craveri's Murrelets also pass by. Humpback whales feed here year-round and blue whales stay the summer. Monterey Bay is a major destination for both beginning and seasoned birders. Its protected, half-moon shape allows for year-round trips. Join Debra Shearwater as she presents an informative and exciting lecture on this truly magnificent and timeless place. She will illustrate her lecture with slides and stories from her 33 years of running birding trips on Monterey Bay.
www.shearwaterjourneys.com
Jan 26, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
Birds, Wildlife and Plants
A New World for Gopher Tortoises
Presenters: Ray and Pat Ashton
Gopher Tortoise Conservation Initiative
Great strides have been made to protect gopher tortoises in Florida. Some of the new rules will allow local governments to be involved, which means that local citizens will also be engaged. Enhanced local efforts to protect tortoises will encourage people to enjoy the delightful experience of hosting tortoises in their yards and neighborhood green spaces. There are exciting plans to train educators on how to manage tortoises in school yards and how to use them to teach not just biology, but also math and English. Conservation areas should be better managed thanks to the gopher tortoise, and hopefully other species like indigo snakes, Florida Scrub-Jays and Burrowing Owls will have better habitats. The Ashtons will have a gopher tortoise with them for youngsters to meet at this fun presentation. Ray and Pat Ashton have studied gopher tortoises for over 30 years. Their popular book, The Gopher Tortoise: A Life History, was published two years ago. A new book, The Natural History and Management of the Gopher Tortoise (Krieger Press), is due for release by early January.
www.ashtonbiodiversity.org www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/gopertortoise
Jan. 26, 9:00am-10:00am: Gym Class 119; $5.00
Jan. 26 2:20pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
The Florida Scrub-Jay and Scrub Fire Ecology
Presenters: Dave Breininger and Dr. Paul Schmalzer
The Florida Scrub-Jay, fascinating from both biological and conservation perspectives, is the only avian species restricted entirely to Florida. Endemic to the scrub habitats of peninsular Florida, Florida Scrub-Jays exhibit a suite of remarkable adaptations. 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 on the planet, one that is highly dependent on fire. Dozens of plants and animals living in the Florida scrub are found nowhere else in the world. This presentation will focus on Florida Scrub-Jay habitat use, demography and sociobiology in different types of habitat with an emphasis on fire ecology. Dave Breininger is a wildlife ecologist and Paul Schmalzer a plant ecologist for Dynamac Corporation at the Kennedy Space Center.
Presentation will be held at Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center.
A free NASA bus trip into restricted access areas of the Kennedy Space Center to see Florida Scrub-Jay families will follow the presentation. See the description in Field Trips.
www.dynamac.com/clientsprojects/ksc.asp • northflorida.fws.gov/Scrub-Jays/scrubjays.htm • www.fnps.org
Jan. 25 & 26, 8:00am-9:15am: Free
Parrots of South Florida
Presenter: Susan Epps
The skies of Florida were once filled with brightly colored Carolina Parakeets. They are now gone, but since the 1960s other parrots and parakeets have been escaping and multiplying to fill the niche left by the extinction of our only native parakeet. Many cities in North America are home to vibrant colonies of psittacids. But the real mother lode can be found at the southern tip of the Sunshine State. No birder's visit to Florida would be complete without a trip down south to see them. Urban areas that are a hostile environment for native birds are perfect for parrots. You might see Monk and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets sitting in the bushes at a shopping center in Kendall or note mixed flocks of Orange-winged and Blue-fronted Amazons in South Miami. There are few sights and sounds to equal the wonder of standing on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale watching and listening as hundreds of Amazon Parrots fly overhead and land in trees to feed. The absolute best places to view exotic birds in Florida are in developed areas of Miami/Dade and Broward Counties where more than 30 species of free-flying parrots, parakeets and other introduced exotics have been recorded. Susan Epps lived in Fort Lauderdale for many years, hosting people from all over the U.S., Canada and Europe who wanted to see South Florida's colorful wild parrots and parakeets. She is the author of Parrots of South Florida, the updated version of which is due for release in November 2007. Susan now lives on the Mississippi Coast and is working on her next highly anticipated book, Parrots of the United States
www.greenbirds.us • www.parrotsinthecity.com • www.californiaparrotproject.org
Jan. 25, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Classroom 153; $5.00
Jan. 26, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Auditorium; $5.00
Weather and Bird Migration
Presenter: Paul Lehman
WINGS Birding Tours
A birder needs to know not only where the best places to look for migrants are and at what periods during the season particular species are most apt to occur, but they also need to have a basic understanding of the workings of the weather and how it impacts bird migration. Understanding and closely following the weather is a crucial component of successful birding. Heading out into the field without first checking a weather forecast, particularly during the spring and fall migration seasons, may hinder your success as much as or more than forgetting your field guide or spotting scope. Throughout North America, weather plays a crucial role in the timing and volume of migration, and in the occurrence of vagrant species. One of the best ways to improve your bird-finding skills is to better understand weather patterns and how they affect bird migration and distribution. Paul will begin with a basic weather primer and then cover the influences various weather conditions have on bird migration.
www.wingsbirds.com
Jan. 24, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00
Migrant and Vagrant Traps of North America
Presenter: Paul Lehman
WINGS Birding Tours
A successful vs. unsuccessful day in the field during migration will probably be determined by when and where you decide to go birding and by what types of birds you are looking for. Join Paul Lehman on a slide tour of North America's migrant hotspots, from eastern Newfoundland and the Dry Tortugas to the western Aleutians and the California coast -- and everywhere in between. We'll visit a wide variety of islands, peninsulas, "habitat islands" and oases, isolated lakes and reservoirs, even a few garbage dumps and sewage treatment ponds along the way! Topics covered include what makes for a good migrant/vagrant trap, when to visit and characteristic and special birds found at many of the sites.
www.wingsbirds.com
Jan 24, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00
The World of Bats
Presenters: Cyndi and George Marks
Florida Bat Center
Bats are probably the most misunderstood of all the mammals. They became entangled in the Dracula legend centuries ago and have played frightening roles in myths and tales of horror ever since. Yet bats are shy, gentle animals and fill a vital role in maintaining balanced ecosystems throughout the world. In Florida, bats are the most important natural controller of night-flying insects. In other parts of the world, bats disperse seeds, pollinate plants, provide guano for fertilizer and even vampire bats have made important contributions to science and medicine. Come and join us for an interesting and informative presentation on "The World of Bats" by Cyndi and George Marks of the Florida Bat Center. The program will include a slide presentation on bats around the world, illustrating their unusual diversity, unique behaviors and benefits to humans. They will also be bringing live bats so you will be able to see some of our native Florida species up-close and personal. Cyndi and George Marks are the executive directors of the Florida Bat Center in Bay Pines.
www.floridabats.org
Jan. 25, 10:15am-11:15am: Gym Class 119; $5.00
Jan 26, 11:30am-12:30pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00 - FILLED
Endangered and Threatened Birds of Florida
Presenter: Dr. Peter G. Merritt
Hobe Sound Productions
Dr. Peter G. Merritt will show video and discuss the behavior and ecology of the endangered and threatened birds of Florida. The video was taken throughout the state during the past several years as part of making the Video Guide to Florida Birds. Highlights include Cape Sable Seaside Sparrows singing in Everglades National Park, Piping and Snowy Plovers on the west coast of Florida, Whooping Cranes in northern Florida, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and Florida Grasshopper Sparrows in central Florida, Florida Scrub-Jays on the east coast of Florida and a colony of Roseate Terns nesting on a remote shoal in the Florida Keys. Dr. Merritt will discuss the conservation and protection needs of these and other species of concern.
www.hspi.us
Jan 24, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00
The Life of Birds
Presenter: Reinier Munguia
Wildstock Photography
This presentation covers all aspects of a bird's life from the adaptations that allow them to survive in their environment to their amazing flights and displays. Some of the topics to be covered include physical adaptations as well as behavioral adaptations, communication, foraging, courtship, nesting, brooding and many bird facts and real-life stories. You'll get lots of detailed information about many species around the world with special emphasis on Florida birds.
www.wildstockphotos.com
Jan 25, 10:30am-12:00pm, BCC Auditorium; $5.00
Barn Owls: Farmer's Friend, Teacher's Pet
Presenter: Richard Raid
University of Florida Barn Owl Project Coordinator
Preying primarily on rodents that commonly destroy or contaminate human food supplies, Barn Owls have frequently been referred to as "one of the most beneficial birds on earth." In recent years, Barn Owl populations throughout the nation have declined with the demise of favored habitat and suitable nesting sites. In 1994, as part of a science fair project, a high school student initiated a research project to investigate the possibility of enhancing Barn Owl populations for sustainable rodent control in the Everglades Agricultural Area of South Florida. Placing nesting boxes of various designs along canals and field edges, the student quickly learned that Barn Owls would find them and rear their broods, commonly two per year. With the full support of the agricultural industry, hundreds of nesting boxes now dot the Glades, with an observed occupancy rate exceeding 80%. What began as a science fair project has grown into the University of Florida's Barn Owl Project. Although focused on Barn Owl research, the Barn Owl Project also serves as a tremendous outreach and education program. In this seminar, Dr. Richard Raid will describe the biology of Barn Owls and detail ongoing efforts to enhance their populations in South Florida and throughout the state. The presentation will include video taken of Barn Owl nestlings inside some of his nesting boxes.
erec.ifas.ufl.edu/barnowl/owlindex.htm
Jan 24, 10:15am-11:15am: Auditorium; $5.00
Jan. 25, 2:30pm-3:30pm: Auditorium; $5.00
Jan. 26, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
The Anatomy of a Big Day
Presenter: David Simpson
Birding with David Simpson
Is birding a sport? Come and learn about one of the competitive aspects of birding, The Big Day, where birders race around a pre-determined area trying to rack up as many species as possible in 24 hours. During an adrenaline-soaked, one-day adventure (preceded by periods of intense scouting), participants explore some amazing natural areas and withstand clinically excessive sleep deprivation. David will recount how he (with the help of Andy Bankert and others) broke barriers and convention en route to beating 10 of 12 Florida Big Day monthly records in one year, then 11 of 12 the next year. Find out what goes into a Big Day: planning, scouting, setting up the route, more planning, more scouting, running the route, changing the route, more planning, more scouting, running the route, recording and reporting the results. Millions of dollars have been raised for conservation at Big Day competitions, most notably at the New Jersey Audubon Society's annual World Series of Birding, the world's best known and most prestigious birding competition.
http://homepage.mac.com/simpsondavid • www.njaudubon.org/WSB
Jan. 25, 4:00pm-5:00pm: Gym Class 121; $5.00
Space Coast Wildflowers
Presenter: Jim Stahl
Florida was named for the abundance of flowering plants that early explorers found here. Today the many habitats of Florida (hardwood and palm hammocks, deciduous forest, pine flatwoods, scrub, sand hills, prairie, coastal dunes, roadsides, marsh, swamp and riverine) support over 4000 species of native and naturalized wildflowers plus numerous exotics from the horticultural trade. This program will present slides of wildflowers (common, rare, unusual, small and spectacular) and a few trees, shrubs, ferns and other plants with comments on their natural history, uses by people and wildlife, home landscaping values and occurrences. The presentation will highlight plants that can be seen during the festival week. The speaker will include information on books for identifying and locations for finding Florida plants. Jim Stahl is a retired biologist from Ohio and an active volunteer for Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Canaveral National Seashore and the Brevard County Natural Resources Department where he performs biotic surveys and public programs.
www.floridawildflowers.com • www.fnps.org
A free car pool field trip to visit sites around north Brevard will follow. Meet in front of the Gym to organize the trip at 9:30am.
Jan. 23, 8:00am-9:15am: Gym Class 119; $5.00
Jan. 25, 8:00am-9:15pm: Gym Class 123; $5.00
Wading Birds - Barometer of Ecosystem Functioning in the Indian River Lagoon System
Presenter: Dr. Eric Stolen
Dynamac Corporation
With 16 regularly occurring species, wading birds (Order Ciconiiformes) are one of the most diverse and numerous groups of birds found in the northern Indian River Lagoon system (IRL). Over the past half-century, humans have drastically altered wetland habitat within this estuary, which stretches for over 250 kilometers along Florida's Atlantic Coast. Some populations of some species of birds have benefited from these changes while others have suffered. Efforts currently underway are attempting to restore much of the wetland habitat in the northern IRL to its original state. The effect of restoration on wading bird populations here remains to be seen. Ecologists working for NASA have been monitoring wading bird populations in the northern IRL since 1987. Originally designed to determine if Space Shuttle launches were affecting nesting colonies near the launch pads, the monitoring program now includes investigation of wading bird foraging habitat throughout the Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Key issues affecting wading bird populations in this region include management of impounded wetlands, regional-scale land development, impacts on the estuary from human populations and changes in sea level and climate due to global warming.
www.dynamac.com/clientsprojects/ksc.asp
Jan 24, 1:00pm-2:00pm: Gym Class 153; $5.00
Eagles in Florida
Presenter: Lynda White
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
With one of the largest populations of Bald Eagles in the contiguous states, Florida faces the challenge of protecting the birds while dealing with unprecedented development. Learn about these magnificent creatures and ways you can help ensure the continued recovery of the species. Meet Paige, the eagle, and bring your camera! Lynda White is Audubon of Florida's Project Eagle Watch coordinator.
www.audubonofflorida.org/who_centers_CBOP.html
Jan 25, 11:30am-12:30pm: Gym Class 119; $5.00
Jan 26, 10:15am-11:15am: Gym Class 119; $5.00
The Future of Meaningful Birding - eBird
Presenter: Chris Wood
WINGS Birding Tours
Every day, thousands of people go out and look for birds. Many keep track of the birds they see or hear, either jotting them down in a notebook or entering them into their computer. But most of these data are eventually lost, thrown out, or in a format that makes them impossible to use. What if there were a way to gather these observations and make them available to other birders, scientists-anyone with an interest in bird distribution? Image what could be done. That is the purpose of eBirdÂ-to gather, archive and disseminate observational data on birds recorded by bird watchers so that we can better understand bird distribution, bird abundance and factors that affect birds in the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, you can use eBird to keep your life list, state lists and county lists. eBird also pools your observations with thousands of other birders to build maps, bar charts and find other visualizations that can help you find birds. It's free. It's fun. It will help you, and it will help better inform bird conservation. Isn't it time you did more than bird? Isn't it time to eBird? Chris Wood is the Project Leader for eBird and the Avian Knowledge Network at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and is photo quiz editor of the ABA publication Birding as well as ABA's online photo quiz.
www.ebird.org • www.avianknowledge.net • www.wingsbirds.com
Jan. 24 & 25, 2:45pm-3:45pm: CDR; $5.00
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