If your interested in the opportunity to get up close and personal with wildlife, like eagles, falcons, hawks, snakes, alligators and other native wildlife species or just enjoying a fun filled day outdoors, Saturday, November 13 is the day to do it!Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is offering Family Wildlife Day on Saturday, November 13, as part of the Space Coast Flyway Festival. You can enjoy live wildlife exhibits, SeaWorld children's educational programs, nature and art activities for children, a youth fishing clinic, kayak tours, wildlife demonstrations and the special Discover Your Refuge Tour.
The feature presentation is the live Raptor and Snake Shows from the Center for Wildlife Education (shows at 9:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:30 pm). The programs will include a hawk, an owl, a falcon, which they may show in flight, and a bald eagle on display for the day. A selection of native and non-native snakes, and a gopher tortoise will be incorporated into the programs. Additional Florida wildlife exhibits from the Brevard Zoo and Jungle Adventures will be showcased from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Activities for children of all ages include 2 special educational programs by SeaWorld of Orlando. Join SeaWorld's education staff for "Whale Wonders" program (10:45 am) and "Florida Friends" program (1:15 pm). Children will be educated and entertained through audience participation, the use of animal artifacts, and a life-sized inflatable manatee and whale. A special youth activity area will be set up that will include painting the Flyway Festival Mural with "you pick" wildlife. Nature arts and crafts activities, face painting, and making bird feeders and kids pretend binoculars.
The day's event will kick off at 9:00 am with a Youth Bird Watching Tour of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This is a great way to spark a child's interest in the natural world and answers questions about all those fluttering birds in your backyard. You won't want to miss this special guided tour. To sign up for the birding tour, call the refuge at (321) 861-0667.
For a special family activity to learn about the outstanding opportunities to enjoy wildlife and the wonders of your refuge, take part in the Discovery Tour. Participants will leave from the Visitor Center and follow a prescribed route through the refuge to learn about and discover many species of wildlife, including the bald eagle, manatees and many species of waterfowl and wading birds. Along the route, stops will include demonstrations on bird mistnetting and banding, live fish seining in the lagoon, waterfowl and wading bird identification, exotic species and a fire engine and helicopter exhibit. At each stop, children participants will get their tour map stamped and obtain information on these different refuge treasures and learn how they can help to protect them. Each child participant who completes the tour will receive a bag of assorted prizes.
Never offered before along the tour, a new Youth Fishing Clinic, conducted by the Space Coast Sportfishing Foundation, will give kids an opportunity to catch a to fish. The free fishing clinic will give hands-on experience and education on fishing, including casting, knot tying and baiting. Bait will be provided, although, fishing rods will be very limited so bring your own.
One of the best ways to explore the refuge and view wildlife is by water. Osprey Outfitters will offer free kayak tours from 9:00 am through 3:00 pm from the NW corner of Haulover Canal off SR 3 north of the refuge Visitor Center. On the opposite side of Haulover Canal, you can get the opportunity to view the endangered Florida manatee from the refuge's Manatee Observation Deck. The Save the Manatee Club will be exhibiting manatees at the deck as part of the Discovery Tour. They will be available to answer your questions, help with manatee viewing tips, as well as holding a major membership drive. This would be the perfect opportunity to show your support for the conservation of the endangered manatee.
For those who enjoy the beach and have always wanted to learn about surf fishing, join Canaveral National Seashore at Playalinda Beach from 9:00 – 11:00 am for the Cast A Wave Program. A very special Endangered Species Storytelling Workshop from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm will also be offered at Canaveral National Seashore. Meet at Playalinda's Beach, Eddy Creek for both these programs.
As a part of the Space Coast Flyway Festival, other wildlife seminars will be taking place at Brevard Community College in Titusville. Additionally, special Wildlife and Technology and Cape Canaveral History Tours will be offered by Kennedy Space Center. Special registrations for these Kennedy Space Center tours are being offered through the Titusville Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call (321) 267-3036.
This totally free day at the refuge will run from 9:00 am through 4:30 pm at the refuge Visitor Information Center. Merritt Island Wildlife Association will be selling hot dogs, snack foods and beverages at both the refuge Visitor Center and the Fishing Clinic. For more information about this event, call (321) 861-0667 or write to: Merritt Island NWR, Refuge Manager, P.O. Box 6504, Titusville, FL 32782.