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Field Trips for 2007-2008The Public is Invited!Sunday, September 30, 2007 -- Viera Wetlands and the Brevard ZooBrevard County's Viera Wetlands is actually part of a waste water treatment facility. They use man-made wetlands of several kinds (lakes, marshes, etc.) to absorb remaining nutrients so the water can be released into the environment. The water in these stages is actually quite clean and the birds and other wildlife love it. Most of our birding will probably be from our cars, as you can drive on the berms.The second part of the day we will head to the nearby Brevard Zoo, which has some nice natural Florida exhibits and a walk-through aviary with beautiful exotic birds. Saturday, October 13, 2007 -- Saddle Creek Park (Polk County)Hike this unique forested trail on the site of a reclaimed former phosphate mine! Many migrating fall warblers, other woodlands species, and wading birds can be seen. The hike is about 3 miles total with a few gentle slopes. Bring water, binoculars, and bug spray. Bring snacks or lunch; we will eat after the hike at the park's picnic area. We will meet up with Lake Region Audubon folks that conduct "Warbler Walks" this time of year. There will be some warbler experts in the bunch!Sunday, November 11, 2007 -- Old Spanish Sugar Mill (Pancakes!) and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife RefugeJoin your Audubon friends in making your own hearty pancake breakfast on the table-top griddles at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant at DeLeon Springs State Park near DeLand. Then we will travel the short distance to Lake Woodruff for more birds than you can shake a spatula at! Sunday, December 9, 2007 -- Merritt Island National Wildlife RefugeWe will look for numerous water bird species in their salt marsh habitats on the Black Point Wildlife Drive, go to the Manatee viewing area, and hike a short trail in a dry scrub area looking for Florida Scrub Jays and other inhabitants. Afterwards, we will have a late lunch at famous seafood restaurant Dixie Crossroads in Titusville. (Sunday, December 30, 2007 -- Christmas Bird Count)Not exactly a field trip, but more! We have numerous teams that spread out close to home to count birds from sunrise to sunset as part of an annual Audubon Society citizen science and conservation project throughout the western hemisphere. This is the 108th year! Our chapter counted over 15,000 birds of 113 species last year. Saturday, January 19, 2008 -- Phosphate Mines!It is a lucky birder who gets to do this trip. This is a guided day-long tour through the Mosaic Phosphates property, a massive working mining operation that also happens to be habitat for thousands of birds. A few years ago we saw 94 species! Sunday, February 3, 2008 -- Manatees and Scrub Jays in One Day!We will visit Lyonia Preserve in Deltona in the morning for a hike with endangered Florida Scrub Jays and other scrub animals and plants. Later, we will drive over to Blue Spring State Park for a look at the fabulous Manatees that frequent the spring run during the winter. Sunday, March 2, 2008 -- Shingle Creek Management Area (Bonus Trip!)This preserve near Hunters Creek in Orange County is the northernmost of a series of watershed preserves that make up the state-designated Everglades Trail. Various kinds of wetlands and pine flatwoods and a drier walk along a power line right-of-way provide habitat for many wading birds, hawks, warblers, bluebirds, and more. Sunday, March 30, 2008 -- Oakland Nature Preserve (Note changed date!)This new preserve near Lake Apopka is a great example of habitat restoration. There are scrub and sandhill areas as well as a boardwalk across wetlands to the lake. As of last April 152 bird species had been seen there. Join KVAS as we explore this preserve for the first time! Sunday, April 27, 2008 -- Joe Overstreet Landing & Three Lakes Wildlife Management AreaOn Joe Overstreet Road, Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, and Crested Caracaras are possible, and at Lake Kissimmee (the “Landing”), we may see Bald Eagles, Snail Kites, and lots of wading birds. Three Lakes WMA provides several habitats to see Flycatchers, Meadowlarks, Bluebirds, and perhaps Red-cockaded Woodpeckers! Email: Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society or the Webmaster |