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Florida Birding, Wildlife & Nature Festivals
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Because of our unique geographical location in the southernmost part of the North American continent, Florida is visited by many species of birds. The only tropical habitat on the continent is located in Florida, as well as the confluence of two flyways. With its diverse habitats and favorable climate, unique history and a multitude of cultures, Florida provides a fantastic setting for numerous festivals and events. We invite you to visit Florida Festivals and Events to learn more about them. Meanwhile, here's a sample of some of the many exceptional birding, wildlife and nature events planned for the coming year.
January
January 12-17, 2011
EVERGLADES BIRDING FESTIVAL
Search Everglades National Park, Corkscrew Swamp, Upper Keys, Stormwater Treatment Area 5, Green Cay, South Dade, Key Biscayne and much more for rare and life birds such as Limpkin, Snail Kite, Smooth-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Common Myna and Purple Gallinule. We will be featuring top expert Kevin Karlson for a Keynote speech, shorebird workshop and field trips. This festival specializes in full day field trips, daily field workshop, speakers, special dinners and birding fun. Focus will be on gaining advanced birding skills in a non-intimidating environment. For more information view www.evergladesbirdingfestival.com/ and contact Paddy Cunningham at (954) 805-6810.
PRINT & SHARE FLYER
January 15-17, 2010, Naples
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NATURE FESTIVAL
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: www.rookerybay.org/ - (239) 417-6310
It has a new name (again) but this festival continues to offer unique birding experiences, specialty field trips, and expert presentations. Registration opens 11/1/09
Did you know that Southwest Florida's unique environment provides essential habitat for more than 250 species of birds? Whether you are a birding expert or simply enjoy the view, you should plan to attend the Annual Southwest Florida Nature Festival.
January 26 - 31, 2011, Titusville
SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Our 14th year in Titusville and the Space Coast. More than 200 activities, led by leading authorities. Considered by many to be the #1 wildlife festival in America.
Our Festival Home Page.
January 23 & 24, 2010, Orange City
ORANGE CITY/BLUE SPRING MANATEE FESTIVAL
10:00 am to 5:00 pm -- Valentine Park in Orange City (On West French Avenue, off U.S. Hwy. 17-92). Blue Spring State Park is Florida's most significant warm water refuge for the endangered manatee. This two-day environmental festival in Valentine Park in Orange City features educational exhibits on endangered wildlife, children's rides, food, crafts, craft show and free rides to see the manatees. Admission: $8.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 4-10, 3 and under are FREE. Info: (386) 775-9224. www.themanateefestival.com/
February
2011, Christmas
ORLANDO WETLANDS PARK FESTIVAL
No festival in 2010. Budget cuts, etc. Planning to be back in 2011.
Februrary 20, 2010, Deltona
Scrub Jay Festival
9:00am-3:30pm at Deltona Regional Library complex. Hosted by the Lyonia Environmental Center. The family event will celebrate the Florida scrub jay, the only bird unique to Florida. Visitors will learn about the bird, which is a threatened species, and the scrub habitat where it makes its home. The festival will offer live music in the Deltona Amphitheater, guided nature walks in Lyonia Preserve, presentations and activities for children in the LEC, and environmental displays in the Deltona Regional Library auditorium. Admission to the festival, the environmental center and Lyonia Preserve will be free. Website. LEC: (386) 789-7207.
Februrary 27, 2010, Cape Coral
BURROWING OWL FESTIVAL
10am - 4pm at Rotary Park. This festival is designed to educate residents about the owl and to involve them in its preservation, proceeds from the festival will go to wildlife preservation and protection. Contact Numbers Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (239) 980-2593 C.R.O.W (239) 472-3644 Florida Wildlife Conservation 888- 404-3922 City of Cape Coral Planning & Growth Management Division 239-574-0589 Burrowing Owl Festival.
March
March 13, 2010, Sebastian
PELICAN ISLAND WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
10:00am - 6:00pm, Riverview Park -- Sebastian, Florida. Environmental exhibitors will be on-hand with live wildlife, arts and crafts, and environmental displays. Feature presentations include live wildlife shows and live music. Many family activities are available including boat tours, kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon, kid's activities, bird watching and history tours. Call 772-562-3909, ext. 258, www.pelicanislandfriends.org/
March 27, 2010 - Fellsmere
GOBY FEST
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park.
The festival will include early-morning birding tours, nature tours highlighting endangered and threatened species, kayak trips, boat tours, horseback rides, tractor-pulled wagon rides and birding tours by pickup truck.
Contact the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, 321-953-5004 or visit www.nbbd.com/npr/cpa/
March 13, 2010, Orlando
BEYOND YOUR BACK YARD FESTIVAL
10:00am - 4:00pm at the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, 8777 County Road 535.
A 440-acre preserve is home to the Carter Environment Center which houses a variety of exhibits and provides environmental programs. Stroll down miles of trails that meander through a wilderness.
This event gives individuals the chance to come out and enjoy a special day of outdoor fun and nature study. One can explore some of Central Florida's natural habitats, and how they can be beneficial to Florida's native plants and animals. Patrons can take part in free guided hikes, environmental programs, local environmental exhibitors, live music, and children's crafts. All activities are free of cost. Individuals will also be able to purchase food from local vendors. Info: 407-876-6696.
PRINT & SHARE FLYER
March 25 - 28, 2010, Clewiston
BIG "O" BIRDING FESTIVAL
The Big “O” Birding Extravaganza: Birds, Bats & Bikes, “O” My!
For more information or to register, please visit our website at www.bigobirdingfestival.com/
Phone: Janet Papinaw, Hendry County Tourism, 863-612-4783; Email: jpapinaw@hendryfla.net
March 19 - 20, 2010, Tallahassee
WAKULLA WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Showcasing Florida's Big Bend area, family activities include tours to Wakulla Springs State Park and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Other features include "Art on the Terrace," living history demonstrations, a sunrise birding cruise, birding, plant, wildlife and other guided tours, seminars, vendors, multiple outdoor learning stations including bird banding, optics and ecosystem health, educational exhibitors and creative hands-on learning stations for children. 6 per vehicle donation. Contact Della Parker-Hanson at, 850-926-4293;
www.wakullawildlifefestival.org/.
March 25 - 28, 2010, Clewiston
BIG "O" BIRDING FESTIVAL
The Big “O” Birding Extravaganza: Birds, Bats & Bikes, “O” My!
For more information or to register, please visit our website at www.bigobirdingfestival.com/
Phone: Janet Papinaw, Hendry County Tourism, 863-612-4783; Email: jpapinaw@hendryfla.net
March 27, 2010, Umatilla
FLORIDA BLACK BEAR FESTIVAL
9:am - 4:pm -- Cadwell Park located at 4 Cassady St. in Umatilla. Learn about the Florida Black Bear and the importance of protecting Florida's natural habitats. Activities include field trips to the Ocala National Forest, presentations on Florida bears and other wildlife and a "Florida Authors Corner." Other activities include a kid's pavilion, food, arts & crafts, a teddy bear repair clinic, live music, a Florida Black Bear maze and educational exhibits. Field trips start at 9:30AM with the last one at 2:00PM. Contact 407-323-1298, Festival Website
April
April 16 & 17, Brooksville
Chinsegut Bird and Wildlife Festival
The Chinsegut Birding and Wildlife Festival offers one evening and day of bird and wildlife activities. Program offerings include: bird banding, Florida bat talk and walk, butterfly, wildflower and bird walks, landscaping with natives talk and demo, puppet show, bird house building, bird games for kids and more. The festival will also include off site guided field trips to see area wildlife including burrowing owls. Chinsegut Nature Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville, FL 34601; (352)754-6722; myfwc.com/chinsegut/.
April 10, 2010, Port Charlotte
Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Charlotte Beach Park in Port Charlotte, 4500 Harbor Blvd. Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands Visitor's Bureau, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources, and the Port Charlotte Kayak Club - is pleased to sponsor the sixth Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival Featuring: Kayak races, Guided kayak tours of the Charlotte Harbor Blueway Trails, Free kayak demonstrations, Kayak fishing tournament, Food/beverage, music, raffle prizes, & vendor booths, and Seminars.
April 22 to 25, 2010, St. Augustine
Florida's Birding & FotoFest
More than 150 exciting birding and outdoor photography events. A haven for outdoor photographers and bird lovers with more than 150 field trips, boat trips, kayak excursions and workshops presented by leading experts taking place during spring migration. All of the events are designed to put people where they can easily observe nature in the wild. For more information go to the Festival website at getaway4florida.com/bird_festival_2007/. A complete guide to the festival may be obtained by calling the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau at 800.653.2489.
April 17, 2010 - Titusville
Earth Day Family Fun Festival
Enchanted Forest Nature Sanctuary. Guided walks, music, stories, games, displays, exhibits by many nature and conservation organizations. www.nbbd.com/godo/ef/earthday/
May
May 21-23, 2010
Wild Amelia Nature Festival
Come explore the beauty of our bioregion.Ft Clinch & Talbot State Parks, Timucuan National & Historic Preserve. Events include - Nature Photo Contest, Nature Photo classes for children and adults, Ecotours by kayak, foot and bicycle, Kids Niche (hands on activity area), music, astronomy, silent auction, green / nature expo.
www.wildamelia.com
For questions, contact Jody Hetchka 904-251-0016 (days).
September
September 23 - 27, 2009, Marathon
Eleventh Annual FLORIDA KEYS BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Come witness the bountiful birding and wildlife diversity of the Florida Keys during its eleventh annual festival, September 23rd through the 27th. The five day festival offers ample opportunity to see rare and unique migrating and indigenous bird species and native wildlife during activities, field trips and events that include: ecology walks, hawk-watching and kayaking at Curry Hammock State Park; biking the Overseas Heritage Trail; snorkeling the Looe Key Marine Sanctuary; boating the Gulf stream from the middle Keys to see pelagic birds and a visit to the Dry Tortugas with professional birder Larry Manfredi; and walks through the Key West Botanical Garden. Featuring keynote speakers and photographers Dick Fortune & Sara Lopez, whose images promote conservation and awareness of our delicate natural resources by focusing on wading birds and their habitats, this festival is a must for any serious birder... or those who simply love exploring and discovering wildlife. Call James Bell, Refuge Ranger, National Key Deer Refuge, at 305-872-0774 or visit www.keysbirdingfest.org/
for more information and registration.
October
October , Cedar Key
NATURE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE
Cedar Key is situated in the midst of a natural paradise on Florida's undeveloped West Coast. It is virtually surrounded by thousands of acres of protected lands, including the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, the Waccasassa Bay State Preserve and the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve. These areas offer tidal salt marsh, coastal islands, sand scrub, cypress swamp, rivers, flood plain, artesian springs, maritime forest and old growth pine forest.
Rarely will you find such accessible, yet diverse and unique habitats so unaffected by today's urban and agricultural sprawl. For these reasons and many more the next Nature Coast Birding and Wildlife Experience event promises to provide a birding and wildlife experience you will not soon forget. Contact: 352-543-5600
email: info@cedarkey.org.
October 2, 2010, Port St. Joe
St. Joseph Bay Buffer and Aquatic Preserves Day
Low Country Shrimp Boil 12:00-2:30: Fresh local shrimp, corn, kielbasa sausage, potatoes, garlic bread and tea.
Guided trips all day (8:00 am to 10:00 pm!): Trips to St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve—Fall Wildflowers; St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve - Boat and Seagrass Wading Tours; Birding trips to St. Joseph Peninsula and nighttime astronomy program
All Proceeds to Benefit Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves (501.c.3 Non profit organization)
St. Joseph Bay Preserves Center, 3915 Hwy 30-A (Approximately 5 miles south of Port St. Joe).
Call 850-229-1797 or visit www.stjosephbaypreserves.org for more information.
October 4, 2010, West Melbourne
Old Florida Fest
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. -- Erna Nixon Park, 1200 Evans Road, West Melbourne, FL. A celebration of Florida's rich natural and cultural history for all ages! Wildlife & Environmental displays , folk music & dancing, old Florida stories, traditional & local crafts, tours of the park and our famous boardwalk through 3-400 year old oaks.
Parking at west side of Melbourne Square Mall, Pole #4. $1 admission includes shuttle bus from parking area. For more information call or stop by Erna Nixon Park: 321-952-4525. www.brevardparks.com/index.htm.
October 17-23, 2010, Sanibel Island
"DING" DARLING DAYS
"Ding" Darling Days' Family Fun Day on Sunday, Oct. 17, kicks off a week of eco-activities with all-free refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, hot dogs, a touch tank and butterfly house, and kids nature crafts. Birding, boating, and kayaking tours fill the week with environmental activities for all ages. The celebration ends on Saturday, Oct. 23, with Art through Conservation Day, where environmental speakers, a nature photography contest, cartoonists, and an appearance by the Junior Duck Stamp and Federal Duck Stamp Artist will highlight a day devoted to Jay Norwood Darling's legacy as a wildlife artist and Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist devoted to conservationism.
For a complete schedule, visit www.dingdarlingdays.com. To receive the refuge's "Ding" on the Wing e-mail bulletin updates, e-mail dingdarlingdayspr@comcast.net.
November
November, Ponce Inlet
Wings on the Wind BIRD FESTIVAL
Sponsored by the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center. Fun activities for the entire family.The day will include live raptor programs, exhibitors, lectures, bird-related arts and crafts, nature inspired artworks and kids activities. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. We will release a bird back to the wild from our bird rehabilitation hospital to close the event at 3 p.m. For information: marinesciencecenter.com/birdfest.htm; msc@co.volusia.fl.us or call 386-304-5545.
November 20, 2010, Charlotte Harbor
Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival
Location: Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte, FL.
Fun-filled annual festival features the natural environment. Natural landscape demonstrations, guided walks and wagon rides. A fantastic children's area and musicians.
Contact is Maran Hilgendorf with the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, tel: 866/835-5785 x 240 and email: mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org. The Web site is: www.charlotteharbornep.org.
was November, Titusville
SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Our next festival will be held January 27 - February 1, 2010. Our Festival Home Page.
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