Field Trips for 2024-2025

The Public is Invited!

CHECK BACK SOON FOR FULL 2024-2025 SCHEDULE!

Sunday, September 29, 2024 -- Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

This is a large preserve on the site of former muck farms that polluted Lake Apopka for years. It is being restored and has become excellent marshy habitat for a wide variety of species. We will tour the wildlife drive. This area has had some of the highest bird species counts in the state, and we will be there when some of our winter duck species may have arrived. It is known for common sightings of birds like Black-necked Stilts, American Bitterns, and Fulvous Whistling-Ducks.

Saturday, October 19, 2024 -- Mead Garden

Mead Garden is a fall migration hot-spot with as many as 23 warbler species reported there in a fall season. Located in the heart of Winter Park, this 55-acre park offers migrating birds food, water, shelter, and rest as they travel to their winter homes. Other migrants and residents like Barred Owls, Northern Flickers, and various hawk species should add to the fun. As a bonus, this date corresponds with Backyard Biodiversity Day at the garden, with numerous exhibits and native plants for sale.

Sunday, November 24, 2024 -- Orlando Wetlands Park

This park in Christmas, FL is a mix of woods and man-made wetlands. Treated wastewater (it's quite clean) from an Orlando water treatment facility is piped there. It spends about 70 days going through a series of marshes and lakes to reduce the nutrient levels, and is then released into the St. John's River system. The birds love the place, and this is a great place to see wintering ducks, Purple Gallinules, both Night-Herons, and all our other wetland species! The trees and underbrush are also good habitat for butterflies, songbirds, and raptors. A new boardwalk gets us closer to the wildlife, which in recent years includes Roseate Spoonbills.

Sunday, December 22, 2024 -- 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 125th year!