Schedule of Events:

Thursday

REGISTRATION — 12:00-1:00 p.m. – ($50-required)
Pick up your name tag, field trip workshop materials and goody bag.
Registration cost covers opening reception, reception dinner, daily morning Birding mini-workshop, birding education handout materials, ALL evening programs (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), water and field trip snacks. Without preregistration, field trip availability is based on a first come, first serve basis. We will try to accommodate your choice, but it is not guaranteed.

Birding mini-workshop - 1:00-1:30-p.m. - Festival Orientation & Ascend to Better Birding – family groups, silhouette, commonality/seasonality

FIELD TRIPS

PLANTATION PRESERVE BIRD WALK-8:00-11:30 am - FREE – CARPOOL EVENT

Sponsored by South Florida Audubon Society, carpool meet in hotel lobby at 7:30 a.m. or at the trail head near the playground at 8:00 a.m. FREE and open to the public.

An easy walk along open waterways and native plantings to find Limpkins and wintering ducks. The native plantings are a good habitat for Brown Thrasher, Buntings and wintering warblers such as Northern Parula and Yellow-throated. With luck we could see fly-bys of Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned or Mitred Parakeets, or even a possible Spot-breasted Oriole. On the hike to the Tequesta Indian mound in the marsh we will search for Sora, Bitterns, Marsh Wren and Swamp Sparrow.

Target Birds - Limpkin, Brown Thrasher, Painted and Indigo Buntings, Sora, American and Least Bitterns, Marsh Wren, Swamp Sparrow, Short-tailed Hawk, of Monk, White-winged, Yellow-chevroned or Mitred Parakeets, Spot-breasted Oriole.

Plantation Preserve-LINEAR TRAIL: Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club, 7050 West Broward Blvd. Plantation, FL   33317 Nature and recreation enthusiasts can walk, hike, jog, bike or inline skate the 1.1-mile Linear Park multi-use recreation trail that winds its way through the golf course and wetlands area, providing a quiet respite from everyday life.  Additionally, interpretive signs are located at the beginning and end of the trail, at each of the four trail stops and at the historically significant Tequesta burial mound. Visitors and residents alike can take comfort in the knowledge that a large and historically significant parcel of land has been preserved and protected for all to use, including local wildlife. Hours: dawn to dusk

BROWARD HOT SPOTS FIELD TRIP - 1:30-5:30 p.m. ($50)

Broward is centrally located to easily reach all the top birding destinations in South Florida. It is also one of the best places to get many target birds such as Grey headed Swamphen, Burrowing Owl, and Egyptian Goose. This trip takes you throughout west Broward visiting Brian Piccolo for Burrowing Owls, Loggerhead Shrike, and Monk Parakeets. A quick stop at Embassy Creek lake for Lesser Scaup and wading birds. Chapel Trail wetlands is the best place for the newly countable Grey headed Swamphen and wintering warblers. At Long Key Nature Center we hope for Great Horned Owl and Whippoorwill, plus a delicious dinner and excellent keynote. This field trip goes directly to the opening reception, not returning to the hotel until after the keynote.

Target Birds - Grey headed Swamphen, Burrowing Owl, Egyptian Goose, Loggerhead Shrike, Monk Parakeets, Lesser Scaup, Great Horned Owl, Whippoorwill.

Brian Piccolo ParkBrian Piccolo County Park - 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City, FL 33024
Opened in 1989, this 175.2-acre park has established itself as one of Broward County Parks' primary centers for athletic activity. Perhaps surprisingly for such a busy park, it is also a site on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail because of its Burrowing Owl population.

Chapel Trail Wetland - 19800 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33026
The City of Pembroke Pines oversees this 450-acre passive park that was established in the 1990s. The wetlands have become home to 120 species of birds, deer, marsh rabbits, alligators, snakes, turtles, largemouth bass, and insects. This nature preserve includes a 1,650-foot long boardwalk, and a pavilion for observation. http://www.ppines.com/facilities/facility/details/Chapel-Trail-Park-Nature-Preserve-4

Long Key Nature Center - 3501 S.W. 130th Ave., Davie, FL 33330
At 164.8 acres, this site is one of the largest natural areas managed by Broward County Parks and Recreation. As recently as a century ago this elevated oak hammock was part of a series of islands surrounded by Everglades marshes. Long Key encompasses some of the most significant archaeological, historical, and ecological resources in the county, as the area was inhabited by the ancient Tequestas and the more modern Seminoles.

OPENING RECEPTION
5:30 p.m. — MEET & GREET, BUFFET, WINE & PRIZES, KEYNOTE SPEAKER

LONG KEY NATURE CENTER - 3501 S.W. 130th Ave., Davie, FL 33330
Meet & Greet: 5:30 p.m.

Dinner: 6:00 pm— for EBF registrants

Everglades Ecosystem: 6:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: 7:00 p.m.

Friday

REGISTRATION - 6:15-6:30 a.m. – ($50-required)
Pick up your name tag, field trip workshop materials and goody bag. Registration covers opening reception, reception dinner, daily morning mini-workshops, birding education handout materials, ALL evening programs (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), water and field trip snacks. Without preregistration, field trip availability is based on a first come, first serve basis. We will try to accommodate your choice, but it is not guaranteed.

FIELD TRIPS

CORKSCREW SWAMP & CENTRAL PRAIRIES
7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. - ($125)
Corkscrew Swamp logoCorkscrew Swamp is a “must” see in south Florida. It’s legendary board walk and natural beauty travels through a variety of habitats and the birds that live there. There is a chance of Painted Bunting, Barred Owl, Limpkin, Night Herons and more. We’ll visit the nature centers’ exhibits and nature store. On the way back through Seminole Indian lands on Snake Road there is a chance for Crested Caracara, Wild Turkey, Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, Wilson Snipe and shorebirds. A quick stop on Deer Fence Road for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbird. Cost-($120) Field trip includes van transportation, yummy lunch, bottle water, snacks and park admission.

Target Birds - Painted Bunting, Barred Owl, Limpkin, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night Herons, Pileated Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Wild Turkey, Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, Wilson Snipe, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbird, wintering warbler
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - 375 Sanctuary Rd. West, Naples, FL 34120
This Audubon Society keystone site encompasses the largest remaining stand of old-growth bald cypress on the continent, and the birds love it! Boasting a 200+ species list, the 2.25-mile boardwalk through this rare habitat is an easy walk where wildlife viewing and the appreciation of nature is paramount.

SOUTH DADE HOTSPOTS
7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. - ($125)
South Dade Hotspots is a tour of the some of the best birding destinations in South Miami. The focus is finding the much-desired exotic species and Short-tailed Hawk. The tour will include touring around the Baptist Hospital area and neighborhoods for Red-whiskered Bulbul and Spot-breasted Oriole. Flocks of Mitred Parakeets fly overhead and hopefully will land on the hospital for closer viewing. Egyptian Goose should be in the pond along with a variety of wading birds. Heading over to Miller Drive Roost (Brewer Park) could produce a variety of parakeets, parrots and possible Painted Bunting. Pinewoods Park is another great place to look for exotics including Scaly-breasted Munia. A quick stop at Cutler Wetlands and lunch at Blackpoint Marina is our best chance for Mangrove Cuckoo, an extremely difficult bird to find which has been seen only twice during the festival. Manatees and Crocodiles can also be found here. At Castellow Hammock, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds can be seen up close, along with a variety of warblers. Based on what rarities are being seen in the area, the schedule could change.

Target Birds - Short-tailed Hawk, Prairie Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoo, Ruby-throated & Rufous Hummingbird, Mangrove Cuckoo, wintering ducks and shorebirds

Blackpoint Marina - 24775 SW 87TH Ave., Miami, Fl
Black Point Park & Marina, oftentimes referred to as "Black Point," is the largest public marina located in Miami and it is part of the Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation department. The marina is also very close to Biscayne National Park.

Castellow Hammock Preserve - 22301 SW 162nd Ave. Miami, FL 33031
This 112-acre park has a bird and butterfly garden that sports multicolored Painted Buntings in winter and migrants such as Worm-eating Warblers and American Redstarts in spring and fall. Its hardwood hammock is a remnant of a once more widespread South Florida habitat and includes an invitingly shady trail great for songbirds. Approach the nature center slowly from the parking lot to avoid flushing birds in the garden; nature trail departs from the back side of the nature center .Birds: Painted Bunting, Short-tailed Hawk.

QUICK DINNER: 6:00-7:00 p.m. (must prepay: $15) – Entree, Salad, Desert and Beverage/Wine

EVENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: 7:30 p.m. – David Simspson: What can ebird do for you? — in breakfast room

The monumental changes that have been brought to the birding world from the development of ebird can not be over emphasized. Although designed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology to collect bird sightings to increase their data base by citizen scientists (birders), it has turned into so much more. David will go into the basics of ebird: creating a checklist, searching for hot spots, looking at bird data collected for bird species at particular sites and how to navigate the website. There will lots of time for a question-and-answer period.

Saturday

REGISTRATION - 6:15-6:30 a.m - ($50-required)
Pick up your name tag, field trip workshop materials and goody bag. Registration covers opening reception, reception dinner, mini-workshops, birding education handout materials, ALL evening programs (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), water and field trip snacks. Preregistration is required, with few exceptions.
FIELD TRIPS

STORM WATER TREATMENT AREA 1 & PALM BEACH WETLANDS - 7:00a.m.-5:30 p.m
The Storm Water Treatment Areas are some of the TOP BIRDING HOTSPOTS in the U.S. Fertilized enriched agricultural water is filtered to provide cleaner water to the everglades and the birds love it. There are the possibilities of 15 species of both waterfowl and shorebirds. We will target Snail Kite, American Bittern, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Gray headed Swamphen, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Fulvous whistling duck, Peregrine Falcon and wintering ducks and shorebirds. Also, possible Sandhill Crane, many species of raptors. Depending on the time and what rarities are being seen we visit either Belle Glade Marina, Okeeheelee Nature Center, Green Cay for Painted Bunting or the famous Wakodahatchee wetlands.
Cost - $125

Target Birds: Snail, Kite, American Bittern, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Wood Stork, Peregrine Falcon, Roseate Spoonbill, Fulvous & Black-bellied whistling duck, Painted Bunting, Sandhill Crane, Savannah, Swamp and Grasshopper Sparrow.


SOUTH FLORIDA EXOTICS - 7:00a.m.-5:00 p.m
A tour of Broward and Palm Beach Counties looking for up to 30 plus possible exotics such as Mitred, Monk, Blue-crowned, and Nanday Parakeets, Red-crowned and Orange-winged Parrots It will also include a tour of the Tall Cypress boardwalk for wintering warblers and possible Great-horned Owl. Depending on what is being seen stops can include Evergreen Cemetery, Richardson's Historical Park & Tamarac Pond plus more.
Cost: $125. 8 Required min.

QUICK DINNER: 6:00-7:00 p.m. (must prepay: $15) - Family style meal NOT for special diet requirements such as gluten or lactose free, vegetarian option.

EVENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: 7:30 p.m.—Paddy Cunningham: Advanced Birding Skills — in breakfast Fulvous Room

Sunday

REGISTRATION 6:15-6:30 a.m. ($50)
Pick up your name tag, field trip workshop materials and goody bag.
Registration covers opening reception, reception dinner, daily morning mini-workshops, birding education handout materials, ALL evening programs (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), water and field trip snacks. Preregistration is required, with few exceptions.

FIELD TRIP

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK NATURAL HISTORY TOUR - 7 a.m. - (late return) $125

Everglades National Park signEverglades National Park is recognized as an International Biosphere and is an ecosystem unique on all Earth. The incredible variety of habitats create one of the highest biodiversity of plants and animals in the U.S We will strive to see as many as possible on this amazing day and learn about the legend of its special natural history. Our trip starts with a quick stop to look for Common Myna and the visitors’ center. Anhinga trail offers close views of wading birds, Purple Gallinules and Short-tailed Hawk. A picnic lunch at Long Pine Key can bring Eastern Bluebird, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Eastern Towhee. A few quick stops at Paurotis, Mrazek, and Eco-Ponds for Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Stork and much more. At Flamingo we will look on the sandbar for Black Skimmer, Reddish Egret, White Pelican, Marbled Godwit and many shorebirds. With luck Crocodiles and Manatees can be found at Flamingo. The tour will end at Robert's is Here! It's famous for it's delicious tropical fruit milkshakes, special local produce and unique Florida gifts.

Target Birds - Purple Gallinules, Short-tailed Hawk, Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Stork, Eastern Bluebird, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Towhee.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther. An international treasure as well - a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a specially protected areas under the Cartagena Treaty. Experience Everglades National Park right in Miami's backyard. Everglades' wet sawgrass prairies, dry tropical hardwood hammocks and pinelands, mangrove swamps and Florida Bay and Gulf Coast estuaries provide habitat for a wildlife spectacle like no other.

Monday

REGISTRATION - 6:15-6:30 a.m. ($30-one day only registration)

Pick up your name tag, field trip workshop materials and goody bag.
Registration covers opening reception, reception dinner, daily morning mini-workshops, birding education handout materials, ALL evening programs (Thursday, Friday and Saturday), water and field trip snacks. Preregistration is required with few exceptions.

FIELD TRIP

UPPER KEYS NATURE ADVENTURE - 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m - ($125)

Although we will be looking for birds this trip, it will be a nature adventure to the only sub-tropical coral reefs in the U.S. We will drive across the beautiful Card Sound to North Key Largo for our best chance for White-crowned Pigeon and Cuban Yellow Warbler. It will include a short hike in the one of the U.S.’s most endangered habitats - tropical hardwood forest, home to 3 native endemics. It’s possible that Magnificent Frigatebird, Peregrine Falcon or Naday Parakeet may fly by. A late lunch (on your own) at the world’s famous Alabama Jack’s waterfront restaurant for conch fritters & chowder to get the real atmosphere of the Keys. It is a great way to end the festival. ($125) Field trip includes van transportation, bottle water, snacks and park admission.

Target Birds - Magnificent Frigatebird, White-crowned Pigeon, Cuban Yellow Warbler, Mangrove Cuckoo, Broadwing Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Naday Parakeet

Date: January 11 - January15,2024

Location: Holiday Inn Express 2540 Davie Road, Davie, Fl 33324

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