Somewhere in a drawer or under a pile of file folders you can, with a little luck, locate your wish list of adventures in Florida you haven’t done yet. Oh, I know you have one.
Yep, I’ve got one of those lists too. Pulled it out of a pile of papers on the desk the other day.
At the top of the list – attend the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival. Every year I want to go, but something comes up. This year I’m determined to get there.
Scrub jays are easy to photograph because they are so friendly and curious. They come right to you. Photo by David McRee
Florida birding festivals bring flocks of birders together
And what a festival it is. The 2011 dates are January 26-31. It all takes place in and around Titusville and the Space Coast with tours, field trips, talks and exhibits. Festival registration fee is $10. Many field trips and talks require pre-registration and a payment of a fee. Other activities are free. Brevard Community College North Campus is the ground zero location for classes and exhibits.
Binocular display and for sale in Exhibit Hall. Photo by David McRee
Here is what David McRee (aka Beach Hunter) the official blogger for the festival has to say:
“The Space Coast Birding Festival is one of the largest birding festivals in the country and has more activities than any other birding festival. What is unique about this festival, I’m told, is that there are multiple classes and field trips going on at the same time in different locations. (I don’t have experience with other birding festivals so I rely on other birders to tell me that this is unique to the Space Coast festival).”
“The festival expects well over 4,000 people to attend during the 6-day event and more than 1,200 will register to participate in activities. There will be nearly 350 activities when you include all the exhibits, art competition, field trips, classroom presentations and keynotes.”
Field trip in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by David McRee.
David is right about the wealth of activities. Without thinking I went to the Web site and clicked on the tab to download this year’s brochure. My printer would not quit. I thought it was in some kind of endless loop. Nope, the brochure prints out to a whopping 46 plus-pages long. I’d suggest looking at it online before committing that many trees to destruction.
So many choices – this festival is a buffet table for anyone into or wanting to get involved in birding. Last year people came from 37 states and 9 foreign countries. And it pays to be an early bird (pun intended) for registration. The keynote speaker and many field trips fill up fast. When spaces are gone, they are gone.
Here is a free idea – At the Exhibit Center for this festival Ace Hardware of Titusville will have free supplies of hangers and birdseed for you and your children, or grandchildren, to make your own bird feeder. You supply the plastic bottle. It is recycling, a family project and how great it is to attract birds to your backyard.
Here are some social network festival links:
Twitter: @scbwf
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/spacecoastbirdfest
Facebook: http:www.facebook.com/spacecoastbirdingandwildlifefestival
Giving credit where credit is due – David McRee took all the photographs with this story. Thanks David!
Birding in Florida is such a delight and this festival, or any birding festival is a great way to get connected, get started and get psyched. It is easy to be a birder – a pair of binoculars and good walking shoes and you are on your way. Oh yes, a field book is nice but every birding walk I’ve been on has people with backpacks full of books and willing to share.
Florida birding is accessible on the Great Florida Birding Trail
The Great Florida Birding Trail is an obvious starting point – all their section brochures are free. I’m sure they’ll have a booth at this festival.
The extra-added attraction attached to Florida birding is the cool season – right now and the next couple of months – is our best weather plus wading birds are literally snowbirds and come south in winter to take advantage of marshes and wetlands.
Hummm, now I have to pick a day to go to the Space Coast Festival and the activities. Aggggggh! Help!
Meanwhile, here are some holiday happenings in areas covered by my book
“50 Great Walks in Florida”
St. Augustine (chapter 22) – Nights of Lights in the nation’s oldest city, every night through January 31, lots of special activities including nighttime tours of ancient buildings, check out this Web site.
Pensacola (chapter 4) – annual Christmas Parade, Dec. 11 starts at 5:15 p.m. downtown, some 50,000 people attend. Bands from every high school in Escambia County, Blue angels Flight team. Preceded by a 1-mile Christmas dash at 5 p.m. sponsored by the Pensacola Runner Association.
Key West (chapter 50) – Harbor Walk of Lights through Dec. 31, the walk is lit with festive dressing, part of Key West “Bight Before Christmas” presented by Key West Bight Preservation Association.
Lucy Beebe Tobias is a writer and photographer based in Ocala and the author of “50 Great Walks in Florida”. Web site: http://www.LucyTobias.com She served as Authentic Florida Expert for VISIT FLORIDA.
More to Explore
Funky Florida, Cedar Key at the end of the road