Bay Soundings l Quarterly Calendar

april

April 17-23, Celebrate Earth Week at Mote Aquarium with events including a scavenger hunt and special tours of the aquarium and hugs from Mote’s mascot, Gilly the Shark. Call 941-388-4441 or visit www.mote.org.

April 21, Florida Caterpillars, 6:30–7:30pm, Weedon Island Preserve. Dr. David L. Wagner, author of the book, Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History, discusses his research on Florida caterpillars. Pre-registration is requested, 727-453-6500.

April 21, May 12 and 20, Nature Walks at DeSoto National Memorial, 9-10am. Manatee County Master Gardeners lead plant identification tours. Reservations are required, 941-722-4524.

April 21, Urban Wildlife Ecology: Coyotes, 2:00–3:00pm, Weedon Island Preserve. Researchers from the University of South Florida detail the history of Florida coyotes, species information and measures necessary to reduce coyote-human conflict, including current research being conducted at Brooker Creek Preserve. Pre-registration is requested, 727-453-6500.

April 21, Keep Manatee Beautiful Golf Tournament recognizing Earth Day, Tara Golf & Country Club. The four-person best-ball scramble will begin with a 1pm shotgun start. Registration costs vary and tax-deductible donations will be used to enhance Manatee County’s public spaces. Call 941-795-8272 or e-mail keep@manateebeautiful.com.

April 22, Marine Quest, 12th annual open house at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 10am-4pm, featuring presentations by the state’s top scientists as well as hands-on activities to help visitors learn about the fascinating wildlife in our state and the surrounding waters. Visit www.floridamarine.org or call 727-896-8626.

April 22, Great American Cleanup at multiple sites in Hillsborough and Manatee counties, 9am-noon. Be part of the nation’s largest annual community project. Picnics for volunteers planned at Lowry Park in Tampa and Sutton Park in Palmetto. In Hillsborough, call 813-960-5121 or visit www.khcbonline.org. In Manatee, call 941-795-8272 or email keep@manateebeautiful.com.

April 22-23, Race Against Hunger to benefit Morning Star Fishermen, catamaran regatta at Dunedin Causeway. Contact 352-523-2722.

April 22, Earth Day at Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin, 9am-3pm. Activities include guided tours of trails and facility, bird walk, a river study (netting aquatic invertebrates), fundraising brunch, slideshow presentations about the preserve and local history, butterfly gardening seminar, native plant workshop and tours of the fossil museum. Visit www.campbayou.org or call 813-641-8545.

April 23, The River Clean Up II, meet at Lowry Park Boat Ramp, 8am. Contact 813-432-7030.

April 25, A Naturalist’s Night Out -- Spider Safari at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 6:30-7:30pm. Florida is home to many kinds of spiders and most of them are beneficial. Reservations requested, 727-893-7326.

April 27, Wee-time at Weedon: Wish for a Fish: All About Sea Creatures, 10:30–11:30am. Designed to introduce pre-school children to the wonders of the natural world, the program features the book from the Dr. Seuss’ Science Series. Pre-registration is requested, call 727-453-6500.

April 29, May 6 & May 13, 9am-1pm, Boat Smart Course offered through the St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Deadline for registration is April 27. Visit www.boating-stpete.org or call 727-565-4453.

April 29, Ft. DeSoto County Park Wing Walk with St. Petersburg Audubon Society.. Meet 8am by the flagpole at park headquarters. Call 727-531-3440.

April 29, Guided tour of the Manatee Viewing Center with Tampa Audubon Society, 9am. The manatees may get most of the attention, but the center functions as a bird sanctuary as well. Contact 813-228-4257.

April 29, Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Race, Garrison Channel and Cotanchobee Park in downtown Tampa, to benefit the Florida Aquarium, 7am-4:30pm. Visit www.tampabaydragonboats.com

April 29, 4th Annual Safety Harbor Canoe and Kayak Festival, Safety Harbor Marina. Registration at 8am, racing begins at 10am. New events include an outrigger canoe race and a recreational paddle. Spectators are welcome with great views from the pier. Visit www.cityofsafetyharbor.com or call 727-724-1572.

April 29, Explore Shell Key Preserve by kayak with the American Littoral Society, 10am-2pm. Contact 941-966-7308.

April 29 & 30, Two-day program on riverine turtles at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 9am-noon, including both classroom presentations and a field trip. Reservations required, 727-893-7326.

may

May 2, Telling Their Earth Force Story, 6:30-8pm at The Florida Aquarium. Contact 727-521-1403.

May 6, Florida Yard Fandango at MOSI. 8am-5pm. Contact 813-909-2325.

May 6, Join St. Petersburg Audubon Society for a boat trip to Coffeepot Bayou and Bird Island offering close-up views of the island rookery at the height of nesting season. Meet 6:30pm, St. Petersburg Pier by the bait house. Contact 727-492-8990.

May 6, Sand Sculpting Contest on Clearwater Beach, north of Pier 60, part of Clearwater’s Fun ‘N Sun Festival. 9:30am. Visit www.ryanrealty.org or call 727-442-2822.

May 6 & 7, NatureFest at Osprey Village Island Honeymoon Island, 10am-8pm. Contact 727-204-8588.

May 7, Kayak Audubon’s Alafia Bank Bird Rookery, one of the largest bird nesting sites in the US, 10am-1:30pm. Contact 941-966-7308

May 12, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Management and Policy Board meetings, 9am and 1pm, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. For more information, call 727-893-2765 or visit www.tbep.org.

May 13, Tour the Kissimmee Prairie with Tampa Audubon Society. Contact 813-310-7676.

May 13, Give A Day For The Bay at Chestnut Park on Lake Tarpon, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, 9am-noon. Contact 727-893-2765 or nanette@tbep.org to volunteer.

May 13, Creating and Maintaining Backyard Wildlife Habitat, 9am-1:30pm, Hillsborough County Extension. Agenda covers nuisance and invasive wildlife, landscaping for wildlife, attracting backyard songbirds and a tour of the new Discovery Gardens. Pre-registration required by May 5. For more information and an online registration form, visit http://hillsborough_fyn.ifas.ufl.edu.

May 13, Earth Force Showcase Event at Staples stores in Clearwater and New Tampa, 12-3pm. This is an opportunity for students to reflect on their projects and share their achievements – plus show other residents what committed youth can accomplish. Contact 727-521-1403.

May 13, Sea Grapes, an evening of fine wine and food to benefit the Florida Aquarium, 7-10pm. Enjoy live music and entertainment and shop for specials at the silent auction. The proceeds from this event will benefit education and veterinary programs. Visit www.flaquarium.org or call 813-273-4000.

May 13-14, Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems - East Coast (FAMEast) Graduate Student Conference, Moving Fisheries Science and Policy Toward Ecosystem-Based Management, Tradewinds Resort, St. Petersburg Beach. Visit http://imars.marine.usf.edu/~cwall/FAMEast/home.htm

May 13, Pelican Man’s Pelicans at Mote Aquarium, 9-11am. Program targeted at children ages 6-12 answers questions like how much does a pelican weigh and the dangers that these birds face. Pre-registration is required, visit www.mote.org or call 941-388-4441.

May 14-17, The Coastal Society’s 20th Biennial Conference, Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg Beach. Visit http://www.thecoastalsociety.org/conference/tcs20/index.html.

May 14, Volunteers needed for Audubon’s International Migratory Bird Count. Contact 727-471-0699 or 727-389-4124.

May 16, Manatee Awareness Coalition meeting, Weedon Island Preserve, 4-6pm. Call 727-893-2765 or visit www.tbep.org.

May 20, A River Runs Through It, Hillsborough River State Park, 10am-3pm. Contact 813-453-4750.

May 22-June 26, St Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron’s six-week Monday evening course on boating, 7-9pm. Registration is required by May 19. Visit www.boating-stpete.org or call 727-565-4453.

May 24, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Community Advisory Committee meeting, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, 3-5pm. Call 727-893-2765 or visit www.tbep.org.

june

June 1-2, The Florida Aquarium First Annual All-Release Fishing Tournament at Bayside Marina promoting responsible fishing, bay conservation and seafood sustainability. Contact 813-367-4016.

June 10, Beginning birding with Tampa Audubon Society at Lake Mark on North Dale Mabry, 8am. Learning Bird Songs, 11am, Audubon Resource Center at Lettuce Lake Park. Contact 813-310-7676.

June 10, Aqua-critters at Mote Aquarium, 9-11am. Sarasota Bay is in our backyard – so who lives there? Use seine and dip nets plus core samplers to explore sand and seagrass beds. Pre-registration is required. Visit www.mote.org or call 941-388-4441.

June 17 & 18, Pinellas Living Green Expo, The Coliseum. Hosted by the Council of Neighborhood Associations, the event is designed to offer residents information they can use to save money and the environment . Visit www.pinellaslivinggreenexpo.org

july

July 18-21, Earth Force Summer Institute for educators in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Contact tshadday@tampabay.rr.com or visit http://www.earthforce.org/section/offices/suncoast/sctraining.

July 19, Annual joint program/meeting of Tampa Audubon Society, the Tampa Bay Group of the Sierra Club and the Suncoast Chapter of the Native Plant Society, 7pm, Learning Gate Community School, 16215 Hanna Road in Lutz. Contact 813-228-4257.

As this calendar is compiled on a quarterly basis, we strongly suggest that you contact sponsoring groups prior to the event. Additionally, some groups may require fees for participation in some events.

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