- This event has passed.
Avon Park
February 18, 2023 - February 19, 2023
Free
On Saturday, we’ll visit Avon Park Air Force Range. On Sunday, we’ll visit other birding hotspots in the area.
The range is a 106,000-acre military training facility in Polk and Highlands County. It is also home to several key species of birds that can be tough to find. We’ll be led by Patrick Blake, the Avon Park ranger and an expert birder.
The range has a large population of Florida Scrub Jays and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. We can expect to see Carolina, House & Marsh Wrens, and possibly, a Sedge Wren. We should also expect Palm, Pine, Black-and-white, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle), Yellow-throated, and Prairie Warblers, as well as Common Yellowthroat. The range has all the standard wading birds (Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, etc.) It is not unheard of to find Painted Buntings, Hermit Thrush or King Rail with some careful looking. We will also attempt to locate Burrowing Owls and White-tailed Kites.
Avon Park is near Sebring, Florida, which is home to multiple hotels, grocery stores and restaurants. We ask that you make your own lodging and dining arrangements and pack lunches and beverages for both days.
Be willing to carpool. We will be escorted at Avon Park to ensure no one gets lost or ends up in restricted areas.
The cost is free, and registration is required, and the trip is limited to 10 participants. IMPORTANT: This trip could be cancelled because of a last-minute scheduling conflict at the base.
The deadline to register for the Avon Park Field Trip is Feb. 6
For more information and to register, fill out the form at: https://forms.gle/VPAaQxK2SdkrbZbp6. If you have questions, contact trip leader sandy.townsend@tampaaudubon.org. Mic McCarty is also leading the trip.
If you have not yet been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we respectfully request that you do not join us for this outing. Tampa Audubon reserves the right to cancel outings as necessary to respond to COVID-19. All participants must fill out the TAS Wellness Self-Certification: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GEGETVjrxTjthmKHpuDaMGIq_WdHLYKb/view?usp=sharing