Birding by Bike
2024-05-11 | J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park Education Center, 10500 Wilderness Road, New Port Richey, FL, 34655, United States
Birding by Bike Jay B Starkey Wilderness Park
Meet 8:00 AM
Meet at Starkey Education Center
Contact Robertburkard9@gmail.com
Anyone interested in birding or nature in general is welcome to join us on field trips.
Almost all are free. Registration may be required, check the schedule for details.
Dress for the weather and prepare to be outdoors for about 4 hours.

Beginning Bird Walk @ Lettuce Lake Park
2024-04-13 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, 6920 East Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33637, United States
Important! Pre-registration is required and participation is limited to the first 10 people who sign up. Please do not attend this or any Tampa Audubon Society events if you have flu, cold, or covid symptoms. Tampa Audubon is committed to reducing the spread of illnesses. The health and safety of our members is of the highest priority.
Entrance fee for park $2. Meet in the parking lot by the Visitor’s Center in Lettuce Lake Park at 9 am. We’ll walk the boardwalk or trails, depending on where the best birds are. We have binoculars to loan, and someone will have a spotting scope so you can get up really close and personal! Bring water and a snack.
RSVP to trip leader Jim Hengelbrok at jim.hengelbrok@tampaaudubon.org

Big Day Birding Event
2024-10-14 | FL
On 14 October, people in 191 countries around the world joined together to celebrate birds for October Big Day. More than 36,000 people contributed 83,735 checklists, setting three new records for the single biggest day in October birding history! Even more impressive, the global birding community reported 7,525 species—an incredible 72 more species than last October Big Day. This remarkable growth is a testament to the power of birds to unite people in a common effort.
For more information, go to An Uplifting October Big Day 2023 – eBird.

Florida Birding & Nature Festival
2024-10-17 - 2024-10-20 | FL
Early birds catch the worms — and the discounts!
We’ll be highlighting the trips that sold out first last year in a series of emails, but the entire schedule is online at https://www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org/schedule.html so you can take advantage of the early-bird pricing through July.
Pre-festival bus trip Join four of the state’s best birders — Dave Goodwin, Jim Eager, Bob Snow and Cole Frederick — on a day-long excursion to Saddle Creek Park and Circle B Bar Reserve, where you can expect to see dozens of species, (Visit https://www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org/schedule.html) for the full list.) This is definitely an early-bird excursion, with the bus boarding at 7 a.m. to take advantage of a full day of birding.
Coffeepot Bayou Bird Island Audubon’s Jeff Liechy takes the helm of Tampa Bay Watch’s Discovery Eco-Tour Boat for an evening trip and a close-up view of colonial waterbirds. (They won’t be nesting so we won’t disturb them.)
Outback Key and Lower Terra Ceia Bay Eric Plage and Holley Short will lead this boat trip to two of the region’s prime birding spots. An ephemeral barrier island, Outback Key isn’t easily accessible so the birds are extraordinarily comfortable with visitors. The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge is a roosting site for Magnificent Frigatebirds.
Fort De Soto by land David Goodwin and Jim Eager are back again with trips for advanced birders on Saturday and Sunday morning. Fort De Soto is a 1,136-acre park covering five connected islands that is a haven for migrating neo-tropicals as well as diverse shorebirds.
Lower Green Swamp by wagon Once a working cattle ranch, the 12,800-acre preserve is being restored by Hillsborough County. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes view because the staff working on the restoration will lead the trip. You’ll cross grasslands, open wooded areas, pine forests and a large wetland area, so you’ll see an amazing diversity of birds, from Bald Eagles to Bachman Sparrows.
Check out https://www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org/schedule.html and grab those spots while you still can!
Seminars & Free Nature Expo!
While field trips get the most attention, we have an incredible lineup of presentations planned along with a free Nature Expo featuring local organizations and naturalists. You can attend as many seminars as you like for the cost of registering for one day — and they’ll all be on Zoom if you can’t make it to Apollo Beach or if you’re out on a field trip and then available afterward or if you’re out on a field trip.
Check out these highlights:

A worm’s eye view of Tampa Bay, what sediment invertebrates can tell us about the health of our bay. Dave Karlen and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County have been studying these largely invisible creatures for 30 years.
Conserving Florida Scrub Jays. Once phosphate mining is complete, Mosaic reclaims land and then manages it with fire to provide optimum habitat for the endemic species.
Marc Minno literally wrote the books on Florida butterflies. Join him for this presentation and then a field trip through the Fred and Idah Schultz Preserve where diverse habitats make it THE place for a wide variety of butterflies.
Dan Huber at the University of Tampa is an expert on the biomechanics of sharks and how understanding their mechanical functions contribute to their position as an apex predator for millions of years.

Keynote speakers you won’t want to miss!
To be published in September, Audubon’s Birds of Florida is the latest from Clay Henderson, former president of Audubon Florida. Henderson followed Audubon’s footsteps and paddled in his wake to look for birds in the same places. His previous book, Forces of Nature, celebrates the people and organizations who made Florida a leader in state-funded conservation and land management.

Participants in last year’s birding festival logged a total of 145 species of birds, ranging from Wild Turkeys to Magnificant Frigatebirds. It’s not likely that one person saw all of them in the four days of the festival, but our schedule during peak migration season means that we’ll see birds that we otherwise would miss. Our expert field trip leaders will be scouting their locations in advance to make sure you get to see the most birds possible.
Click here for the full list.

Ales and Wild Tails - Audubon Florida
2024-11-13 18:00 - 19:00 | FL
Ales and Wild Tails is back! Join the Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges and the Center for Biological Diversity in welcoming Kara Cook of Audubon Florida to learn about roof top nesting of bird species in Florida. The Audubon Florida rooftop-nesting program is vital to preserving bird populations that have suffered habitat loss due to human development, and need to find alternative habitat to successfully raise their young. Kara will discuss how Audubon monitors rooftop-nesting seabirds and shorebirds and how volunteers can get involved in community science efforts to help these imperiled birds. Hope to see you there!
When: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6-7 p.m.
Where: The Ale and the Witch Tavern, 111 2nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Cost: Free admission (craft beer and refreshments available)
Ales and Wild Tails is co-hosted by the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. It takes place on the second Wednesday evening of every month during the fall, winter, and spring.
Thank you all for supporting the Tampa Bay Refuges!

What's Happening to Florida's Birds?
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Hammock Hall, 3010 31st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33712, United States
NATURAL HISTORY SPEAKER SERIES
What’s Happening to Florida’s Birds?
Bird populations can surge or plummet depending on a variety of factors—everything from the quality of their habitats to the impact of pesticides, the encroachment of urban sprawl, prowling cats, and the sweeping effects of climate change. Soar into the dynamic world of Florida’s feathered residents and discover how they’re navigating these challenges and learn about the conservation efforts aimed at ensuring their ability to thrive. Join us to unravel the story of how Florida’s birds are facing these exciting challenges head-on!

Open to the public. | FREE ADMISSION

Click here for questions about the Natural History Speaker Series, or call Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at 727-893-7326.
Learn more

Wading Birds Photography Tour
2024-11-21 12:30 - 14:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
This tour is for photographers and bird enthusiasts of all skill levels. A brief classroom session before the tour will teach participants about the wading birds found at the Preserve, as well as nature photography techniques specific to the wildlife and seasonal variations of Weedon Island.
This tour is for adults and youth ages 10+. Youth must be supervised by an adult.
The total hike length will be between 1 to 2 miles on natural paths and boardwalks so please dress and prepare accordingly.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Winter Wonders with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
2024-12-04 11:00 - 12:00 | East Lake Library, 4125 E Lake Road, Palm Harbor
Winter Wonders with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™
Discover the joys of winter gardening in Florida, with an FFL Educator! We will explore the importance of choosing native and drought-resistant plants that not only beautify your garden but also support and attract local wildlife throughout the winter months. Also, learn about migrating birds that call Florida home during this magnificent season and how to provide for them.
Register Here

Bird Walk at Boyd Hill
2024-09-07 08:00 - 09:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Join the St. Petersburg Audubon Society for a birdwatching hike at Boyd Hill, where you’ll spot a variety of native species while learning about their habits and habitats.
Perfect for bird enthusiasts of all levels! Binoculars are available for loan.
All ages welcome with a registered adult.

>>> REGISTER HERE

Audubon’s Birds of America Exhibit
2024-12-07 10:30 - 12:30 | Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, United States
The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg is thrilled to bring Audubon’s Birds of America to St. Petersburg. Produced by National Museums Scotland, this exhibition celebrates the extraordinary legacy of John James Audubon (1785 –1851). It tells the story of this iconic artist, naturalist, and ornithologist, as well as the evolution of one of the world’s rarest, largest, and possibly most coveted books, The Birds of America.
The exhibition features over 40 of these splendid hand-colored prints, as well as additional illustrations, books, letters, photographs, and ephemera. The majority of these delicate pieces have never been shown in public and have undergone years of conservation treatment in preparation for their inaugural display and tour.
Come and join us on a docent-led tour on Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 a.m. for 20 people. The cost is $25/person.
For more information, go to https://mfastpete.org/exh/audubons-birds-of-america/
Important! Pre-registration is required, and participation is limited. Please do not attend this or any Tampa Audubon Society events if you have flu, cold, or covid symptoms. Tampa Audubon is committed to reducing the spread of illnesses. The health and safety of our members is of the highest priority.
RSVP to trip leader Ann Paul at president@tampaaudubon.org

Counting with the Birds
2024-12-14 11:30 - 13:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Have you heard of the Christmas Bird Count? It began in 1900—yes, that’s right, 1900—and is the longest-running national citizen science project organized by the Audubon Society. Join us to learn about the CBC, discover how to count birds, and take part in a hike to apply your new skills. This is an educational program, and the birds counted will not be evaluated by Audubon.
All ages welcome with a registered adult.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Fins, Skins, & Feathers Camp
2024-12-30 08:00 - 2025-01-03 17:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Ages 7 yrs – 12 yrs
Campers will dive into the world of unique animal adaptations: fins, skins, and feathers!
Throughout the week, campers will meet some of Boyd Hill’s Ambassador Animals along with other activities, crafts, and fun.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Tampa Christmas Bird Count
2025-01-04 | FL
This year we will participate in the National Audubon Society’s 125th Christmas Bird Count! We will be out hooting for owls in the pre-dawn dark and counting every bird that we can find in the TAS sector. Participants do not have to join in all day—we welcome everyone to come and help count for whatever portion of the day that you can! If you live in our count area, you can even just report the species that you see from your home!
Contact trip leader Mary Keith at mary.keith@tampaaudubon.org to join in Tampa Audubon’s Sector.
To join the count not in Tampa Audubon’s sector contact David Bowman dsbowman4@verizon.net
Important! Pre-registration is required. Please do not attend this or any Tampa Audubon Society events if you have flu, cold, or covid symptoms. Tampa Audubon is committed to reducing the spread of illnesses. The health and safety of our members is of the highest priority.
Click here to find more information on the National Audubon Christmas Bird Count: Join the Christmas Bird Count | Audubon
Click here to find all of the CBC count areas. Click on an area to get details: https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=ac275eeb01434cedb1c5dcd0fd3fc7b4
For a PBS Video about the Christmas Bird County go to Counting On Birds | PBS

Sunday Bird Hike
2025-01-05 08:00 - 09:30 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Come out for this “early morning” walk in the woods.
Come out for this “early morning” walk in the woods with Alexa, our awesome volunteer, to seek out the resident and visiting birds of Brooker. Beginners and all levels of birders welcome. Meet in the parking lot at 8:00 a.m.
This is a free hike, however space is limited. Please be courteous and do not register unless you plan to attend and cancel your reservation if you can no longer attend.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Beginning Bird Walk at LLP
2025-01-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, 6920 East Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33637, United States
Important! Pre-registration is required and participation is limited to the first 10 people who sign up.
Please do not attend this or any Tampa Audubon Society events if you have flu, cold, or covid symptoms. Tampa Audubon is committed to reducing the spread of illnesses. The health and safety of our members is of the highest priority.
Entrance fee for park $2. Meet in the parking lot by the Visitor’s Center in Lettuce Lake Park at 8:30 a.m. We’ll walk the boardwalk or trails, depending on where the best birds are. We have binoculars to loan, and someone will have a spotting scope so you can get up really close and personal! Bring water and a snack.
RSVP to field trip leader, Jim Hengelbrok at jimhengelbrok@gmail.com

Wading Birds Photography Tour
2025-01-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Search for wading birds along the coast of Weedon Island and learn wildlife photography techniques.

This tour is for photographers and bird enthusiasts of all skill levels. A brief classroom session before the tour will teach participants about the wading birds found at the Preserve, as well as nature photography techniques specific to the wildlife and seasonal variations of Weedon Island.
The total hike length will be between 1 to 2 miles on natural paths and boardwalks so please dress and prepare accordingly.
This tour is for adults and youth ages 10+. Youth must be supervised by an adult.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Owls, Hawks, Falcons, Oh My!
2025-01-17 15:30 - 17:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
Ages 8 yrs – 12 yrs
Join the St. Petersburg Audubon in exploring our apex predators: RAPTORS!
Participants will have the opportunity to dissect an owl pellet, and with the assistance of charts, identify the prey species the owl dined on.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve
2025-01-19 07:30 - 11:30 | Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve, 2469 Patrinostro Road, Plant City, FL, 33565, United States
Located north of Plant City, the Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve (BCNP) is a 2,200-acre site maintained by Hillsborough County. BCNP is mostly flat and the trail is a mixture of grass and sand. While there are several stands of long leaf pines and cypress heads, the trail is mostly unshaded and generally follows the edges of several wide fields. We plan on hiking the red trail, which includes a short walk down to the namesake creek.
The total length of our walk is approximately 4.1 miles. Please wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen if needed. There are no restrooms at BCNP, so plan accordingly.
Birds commonly seen at BCNP during February include Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Towhees, and assorted Warblers. Less common sightings include Northern Harriers and Bachman’s Sparrows. Given the large fields and open views, 10X binoculars will come in handy, but 8X will be fine.

Important! Pre-registration is required and participation is limited. Important! Pre-registration is required, and participation is limited. Please do not attend this or any Tampa Audubon Society events if you have flu, cold, or covid symptoms. Tampa Audubon is committed to reducing the spread of illnesses. The health and safety of our members is of the highest priority.

Please RSVP to field trip leader Logan Lane at logan.lane@tampaaudubon.org

Photography Bird Walk - Roosevelt Wetlands
2025-03-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Roosevelt Wetlands, 0853 43rd St. N, Clearwater, FL, 33765, United States
Field Trip Leaders: Joel Conrad, Will Laurie, and Jason Guerrero (Conservation Leadership Initiative Student)
Location: Roosevelt Wetlands
0853 43rd St. N. (43rd and 110th Ave N.), Clearwater, FL 33765. Meet at the entrance on 43rd St. There is a small unpaved parking lot that only can handle 3 or 4 cars; more parking is along 43rd. The trip will entail walking 1-2 miles or more on packed dirt trails. We will be looking for birds to photograph and will share our photos later.
What to bring: Binoculars/cameras, Hat, Sunscreen, Water, Insect Repellant.
There are no restroom facilities.

Walk Chinsegut Wildlife & Environmental Area
2025-03-12 07:30 - 10:30 | Chinsegut Conservation Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville, FL, 34601, United States
Meet at the parking lot at the intersection of Snow Memorial Highway and US-41, Brooksville, FL 34601. It’s 6 miles north of Brooksville. Bring water, snacks, and lunch if you want.

We’ll walk about 4 miles in to view the May’s Prairie wetland and back out. It’s a wide, well-kept trail, with lots of birds! Red-headed Woodpeckers and Barred Owls were the stars on our last walk, and warblers, thrushes, and wading birds should be around in good numbers.

There is a picnic table by the parking lot, so if you bring lunch we can eat there when we’re done.
Leader Mary.keith@tampaaudubon.org 813-767-5863

Important! Pre-registration is required, and participation is limited. Please do not attend this or any Tampa Audubon Society events if you have flu, cold, or covid symptoms. Tampa Audubon is committed to reducing the spread of illnesses. The health and safety of our members is of the highest priority.

Colony Watch Training TBP
2025-03-15 10:00 - 11:30 | FL
Jeff Liechty, Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries staff, and William Laurie, Project Colony Watch Coordinator, will conduct Colony Watch Training March 15, 10 am in Brandon.

During the training, you’ll learn how to identify nesting birds and survey your local bird nesting colony. Reports help inform local and state managers and protect wading bird populations.

For more information and the location, contact William.laurie@tampaaudubon.org

Community Science Using eBird
2025-03-18 19:00 - 20:30 | ZOOM, United States
Speaker: Alli Smith, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Everyone can contribute to science, even on a local scale! Alli Smith will tell us about eBird, how to navigate the app, and the way scientists can use this data for conservation.
Location: Zoom (click here to register)

The Story of Swallow-Tailed Kites & the People Who Track Them
2025-04-05 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join us to learn about these aerial acrobats!
Swallow-tailed Kites that breed in North America spend most of their lives on the wing traveling over vast distances. It is a treacherous journey at a treacherous time for this neo-tropical species that breeds primarily in the southern states, with Florida being their primary breeding grounds. They are highly social birds with intricate lives and are among one of the most beautiful birds in the world. People have tracked them from the ground, from the water, from the air and with tracking devices to study their migratory patterns, their life cycles and their social habits.
Join Barbara Walker of the Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for this enlightening, photographic enriched program AND meet a live Kite!
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

In Your Backyard Screech Owl Nest Boxes
2025-04-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
WHOOOO’s Home? Discover the amazing world of Screech Owls and help support local wildlife by building your very own owl nest box! In this engaging workshop, participants will learn about the importance of owls in our ecosystem, their unique characteristics, and how these nest boxes provide essential housing. Through hands-on building, kids and their adults will gain practical skills while fostering a love for nature. Each family (up to four people) will get one nest box.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT
