Lakeland Christmas Bird Count
2023-12-16 | FL
What is a Christmas Bird Count?
The longest running Citizen Science survey in the world, Christmas Bird Counts provide critical data on bird population trends. Tens of thousands of participants know that it also a lot of fun. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission, often before dawn, to count every bird they can find in their territory of the count circle – owls, rails, sparrows, herons, shorebirds, warblers, hawks, eagle, blackbirds… every type of bird. Audubon and other organizations use data collected to help guide conservation action.
How can I get involved?
We need feeder-watchers and field observers. Birders of all ability levels are welcome. Field observers can join a team covering a portion of the count circle by car, foot and/or boat. Just email Cole Fredericks cfredricks@tampabay.rr.com and we will be in touch to find the best fit for you. Explore the interactive count circle map here.
Christmas Bird Count | Audubon https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count
Sponsored by the Lake Region Audubon

Butterfly and Bird-Attracting Native Plants & Trees
2024-01-04 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | UF/IFAS Manatee County Extension, 1303 17th Street West, Palmetto, FL, 34221, United States
Learn how to attract birds & butterflies with natives!
Bird and butterfly populations are in decline worldwide and their fates are intertwined. Join us for an informative class about what we each can do in our own backyards and neighborhoods by adding appropriate plants and changing practices to support these beautiful creatures and bring life back into our communities.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Native Bees and Me!
2024-01-27 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Learn about our native bees!
Florida is home to over 300 species of native bees. The honeybee is not one of them. We will explore our oft-overlooked native bees, their critical role in healthy ecosystems and how we can provide a welcoming habitat for these harmless insects. Participants will have the opportunity to take home a bee-friendly project that will benefit native bees. Recommended for adults and youth over 12.
Presented by James Stevenson, Education and Outreach Supervisor
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

The History of Bald Eagles in Florida
2024-02-24 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join us for a journey through time highlighting the storied history of our local eagles!
This is a program rich in history, field accounts, photography, biology and behavior of bald eagles primarily in West Central Florida with state wide comparisons. Rare photos and data cover more than a half of a century of eagle field work. Program participants can expect to learn about eagles from a historical perspective covering eagle populations prior to DDT, through the listing and delisting periods, with a focus on our local Bald Eagles.
The program may feature a Bald Eagle. Moccasin Lake Nature Park in Clearwater serves as a sanctuary to these educational ambassadors.
Join Barbara Walker of the Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for this enlightening program!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Pinellas County Bee City USA 2024 BioBlitz!
2024-03-02 09:00 - 12:00 | Eagle Lake Park, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL, 33771, United States
Join others in the community for a fun, citizen-science effort to record as many species of plants and insects at Eagle Lake Park!

Pinellas County has recently been recognized as a Bee City (County) by the non-profit Xerces Society for the Conservation of Invertebrates. Part of our commitment to foster a community that supports insect conservation is to engage citizens in the collection of data on the health of our insect populations.
You are invited to join others in the community for a fun, citizen-science effort to record as many species of plants and insects at Eagle Lake Park on March 2nd. This “Bio-Blitz” using the iNaturalist phone app (free) will give us an idea of the density and diversity of pollinators and the plants they depend on in one park in our county. Educators from the Brooker Creek and Weedon Island Environmental Education Centers will be on hand to get you started at the BioBlitz.
You can sign-up here to keep updated by email of any useful information before the event. Otherwise, all are welcome to join us to start the blitz at Shelter 3, Eagle Lake Park, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL 33771 from 9:00am – 12:00pm.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Sea Turtle Awareness Day Lake Cleanup
2024-04-06 09:00 - 13:00 | Lake Belleview, 1426 S M.L.K. Jr Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33756, United States
Come join the city of Clearwater and Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Nesting Team for a lake cleanup! Get the chance to learn about sea turtle conservation and how you can help our local sea turtle population.
This event will include raffle prizes, the opportunity to personalize a sea turtle nesting stake, a photo opp and much more!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Youth Action Through Roots & Shoots
2024-05-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Youth have the power to build a better world!
“Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” These are the wise words of Dr. Jane Goodall, an icon in the world of chimpanzee research and species conservation. In 1991, Dr. Jane launched her youth program, Roots & Shoots, to empower young people to make a difference in their own way. Roots & Shoots supports youth projects in over 60 countries worldwide, and in September, Roots & Shoots opened an office in Tampa Bay! What does this mean for you? If you have an idea for a service project benefiting animals, people, or the environment we all share, Roots & Shoots offers resources to help make it happen. Roots & Shoots supports youth projects in any setting: individuals, families, schools, after school programs, clubs, home schools, or nonprofit organizations serving youth. Come join Bonnie Eaton, coordinator for Roots & Shoots – Tampa Bay, to learn more about Roots & Shoots and how to get started on a project!
For more information, check out https://rootsandshoots.org.

>>> REGISTER HERE

Intro to Beekeeping
2024-07-07 10:30 - 13:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Introduction to Beekeeping:
A Hobby with Sweet Rewards
~ Session 1 of 3 ~
This program will introduce you to the basics of honey bees, their behavior, biology and the guiding principles of beekeeping.
Instructor: Robert Burkard, President of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve’s Beekeepers Club
Why honey bees? In addition to the personal satisfaction of harvesting your own pure natural honey, many of our food staples would disappear without honey bees for pollination. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these under-appreciated workers pollinate 80 percent of our flowering crops, which constitute one-third of everything we eat. Hobbyist beekeepers play a vital role in keeping our honey bee population healthy.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Intro to Beekeeping
2024-07-14 10:30 - 13:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Introduction to Beekeeping:
A Hobby with Sweet Rewards
~ Session 2 of 3 ~

This program will cover what it takes to get started in this amazing hobby with a focus on the equipment and tools necessary for beekeeping. We will review the components of the “modern” bee hive, the tools used by beekeepers, and demystify the seemingly countless number of paraphernalia available for the hobbyist beekeeping.
In addition we will discuss the proper locations for beehives and explain Florida’s rules and guidelines.
Instructor: Robert Burkard, President of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve’s Beekeepers Club
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Intro to Beekeeping
2024-07-21 10:30 - 13:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Introduction to Beekeeping:
A Hobby with Sweet Rewards
~ Session 3 of 3 ~
Principles of Organic Beekeeping Practices
This program will cover what it takes to keep your hives healthy throughout the beekeeping seasons. We will review how to maintain healthy honeybee colonies, discuss how to recognize pests and diseases, and have an in- depth discussion on what you can do to support your bees, with a focus on organic beekeeping practices.
Instructor: Robert Burkard, President of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve’s Beekeepers Club
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

Falcon Fascination
2024-09-14 10:30 - 12:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Join us for a journey through time representing man’s long term relationship with peregrine falcons!
This program is a journey through time representing man’s long term relationship with peregrine falcons. The importance of coastal areas, climate, water, bird friendly communities and migratory stop overs is discussed. Peregrine falcons are extreme predators that ended up on the endangered species list. Several organizations, as well as falconers, were instrumental in bringing the peregrine falcons back to their nesting grounds and into the 21st century. Peregrines have adapted well in urban environments and counts at Hawk Watches have been very high. The program features live falcons! Moccasin Lake Nature Park in Clearwater serves as a sanctuary to these educational ambassadors.
Join Barbara Walker of the Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue for this enlightening program and meet a live falcon!
>>> REGISTER HERE

Butterfly Gardening for Beginners
2024-10-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Palma Sola Botanical Park, 9800 17th Avenue Northwest, Bradenton, FL, 34209, United States
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™:
Basics of Butterfly Gardening for Beginners
Everything you need to know to start your own backyard butterfly garden!
>>> REGISTER HERE

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.

Butterfly Garden Work Day
2025-01-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
No experience necessary. We will be weeding, pruning, spreading mulch, and learning about native plants!
Meet near the butterfly garden which is next to the education building at the end of the parking lot.
Join in for as many hours as you can.
Bring gloves if you have them – the park has some that volunteers can borrow.
Questions/RSVP to Tabatha Spence-Hall: volunteer@pinellasnativeplants.org

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

Introduction to Beekeeping
2025-03-09 11:00 - 13:00 | Brooker Creek Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL, 34688, United States
Introduction to Beekeeping:
A Hobby with Sweet Rewards
~ 3 Sessions ~
This program will introduce you to the basics of honey bees, their behavior, biology and the guiding principles of beekeeping.
Instructor: Robert Burkard, President of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve’s Beekeepers Club
Why honey bees? In addition to the personal satisfaction of harvesting your own pure natural honey, many of our food staples would disappear without honey bees for pollination. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these under-appreciated workers pollinate 80 percent of our flowering crops, which constitute one-third of everything we eat. Hobbyist beekeepers play a vital role in keeping our honey bee population healthy.
>>> REGISTER HERE

Butterfly Gardening: Milkweed for Monarchs
2025-03-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Hillsborough County Extension, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, FL, 33584, United States
Learn how to attract monarchs and other butterflies to your Florida garden
This class will teach you how to attract and keep butterflies in your garden year-round along with other pollinators and beneficial insects important to a healthy garden. We will talk about key nectar and host plants for Central Florida that you should plant in your yard. Participants will receive a native milkweed plant and a butterfly ID brochure after attending the workshop.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a non-refundable $10.00 registration fee per individual for this workshop.
If you have any questions, please contact the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County at (813) 744-5519.
>>> RESERVE A SPOT

The Florida Panther: Our Endangered Big Cat
2025-03-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Boyd Hill – 31st Street S, 3130 31st Street S, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
The elusive Florida Panther is one of the most endangered creatures. There are only around 200 of these majestic cats left in the wild! Make plans to join us for a great discussion with a field biologist who will delve into the mysteries of these incredible animals. Discover their secret lives and find out what efforts are underway to protect them from habitat loss and ensure their survival!
Our presenter is Christopher Satter, Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Open to the public. | FREE ADMISSION
For questions about the Natural History Speaker Series, contact Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at 727-893-7326.

Sea Turtle Awareness Day Lake Cleanup
2025-04-05 09:00 - 13:00 | Lake Belleview, 1426 S M.L.K. Jr Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33756, United States
Come join the city of Clearwater and Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Nesting Team for a lake cleanup! Get the chance to learn about sea turtle conservation and how you can help our local sea turtle population.
This event will include raffle prizes, the opportunity to personalize a sea turtle nesting stake, a photo opp and much more!

Florida’s Fabulous Fireflies
2025-04-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL, United States
Commonly called “lightning bugs”, come learn about Florida’s fireflies and what we can do to conserve them!
Yes, Florida has fireflies and more species than any other state in the U.S.! Join a staff naturalist to learn about this insect’s surprising lifestyle, how they communicate (hint: it’s flashy) and what you can do to help them. There might even be a chance to flash like a firefly!
>>> REGISTER HERE

AFTERNOON ADVENTURES: BETTER BEE-LIEVE IT
2025-05-17 03:30 - 16:30 | Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Classroom, 1101 COUNTRY CLUB WY S, St. Petersburg, FL, 33705, United States
For Ages: 8 – 12
Join our Rangers to learn about bee society and how a hive cooperates, along with examining how important bees are to humans. Many of our crops are only possible because of bee pollination.
Explore why bees are important, what dangers they face, and how you can help our small, flighted friends.
Register here

Save the Whales : World Ocean's Day Workshop
2025-06-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Majeed Discovery Garden, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL, 33774, United States
Recommended for ages 8+
Registration is recommended

Sea Turtle Nesting Conservation and You!
2025-06-26 18:30 - 20:00 | Moccasin Lake Environmental Education Center, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, FL, United States
Join Keep Pinellas Beautiful for an informative presentation on Sea Turtles and playing our part in conservation! We hope to see you there!
Join Keep Pinellas Beautiful at Moccasin Lake Park on Thursday, June 26th at 6:30 PM to learn all about sea turtles that live right here in Pinellas County, Florida!
We’ll cover topics including sea turtle life cycles, how the sea turtles nest, the local dangers they face, and what YOU can do to help protect them.
***
WHERE: 2750 Park Trail Ln, Clearwater, FL 33759
TIME: Presentation will begin at 6:30 PM

Eagle Lake Park BioBlitz!
2025-06-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Eagle Lake Park, 1800 Keene Road, Largo, FL, 33771, United States
Join others in the community for a fun, citizen-science effort to record as many species of plants and insects at Eagle Lake Park!

Pinellas County has recently been recognized as a Bee City (County) by the non-profit Xerces Society for the Conservation of Invertebrates. Part of our commitment to foster a community that supports insect conservation is to engage citizens in the collection of data on the health of our insect populations.
You are invited to join others in the community for a fun, citizen-science effort to record as many species of plants and insects at Eagle Lake Park on June 28th. This “Bio-Blitz” using the iNaturalist phone app (free) will give us an idea of the density and diversity of pollinators and the plants they depend on in one park in our county. Educators from the Brooker Creek and Weedon Island Environmental Education Centers will be on hand to get you started at the BioBlitz.
>>> GET TICKETS

Dune Savers Work Day
2025-07-04 07:30 - 08:30 | To Be Determined, FL, United States
Contact Deb Rothenberger for location: d2bv4@aol.com
Thank you all and can’t wait to see you Friday morning!

Bee Kind and Save the Bees Workshop
2025-07-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Majeed Discovery Garden, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL, 33774, United States
Eloise Cole from USF StudentPIRG (Public Interest Research Group) will demonstrate how bees play an essential role in our environment. Kids can learn about pollinators, honey, bee threats, and how to be more bee friendly!
Workshop is free but you must register ahead of time to save a seat!
>>> REGISTER HERE

FFL HC Webinar Series: Attract Wildlife
2025-07-17 10:00 - 11:00 | ZOOM, United States
Join us for an exciting Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ webinar on “Attract Wildlife.” Discover how to transform your landscape into a thriving habitat for Florida’s diverse fauna.
What You’ll Learn:

How to create wildlife-friendly spaces in your yard
Plant selections that attract butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects
Simple ways to provide food, water, and shelter for local wildlife

The mission is to educate Floridians about environmentally friendly landscaping practices and to encourage them to conserve and protect our water resources by applying Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles in their landscapes.
Turn your yard into a bustling ecosystem that supports local wildlife while maintaining a beautiful, Florida-Friendly landscape. Our UF/IFAS experts will share tips and answer your questions during the live Q&A session.
Register now and take a step towards creating a vibrant, wildlife-friendly oasis in your own backyard!
We will conduct this Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ workshop online, via Zoom. No additional software or extra computer skills are necessary – just click to join!
>>> REGISTER HERE
