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Calendar of Events
October
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October 9 - 12, Florida Birding and Nature Festival, Eckerd College. Highlights include presentations by George Archibald, founder of the International Crane Foundation; John Acorn, Animal Planet's "The Nature Nut;" and Arthur Morris, wildlife photographer and author; plus special seminars on whooping cranes and other topics, more than 30 field trips, and special activities for children. For more information, call 727-827-3326 or visit www.pcef.org.
October 16, 19 & 23, Premier showing of the film "Water's Journey - Hidden Rivers of Florida" on PBS exploring human impact on groundwater in the karst areas of Florida. WEDU will air the program at 8 p.m. on October 16 and again at 2:30 p.m. on October 19 with local followup programming. WUSF will air it at 9 p.m. on October 23.
October 18, "Give a Day for the Bay," 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at McKay Bay Nature Park in Tampa, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Volunteers are needed to help tackle Brazilian pepper trees that choke out all other vegetation. All volunteers will receive a free lunch and t-shirt, plus a special thank-you gift. They are asked to bring leather or garden gloves, tree loppers, pruners or handsaws, a water bottle, a hat and sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray, and to wear closed-toed shoes. Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and pants are also recommended. Children over 12 years old are welcome with adult supervision. For more information, call Nanette Holland at 727-893-2765 or e-mail nanette@tbep.org.
October 18, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Tour of Certified Florida Friendly Yards, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The selfdriven tours offer participants a chance to meet homeowners who have Certified Florida-Friendly Yards and talk about creating and maintaining an environmentally friendly landscape. Participants also are provided literature explaining the certification process. There is a $5 charge and pre-registration is preferred. Call 727-582-2673.
October 18, Water quality sampling. To mark the 31st anniversary of the Clean Water Act, volunteers across the nation are collecting water samples from streams, lakes, springs, rivers and coastal waters for an entire month. During statewide educational activities, scientists will introduce residents and visitors to water monitoring techniques by sampling lakes and streams for dissolved oxygen, temperature and clarity. For more information, visit the DEP Office of Environmental Education or call 850-245-2130.
October 18, Duette Park Off-Road Mountain Bike Ride, 9 a.m. Sponsored by the Manatee Citizen Trail Committee as part of Florida Greenways and Trails month. Register online at www.co.manatee.fl.us
October 19, St. Petersburg Audubon Society's Fall Wine and Cheese Sunset Cruise with Capt. Alva. Leave at 5:30 p.m. from Merry Pier, 801 Pass-a-Grille Way, St. Pete Beach for a tour of Intracoastal waterways, ending with sunset over Shell Key. Call Barb Ranck, 727-864-1068, for reservations. A $25 donation is requested.
October 24, 6th Annual Nauti-Night at the Florida Aquarium, 8 p.m. to midnight. An adults-only costume party and fundraiser featuring lavish catering, open bars, costume contests and live music. Tickets are $50 for members prior to Oct. 21, $70 afterward. Call 813-273-4000.
October 25, Rain Barrel & Water Wise Workshops, 9 to 11:30 a.m., Hillsborough County Extension, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner, 33584. Pre-registration is required; call 813-744-5519, ext. 144.
October 27 TO 30, Fourth Tampa Bay Area Scientific and Information Symposium (BASIS 4), Sunspree Resort Conference Center in St. Petersburg. Call the Tampa Bay Estuary Program at 727-893-2765 or visit TBEP for more information.
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TECO'S Manatee Viewing Center, which has hosted more than a million visitors since it first opened in 1986, reopens on November 1. The slow-moving mammals flock to the power plant discharge canal every winter seeking refuge from the colder waters . Located adjacent to the utility's Big Bend power plant in Apollo Beach, the Manatee Viewing Center has been expanded to include an environmental education building with displays about manatees, as well as a Florida-friendly garden area featuring native plants. There is no charge for admission. To get there, take Interstate 75 to Apollo Beach, Exit #246. Turn west on Big Bend Road (C.R. 672). Travel 2.5 miles west to the intersection of Big Bend and Dickman Roads. The Manatee Viewing Center entrance is on the right. For more information, visit Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center or call 813-228-4289. |
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November
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November 8, Canoe the Weedon Island Estuary with the Florida Aquarium, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. See this beautiful aquatic preserve from canoe trails that wind through mangrove-lined creeks and the backwaters of Tampa Bay (moderate paddle - some open water). Call the aquarium for reservations and charges, 813-273-4000.
November 8, Tour Caladesi Island off Dunedin with St. Petersburg Audubon Society. Meet at 8 a.m. to carpool from Eckerd Drug, Alt. US 19 and Curlew Road. Cost is $4 per car plus $7 per person for ferry. Pack a lunch. Contact Bruce Ackerman, 727-821-9279.
November 13, TBRPC Agency on Bay Management full agency meeting, 9 a.m. to noon at TBRPC, 9455 Koger Blvd., Suite 219, St. Petersburg. Call 727-570-5151, ext. 240 or visit TBRPC 10 days before the meeting.
November 13, TBRPC Agency on Bay Management Recreational Boat Launch Task Force, 1:30 to 4 p.m. at TBRPC, 9455 Koger Blvd., Suite 219, St. Petersburg. Call 727-570-5151, ext. 240 or visit TBRPC 10 days before the meeting.
November 14, Tampa Bay Estuary Program Management Board meeting, 9 a.m. to noon, Policy Board meeting, 1 to 4 p.m. at TBRPC, 9455 Koger Blvd., Suite 219, St. Petersburg. Call 727-893-2765. NOVEMBER 18, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), presented by Hillsborough County Extension Office, 7 p.m., Temple Terrace Library, 202 Bullard Pkwy. Call 813-989-7160.
November 22, Preserve Pasco! Fundraising concert featuring original acoustic blues, folk and rock, 1 to 6 p.m., Flatwoods Adventures at the Starkey Ranch on S.R. 54 in Odessa. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.preservepasco.org or call 813-907-0200.
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December
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December 6, Fire in Florida's Ecosystem, a free training program for teachers sponsored by the Florida Division of Forestry. English Creek Preserve, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., participants earn six hours of inservice credits. Preregistration is required, call 352-372-4747 or email ltyler@pandionsystems.com
December 6, Tour Lettuce Lake County Park in Tampa with St. Petersburg Audubon Society. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Kmart, 94th Ave. N. & 9th St. in St Petersburg to carpool or at 8:30 a.m. at the Park Visitor Center, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. Pack a lunch. Contact Bruce Ackerman, 727-821-9279.
December 11, TBRPC Agency on Bay Management's Committee meeting(s) to be announced. 9455 Koger Blvd., Suite 219, St. Petersburg. Call 727-570-5151, ext. 240 or visit TBRPC 10 days before the meeting.
December 13, Cockroach Bay Estuarine Eco-Adventure with the Florida Aquarium, 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tour the beautiful aquatic preserve on a canoe trail that wind through mangrove-lined creeks and the backwaters of Tampa Bay (moderate paddle - some open water). For reservations and costs, call 813-273-4015.
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January
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January 1, New Years Day Birding Open, Fort DeSoto County Park, sponsored by St. Petersburg Audubon Society. Meet at 8 a.m. by the flagpole at the park headquarters. Contact Joyce King, 727-531-3440.
January 3, Tour the Audubon Birds of Prey Center and Blue Spring State Park. Meet at 7 a.m. at Kmart, 94th Ave. N. & 9th St. in St. Petersburg to board bus. All-day trip, pack a lunch. Contact Doug Clark, 727-398-1871. Charge is $40 per person.
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