Field Trips

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Thursday, October 17—Northwest Lake Okeechobee. “Dr. Martin Stapleton Memorial Birding Trail”. Possible sighting of the Smooth Billed Ani. Bring lunch. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 AM.  (E)
 

Thursday, October 24—Rafter T Ranch. Local ranch eco-tour Buggy Ride.  Bring Lunch.  Leave Lake Placid Tower or Sebring Walmart by the Garden Shop at 7:30AM.  (E)
 

Thursday, November 14—Myakka River State Park. Wading birds, raptors, song birds, migratory birds and ducks. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 AM. Lunch at a local restaurant. Please call Fran (863-465-0038) to reserve.  (M)
 

Wednesday, November 20—Scrub Pens Road, Lake Istokpoga Park, and Spring Lake STA. - Local area with varying species from warblers to water fowl.  Lunch at Gator Shack a local pub. Leave Lake Placid Tower 7:30AM.  Tom Delaney leads. (E)
 

Thursday, January 9—Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park . Buggy ride to search for Crested Caracara, Burrowing Owl, and with a little luck a Grasshopper Sparrow.  Bring Lunch. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30AM or meet at Country Store on 98 at 8:00AM.  $17.00 plus tax with a limit of 24 participants.  Contact Roberta for more details.  863-599-0124.(E)
 

Wednesday, January 15—Circle B Bar Reserve & Nature Center in Lakeland. Wetlands, and diverse habitat with lots of species. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 AM or Walmart Avon Park Garden Center parking lot at 8:00 AM. Lunch at Catfish Country. Tram Tour, Led by Jim Upchurch. (E)
 

Thursday, January 23—Avon Park Airforce Range. Various habitats exist to view a variety of birds.  Bring Lunch.  Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 AM or Walmart Garden Center parking area at US 27 North, Sebring 8:00 AM. Led by Michelle Dent of Archbold Biological Station. (M)

Tuesday, January 28—T. M. Goodwin WMA.A variety of waterfowl species with water and land birds.  Lunch at Marsh Landing. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 AM.  (E)
 

Tuesday, February 4—Labelle Walk Around. Bob Mason Park, LaBelle River Park, Barron Park, Labelle Nature Park, Hendry County Courthouse, Labelle Civic Park, and possibly Port LaBelle Inn.  Lunch at local restaurant. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 AM. Led by Margaret England of Hendry Glades Audubon. (M)
 

Thursday, February 13—Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary & Blair Audubon. Boardwalk guided tour winding through the swamp.  Purchase Lunch on site or Bring Lunch. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:00 AM. Led by Sally Stein of Audubon Florida. (E)
 

Thursday, February 27—Platt Branch. Limit 15 attendees. Red-cockaded woodpeckers make their home in the old-growth longleaf pine.  Florida Scrub Jay habitat, seasonal wetlands, and Gopher Tortoise areas abound.  Bring Lunch. Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30AM.  Led by Steve Shattler of FWC.  (M)
 

Thursday, March 12—Paynes Creek Historic State Park. History and nature abound in this park that borders the Peace River.  Nature trails are ideal for birding and botanical exploration.  Lunch in Zolfo Springs at the Pioneer Restaurant. Meet at Lake Placid Tower or Walmart Avon Park by the Garden Center 7:30AM.(M)
 

Thursday, March 19—Venus Loop. Local area with varied species.  Led by Dr. Paul Gray of Audubon Florida.  Lunch at local restaurant.  Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30AM.  (E)
 

Thursday, March 26—Fort Pierce Inlet State Park & Bear Point Sanctuary. Shore birds including skimmers, gulls, terns, and maybe a frigate.  Bring Lunch.  Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30AM. (M)
 

Monday, March 30—Lake June in Winter Scrub State Park. First of three Birdathon trips this week.  Varied species including Bald Eagles, Scrub Jays, and Red-headed Woodpeckers. Soft sand trails. Lunch at local restaurant.   Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30AM. (M)
 

Wednesday, April 1—Highlands Hammock State Park.   Second Birdathon trip this week.  Walking tour on established trails.  Lunch at Sonny’s Bar-B-Q.  Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:30 or meet at HHSP entrance at 8:00AM  Entrance Fee to park required.  (M)
 

Friday, April 3—Sun ‘N Lake Preserve.  Third Birdathon trip through the flatwoods.  Lunch at local restaurant.  No facilities but lots to see.  Leave Walmart North Sebring by Garden Center at 7:30AM.  Tom Delaney leads.(C)
 

Thursday, April 9—Royce Unit.   Bluebirds with a chance of chicks.   Birds Galore. Be prepared to walk on dirt trails.  Bring water.  Leave Lake Placid Tower at 8:00 AM.  Contact David Forman at 954-695-2008.  (M)
 

Thursday, April 16—Alafia Bank Sanctuary. Limit 11 attendees.  Boat trip to island sanctuary with up to 18,000 nesting pairs of 16-20 species. Bring Lunch.  Leave Lake Placid Tower at 7:00AM. Ann Paul of Audubon Florida will lead. Reservations required. Call Roberta. 863-599-0124.
 

April Ft. DeSoto trip will be announced once warblers arrive.  Check website for date, day and time.