FIELD TRIPS

These start at the gathering place listed.  Always bring a picnic lunch.  Additional information is provided in THE LIMPKIN CALL newsletter and you can contact the specific trip leader with any question, as the phone number is provided.
Participation in field trips requires the signing of a waiver form prior to departure.

October 24 Wednesday.
A cruise on the Oklawaha River from the Eureka Landing just north of Ocala on the National Forest border, part of the Majorie Carr Greenways.  Two hours on the river $10.  Meet at Winn-Dixie Eustis 8:30am, Leader- Peg Urban  326 3868

November 13  Tuesday
Sawgrass Island Preserve, a Lake County Water Authority property just north of Eustis on CR 452, passing a scrub jay habitat en route.  Free entry.  Meet at Winn-Dixie Eustis 8:30am. Leader- Dennis O’Neil  383 6309.

December 14 Friday
Christmas Bird Count .  We can always use all the volunteers we can get for this event so please try to make it.  Meet at 7:30am at Emeralda Marsh, Wood Duck parking lot. Leader- Peg Urban  326 3868. Refreshments at the Blue House, Sunnyhill Farm at conclusion.  $ 5 contribution.

January 16 Wednesday
Disney Wilderness Preserve. This is a large tract owned by The Nature Conservancy just south of Kissimmee. Ranger-led tours of property by tram with $20 contribution.  See page 18 of Great Florida Birding Trail-East for directions.  Meet at Publix parking lot routes 27 and 48 Leesburg 8:30am.  . Leader- Mary Remer 365 0934.

February 20 Wednesday
At popular request we go this season again to the Audubon Birds of Prey Center Maitland.  Cost for group of 30 is $100 donation, so if only 10 visitors it is $10 each.
Short trip so meet at either Publix Leesburg or Golden Triangle Mt Dora parking lots at 8:30am.  Leader- Peg Lindsay  3262045.

March 15 Saturday
The best birding spot in Lake County is here at Emeralda Marsh along the Wildlife Trail Drive.  Meet at the Wood Duck parking lot where the drive begins at 8:30am.  Leader- Peg Lindsay  326 2045.  Free.

April 2  Wednesday
Hontoon Island State Park, in the St Johns River by DeLand, this is good hammock and scrub habitat for all types of song birds and woodpeckers.  Free ferry takes you to the island where usual state park fee applies.  Meet at Winn-Dixie parking lot Eustis at 8:30am.  Leader- Dennis O’Neil  383 6309.

April 9-11  Wednesday – Friday
Overnight trip to Ft DeSoto Park, a Pinellas County property in St Petersburg and consistently voted in the top beaches in the nation.  But it is not for those alone that we go but this is a major stop on the migratory flyway in April.  Many other activities too, a trip to Shell Key, Clearwater Marina and a state park.  All the details from the leader- Peg Lindsay 326 2045.   Limited hotel space so early sign-up needed.

2007-2008 MEETING  PROGRAMS

OVAS and TLNC  will be combining meetings again this year.  All meetings are free and open to the public and are held on Sundays or Tuesdays, October though April, at 2:00pm at Trout Lake Nature Center, one-half mile east of SR 19 in Eustis.

Meetings feature a speaker on a subject relevant to Audubon goals, for approximately 45-60 minutes, followed by a brief business meeting of past and coming events.  Refreshments are available beginning at 1:30pm.

MEETING PROGRAMS

October 23 Tuesday
Regular Meeting- 2:00pm.  The Florida Envirothon  What is it and why should we participate in it?  Cindy Strickland, who has worked for many years with Lake County, with the County Commission and the Soil & Water Conservation District will explain it all to us. 

November 11 Sunday
Regular meeting- 2:00pm.   Birding the Dry Tortugas.  A part of Florida missed by many since it is some distance even from Key West but not too far for avid birders. One of those, Peg Lindsay, will present a slide show of some three trips to these remote keys.

December 8 Saturday
11:30am.  This is our Christmas Picnic, held together with Trout Lake and is our only time to be together at the holidays.  The picnic will be indoors at Trout Lake and please bring enough food to share with others who attend.  Last year we had a very good turn-out of more than 50.  OVAS/TLNC will provide table decorations, settings and drinks.

January 22 Tuesday
Regular meeting- 2:00pm.  Adventuring on Florida’s Hiking Trails.  Joan Hobson of the Florida Trail Association will be the speaker.  Joan is known as “the hiking grandmother” and has covered over 5000 miles on Florida trails and surely the expert on walking through the state. She currently oversees some 26 miles in Ocala National Forest.

February 17 Sunday
Regular meeting- 2:00pm.  Birding in Costa Rica. The last time we heard from Professor Jim Dinsmore, we were birding in New Zealand.  Now we are closer to home and in addition, Jim has joined our board of directors.  Few of us manage the trip to New Zealand, but environmental travel to Costa Rica is popular and reasonable and just a few hours away. .

March 25 Tuesday – 6:00pm
This is the OVAS Annual Meeting, Election of Officers/Director and the Potluck Dinner
The program- Global Warming and Biological Diversity for Birds.  Our speaker is Joe Siry from Rollins College. Dr Siry is probably one of the most qualified people in the field of environment and ecology, not only from his academic background but from his professional activities in some of top environmental groups including  Audubon.

April 20 Sunday
Regular Meeting- 2:00pm. Birding in Lake County Parks.  The county has become such a popular location for bird watching, that it has now a county ornithologist. He is Gallus Quigley and a native of the Northeast, he is a biologist with experience in the US West and the Galapagos, before coming to Florida