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Oklawaha Valley Audubon SocietyBirding ProgramsBirding odservation and learning activities, held outdoors and indoors, compose the major program emphasis of the Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society. Information about these activities is given below. It's not surf
boarding, nor
jet skiing, nor bungee jumping, but Bird Watching.
That's the fastest growing outdoor activity in the US and
has
become easier to do in this county. The Lake
County Welcome
Center has just published a new 20 page brochure on Bird Watching
listing
eighteen Birding Spots including properties of the county, cities, St
Johns
and USDA. This
was produced with input from our chapter and particularly
from Mary Remer and Peg Urban,
including photos by Peg Urban. Limited
numbers of copies
are available at Trout Lake or you can contact the Welcome Center at
800-430-5253.. We are sure you will
agree that a very good job has been done in the creation of this guide. Birding Field TripsThese day trips visit the best birding areas around central Florida. Bring a lunch and your binoculars to the assembly location. Often there will be more than one trip per month. Our annual schedule includes a boat trip to see water birds during the Spring. The activity calendar lists field trip dates and locations. We have a general area map, gathering point maps and individual trip locator maps. The trip leader will also provide drivers with maps and instructions at the gathering point. We try to car pool and share the traveling enjoyment. You will have time at the gathering point to meet each other and, if you desire, to setup a car pool. Suggestions: Cleanable shoes are advisable. The muck on our trails is sometimes wet. We try to advise you in advance as to the amount of walking involved, if any. Our walking trips are leisurely and walking distances are usually less than 2 miles. Central Florida is essentially flat. Of course, you may call the trip leader and ask about what to expect. You also may wish to carry a telephone list and medication card with you and perhaps advise a friend or the leader what to do in the event of a personal emergency. Canoe TripsOur canoe trips are bird hikes on water. They are always fun and exciting. Florida rivers flow slowly to the ocean through wooded areas separated by lakes and open areas. Generally the shallow streams meander under a beautiful canopy of oak and palm. Often the bird calls echo through the cypress. We use canoe outfitters so you only need to bring a lunch and binoculars. Please arrange for a canoeing partner to share the paddling and cost. Call the trip leader in advance If you need a canoeing partner. Up to three people can use a canoe. Watch the calendar for times and locations. Hint: If you have never canoed before, these trips are great for experiencing the wonder of canoeing. Overnight Nature Trips To experience
the highlights of Florida's nature, a two or three day overnight trip
is scheduled annually. See the calendar
for this year's trip schedule. Car & van pools take us to our
motel, then it is off to see the flora and fauna in a different and
exciting locale. Advance reservations are required. Double occupancy
keeps the cost lower. Admission fees may be part of the expense.
In the past, the chapter has visited the Nature Coast, Cumberland Island, GA, Brevard-Canaveral Area and in 2003 Caya Costa and Corkscrew Swamp. In 2004, we plan to visit the Lake Wales Ridge area including Lake Kissimmee State Park. More information under Calendar of Events. Great Florida Birding TrailThe Great Florida Birding Trail is a segmented trail covering hundred of miles in Florida. The Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society is proud to have four sections of the trail within its service area. The major local section is a driving trail through Emerald Marsh, 4.3 miles in length. The three other sections are walking trails. One is at Hidden lake, east of Eustis. One is through the Sunnyhill Restoration Area of the Ocklawaha river, on State Route 42 east of Lady Lake. The last is along the Timcuan Trail near Alexander Springs in the Ocala National Forest.Beginner Birding ClassesJust new or need a refresher on to how to identify our feathered friends? Beginner classes help you with selecting a field book, adjusting your binoculars, using identification markings and finding the best birding locations. Classes are held on in the fall. Classes are free but require advance registration. For more information contact the Trout Lake Nature Center, 352-357-7536.
Christmas Bird CountIt is a 100+ year tradition. It is national in scope, and we participate annually in cooperation with the St. John's River Water Management Area staff. Our survey center is near the Emerald Marsh restoration discharge into Lake Griffin. The defined survey area extends 7.5 miles in each direction. With many birders we can cover a fair portion of this area.Click here for the date, time and starting point for this year's CBC. Join others in this fun experience. Please contact our CBC leader, Ruth Duesing, before or during the count, to register your participation. It is important. Great Backyard Bird CountThe Great Backyard Bird Count is a birding activity for everyone. It is conducted during the middle weekend in February. The count is a nationally sponsered activity to increase our birding knowledge and to have fun. You may make any number of counts from Friday Feb. 14, 2003 to Monday Feb. 17, 2003. The count(s) may be in your backyard, park, marsh or woodland. Submit the results of each count separately by using this checklist for Florida. Read the rules on the "How To Do It" sheet. Statistics are kept. For more details on this activity go to the Bird Source web site.National Audubon SanctuariesFlorida is fortunate to have 5 of 31 National Audubon Sanctuaries located within its boundaries. Most are half a day's drive or less from Lake County. Individuals may visit some of these sanctuaries if your have your Audubon membership card with you.
Bird Identification ChartsMany of OVAS's field trips are lead by Bob Rogers, a retired teacher. He has prepared a quick and easy to use Florida Water Bird Identifier list. Go to this list and reprint it for your field use. Accompanying this chart is another version which may be of use as well.Nature & Conservation Presentations:These presentations occur during the regular meetings on fourth Tuesdays at 1:30 P.M. The meetings are held at the Trout Lake Nature Center in Eustis Florida. See the calendar for the schedule of presentations. Shown is Dr. Richard Hesterberg, lepidopterist at Cypress Gardens, presenting a program on butterflies and moths.
On Valentine's Day 2002 the Emeralda Interpretive Wildlife Drive was opened by OVAS, the Lake County Commissioners and the St. Johns River Water Management District. The opening of the 4.3 mile long drive was fulfilment of a 5 year dream of Bob Rogers, OVAS Director and Field Trip Leader. His planning and other hard work lead to this great achievement. Click here to read more about the Drive and why it is a prominent birding area in Florida. To view photos of the event click here. In March, Lake County became the home of the first Florida birth and survival of a baby Whooping Crane in more than 100 years. Two baby cranes were hatched in March 2002. One chick was grabbed by a Bald Eagle during its second day. But the second chick. "Lucky", has survived. Read about unusual bird sightings and the best birdinng sites in the Oklawaha Valley Aududon Society's service area.
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