Birding observation 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 published a 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.

These 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.

Our 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.

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.

The 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.

Just 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.

It 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, Peg Urban, before or during the count, to register your participation. It is important.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a birding activity for everyone. It is a nationally sponsered activity to increase our birding knowledge and to have fun. The count(s) may be in your backyard, park, marsh or woodland. For the details on how to do it, go to the Great Backyard Bird Count website.

Florida 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.

• Corkscrew Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road West, Naples, FL 34120 Corkscrew Sanctuary is one of the oldest national sanctuaries. Facilities have been newly restored for visitor comfort. It features a two mile long boardwalk through a sub-tropic wetland of palms and marshes. Naturalists are available for information. Tours and nature talks are given each day. It is located 15 miles east of Naples Fla off County Route 846. Use the I-75 Exit 17 at Naples Park to go east on CR 846.
  

• Rookery Bay Sanctuary, Contact: Corkscrew Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road West, Naples, FL. Contact Corkscrew for information.
• Florida Coastal Islands Sanctuaries, 410 Ware Boulevard, Suite 702 Tampa, FL 33619. Email Rich Paul: rpaul@audubon.org This sanctuary is new and contacts must be made in advance.
• Kissimmee Prairie Sanctuary, 100 Riverwoods Circle Lorida FL 33857. Email Paul Gray: pgray@audubon.org Open to groups only, please contact Paul Gray for arrangements.
• Lake Okeechobee Sanctuaries, 100 Riverwoods Circle Lorida FL 33857. Email Paul Gray: pgray@audubon.org Open to groups only, please contact Paul Gray for arrangements.
• Bird of Prey Center,

Many 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.

These presentations occur during the regular meetings. 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.