B I R D I N G & WA L K I N G TO U R S
PHOTO BY PHOEBE FLEMING
Birding Small Town Coastal Florida
Exploring the Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR
Meeting Location:
Whitney Lab Center for Marine Studies, 9505 Oceanshore Blvd.
Leader: Joe Woodbury
Meeting Location: GTM Research Reserve, Parking Lot at the entrance to
the Trails ($3 parking fee per car)
Leader: Iain Campbell, Tropical Birding Tours
THURSDAY 6:30 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M.
Price: $30, plus cost of lunch
Difficulty Level: Easy | Min/Max No of People: 7/12
Hop on the bus for this unique birding trip through small town Northeast Florida.
You’ll arrive at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in the Hammock community
just in time to view the sunrise over the beach. Washington Oaks Gardens, with
its maritime hammock, is a well known hot spot for warblers. American Redstart,
Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Cape May
Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler and Northern Waterthrush
have all been spotted throughout the month of April. Orchard Orioles, Summer
Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swallow-tailed kites and nesting
Great Horned and Barred Owls are also avian possibilities within the garden. After
Washington Oaks, we’ll drive south for 20 minutes and enjoy panoramic views of
the Atlantic Ocean.Our next stop is North Peninsula State park located in Ormondby-the-Sea. This beautiful park not only contains over two miles of pristine
beaches, it also has 300 acres of scrub, the habitat vital to the survival of the Florida
Scrub-Jay. The Florida Scrub-Jay is truly a remarkable animal. This bold, inquisitive
bird is found only in the Sunshine State. This will be a rare opportunity to get a
look at one of Florida’s true treasures. Next, we’ll spend a little time birding the
beachside of the park in search of interesting gulls, terns and shorebirds. At noon
we’ll stop at the charming seaside community of Flagler Beach for lunch. While
there you can sit, relax, and discuss the morning’s rewarding events!
Introduction to the Environments of River to Sea Preserve
Meeting Location: River to Sea Preserve, 9805 Oceanshore Blvd., Marineland FL
Leader: Frank Quinn
THURSDAY 7:30 TO 9:30 A.M. | SATURDAY 7:30 TO 9:30 A.M.
Price: $20 | Difficulty Level: Easy | Min/Max No of People: 4/12
Beginning at the Atlantic Ocean and reaching west to the Intracoastal Waterway,
Marineland’s River to Sea Preserve protects a rapidly disappearing maritime
scrub environment. This 90-acre preserve offers walking trails, nature vistas, and
ecological education opportunities.By showing the differences in such short
distances, trip leader Frank Quinn will show a wide diversity of fauna and flora. On
the shore, you can look forward to finding shore birds. Across the road, you will
enter a scrub habitat with foraging birds. At the pond, there is the possibility of
some Black Crowned Night Herons. Into the hammock, you can find the warblers,
cardinals, woodpeckers, hawks and possibly an owl. Along the Intracoastal, you
can look for waders and other water birds among the marshes. Enjoy this bird
walkthrough the oak scrub and hardwood hammock on the west side A1A, then
cross the street for breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean from the boardwalk.
30
FRIDAY 7:00 TO 11:00 A.M.
Price: $10 | Difficulty Level: Easy | Min/Max No of People: 4/12
GTM NERR is one of the premier birding locations in Northeast Florida,
hosting a hardwood hammock alongside the Atlantic coast, becoming as
a fantastic migration hotspot in the spring and fall. Expect to see a host of
warblers, vireos, and other songbirds.
Florida Scrub Jay Walk
Meeting Location: North Peninsula State Park. Directions: From
downtown St. Augustine, head east over the Bridge of Lions and south on
Anastasia Blvd. Follow A1A South to High Bridge Road (one mile south of
the Volusia and Flagler County line) Call 386.517.2086 for directions.
Leader: Florida Park Ranger
SATURDAY 8:00 TO 9:00 A.M.
Price: $10 | Difficulty Level: Easy | Min/Max No of People: 10/20
The Florida Scrub-Jay is truly a remarkable animal. This bold, inquisitive bird
is only found in the Sunshine State. Unfortunately, the jays’ habitat is quickly
disappearing, leaving the bird vulnerable to extinction. North Peninsula
State Park not only contains more than two miles of pristine beaches, it
also has 300 acres of scrub - the habitat vital to the survival of the Florida
Scrub-Jay. In fact, it is the northern most coastal area where these birds
are found. On your tour, the importance of scrub to other rare plants and
animals will be emphasized. You will also get the chance to learn about the
management of Florida Scrub-Jay habitat through prescribed fire. If time
allows and the group is interested there is a newly restored marsh project
which offers a good opportunity for viewing wading birds such as herons,
egrets, ibis, and perhaps roseate spoonbills.
Exploring Butterflies in the Garden
Meeting Location: Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Garden Parking
Area, 6400 Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast
Leader: Florida Park Service Ranger
SATURDAY 2:00 TO 3:00 P.M.
Price: $5, paid at park entrance
Difficulty Level: Easy | Min/Max No of People: 5/25
The 20-acre ornamental garden at Washington Oaks is an ideal setting for
this enjoyable walk. Participants will explore the garden pathways in search
of Florida’s most beautiful butterflies and learn identification, behavior, and
the right plants to choose for attracting butterflies to their own garden.