Birding AdventuresPaddy Cunningham
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Everglades Birding Festival
January 16 - 21, 2009
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Outstanding Adventures • Everglades Fest • South Florida • Costa Rica • Panama • Virginia
EVERGLADES BIRDING FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Outstanding Adventures • Everglades Fest • South Florida • Costa Rica • Panama • Virginia
EVERGLADES BIRDING FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
1/17 - EXPLORE BROWARD ADVENTURE
PRE-FESTIVAL EXSTENSION****OPTIONAL
MANGROVE EXPLORATION-KAYAK TRIP or NATURE CENTER TOUR/HIKE- 9:00 a.m.-12 noon
Explore the largest preserved mangrove forest in south Florida at nearby West Lake Park. This trip includes a Naturalist led hike, tour of Anne Kolb Nature Center and mangrove boat tour. Another option would be a 2-hour Kayak trip through the mangroves sneaking up on Yellow-crowned Night Herons and wading birds.
LUNCH at Le Tub-named the Best Hamburger in the U.S.BROWARD BIRD SPECIALITIES 2-6 p.m.
We will search for what makes Broward so special for birding such as-Smooth billed Ani's, Burrowing Owls, Common Myna, Black-hooded and Monk Parakeets and more. Mostly a van trip with easy boardwalk trails.1/17 - FESTIVAL & EVERGLADES ORIENTATION, BUFFET DINNER
CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL, HALLANDALE BEACH - beautiful beachside newly opened art deco styled luxury hotel, one of the area's best
1/18 - PALM BEACH ADVENTURE-WAKODAHATCHEE, OKEEHEELEE, GREEN CAY - 7: 30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
A great way to kick things off with a trip to Okeeheelee Nature Center for Painted and Indigo Buntings and possible Wood Ducks and Sandhill Cranes. Wakodahatchee and Green Cay Wetlands are created filtering marshes that have attracted numerous wading birds, ducks and the possibility of Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Sora, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and much more. All easy boardwalk and hiking trailsOPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER & BUFFET DINNER
Crowne Plaza, Hallandale Beach1/19 - FLORIDA'S WEST COAST-CENTRAL PRAIRIES, CORKSCREW SWAMP, EAGLE LAKES PARK, TIGER TAIL BEACH
The adventure will begin with Government Road through the Seminole Indian Reserve to look for Crested Caracara, Sandhill Cranes and the possibility of wintering sparrows, Western Kingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and White-tailed Kite. The National Audubon Societies' famous Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a "must" when visiting south Florida with its famous 2-mile boardwalk. Its beauty is legendary and there is always a chance Painted Buntings, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owls and Limpkin, Night Herons and wintering warblers. During lunch we will have a speaker gives us an update on the Corkscrew and the fate of the Wood Stork. At Eagle Lakes Park we will hope for Bronzed Cowbird and ducks such as Widgeons and Teals. On Marco Island we will visit Tigertail Beach, which is one of the top wintering spots for Wilson's, Piping and Snowy Plover. We will also search for Reddish Egret, Black Skimmer and other larids.Special buffet dinner-Port of the Isles Resort, Everglades City
1/20 - BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PARK, SHARK VALLEY, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
In the Big Cypress a short stop at Kirby Shorter boardwalk for Eastern Bluebirds. Through the Big Cypress we will scan the glades for Snail Kite and other raptors. We will swiftly glide across the River of Grass on Johnny Tigers airboat looking for Limpkin, American Bittern and Purple Gallinule. An authentic Barbeque lunch at a local favorite The Pit that has great food but even better fried dough biscuits (put honey on them). It is only a short trip to Everglade National Park as we travel along farm roads searching White-winged Doves, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbirds. At the visitor's center we will have a short orientation and possible Ovenbird and hummingbirds We will spend a lot of time at the famous Anhinga Trail getting a very close up view of wading birds, alligators and possible American Bittern. The close-by Gumbo Limbo trail usually has Black-throated Green and maybe Northern Waterthrush or Hooded warblers. Our last stop for the day is to Lucky Hammock for possible Barred Owls, Lesser Nighthawks and Whippoorwills.Dinner at local favorite El Toro Taco, Homestead
1/21 - EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
Early risers get the birds so we will start back at Lucky Hammock and Annex that are part of the Southern Glades Wildlife Environmental Area. It has become locally famous, hence its name for producing many excellent birds such as Bell's Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Clay-colored Sparrow, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Painted Bunting, Cave Swallow, and wintering warblers. . Then it will be off back down to the park to Paurotis Pond to see Roseate Spoonbills and Woodstorks. Wonderful Flamingo is great for scanning Florida Bay to search for shorebirds, Reddish Egrets, Black Skimmers, Bald Eagle and who knows what else. As many stops as we can squeeze could include Eco Pond, West Lake, Mahogany Hammock, or Pahayokee. Our final stop at the pinelands will bring Eastern Towhee, Eastern Bluebird and possible Brown-headed Nuthatch, as we say goodbye to this unique ecosystem and globally recognized and an International Biosphere.You can't leave Homestead without stopping at Robert is Here for souvenirs and their yummy fresh fruit milkshakes such as mango, banana, passionfruit and strawberry.
Closing Dinner and Fun Award Ceremony
Crowne Plaza, Hallandale Beach
** 4 DAYS OF TOP BIRDING ** 120 PLUS SPECIES ** TOP GUIDES & EXPERTS & SPEAKERS ** MINI BIRD WORKSHOPS ** GOOD TIMES **
All INCLUSIVE WITH FOOD-BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER, LODGING
For those going on to the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival you will have a travel day on Tuesday to get to Titusville that is about a 4-hour drive away. I can recommend places to bird along the way.
Everglades National Park
An independent website
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
An education website
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Friends of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee N.W.R.