Birding

Category

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society teaches ornithology to Destin Middle School students

When Destin Middle School Science Teacher Dawn Pack sought volunteers to teach her gifted 5th graders about ornithology, Margaret Benner and Gary Parsons of the local Choctawhatchee Audubon Chapter stepped up to the plate. Pack was inspired to do an ornithology project by her former principal, Dr. Diane Kelley and encouraged by Principal Charlie Marello, who assisted in writing a grant request that included funding for a bird cam. The new cam overlooks an osprey nest above the school’s stadium...

Audubon Florida seeking shorebird stewards for area State Parks

It is beach bird nesting season with birds and chicks out on the beaches with lots of beach goers. Bird stewards are needed to help with their survival. By helping to educate the public and heading off disturbances by volunteering with Audubon Florida. “If you can spare a few hours a week, month or season, your help would be greatly appreciated. We need help every weekend thru summer, but especially on holiday weekends. Memorial Day weekend is just around the...

Walton naturalist nurtures bluebird breeding progam at Hammock Bay

At Hammock Bay in Freeport, there is much aflutter this spring as beautiful bluebirds can be spotted everywhere. As part of a bluebird breeding program maintained by naturalist Joe Wyatt, Hammock Bay has 65 bluebird boxes scattered across their neighborhoods. This spring, the boxes have a 98 percent occupancy rate. This is the eighth year Wyatt has been running the bluebird breeding program.  The success has been quite good with close to 300 fledglings each year. Cool Facts about bluebirds: • It...