Birding

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Hike, camp along the Apalachicola River bluffs at Torreya State Park

Note: March 4, 2019 – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service hosted a ceremony today celebrating the reopening of the campground at Torreya State Park following the impacts of Hurricane Michael. The campground, which sits along the park’s iconic steep bluffs rising more than 150 feet above the Apalachicola River, offers 30 campsites with electric and water hookups, as well as restroom facilities.   Torreya State Park, which experienced significant damage from Hurricane Michael – including downed trees and debris, and facility, boardwalk, road and trail damage – was...

Cormorants make use of Choctawhathcee Bay Air Force pilings

Folks often ask about the pilings in the Choctawhatchee Bay – why are they there and what purpose the pilings served. There are many a theory, however, truth is the pilings were installed many years ago by the Air Force. Here is what Eglin Air Force representatives have to say: Test Area D-55 is an air-to-ground radar resolution test facility installed in May 1959 and is currently inactive.  It is located in Choctawhatchee Bay and originally consisted of 25 arrays...

Learn about hummingbird banding at the Coastal Branch Library Feb. 6

Hummingbird lecture at Coastal Branch Library Feb. 6 On February 6, Fred Bassett will present “Alabama and Florida Hummingbirds – A lot more than you might think.” The program will discuss ruby-throated hummingbirds in depth and introduce several western hummingbird species wintering in the Southeast and show how they are banded. Fred Bassett is a certified master bird bander who is president of Hummingbird Research, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and preservation of hummingbirds. He is a...

Eagles nest in South Walton and across the State of Florida

Florida’s eagle population now exceeds 4,000 birds each year Bald eagles have been spotted in several locations in South Walton and around the Choctawhatchee Bay. It is great news that these splendid raptors are making Walton County their nesting home. The bald eagle nesting season in Florida is defined as Oct. 1 through May 15. Based on the size of the pair of juvenile birds, I suspect these birds will take flight in the next six to eight weeks. What...

Take a hike or paddle with the Florida Trail Association

Florida Trail Association in Northwest Florida Activities 2013 Activity Participants Please note: Contact the activity leader well in advance for more information and/or to reserve your place (space is limited.) Unless instructed otherwise by the activity leader, each participant should bring: day pack, plenty of water (recommended minimum, 2 quarts), sun protection (hat, glasses, screen), insect repellent, lunch and or snacks, adequate clothing for the forecast, and comfortable, sturdy close toed shoes with socks. Long pants, work gloves, and extra...

Choctawhatchee Audubon programs and events for January 2013

January 3: Monthly Meeting: The program for the January meeting of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society, “Hombres, Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves: Bottlenose dolphin site fidelity, habitat use, and causes of mortality along the Western Florida Panhandle,” will be presented by Steve Shippee of both the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge and the University of Central Florida Dept. of Biology, Physiological Ecology, and Bioenergetics Lab. Mr. Shippee has been studying our local dolphin population for several years and has some interesting results to...