Birding

Category

Be watchful of baby birds in springtime

Area refuge full of orphaned baby birds As the springtime is a busy nesting season for birds, Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge encourages folks to be watchful when cutting trees, and keep an eye out for fledglings. Currently the refuge has a full house of orphaned baby birds. Patrick Gault, the assistant director of the ECWR warns that many homeowners are not aware that some fledglings spend time a period of time on the ground. “They are easy prey for cats,”...

North American spring bird migration count May 14

Get out in the field or be a backyard bird feeder counter for the spring migration count The North American Migration Count (NAMC) is locally supported by the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.  The count is conducted throughout North America on the same day.  The date is the peak of the migration in Massachusetts and  has been chosen to count as many migrants as possible while moving to their final destinations. The mission of the North American Bird Migration...

Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival Apr. 30

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park hosts educational day of fun for everyone Date: Saturday, Apr. 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks and the Mattie Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute of Northwest Florida State College will sponsor the Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival. This family event will feature fun, educational activities and displays showcasing our coastal environment. Cheer on the crab races...

Take a leisurely paddle on Peach Creek in South Walton County

Four-mile paddle offers views of native flora and fauna Located in the historic Point Washington area of Walton County, Peach Creek offers a pleasant paddle exploring nature. The enjoyable, four-mile journey takes you along a wetland forest shoreline of TiTi, red maple, and slash pine trees along with highbush blueberries and saw palmetto. Coastal water birds such as pelicans, gulls, cormorants and seagulls are abundant along with raptors such as osprey and swallow-tailed kites. You might also discover an alligator...

Nature lovers flock to Northwest Florida Birding and Wildlife Festival

A day of exploring wildlife enjoyed by young and old The St. Joe Company hosted a day of exploring wildlife Mar. 19, 2011 at RiverCamps on Crooked Creek in Panama City Beach. Highlights of the annual Northwest Florida Birding and Wildlife Festival included excursions and wildlife exhibitions. One of the excursions was a journey into the Wetappo Creek Conservation area. This 1,600 acre-area contains the largest stand of old-growth long leaf pine timber in Gulf County. Participants enjoyed viewing endangered...