Birding

Category

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge designated contact for oiled Wildlife in Walton County

Currently donations and supplies along with volunteers to answer phones are most needed To report oiled or injured wildlife in an area after it has been designated as oiled, call 800-557-1401 Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge is now the point of contact for local response to oiled wildlife in the Walton County area. They have put in a request with BP’s training coordinator to conduct volunteer training for the general public in our area, but have not received a response as yet. There...

North American spring bird migration count May 8

Get out in the field or be a backyard bird feeder counter for spring migration count Okaloosa and Walton Counties NAMC is sponsored by National Audubon Society, Florida Ornithological Society, and locally supported by Choctawhatchee Audubon Society. Each spring and fall a “picture” is acquired of the migration pattern of birds.  From this “picture” they may discover the shape of migration particular to each species.  The date had been chosen to count as many migrants as possible before they reach...

Dead birds found along Walton and Okaloosa County beaches

Recent events wreaks havoc for migratory birds Whether recent bird deaths directly related to oil rig disaster is not yet determined There have been several reports of numerous dead birds found along the beaches of the Florida Panhandle. Don Ware, bird count coordinator of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society and Stephanie Torr of Old Florida Village took a walk along South Walton’s Seacrest Beach on April 24 to assess the incident of dead birds washing up on shore. Don and Stephanie...

Springtime boasts new life in Chickadee nest

Six Carolina Chickadees about to hatch On April 3, a good deal of activity was stirring at a Carolina Chickadee nest in Freeport, as six new eggs are about to hatch. Both Chickadee parents were close by as Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay checked the bird box for its progress. As Joe approached the box, the female chickadee flew out of the nest and perched herself on a nearby tree branch and chirped in discontent for the intrusion. The...

Killdeer spotted on Western Lake

This territorial killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) was spotted along the shallow mud flats of Western Lake in Santa Rosa Beach on Feb. 21. The bird must of been nesting in the area as she was not delighted with the presence of paddlers near her spot....

Be a part of the The Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 12-15

Annual event fun for all ages The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the U.S. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps...