Nature

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Choctawhatchee Audubon activities for October 2012

Join the Choctawhatchee Audubon for birding field trips and education. OCTOBER 4: Monthly Meeting. Alan Knothe, a local wildlife biologist, will present a program “Shorebirds of the Florida Panhandle.” Alan will discuss the vast and diverse group of shorebirds that frequent local beaches. Some use our beaches as nesting sites, while others stay for the winter. Still others use our area only as a migratory stopover. Learn about their natural history, their niche in the local ecology, and the many...

Early autumn in Walton County abounds with color

Autumn brings colorful display to forest floors Fall brings a colorful time to explore the outdoors in  Northwest Florida. In Walton County, we are fortunate to have several State Parks and the Point Washington State Forest providing and abundance of seasonal wildflowers and migrating butterflies. To name just a few native flowers in bloom this time of year are wild buckweat (Eriogonum tomentosum), hairy jointweed (Polygonella basiramia), senna symeria (seymeria cassioides), goldenaster (Chrysopsis sabrella), goldenrod (Soldago tortifolia), figwort (Agalinis satacea)...

Fall is the time of year for migrating hummingbirds in Northwest Florida

Fill up your feeders and enjoy a hummer show! Between now and early spring, rare hummingbird species from out West turn up in Florida on their way to their winter homes in the tropics. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are year-round residents throughout Florida, but many from up North also pass through here on their annual migration to Central America. Floridians who put up hummingbird feeders or grow red or orange tubular flowers may get a glimpse of one of at least nine...

Public forum on Walton’s biodiversity with Bruce Means Sept. 27

South Walton Community Council is hosting a public forum on the biodiversity of Walton County on Sept. 27. Guest speaker will be  D. Bruce Means, PhD, President and Executive Director Coastal Plains Institute and Land Conservancy; Adjunct Professor Department of Biological Science, Florida State University. The title of Dr. Means presentation is Walton County Biodiversity: The Wonderful World of Its Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems. Learn details of Walton County’s diverse ecosystem. Professor Means’ presentation will focus on how the biodiversity of Walton County fits into...

Do not feed the dolphins, it is against the law

From the FWC – Officials say never feed dolphins By Stan Kirkland, FWC    Bottlenose dolphins are beautiful marine mammals. Tourists who travel to the Gulf Coast love to see them but dolphins should never be fed. Sometimes, unfortunately, they are. That’s the assessment of officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. However, it is illegal to feed dolphins under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a federal law that’s been in effect...

Dead River Landing open to the public

Last phase of improvements not yet completed One of the most popular boat accesses and hunting spots along the Choctawhatchee River now boasts significant improvements. Using a portion of a $231,000 trust fund from Northwest Florida Water Management District, along with a labor/equipment agreement with Walton County, Dead River Landing now offers seven RV sites, two pavilions and two portable toilets; along with an improved boat ramp, board walk and platform at the water’s edge. ADA access parking is also...

Beekkeeper feature speaker at Choctawhatchee Audubon meeting Sept. 6

The next meeting of the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society will be held on Thursday, September 6, and will feature a presentation on the basics of beekeeping by Niceville native, Jim Dietrich. Jim is in the fifth year of a master’s in beekeeping certification through the University of West Florida. His bees produce honey from a variety of local wildflowers, and samples will be available. This meeting  will be held in Rm 132 of the Student Services Center (SSC 132) on the...