Birding

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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...

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...

Injured bald eagle rescued in South Walton

Update Dec. 28: Eagle has no broken bones and is headed to a specialist for further analysis. A young bald eagle was discovered stranded along U.S. Hwy. 98 in South Walton on Dec. 26.  Discovered near WaterSound Pkwy., a responsible citizen found the stressed bird near a ditch and called Camp Helen State Park to inform them about what looked to be an injured raptor. Park manager, Mebane Cory-Ogden and ranger Daniel Burton checked out the scene, and in turn...

Sandhill cranes winter in North Walton County

Winter visitors a welcome sight for local bird lovers For the last several years, sandhill cranes have been spending the winter months in North Walton County. Foraging in a wetland area and field near Lake Jackson, the birds have been arriving by the dozen. Typically migrating in mid-December and staying until mid-March, the cranes are a welcome sight. With a wingspan of up to 78 inches and standing more than 3 feet tall, the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) is one...

Beautiful redheads residing at Regatta Bay pond

Brightly colored ducks a welcome sight More than 400 Redhead ducks are spending a bit of migratory time at a pond at Regatta Bay in Destin. The Redhead (Aythya americana) is an aptly named diving duck, the Redhead can be easily identified by its bright red head and gray back. Many female Redheads make no nests of their own, but instead lay their eggs in the nests of other ducks. These North American natives spend their summers in the northwest...

A snowy plover family thrives at Grayton Beach State Park

2012 season proved best year ever for tiny shorebirds at South Walton State Park Photos by Jeff Talbert, Florida State Park Services Specialist 
Information gleaned from report by Raya Pruner, Biological Scientist, Florida Park Service, District 1 As we enjoy our wonderful beaches in South Walton, many visitors and locals are not aware that we are sharing vital habitat for a variety of shorebirds. Our dune systems and coastal dune lakes provide perfect nesting areas and foraging habitat for a...