Dates and locations for the South Florida Audubon Society monthly educational meetings are now available. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on alternate months at Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, Florida and Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood, Florida.
- September 16, 2010 at Fern Forest
- October 21, 2010 at Anne Kolb
- November 18, 2010 at Fern Forest
- December 16, 2010 at Anne Kolb
- January 20, 2011 at Fern Forest
- February 17, 2011 at Anne Kolb
- March 17, 2011 at Fern Forest
- April 21, 2011 at Anne Kolb
Fern Forest Nature Center is on Lyons Road .2 miles south of Atlantic Boulevard in Coconut Creek. (Exit 66 from Turnpike and Exit 36B from I 95)
Anne Kolb Nature Center
From the intersection of US 1 and SR 822 (Sheridan Street) in Hollywood, drive east on SR 822 appx. 1.2 miles. West Lake Park Nature Center is on the left.
Joan Cashin leads monthly nature walks fall through spring for the park beginning at 8 am. This 56-acre park is a Designated Urban Wilderness Area. The island provides habitat for migratory and indigenous birds, as well as a variety of other native and exotic creatures. Remnants of a freshwater wetland are evident, although red and white mangroves are now dominant. This park is bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway and is only accessible by boat, so a free boat shuttle is provided on weekends. Click here for their website. For directions go to http://www.broward.org/parks/dimap.htm. For questions about this trip, contact Deerfield Park at (954) 357-5100.
FIELD TRIPS South Florida Audubon Society's 2010-2011 free birding field trip schedule will be available in August. The last field trip of the 2009-2010 season took place on 4/10/2010 at Plantation Preserve. Here is a trip report submitted by Paddy Cunningham Pascatore.
SFAS Field Trips
"We had 40 species on 4/11 and a nice variety for a wetland-Limpkin, Indigo Bunting, Grey Kingbird, Greater Yellowlegs, Prairie Warbler, Chimney Swift, Brown Thrasher and Blue-winged Teals. The highlight was a large flock of Cedar Waxwings on open branches for all to see their elegant crest and fine eye lines.
It is nice to know that this developed wetlands has produced Sora and Marsh Wren on my last 3 visits with South Florida Audubon Society. They can be found in the lake/marsh area more than half way up the trail after it opens up from the more narrow channels. Each time they were seen on the left side of the path near where there is a loop and bench area. The Marsh Wren was singing and Sora was moving secretively out of the Cattails..... See you back there next year!"
Paddy Events for a Fee
Paddy conducts a number of local and distant field trips for a fee. South Florida Audubon Society receives a donation for each of its members who participates in select field trips. For her schedule of trips go to www.birdadventure.com
Plantation Preserve Info & Directions
South Florida Audubon Society provides guides for bird walks through the 1.5 mile Plantation Preserve Linear Trail. In the Fall and Spring. The walk begins at 4:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. Participants meet at the trail entrance. This nature trail is situated between two sides of a golf course and at this time of evening is well populated with birds in the water on either side of the trail and perching birds in the trees, shrubs, and along the ground of this winding path. Enter the Plantation Preserve Golf Course parking lot via 70th Avenue NW as it crosses West Broward Boulevard. Park near the Preserve entrance on the left and then walk to the right of the playground. The address is 7050 West Broward Boulevard, Plantation, Florida. Send questions about bird walks at this location to bcasfieldtrips@gmail.com.
Volunteer Park is located on the west side of Plantation at Sunrise Boulevard and 118th Avenue. The Community Center is at 12050 W. Sunrise Boulevard and their number is (954) 452-2558.