Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza Feb. 5-6
The Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza is now a weekend event that is perfect for birders visiting Florida or locals wanting to learn more from well-known, knowledgeable birding guides. Two weeks after the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, you can add to your life list while exploring a unique birding area. The Festival is only 35–45 minutes from Orlando attractions.
On Friday, February 5, participate in field trips on the 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore property. Trips will search for as many as possible of the 360+ species documented, plus recently sighted rarities. Timing is perfect to see a multitude of overwintering and resident species.
On Saturday, February 6, enjoy the FREE Birdapalooza Festival, now in its 4th year. At Birdapalooza, you can observe bird banding, take a guided bus ride and/or guided hike to see additional birds, and check out exhibits, music, nature-inspired merchandise sales and food trucks. On Sunday, find other unusual birds on your own (registrants will be emailed latest sightings and locations for your Sunday self-guided tours).
The 2016 Birdapalooza Friday Birding Festival features three field trips. Choose an all-day trip covering a wide range of habitats (Trip #1), a morning waterfowl ID trip (Trip #2), an afternoon raptor trip (Trip #3) or a combination of Trips #2 & #3.
All field trips will be conducted in individual vehicles — 4-wheel drive is not necessary, but high clearance vehicles are recommended. Carpools will be organized at the start of each trip. Participants in the full-day trip should bring their own lunches (several local vendors are nearby). Water and granola bars will be provided. Starting location is the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Lake Apopka Field Station, 25633 CR 448-A, Mt. Dora, FL 32757.
For brochure with detailed anticipated sightings for each trip and information about the trip leaders, click on this link. http://www.birdapalooza.com/birdapalooza/oas-birdapalooza-friday/
To register: Orange Audubon Society requests an online donation for the combination of Friday field trips ($40 for full-day or trip combo; $20 for either half-day trip) to support its nature education center fund. Advance registration is required and each trip is limited to 30 participants, so it is recommended that you register early.
To reserve your spot on the field trip(s) of your choice, contact Teresa Williams at mwilliams@cfl.rr.com or 407-644-0796. You will be advised if a particular field trip has space and, if so, how to pay your field trip reservation donation by check or by Paypal on http://orangeaudubonfl.org/oas_field-trips.htm. For other questions about the Friday trips besides registration, contact Deborah Green at sabalpress@mac.com or 386-690-4705. For general Birdapalooza questions, go to www.birdapalooza.com/ or contact Emelein Kelly at Emelein.Kelly@ocfl.net or (407) 836-5850.
