All our field trips are open to everyone, members and non-members alike.  There are No pets Allowed  and smoking is prohibited when you are with the group.  Preregistration is not necessary unless otherwise noted. That being said, we like to know if you plan to come along.  we make every effort to leave on time, however, We will wait a few extra minutes if we know that you are coming.  Please call or e-mail the contact person for any questions regarding the trip.  We usually meet at a local spot where car-pools can be arranged.  please keep in mind that if you ride with someone it is courteous to share in the cost of gas, Park Fees and/or tolls.

 Our Leaders:

Bill Lamoureux, Field Trip Chairman - 813-839-2742 - wlamoureux@aol.com

JoAnne Hartzler, 813-310-7676 - usarealty@msn.com

Mary Keith, 813-935-6115 -keithma1@juno.co

Nancy Murrah, 813-205-1851 - webmaster@tampaaudubon.org

Pat Lewis, 813-907-6542 -plewis8216@aol.com

Roger Sheets, 813-677-6577 -rwsheets3@gmail.com

For Beginners - Tips to help you enjoy your field trip click here.

Here is a bird check list for Hillsborough county you can use.

2011 - 2012

Saturday, Feb 11 Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Roger Sheets. Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00)

Saturday Feb 11 - Owl Prowl at Little Manatee River State Park.  Nancy Murrah Meet at sunset (around 5:45) at the park, which is located at 215 Lightfoot Road (Off U.S. 301) in Wimauma.  The park usually closes at 6:00 so it's important to tell them you are there for the owl prowl with Tampa Audubon.  We will be walking on trails in the park at night so it's important to wear appropriate shoes.  Also it is helpful to spray your shoes with bug spray anytime you are out in the woods at night.  It will deter any small critters from wanting to go home with you!  Bring water.

February 18 & 19  Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and Vierra Wetlands. Bill Lamoureux Meet at 7am at the McDonalds at State Rod 60 near I-75,  We will bird Vierra Wetlands and the surrounding area on Saturday and go to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge on Sunday.  (Last year we saw several scrub jays and at least one of us saw a male painted bunting! ) You will need to make your own hotel accommodations for Saturday night.  Please call Bill for suggested places to stay.  You will need to also bring a lunch with you both days as there is no place to buy food. Bill, the leader has made reservations at the Best Western, 3455 Cheney Hwy, Titusville.  The total price was $61.33 including breakfast Sunday morning.  If you would prefer there are several other hotels in the same vacinity: Quality Inn., Days Inn, Hampton Inn etc.  Please book your own reservations for Saturday night. 

Saturday Feb 25 - Circle B Bar Preserve - Bill Lamoureux - Meet at 8 am at the McDonalds at Rte 60 near I-75.  We will walk the trails looking for waterfowl, rails, wading birds and raptors.  Quite a bit of walking on hard packed dirt trails.  Bring Water.

Saturday March 3 - Felts Audubon Preserve, Emerson Point Park and The Celery Fields.  Meet at 7 am at the McDonalds at Rte 60 near I-75.  We will spend a couple of hours at the preserve and then go onto Emerson Point.  There will be an entrance fee at the Park.  On the way back we will stop at the Celery Fields.  Bring water and your lunch.

Saturday, Marh 10 Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Pat Lewis Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00)

March 17 - 18 Sanibel Island and Corkscrew Swamp.  Bill Lamoureux Meet at 7am in the McDonalds at Rte 60 near I-75.  We will drive through Cape Coral on the way and look for burrowing owls.  Then we will spend Saturday on Sanibel island in the Ding Darling Preserve and then we will go to Audubon's Corkscrew Sanctuary on Sunday.  Make your own arrangements for Saturday night Call Bill Lamoureux for information about motels if you need it.  Bring lunch for both days.

Sunday March 25 - Golden Aster Preserve Balm / Boyette - Dave Goodwin (dave.goodwin@aol.com.)  Dave will lead us around the preserve looking for winter residents and early migrants.  A lot of walking on sandy trails.  Bring water and repellant.

Saturday April 7 - Cedar Key - Mary Keith.  Mary will give us a guided tour of this area looking for active birding sports.  Bring lunch or plan to go to a local restaurant.

Saturday - April 14 - Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Mary Keith Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00)

April 16 - 23 Panama Canopy Lodge - This trip is full.

Be Part of Something Big! Become a citizen scientist.

Great Backyard Bird Count Perfect for New Birders

15th annual count takes place Feb. 17-20, 2012

During February 17 - 20, 2012 take part in a family-friendly, educational activity that is lots of fun, costs nothing, and helps your local birders!

Each year, tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S. and Canada take part. Participants count in their backyards, out their office windows, at local parks and nature centers, and absolutely anywhere else! You can spend as little as 15 minutes counting birds, or even make a whole weekend of it.

People of all ages and all levels of bird-watching experience are welcome. The GBBC is a great way to learn more about birds in your community and connect with nature, and is perfect for fledgling birders.

Visit www.birdcount.org

Saturday April 21 Honeymoon Island  - Jason Guerard - Meet at sunrise and come walk the trails of beautiful Honeymoon Island.

Saturday April 28 Weedon Island and Sawgrass Lake.  Mary Keith - Meet at 7:30 at the McDonalds on Manhattan Ave and Gandy Blvd.  We will check out Gandy Beach for Shorebirds on the way to weedon Island.  Easy but extensive walking mostly on boardwalks on Weedon island, then on to Sawgrass Lake for more easy walking.  Bring water and repellant.

Sunday April 29 - Fort De Soto Park - Bill Lamoureux - Meet at 8am at the visitor center.  W will visit various sites looking for spring migrant warblers, tanagers, orioles buntings, etc.  Quite a bit of easy walking with one possible wet spot  Bring water, repellant and lunch for a picnic at Arrowhead. 

Saturday, May 5 - Brandon Rookery - Tammy Lions (tlyons77@hotmail) Meet at 8am at the McDonalds at Rte 60 near I75.  Bring your cameras for a close-up look at the nesting wading birds.  A short walk from the parking lot, 

Saturday May 12 Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00)

Saturday May 19 - Venice Rookery, Oscar Scherer State Park and The Celery Fields Bill Lamoureux - Meet at 8am at the McDonalds on Rte 60 near I-75.  After a short stop at the famous rookery in Venice, we will go to Oscar Scherer State Park (There is a $5.00 entrance fee per vehicle for up to 8 people.) For the Florida Scrub Jay and other resident birds.  On the way back we will check out the celery fields for shorebirds, raptors, etc.

Saturday May 26 - Orlando Wetlands - Bill Lamoureux - Meet at 7am at the McDonalds on Rte 60 near I-75.  You must preregister for this trip.  The first 8 persons will have the choice of a tram ride around the area or you can do it on foot.  It is about two miles in the hot sun.  The birds are great: Purple gallinules, sandhill cranes, least bitterns, caracara, black-necked stilts, whistling ducks, nesting purple martins and many more.  Bring sunscreen, water and lunch.  Don't forget your floppy hats!

Saturday June 9Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Roger Sheets Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00)

Saturday June 16 - Joe Overstreet Rd. and Florida Forever.   Bill Lamoureux  Meet at 7 am at the McDonalds on State Road 60 near I - 75.  We will combine birding at Joe Overstreet Rd with an airboat ride on lake Kissimmee ($43.00 per person for a one hour ride.)  Then we will go to the nearby Florida Forever Preserve for lunch and more birding. They have inexpensive lunch specials or you can bring your own picnic lunch.  You must pre-register for this trip to reserve the boat seats.

Saturday June 23 - Flatwoods Park - Mary Miller (limpkin1945@verizon.net)  Meet at the park at 8am for a wonderful tour Mary miller.  Easy walking to see bluebird nesting boxes and spring bird activities.

Taken on 2011 walk.  Just hatched baby bluebirds.  Photo by Nancy Murrah

Saturday July 14 - Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for waterbirds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00

Saturday July 23 - Power Line Road in Pasco County. Bill Lamoureux.  This summer this was a dependable spot for nesting Mississippi and Swallow-tailed Kites as well as Burrowing owls and a few others.  Meet at 8am at the IHOP on Fowler Ave near I-75 and Morris Bridge Road. 

Saturday August 11 -  Lettuce Lake Park for beginning birders. Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 9 am at the visitors center.  We will walk the boardwalk and trails looking for water birds, ducks and wintering residents.  Finished by 11:30. (Entrance fee to the park is $2.00

Saturday August 25 - Sawgrass Lake - Bill Lamoureux. Meet at 8am at the McDonalds at Manhattan Ave and Gandy Blvd.  We will look around the parking lot and woodland trails for migrating warblers and for other migrating birds such as Black Terns, on the way to Sawgrass.  Bring water and repellant.  Finished by noon.   

Reflection

In Florida, every day is a great day to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature around us. As a child, we were told to stop, look, and listen. As an adult, we say stop and smell the roses. Both of these finally make sense when we have the chance to get out and enjoy more than 200 species of birds, numerous mammals, reptiles and native plants in Hillsborough County alone.

This year, again, we have made an effort to vary our field trips to include outings where you can see shorebirds on some trips while warblers on another. We’ve included a variety of locations and habitats so that each trip is unique. This year we’ve added a senior bird walk for those who would prefer a very easy terrain with several places to sit and relax while enjoying nature. In addition, a junior beginning bird walk is included to introduce school age children to the joys of birding.

Photo Credit: Roger Sheets

Early risers can enjoy nature trips where we'll see various insects including butterflies in addition to spiders, plants, reptiles and birds. Don’t miss the end of year frog trip with the opportunity to not only see and hear the frogs but learn to recognize their calls and maybe learn to sound like one.

Tampa Audubon field trips are open to the public and unless noted otherwise are free. If you have any ideas for trips that you would like to see added in the future, please e-mail Bill Lamoureux.

 

- Jo Anne Hartzler