Ann Paul, President By Ann Paul, Tampa Audubon President As you know, we have a lot of habitat and climate challenges facing our world these days. Two upcoming events are happening that deserve our attention and participation: Florida Arbor Day on Jan. 16 and the Prescribed Fire Fest on Feb. 21. January 16: Florida Arbor Day Celebrated statewide and in Hillsborough County with a tree workshop  Florida Arbor Day Tree Workshop and Giveaway Jan. 16, 9-11 am UF/IFAS Extension Hil

Photos (Top row: Mary Miller & Roxie Custalow, Bottom row: Clint Perigard and Sherry Keller) By Mary Miller Tampa Audubon Society Bluebird Trail Coordinator Hello everyone!  It is hard to believe that it will soon be time for the 2026 Bluebird Nesting season to begin! If you would like to sponsor one of the 56 boxes on the Flatwoods Bluebird Trail this year, now is the time to sign up! Nesting season is from March to August and sponsors will receive a weekly activity report f

By Mary Keith, Tampa Audubon Board Member and Audubon Florida Board Member Mary Keith led volunteers from Tampa Audubon to join the Pasco County Christmas Bird Count Dec. 15. Part of the Tampa Audubon sector included Heartwood Preserve, where we counted birds for several hours. The exciting part was a survey - by airboat - of Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park on the Gulf of Mexico. I was asked what’s it like to bird by airboat. It is NOISY! That big V-8 engine behind you r

With Jason Fischer, Ph.D., Conservation Manager, Disney Conservation Jan 8, 2026 Tampa Garden Club , 2629 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa 33629 6:30 pm: Potluck - Bring a dish to share 7:15 pm: Announcements/Program Zoom link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84959398693 Dr. Jason Fischer is a Conservation Manager who supports conservation projects for Disney parks and resorts. Ever since he first started taking pictures of birds as a child, he has been fascinated by birds and our relationsh

By Mic McCarty, Field Trip Coordinator Dear Tampa Audubon members and bird enthusiasts,  We are thrilled to announce a limited number of free subscriptions for our volunteers to Birds of the World, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s premier online resource that has taken flight to become the leading authoritative source for everything avian! 🌍🐦 Your Ultimate Guide to Birds At Birds of the World, Cornell has gathered and meticulously curated basic and in-depth scientific infor

By Mic McCarty, Field Trip Coordinator  Pileated Woodpecker photographed by Mic McCarty. Woodpeckers play an essential role in forest ecosystems as nature’s excavators, earning their reputation as a keystone family. By chiseling out cavities in trees, woodpeckers create critical nesting sites not only for themselves, but also for numerous other bird species and small mammals. These abandoned cavities are often reused by owls, bluebirds, squirrels, and other wildlife, greatly

Photo of Downy Woodpecker by Mic McCarty. “The Downy Woodpecker” From Bird Stories from Burroughs , Gutenberg Project release date July 12, 2008, eBook #26046, Copyright 1871   Downy came and dwelt with me,  Taught me hermit lore; Drilled his cell in oaken tree  Near my cabin door.   Architect of his own home   In the forest dim, Carving its inverted dome   In a dozy limb.   Carved it deep and shaped it true   With his little bill; Took no thought about the view,   Whether da

View our photo gallery above. Photos of Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse and visitors by Lynn Mitchell. All others by Jonathan Hoiles. Story by Lynn Mitchell, Tampa Audubon Member and Volunteer Tampa Audubon and Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation recently partnered to help prevent birds from getting injured or killed when they fly into the large windows at the nature center at Lettuce Lake Park. The county installed dotted window film at the Joel Jackson Nature Center,

There are many ways you can donate to Tampa Audubon. If you are donating to a specific cause, such as the Window Film at Lettuce Lake Park, please make a notation on your check or digital donation. We appreciate any and all donations, no matter how big or small! Website: Through our website with PayPal. Mail: Tampa Audubon Society P.O. Box 320025 Tampa FL 33679-2025 Paypal or Venmo:

Alafia Banks CBC - Dec. 14 This year, we'll participate in the National Audubon Society’s 126th Christmas Bird Count! We will be out hooting for owls in the pre-dawn dark and counting every bird that we can find in the TAS sector of the Alafia Banks CBC on Dec. 14. Participants do not have to join in all day — we welcome everyone to come and help count for whatever portion of the day you can! If you live in our count area, you can even just report the species that you see fro

Join the Tampa Audubon Society for an exciting weekend adventure in Southwest Florida, exploring the region’s rich birdlife and diverse natural habitats. Please register by Jan. 2. Itinerary Friday, January 9, 2026: Welcome and Sunset Eco Cruise The trip begins with a group meeting in Naples at 3 PM. Participants will embark on a two-hour sunset Eco Cruise of Rookery Bay, providing a unique opportunity to observe local wildlife and enjoy picturesque views as the sun sets over

Ann Paul, President By Ann Paul, Tampa Audubon President Thankfully, the cooler weather is here, and Florida once again has become the paradise for people and birds that we love! But we need to keep in mind that shifts in global patterns of weather are going to be part of our future. This past summer was again one of our region’s hottest, with difficult days of combined heat and humidity making outdoor activities actually dangerous for people. The temperature of the Gulf wate

Threatened & Endangered Species and the Department of Defense Patrick Blake, our December speaker, will discuss how the Department of Defense protects and preserves natural resources while carrying out national defense and military readiness. Presented by Patrick Blake Outdoor Recreation Program Manager Avon Park Air Force Range Thursday, Dec. 4 County Extension Office 5339 County Road 579 Seffner, 33584 6:30 pm - Potluck. Bring a dish to share 7:15 pm - Announcements 7:30 pm

Zoom link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84959398693 Several years ago, Scott and his colleagues noticed that Barn Owls seemed to be declining in Northern Colorado, due to loss of habitat and loss of nesting sites. That’s when he decided to do something about it and began constructing nest boxes for the owls and placing them in the proper habitat so the birds have safe places to breed and raise their families. They began placing video cameras inside and outside several nest boxe

Interested in learning about the Kissimmee River and the largest river restoration in the world? Join us Dec. 6 for a pontoon boat eco-tour and learn about the restoration project and the birds that are thriving there. Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies at Riverwoods Field Lab offers field-based environmental science and education programs for students, educators, and adults via pontoon boat. The Eco-tours offer participants a first-hand view of th

By Lynn Mitchell, TAS Volunteer This Red-shouldered Hawk captured a squirrel at Davis Park during a bird walk. Photo by Mic McCarty On the morning of Sept. 20, twelve participants joined Mic McCarty, field trip coordinator, for a field trip at Davis Park, one of the lesser-known parks in Hillsborough County. While the park is often frequented by dog walkers, it is increasingly recognized by nature enthusiasts and bird watchers as a hidden gem for observing a vari

By Wild Birds Unlimited, Tampa How do we define feasting?   Its basic meaning describes the consumption of an elaborate meal, often accompanied by entertainment, which takes place to mark a special event.   Sure sounds like Thanksgiving, right?   Thanksgiving, for many of us, is a day when we settle down to an impeccable table, often decked out with the special china, to partake in a feast of the best and most abundant food of the season, all while sharing it with our closest

Photo Caption: Northern Flicker, Credit: Richard Derevan/Audubon Photography Awards By Mic McCarty, Field Trip Coordinator Birders have several magazines to choose from for learning about birds and related issues. I subscribe to five and recommend them all. Here are some key points to help you pick one to expand your knowledge and enjoyment.   Members of the Tampa Audubon Society receive subscriptions to both the Audubon Florida Naturalist  magazine and the national publicati

By Ann Paul, President Ann Paul, President I’ve been amazed at how much going on field trips to see birds and other wildlife with Tampa Audubon, the Florida Ornithological Society, and others has come to mean to me. And what I have learned along the way. So I thought I’d share some of my feelings, thoughts, and insights with you.   1)  Be patient. Trying to see small birds flying in and among leafy trees and in forests or trying to figure out which shorebirds I’m looking at

If you missed the presentations during the 2024 Florida Birding and Nature Festival, here is your chance to catch up! The Osher Lifelong...