EVENTS: Choctawhatchee Audubon Society home page

All events are free and open to the public. Field Trips are usually 2-4 hours on Saturday mornings. Programs (slide shows, etc.) are held the first Thursday of all months except June, July, and August. People arrive between 6 and 7 PM, when the program begins. As of 2022, programs are held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. CLICK the place (it's a map link). When there, use any parking lot nearby. Walk in the door (NW building corner) under the red map marker. For more information, click our Facebook link. Admission is free and open to the public. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Feel free to wear a mask to protect yourself and others.

 

For most Field Trips, binoculars are almost a must, especially to study birds and butterflies. If you have a spotting scope and/or camera, bring them. Don't have binoculars? We may have extra pair or two to borrow, and your leader will to try to show you several birds through a spotting scope. Many bird identifications are made on sounds and behavior. We will teach you how. Be sure to bring drinking water; you may want to bring snacks too. Field trips may lead down trails with chiggers and mosquitos, so wear long pants, socks, and water-resistant, closed-toe shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent, but please refrain from spraying in the immediate presence of others (e.g., 2 bus-lengths or closer).

 

2023 January 5, PRESENTATION: THE HIDDEN BEAUTY OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA - Well-known local photographic artist, Jeff Waldorff, of Waldorff Photography, present some of his photos of the nature, wildlife, and scenery of the Panhandle. The program was well attended in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the interested public. Call or e-mail TBD for more information.

 

2023 February 2, PRESENTATION: FLORIDA HUMMINGBIRDS - THERE'S A LOT YOU DON'T KNOW - Fred Bassett of Hummingbird Research, Inc., has been studying hummingbirds in the Southeastern U.S. for over 20 years. Fred will discuss our wonderful ruby-throated hummingbirds and introduce many species of western hummingbirds that winter in Florida. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the interested public. Call or e-mail TBD for more information.

 

2023 February 18, SATURDAY FIELD TRIP to Conservation Park with Bay County Audubon - near Panama City Beach. Leader Ron Houser 850`774`9733 (call him to RSVP for the wagon ride - seats limited). Meet in the Park's parking lot at the end of a road going W from N Walton Co 395 (N of U.S. Hwy 98). We'll look for Hermit Thrush, kinglets, and other denizens of the winter woodland.

 

2023 February 25, SATURDAY BIRD FIELD TRIP to Little Creek Woods, a private preserve in North Walton County. Leader: Bob Reid, 850`678`1926. Meet 7:00 am in the Niceville CVS, Oak Creek Shopping Center parking lot, Niceville. We will look for Brown-headed Nuthatches among other species. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes & hat. Bring sack lunch, camera, binoculars.

 

2023 March 2, PRESENTATION: BIRDS OF COSTA RICA - George Ross will present photographs of his trip to the Ecotourist's Paradise. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the interested public. Call or e-mail TBD for more information.

 

2023 March 4, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to the Wright Landfill and the Okaloosa Holding Ponds. Leader: Malcolm Swan 210`452`4899 to text. Meet 7:30 am at the electric substation just N of Helen Back Pizza, 1826 Lewis Turner Blvd. We will look for ducks, waders, hawks and migrants. Wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, & hat. Bring camera and/or binoculars.

 

2023 March 11, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Destin Beaches and Birding Spots. Join Bruce Purdy 305'926'6030 for short walks at multiple sites looking for spring migrants and waterbirds. Meet 7:30 am in the Destin CVS parking lot at Hwy 98 and Main St., Destin opposite Regions Bank. Wear long pants & closed-toe shoes. Bring binoculars and scope, if you have one. AND get your current Eglin Beach Permit BY CLICKING VIDEOS in eglin.isportsman.net Note you will need to watch the whole 4-minute Beach video before you can answer currently very simple questions. Continue through the Shopping Cart process INCLUDING viewing your cart AND printing, which displays your permit. If you copy the screen, you can email the screen-capture file to yourself.

 

2023 March 18, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Eden Gardens State Park with Bay County Audubon. Leader Ron Houser 850`774`9733. Meet at 8:30 am in the Park's parking lot beyond the N end of Griffin Blvd, the south end of which begins 1 mile NW from the intersection of US98 and Hwy 79. This is an open area so be prepared for no shade and cool, windy conditions.

 

2023 March 23, CAS board TBD

 

2023 March 25, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Deer Lake Restoration Area. Join Jeff Talbert 850'443'0105 to look for flowers and birds in a rejuvenated wetland piney woods. Meet 9:00 am at the The Big Chill at 24 Hub Lane, Watersound Beach, FL, Destin opposite Regions Bank. Wear long pants & closed-toe shoes (bring some rubber boots, too). Bring binoculars and insect protection.

 

2023 April 6, PRESENTATION: CHINA - BIRDS OF THE PANDA FORESTS - Malcolm Swan will present video clips of marvelous birds he and Lenny Fenimore saw during their 2018 tour of Sichuan Province. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the interested public. Call or e-mail TBD for more information.

 

2023 April 15, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island. Malcolm Swan 210`452`4899 leads this trip. We visit bayshore, barrier island woodland, and 5 wetlands. Meet 7:30 am on the north side of the Destin/FWB Convention Center parking lot . Wear closed-toed shoes, binoculars and/or camera, and perhaps a hat.

 

2023 April 21-23, SPRING RETREAT to St. Augustine, FL for nesting Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, herons, and egrets. See the RETREAT FLIER. Leader: Malcolm Swan 210`452`4899 to text. Meet 5:00 pm in St. Augustine, FL at the Best Western Plus, I-95. The highlight will be the waterbird nesting colony at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zooloical Park. Tickets for entry are $34 for ages 12+ ($19 for ages 3-11). See the website's Ticketing Page. We'll visit other birding hotspots Saturday afternoon and Monday morning.

 

2023 May 4, PRESENTATION: Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge - A representative from this non-profit organization headquartered near Navarre will discuss education, conservation, and animal rehabilitation. Each year ECWR provides medical care and rehabilitation to almost 2,000 injured or orphaned native Florida species, with the goal of their release back to the wild. ECWR also has a trained stranding team that responds to stranded, injured, entangled or deceased marine mammals from the Alabama state line into Walton county and sea turtles in Okaloosa county. The program will be held in Room 800 on the 2nd floor of the Chandler Center (NW door of 519 Helms St.) at the Crosspoint Church in Niceville. Socializing begins at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the interested public. Call or e-mail TBD for more information.

 

2023 May 6 !!CANCELLATION!! THE FIELD TRIP TO EGLIN PINEY WOODS CANCELED DUE TO ILLNESS IN THE LEADERS' ATLANTA FAMILY. Nevertheless, to purchase a Jackson-Guard Permit for Eglin Reservation, notice the Login/Register tab (to purchase a permit) and the Permits Tab (to only read about Outdoor Recreation permits). The physical office is open weekdays until 4:30 at Eglin Jackson Guard office 107 Hwy 85 North, in Niceville.