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 SEPTEMBER 7, PRESENTATION: THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE WATERSHED TO THE BAYSIDE SEAGRASS BEDS - Sabina Pennington will introduce us to the Choctawhatchee Estuary Estuary Program. Her presentation 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 SEPTEMBER 16, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to the Wright Landfill and the Okaloosa Holding Ponds. Leader: Malcolm Swan 210`452`4899 to text. Meet 8:00 am near the Roberts Road electric substation just N of Helen Back Pizza, 1826 Lewis Turner Blvd. We will look for plovers, sandpipers, swallows, and other migrants. Wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, & hat. Bring water, binoculars, and a spotting scope if you have one.

 

2023 SEPTEMBER 30, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to the Wright Landfill and the Okaloosa Holding Ponds. Leader: Alan Knothe 850`208`1780. Meet 7:30 am near the Roberts Road electric substation just N of Helen Back Pizza, 1826 Lewis Turner Blvd. We will look for ducks, sandpipers, hawks, and much more. Wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, & hat. Bring water, binoculars, and a spotting scope if you have one.

 

2023 OCTOBER 5, PRESENTATION: SEA TURTLES AND THE GULFARIUM - Biologist Tabitha Siegfried will talk to us about the 5 species of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico and how the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park rehabilitates injured sea turtles. 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 OCTOBER 14, SATURDAY FIELD TRIP to Ft. Pickens. Gulf Islands National Seashore. Leader: Alan Knothe, 850`208`1780. Meet 7:00 am at the Uptown Station, 99 Eglin Parkway NE (west side nearest Eglin Pkwy), Fort Walton Beach (city) or Battery Langdon at 8:45 AM. Wear long pants, sturdy walking shoes, closed-toe shoes & hat. Bring binoculars and water, and scope and/or camera if you have 'em.

 

2023 OCTOBER 21, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island. Jim Anderton 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 . Bring water and binoculars; wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, and a hat.

 

2023 OCTOBER 28, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP: Monthly Bird Survey at Camp Helen State Park. We will help the Lake Powell Community Alliance count birds at Camp Helen State Park in extreme southwestern Bay County. Leader: Emily Ellis. Her number is 850'818'2262 for more information. We will meet at 8:00 am at the Entrance Gate of Camp Helen State Park. Bring a picnic lunch and binoculars; wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, hat.

 

2022 November 2, EVENING PROGRAM: RARE AND COMMON OKALOOSA BIRDS - Birder & photographer Jim Anderton will present his favorite photos of marvelous birds at extraordinary places in Okaloosa County. The program will be 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 public.

 

2023 NOVEMBER 4, SATURDAY EVENT: Trail-side trimming & birding at Laidlaw Plantation NOTE NEW DIRECTIONS due to an IRONMAN bike event N, E, and S from Ebro (See their map). Ours is a joint event with the Bay County Audubon led by Ron Houser 850`774`9733, or call Margaret 850`376`2025. You may opt to begin in Niceville; we will leave at 7:00 am from the CVS, Oak Creek Shopping Center parking lot, or you can meet us at 8:45 AM at the Preserve entrance gate. If coming from the FWB / Niceville / Destin area and to avoid the IronMan event, take Rt 285 northward almost to Mossy Head and get on Interstate 10 east. Take Exit 112 (Bonifay - Panama City Bch) and drive South on FL Hwy 79 about 5.5 miles. The entrance is on the West side of FL 79, which is a divided 4-lane. If you come from Freeport, you need to drive 1/3 mile past the entrance and make a U-turn at the Union Hill Rd intersection. Some cars will already be waiting at the preserve entrance. Bring drinking water, work gloves, and lopper/pruning tools, and a sack lunch. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.

 

2023 NOVEMBER 18, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Okaloosa Island, Alan Knothe 850`208`1780 leads this trip. We visit Gulf hotspots, Veterans Park and other bayside spots in search of interesting species to add to your lists. Meet 7:30 am at the Uptown Station parking lot west side (near the Parkway), 99 Eglin Parkway NE, Fort Walton Beach (city). Bring water and binoculars; wear appropriate clothing for sand and undergrowth (e.g., closed-toed shoes, long pants, and a hat).

 

2023 NOVEMBER 25, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Destin Beaches and Birding Spots. Join Bruce Purdy 305'926'6030 in search of seabirds, shorebirds, and migrating songbirds. 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 water, 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 DECEMBER 7, PRESENTATION: ABOUT THE UPCOMING CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT - Malcolm Swan will talk about how to participate, mention a few tricky IDs, and show some clips of birds from previous Counts. You'll learn about birds that are counting on your participation December 16. 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 DECEMBER 15, Audubon Christmas Party on FRIDAY Evening 6:00 PM at the Owners Clubhouse, Kelly Plantation. Because both entrances to the subdivision have manned security gates, you'll need to send your name and the number of guests attending to Margaret Benner 376-2025 and you may call Ming Chang for more information 598`0186. BYOB, a dish to share and a ‘birdy’ item for the Silent Auction. Call & give your name for entry.

 

2023 DECEMBER 16, SATURDAY Choctawhatchee Audubon CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT 2023. Malcolm Swan and Bruce Purdy coordinate our Audubon CBC circle in this worldwide citizen science event (all experience levels welcome). The 15-mile-diameter circle is centered 4 mi N of the Marler (Destin) Bridge over East Pass, and the circle is divided into many sections for the different parties of observers birding in Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, Niceville, Destin, and the smaller towns among them. Contact Malcolm to participate in your own group or another party (text 210`452`4899). PDF with local bird ID tips - 21 MB so a big download