Choctawhatchee Audubon Society | Events (home)
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Walt Spence

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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).

 

2024 January 5, PRESENTATION: BLACK SKIMMERS IN THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE - Caroline Stahala, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, will present photos and information about this elegant bird with unique feeding habits. 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 interested public. For more information, click our Facebook link.

 

2024 January 27, SATURDAY FIELD TRIP to Niceville & Valparaiso Shorelines. Leader Walt Spence 850:582:7064. Meet 7:30 am in the Parking lot, Mattress Depot, Bayou Plaza, Rt 20 Niceville. Enjoy some local history as we look along local shorelines. Dress for windy and perhaps color weather. Don’t forget your binocular

 

2024 February 1, PRESENTATION: GOPHER TORTOISES - This presentation delves into the world of these creatures, discussing their conservation and relocation efforts. It seeks to educate the public on their significance, the hurdles they encounter, and the methods utilized for habitat preservation and relocation to ensure their survival. This event presents a chance for all to discover, comprehend, and contribute to safeguarding these essential reptiles within Florida's ecosystem. 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 interested public. For more information, click our Facebook link.

 

2024 February 10, SATURDAY FIELD TRIP to Into the countryside of North Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Leader Malcolm Swan 210:452:4899 (texting encouraged). Meet 7:30 am in the Niceville CVS, Oak Creek Shopping Center parking lot, Niceville. Our goals include winter visitors including Sandhill Cranes south of Florala and Lake Jackson. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, long pants. Bring a sack lunch and binoculars.

 

2024 February 24, SATURDAY BIRD FIELD TRIP to Little Creek Woods, a private preserve in North Walton County. Leader: Bob Reid, 850:678:1926. Meet 7:30 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.

 

2024 March 2, SATURDAY BIRD FIELD TRIP to Freeport and surronding areas. Leader: Dee Nickerson, 850:499:9269. Meet 7:30 am in the City Hall Parking Lot, Rt 20 Freeport. Let’s check this area out while it's still popular with the birds. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes & hat. Bring binoculars.

 

2024 March 7, PRESENTATION: BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND Local wildlife photographer George Ross will discuss the birds of New Zealand, perhaps best known for the endemic, flightless Kiwi (actually 3 species of Kiwi). The Kiwi and other unique birds, including the worlds heaviest parrot the Kākāpō (that's Kakapo in eBird.org), will be shown and discussed during George's talk on this fascinating island nation in the South Pacific. The program was 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 interested public. For more information, click our Facebook link.

 

2024 March 16, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to the Wright Landfill and the Okaloosa Holding Ponds. Leader Malcolm Swan 210:452:4899 (texting encouraged). Meet 7:30 am at the left side of Roberts Road, 200 feet N of Helen Back Pizza, 1826 Lewis Turner Blvd. We will look for late ducks, early waders, quick hawks, and songbirds. Wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, & hat. Bring camera and/or binoculars.

 

2024 March 23, SATURDAY FIELD TRIP to Conservation Park with Bay County Audubon - near Panama City Beach. Leader Ron Houser 850:774:9733. Meet 7:30 am in the Park's Parking lot 1/3 mile beyond the N end of Griffin Blvd, the south end of which is 1 mile NW from the intersection of US 98 and Hwy 79. This is an open area so be prepared for little shade and cool, windy conditions. Bring your binoculars and/or camera.

 

2024 April 4, PRESENTATION: NATURAL HISTORY HOTSPOTS "DOWN UNDER" Choctawhatchee Audubon's Dave Clausen will discuss his 2023 trip to Australia in which he visited three unique natural locations: oceanic Norfolk Island, Queensland's Lamington National Park, and Lady Elliot Island in the Great Barrier Reef. The program was 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 interested public. For more information, click our Facebook link.

 

2024 April 6, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Destin Shorelines. 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/or camera.

 

2024 April 20, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island. Jim Anderton 850:543:2221 leads this bird walk. 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; bring binoculars and/or camera.

 

2024 April 26-28, SPRING RETREAT to Dauphin Island, Alabama for colorful, migrating songbirds throughout the woodlands. Leader: Malcolm Swan 210:452:4899 to text. Meet 5:00 pm at the Gulf Breeze Motel on Dauphin Island. Meet for social hour, planning, and announcements as we find ourselves on one of the ‘birdiest’ spots on the Gulf Coast.

 

2024 May 2, PRESENTATION: The RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER - Jim Cox of the Stoddard Bird Lab, Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy will be our speaker. The story is about public land management and the tools that we use to conserve these birds on private lands. Where are we now after a former Administration proposed to downlist the Red-cockaded Woodpecker from Endangered before recovery goals are met? Cox will provide an overview of the 50+ year saga of woodpecker recovery and management and the conditions needed for full recovery. The program was 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 interested public. For more information, click our Facebook link.

 

2024 May 4, SATURDAY MORNING FIELD TRIP to Laidlaw Preserve for birding with Bay County Audubon Society. Led by Neil Lamb leading 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 8:00 AM at the Preserve entrance gate. If coming from the Crestview area, take Interstate 10 east. Take Exit 112 (Bonifay - Panama City Bch) and drive South on FL Hwy 79 about 5.5 miles (specifically 1/3 mile S of Union Hill Rd). The entrance is on the West side of FL 79, which is a divided 4-lane. If coming from the FWB/Niceville/Destin/Freeport areas, drive East from Freeport to Ebro and there turn left onto FL Hwy 79. Drive to Vernon and continue on Hwy 79 another 4.7 miles to Union Hill Rd intersection, where you'll back-track on the southbound lanes about 1/3 of a mile to the Preserve entrance road. Some cars will already be waiting at the preserve entrance. Bring drinking water and a sack lunch. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.

 

2023 May 11, SATURDAY FIELD TRIP to Eglin Piney Woods for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and other specialties of tall and frequently-burned pine forest. Leader: Malcolm Swan 210:452:4899 to text. Meet 7:30 am at the Eglin AFB Armament Museum parking lot, 100 Museum Dr, Eglin AFB. We'll search for Bachman’s Sparrow and Northern Bobwhite, too. Go online to purchase a Jackson-Guard Pass for Eglin Reservation prior to this date. The physical office is open weekdays until 4:30 at Eglin Jackson Guard office 107 Hwy 85 North, in Niceville.

 


CAS Newsletter Shorelines (PDF files):    Spring 2017     Winter 2016-17     Fall 2016     Spring 2016     Winter 2015-16

Some past trip reports (PDF files):    19 Nov 2016 in E Okaloosa Co   16 Apr 2016 at Veterans Park   19 Mar 2016 at 7 Pines Nursery

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