EVENTS: Choctawhatchee Audubon Society home page

All events are free and open to the public. Bird Walks 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 PM and 7 PM, when the program begins. 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.

 

For most Bird Walks, 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 an 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. Bird walks 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., nearer than 2 bus-lengths).

 

2026 JANUARY 8, EVENING PRESENTATION: Birding at 29 Below. Jim Anderton will speak about his February 2025 trip to the Sax-Zim bog and other locations in northern Minnesota. 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 public.

 

2026 JANUARY 24, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK to the lakes of north Walton County. Leader Jill Smith, 719-688-1688. Meet at 7:30 AM in front of the Chautauqua Building, 95 Circle Dr. DeFuniak Springs. We will bird around Lake DeFuniak, followed by a 30 minute drive to Lake Jackson to look for Sandhill Cranes. Dress appropriately for the weather with long pants, closed toe shoes and hat. Bring water, binoculars, and a spotting scope if you have one.

 

2026 FEBRUARY 5, EVENING PRESENTATION: Bird Use of Non-Native Habitats: Navigating Strategies for Conservation by Kristal Cobb Walsh, GIS Lead/Wildlife Biologist, Office of Conservation Planning Services, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Kristal will discuss how the FWC approaches bird conservation through management of invasive plants, which displace the native plants that birds rely on for food, shelter, and cover. 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 public.

 

2026 FEBRUARY 7 EVENT: Camellia Festival at Eden Gardens State Park, Santa Rosa Beach, 10 AM-2 PM. CAS participants: Set-up is at 8:30 AM. Bring tables, cloths, signs, wingspan banner, binoculars, a scope, a lawn chair each. Also a hat, water, and a sack lunch. Educational stations will be set up throughout the park.

 

2026 FEBRUARY 21, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK 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 cold weather. Don’t forget your binoculars!

 

2026 MARCH 5, EVENING PRESENTATION: Endangered Beach Mice in the Southeastern United States by Jordan Wingate, Natural Resources Coordinator, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, 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 public.

 

2026 APRIL 2, EVENING PRESENTATION: Florida's Terns by Collette Lauzau, Panhandle Shorebird Program Manager, Audubon 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 public.

 

Please check back soon for more Spring 2026 presentations and bird walks!