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).

 

 

2025 SEPTEMBER 4, EVENING PRESENTATION: Colorado's Secret Treasure by Jill Smith. Jill will discuss Colorado's nature scene, including both animals and birds. 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..

 

2025 SEPTEMBER 13, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK to Little Creek Woods, a private preserve in North Walton County. Leader: Bob Reid, (850) 678-1926. Meet at 7:45 AM in the Niceville CVS, Oak Creek Shopping Center parking lot, Niceville. Alternatively, meet at 8:30 AM at the property, 1489 Fox Hill Road in Walton County. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PROPERTY IS HERE, and you will need to drive a short distance down a dirt road to the house. The road is manageable for sedans, SUVs, pickups, etc. Bob will take us on a walking tour of the preserve, which features pastures, forested land with long-leaf (and other) pines, a pond, a stream, and the many birds that share the habitat. The terrain is not difficult, but be advised that the duration is about 4 hours and the total walking distance is around 4.5 miles. Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes & hat. Bring a sack lunch, camera, binoculars.

 

2025 SEPTEMBER 27 EVENT: Mattie Kelly Family Bay Day at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park. Leader: Carol Porch, (256) 293-8785. Volunteers, please contact Carol. Arrive between 8:30 - 9:30 AM to set up. Keely Boykin of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is heading up the event. Here is a link to the Florida State Parks event.

 

2025 OCTOBER 2, EVENING PRESENTATION: Birding in Your Backyard by Carol Porch. 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..

 

2025 OCTOBER 4, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK to Veterans Park, Okaloosa Island. Leader Jim Anderton, (850) 543-2221. We will look for resident species such as Great Blue Heron, along with migrating warblers and other birds that stop here prior to crossing the Gulf for the winter. Click on these links to see checklists from years past that give an idea of what might be in the park: 2023, 2024. Meet at 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.

 

2025 OCTOBER 18, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK: Waterways of North Okaloosa County. Leader Doug Adkisson, (850) 902-6854. Meet at 7:30 AM at the Karick Lake South Campground. We will bird around Karick Lake, visit the Yellow River Water Management Area (Reedy Landing and Carroll Drive access points), and Crestview. Bring water and binoculars; wear closed-toed shoes, long pants, and a hat.

 

2025 NOVEMBER 1, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK: Coffee and Birds in Shalimar. Leader Carol Porch, (256) 293-8785. Join Carol for coffee and birding on Garniers Bayou from 7:30 to 11:00 AM. Registration required, limited to 15 people. Text Carol to register and/or ask questions. Please park at Combs Park, 15 Cherokee Rd, Shalimar, and take the crosswalk to Carol's house (123 Gardner Drive). Bring binoculars.

 

2025 NOVEMBER 6, EVENING PRESENTATION: Panhandle Land Turtles and Terrapins by Rick O'Conner, University of Florida Marine Extension Agent for Escambia 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 public..

 

2025 NOVEMBER 15, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK to the The Okaloosa Holding Ponds and Wright Landfill. Leader Jim Anderton, (850) 543-2221. Meet 7:30 AM in the large dirt 'parking lot' at the left side of Roberts Road, 100 yards N of Task Force Pizza, 1826 Lewis Turner Blvd. We will look for ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds. Wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and a hat. Bring binoculars, camera, and a spotting scope if you have one. Please be aware that the landfill now requires everyone to check in and sign a waiver of liability. Please email Jim (jim.anderton.fl@gmail.com) with your name, phone #, vehicle type and plate number so that the check-in form can be completed in advance of our arrival. Also please advise Jim whether you have completed the liability waiver on an earlier visit. Click on these links to see checklists from years past that give an idea of what might be at the holding ponds (2023, 2024) and landfill (2024).

 

2025 NOVEMBER 29, SATURDAY MORNING BIRD WALK to Destin Shorelines. Bruce Purdy, (305) 926-6030, will be our leader. Meet in the Destin CVS parking lot at Hwy 98 and Main St, Destin opposite Regions Bank at 7:30 AM. Dress appropriately for the weather, and be prepared to carpool. Bring binoculars and a camera. Click here and here to see checklists from two locations last fall.

 

2025 DECEMBER 4, EVENING PRESENTATION: Lake Powell, Florida's Largest Coastal Dune Lake by Norm Capra. 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..

 

2025 DECEMBER 6, Audubon Christmas Party on SATURDAY evening from 5 PM TO 8 PM at the Kelly Plantation Owners Club, 303 Kelly Plantation Drive, Destin. Please enter thru the Hwy 98 gate, which will require a valid Driver’s license for all who enter. BYOB, a dish to share and, if you so choose, please bring a ‘birdy’ or nature themed item for our Silent Auction.

 

2025 DECEMBER 13, SATURDAY EVENT: Trail-side trimming & birding at Audubon's Laidlaw Preserve. This is a joint event with the Bay County Audubon led by Ron Houser, (850) 774-9733. If you are coming from Okaloosa County and want to car pool, please meet us at 8:00 AM at the CVS, Oak Creek Shopping Center parking lot. Alternatively, you can meet us at 9:00 AM at the Preserve entrance gate. The entrance is on the West side of FL 79, which is a divided 4-lane. If you drive via Freeport, you'll 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.

 

2025 DECEMBER 20, SATURDAY Choctawhatchee Audubon CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT. Jim Anderton coordinates 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. You can count birds at your backyard feeders, bird within the CBC circle on your own, or we can team you up with a local birder. Contact Jim Anderton (850) 543-2221, jim.anderton.fl@gmail.com to participate. Click here for the 2024 CBC results.