Programs, Classes & Field Trips for 2011-12
Programs for 2012
- Wednesday, May 16, Millhopper Branch Library, 3145 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville. 6:30-7:00 p.m. Meet and Greet, 7:00 program. Birds of New Caledonia. Lloyd Davis will share images of a trip to James Michener's South Pacific: some birds and other wildlife seen in Vanatu and New Caledonia Click for directions and map.
Birding Classes for 2011-12
Do you like birds but want to know more? Then sign up for a Birdwatching Class sponsored by the Alachua Audubon Society and Santa Fe College Community Education. Whether you're a beginner or more experienced, we have the class for you! Come join us as we explore our local bird habitats and find the hidden "treasures" that are so abundant in our area. Check the Community Ed catalog for registration dates. We offer four sessions a year - two in spring, one in fall, and one in winter - and each consists of four field trips to local birding spots. For information and registration call Santa Fe College Community Education at 352-395-5193.
Field Trips for 2011-12
Link to Field Trip Leaders page
AAS field trips are for both beginning and seasoned birders, members and non-members. We recommend that you bring some water, a hat, and sunscreen. Dress appropriately to ward off the mosquitoes (especially in September and October). Most trips will be over by lunch but you may want to make plans to stay for lunch on trips outside of Alachua County.
Check The Crane (PDF) or call Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) at 381-1997 for last minute changes of meeting times and places and to find out about additional trips.
Need a ride? Call WBU and ask to be placed on the Ride Board. No guarantees, but if we can find an empty seat we'll put you in it.
Conservation Lands Educational Program (CLEP) trips listed in GREEN. (See note below)
For directions to meeting places and explanation of Length and Difficulty codes, see note below.
DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
ACTIVITY |
LENGTH |
MEETING PLACE |
DIFFI-
|
LEADER |
| Sat | 09/10 | 8:00 | San Felasco Hammock (Millhopper Road) | ALloyd Davis will share images of a trip to James | San Felasco (South Entrance) | 2 | Steve Hofstetter |
| Sun | 09/11 | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | Cedar Key by boat*# | C | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | 1 | Capt. Doug Maple |
| Sat | 09/17 | All day | North American Migration Count | D | Special event | 3 | Mike Manetz |
| Sat | 09/24 | 8:00 | Split Rock Conservation Area | A | Sweetbay parking lot | 2 | Mike Manetz |
| Sun | 09/25 | 8:00 | Loblolly Woods | A | Loblolly parking lot | 1 | Caleb Gordon |
| Sat | 10/01 | 8:00 | O'Leno State Park | B | High Springs Winn-Dixie | 2 | Phil
Laipis |
| Sun | 10/02 | 6:30 | Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve | D | Powers Park | 2 | John Hintermister |
| Sat | 10/8 | 8:00 | San Felasco Hammock (Progress Center) | B | San Felasco (North Entrance) | 2 | Michael Meisenburg |
| Sun | 10/09 | 8:00 | Barr Hammock | B | Micanopy Chevron on US-441 | 2 | Michael Drummond |
| Sat | 10/15 | 8:00 | Bolen Bluff Trail | A | Bolen Bluff Trail parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sun | 10/16 | 8:00 | Powers Park and Palm Point | A | Powers Park | 1 | Bob Carroll |
| Sat | 10/22 | 8:00 | Bellamy Road* | B | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | 2 | Mike Manetz |
| Sat | 10/29 | 8:00 | Cones Dike / Camps Canal | C | Powers Park | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 11/05 | 8:00 | Hague Dairy | A | Tag agency | 1 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 11/12 | 7:00 | Hamilton County mines | D | Tag agency | 2 | Jerry Krummrich |
| Sun | 11/20 | 8:00 | La Chua Trail | B | La Chua Trail parking lot | 3 | Bubba Scales |
| Sat | 11/26 | 8:00 | Tuscawilla Prairie | A | Sweetbay parking lot | 2 | Ivor Kincaide |
| Sun | 12/04 | 6:30 | Cedar Key | C/D | Target parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 12/10 | 8:00 | Kanapaha Prairie | B | Target parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sun | 12/18 | All day | Christmas Bird Count | D | Special event - see The Crane | 3 | John Hintermister, Howard Adams |
| Sat- Sun |
01/07-08 | 8:00 | St. Marks NWR* | D/E | St. Marks NWR visitor center | 3 | John Hintermister |
| Sat | 01/21 | 8:00 | Alligator Lake Recreation Area | B | Alligator Lake parking lot | 2 | Jerry Krummrich |
| Sat | 01/22 | 8:00 | Persimmon Point* | C | La Chua Trail parking lot | 3 | Adam Kent, Howard Adams |
| Sat | 01/29 | 8:00 | La Chua Trail | B | La Chua Trail parking lot | 2 | Caleb Gordon |
| Sat | 02/04 | 8:00 | Chapmans Pond | A | Home Depot parking lot, Newberry Road | 1 | Ron Robinson |
| Sat- Sun |
02/11-12 | All day | Tall Timbers Research Station / Wade Tract* | D/E | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | 3 | Adam Kent |
| Sat | 02/18 | 8:00 | San Felasco Park | A | San Felasco Park parking lot | 1 | Mike Manetz |
| Sun | 02/26 | 6:30 | Matanzas Inlet | D | Powers Park | 2 | Bubba Scales |
| Sat | 03/03 | 8:00 | Watermelon Pond | A | Jonesville Publix parking lot | 2 | Norberto Fernandez |
| Sat | 03/10 | 8:00 | Hatchet Creek Tract | B | Hatchet Creek Tract parking lot | 3 | Adam Kent |
| Sat | 03/17 | 8:00 | O'Leno State Park | B | High Springs Winn-Dixie | 2 | Jerry Krummrich |
| Sat | 03/24 | 8:00 | Morningside Nature Center | A | Morningside parking lot | 1 | Geoff Parks |
| Sat | 03/31 | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | Wildflowers with Dana Griffin | C | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | 2 | Dana Griffin |
| Sun | 04/01 | 7:30 | Ocala National Forest | C/D | Sweetbay parking lot | 3 | Bob Simons |
| Sat | 04/07 | 7:30 | Prairie Creek Lodge | B | Powers Park | 2 | Ivor Kincaide |
| Sat | 04/14 | 8:00 | San Felasco Hammock (Progress Center) | B | San Felasco (North Entrance) | 2 | Michael Meisenburg |
| Sat | 04/21 | 8:00 | Ft. DeSoto County Park | D | Ft. DeSoto visitor center | 2 | John Hintermister |
| Sun | 04/22 | 8:00 | San Felasco Hammock (Millhopper Road) | A | San Felasco (South Entrance) | 2 | Steve Hofstetter |
| Sat | 04/28 | 8:00 | La Chua Trail | B | La Chua Trail parking lot | 2 | Caleb Gordon |
| Sun | 04/29 | 6:30 | Cedar Key | C/D | Target parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 05/05 | 8:00 | Palm
Point |
A | Powers Park | 1 | Rex Rowan |
| Sun | 05/13 | 10:00 | Butterflies with Jaret Daniels | B | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | 1 | Jaret Daniels |
| Sat | 05/19 | Call Wild Birds Unlimited |
Cedar Key by boat |
C |
Call Wild Birds Unlimited |
1 |
Capt.
Doug Maple |
* = Participation limited. Call Wild Birds Unlimited (352) 381-1997.
# = Guide fee may be required.
TBA = To be announced. Call Wild Birds Unlimited (352) 381-1997 for up to date information.
Conservation Lands Educational Program (CLEP) programs are designed to bring attention to local land conservation efforts. These trips are conducted on properties purchased to protect natural resources and will be co-led by a representative from the agency or organization that owns the land. Each trip will focus on that property's ecological features and history. CLEP trips are designed to be educational experiences, so the emphasis will be on much more than birding.
LENGTH (estimated time from meeting place to destination and return)
A= 2-3 hours B= 3-4 hours C= 4-6 hours D= 6 or more hours E = overnight stay
TRIP DIFFICULTY
1 = Most of trip is within easy access to the car and/or walking on level ground of one mile or less
2 = Trip may involve walking on uneven ground over distances of 1-2 miles
3 = Trip may involve elevation change, uneven ground, and/or distances of greater than 2 miles.
MEETING PLACES:
Alligator Lake parking lot: From I-10 take US-90 east out of Lake City and turn south on Old Country Club Road (CR-133). Parking area is approximately 2 miles south on the right side of the road.
Bolen Bluff Trail parking lot: On US-441 4.3 miles south of State Road 331 (Williston Road).
Cedar Key boat ramp: Go west on Archer Road (State Road 24) into Cedar Key. Turn left on 1st Street and go three blocks. The boat ramp will be on your right.
Ft. DeSoto Visitor Center (St. Petersburg): From St. Petersburg south on I-275, west on Hwy #682, south on #679.
Gum Root Park: From Waldo Road (State Road 24) go east on NW 39th Avenue (County Road 222) 2.5 miles to NE 27th Avenue, turn right, and go 0.8 mile to the parking lot on your left, just before the blinking red light.
Hatchet Creek Tract parking lot: On the north side of State Road 26 2.0 miles east of the junction with County Road 222 (NE 39th Avenue). Marked by a white St. Johns River Water Management District sign.
High Springs Winn-Dixie: On US-441 at north end of High Springs.
Home Depot parking lot, Newberry Road: Just west of I-75, go south from Newberry Road on NW 75th Street (AKA Tower Road) 0.2 mile to the first traffic light (NW 4th Boulevard). Turn left to the Home Depot parking lot.Jonesville Publix parking lot: On the north side of Newberry Road just east of the intersection with County Road 241 (about four and a half miles west of I-75).
La Chua Trail parking lot: From University Avenue south on SE 15th Street; when the road curves left, go straight ahead down Camp Ranch Road.
Loblolly parking lot: From University Avenue go north on NW 34th Street 0.2 mile and turn right into the Loblolly driveway (directly across from NW 5th Avenue).
Morningside Nature Center: From Waldo Road, go east on University Avenue (SR-26) 1.9 miles, and turn left down the driveway and into the parking lot on the left beyond the office building.
Micanopy Chevron: On US-441 just north of the flashing light at Micanopy.
Paynes Prairie main entrance: Drive south on US-441 7.8 miles from SR-331 and look for the entrance on your left. Admission is $5.00 per car, $4.00 per car with single occupant, $2.00 per extra passenger in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
Powers Park: On Hawthorne Road (State Road 20) 4.4 miles east of Waldo Road.
St. Marks Visitor Center (south of Tallahassee): From US-98 in Newport (Wakulla County) south on County Road 59 to the visitor center. Admission fee of $5.00 per vehicle.
San Felasco Hammock (North Entrance): From the intersection of US-441 and SR-121 (i.e., the Highway Patrol Station), go north on 441 for 9.2 miles, turn left onto Progress Boulevard (a brown state park sign is posted opposite the turn), and proceed down the main paved road 0.6 mile to the gate. Admission is $4.00 per vehicle, $2.00 per passenger in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass. Please use the honor box to pay fees.
San Felasco Hammock (South Entrance): On Millhopper Road (County Road 232) 7.6 miles west of US-441. Admission is $4.00 per vehicle, $2.00 per passenger in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass. Please use the honor box to pay fees.
San Felasco Park parking lot: From NW 53rd Avenue (CR-232) go north on NW 43rd Street 0.5 mile and turn left onto NW 43rd Way. Follow it 0.2 mile to the dead end and turn left to go through the gate.Sweetbay: SW corner of SW 34th Street and SW 20th Avenue.
Tag Agency: NW 34th Street (State Road 121) just south of junction with US-441, directly across the street from ABC Liquors.
Tall Timbers Research Station: I-75 north to I-10, west to State Road 61, north to Iamonia Cutoff (County Road 12), left onto Henry Beadel Drive.
Target: Shopping center on Archer Road (State Road 24) just east of I-75.
Westside Park parking lot: On the east side of NW 34th Street just north of NW 8th Avenue............. PLEASE JOIN US! NON-MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! ............