Programs, Classes & Field Trips for 2009-10
Programs for 2009-10 - To be announced
Still in the planning stages.
Birding Classes for 2009-10
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 Community 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. Each session will consist of six field trips to local birding spots. For information and registration call Santa Fe Community College Community Education at 352-395-5193.
Field Trips for 2009-10
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 | 09/19 | All day | North American Migration Count | D | Special event | 3 | Mike Manetz |
| Sun | 09/20 | 1:30 | Cedar Key by boat * # | C | Tidewater Tours, Cedar Key boat ramp | 1 | Capt. Doug Maple |
| Sat | 09/26 | 8:00 | Barr Hammock | C | Micanopy Chevron on US-441 | 2 | Michael Drummond |
| Sun | 09/27 | 8:00 | Palm Point | A | Powers Park | 1 | Bob Carroll, Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 10/03 | 8:00 | San Felasco Hammock (Millhopper Road) | A | San Felasco (south entrance) | 2 | Steve Hofstetter |
| Sun | 10/04 | 8:00 | Chastain-Seay Park | A | Tag agency | 1 | Bob Carroll |
| Sat | 10/10 | 8:00 | Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (main entrance) | A | Paynes Prairie main entrance ranger station | 1 | Caleb Gordon |
| Sun | 10/11 | 8:00 | O'Leno State Park | B | High Springs Winn-Dixie | 2 | John Hintermister |
| Sat | 10/17 | 8:00 | Bolen Bluff Trail | A | Bolen Bluff Trail parking lot | 2 | Michael Meisenburg |
| Sun | 10/18 | 8:00 | Upper Hogtown Creek | B | Tag agency | 2 | Geoff Parks |
| Sat | 10/24 | 8:00 | Split Rock Park | A | Sweetbay parking lot | 2 | Mike Manetz |
| Sat | 10/31 | 8:00 | Hague Dairy | A | Tag agency | 1 | Bob Carroll |
| Sat | 11/07 | 8:00 | Cones Dike via Camps Canal | B | Powers Park | 2 | Mike Manetz |
| Sat | 11/14 | 7:00 | Hamilton County mines | D | Tag agency | 2 | Jerry Krummrich |
| Sat | 11/21 | 8:00 | Tuscawilla Prairie | A | Sweetbay parking lot | 2 | Ivor Kincaide |
| Sun | 11/22 | 6:30 | Cedar Key | C/D | Target parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 11/28 | 9:00 | LEAFS | B | Austin Cary Forest | 2 | John Winn |
| Sat | 12/05 | 8:00 | La Chua Trail | B | La Chua Trail parking lot | 2 | Caleb Gordon |
| Sat | 12/12 | 8:00 | Morningside Nature Center | B | Morningside parking lot | 2 | Geoff Parks |
| Sun | 12/20 | All day | Christmas Bird Count | D | Special event - see The Crane | 3 | John Hintermister, Howard Adams |
| Sat | 01/09 | 8:00 | St. Marks NWR* | D/E | St. Marks NWR visitor center | 3 | John Hintermister |
| Sat | 01/16 | 8:00 | Sweetwater Preserve | B | Boulware Springs Park parking lot | 2 | Michael Drummond |
| Sat | 01/23 | 8:00 | Gum Root Park | B | Powers Park | 3 | Geoff Parks |
| Sat | 01/30 | 8:00 | Alligator Lake Recreation Area | B | Alligator Lake parking lot | 2 | Jerry Krummrich |
| Sat- Sun |
02/06-07 | All day | Tall Timbers Research Station* | D/E | Call Wild Birds Unlimited | 3 | Adam Kent |
| Sat | 02/13 | 8:00 | Persimmon Point* | C | La Chua Trail parking lot | 3 | Howard Adams, Adam Kent |
| Sun | 02/14 | 8:00 | Kanapaha Prairie | B | Target parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 02/21 | 7:00 | Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area | D | Sweetbay parking lot | 2 | Bubba Scales |
| Sat | 02/27 | 8:00 | Tuscawilla Prairie | A | Sweetbay parking lot | 2 | Ivor Kincaide |
| Sat | 03/06 | 8:00 | Prairie Creek | A | Powers Park | 2 | Ivor Kincaide |
| Sat | 03/20 | 8:00 | Lower Hogtown Creek Greenway | B | Westside Park | 2 | Geoff Parks |
| Sat | 04/03 | 7:30 | Ocala National Forest | C/D | Sweetbay parking lot | 3 | Bob Simons |
| Sun | 04/11 | 8:00 | La Chua Trail | B | La Chua Trail parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 04/17 | 8:00 | San Felasco Hammock (Millhopper Road) | A | San Felasco (south entrance) | 2 | Steve Hofstetter |
| Sun | 04/18 | 8:00 | River Rise Preserve State Park | C | High Springs Winn-Dixie | 3 | Ivor Kincaide |
| Sat | 04/24 | 8:00 | Ft. DeSoto County Park | D | Ft. DeSoto visitor center | 2 | John Hintermister |
| Sun | 04/25 | 6:30 | Cedar Key | C/D | Target parking lot | 2 | Rex Rowan |
| Sat | 05/01 | 8:00 | Palm Point | A | Powers Park | 1 | Mike Manetz |
| Sun | 05/02 | 8:00 | Bolen Bluff Trail | A | Bolen Bluff Trail parking lot | 2 | Adam Kent |
| Sat | 05/08 | 8:00 | Mill Creek Preserve | C | Tag agency | 2 | Michael Drummond |
| Sat | 05/15 | 9:00 | Wildflowers with Dana Griffin | C | TBA | 2 | Dana Griffin, Adam Kent |
| Sat | 05/22 | 10:00 | Butterflies with Kathy Malone | B | High Springs Winn-Dixie | 1 | Kathy Malone, Michael Meisenburg |
* = 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).
Boulware Springs Park: Go east on University Avenue, cross Waldo Road, and veer right onto SR-20. Almost immediately turn right onto SE 15th Street and proceed 2.1 miles to the gate (you’ll see the equestrian gate first, at 2.0 miles, but keep going). Pull in and immediately turn right into the parking lot.
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.
High Springs Winn-Dixie: On US-441 at north end of High Springs.
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.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 $6.00 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 (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.
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! ............