Events

St Marks-Bottoms Road Field Trip

      Citrus County Audubon Society has scheduled a birding field trip at Bottoms Road-St Marks Island in the Panacea-Newport area on for Tuesday, January 10, 2012. The public is welcome to attend. Preregistration is not necessary and participants with all levels of birding skills are welcome.
      This field trip is led by CCAS member Pat Bazany. Meet at the Best Western Parking Lot in Medart. The field trip begins at 7:30 am, will be easy walking and will last about 6-7 hours. Due to the distance, most birders will travel up the night before.
      Established in 1931, St. Marks is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Its 68,000 acres provides wintering habitat for migratory birds. Uplands forests, forested swamps, fresh & brackish water marshes and a pristine salt water estuary ecosystem make it a favorite for birders.
Some of the unusual birds we hope to see include: Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Horned Grebe, Virginia Rail, Sora, and White-breasted Nuthatch.
      Visit CitrusCountyAudubon.com for more details and directions.

If you have any questions about this field trip please contact
the Field Trip Manager, Pat Bazany
at 616-566-8327 or rbazany@yahoo.com

To get travel time and directions from your home to the Field Trip location
click this link-> Best Western Parking Lot in Medart
and then on the left side enter your address and click Directions.
You might want to print out the step-by-step directions to bring along.

Some of us will be staying at Wildwood Resort in Crawfordville just down the road from the Best Western. (They allow pets.) A room rate of $79 - $89 a night has been quoted there. We can get a block of rooms set aside there if we want.

At the Best Western there is a 14 day advance rate of $72 - $80. (The rate at Wildwood is equivalent of a AAA discount. It would be available regardless if the rooms were available.)

Tips for an Enjoyable Bird Watching Outing

Check in with the trip leader when you arrive.

Try to stay within visual or radio contact with the trip leader.

Listen to the experienced birders--you will learn a lot.

Keep side conversations muted when others are actively watching and listening to birds.

Suggested items: binoculars, bird guide, note pad & pencil, bug spray, sunscreen, water (other items: light snack, camera, scope, FRS walkie-talkies on Channel 2)

Wear clothing in neutral colors that blend with the environment, long pants, a hat, and comfortable shoes.

Check out with the trip leader before you leave early.