Festival field trips are designed to showcase the best regional wildlife sites as well as the exceptional research and preservation work being conducted in this area. 1) Please note that in order to keep the Festival as cost efficient as possible for our guests, some of the field trips will be established as car pools instead of utilizing hired transportation services. 2) Unless otherwise noted, all trips depart from the traffic circle in front of the Gymnatorium at Brevard Community College, Titusville Campus. 3) Due to the importance of scheduled arrivals at field trip sites, as well as schedules for the balance of the day, all vehicles will leave promptly when indicated. Please arrive 15 minutes early and board the bus at departure time. 4) Field guides are specially assigned to your field trips and deliver specific discussions and information pertinent to your event experience. On bus trips, opportunities for interaction with Trip Leaders to and from the trip site help you to gain full benefit of your field trip event. 5) Water is available on each field trip bus and per bottle for car pools - please contact the Registration Desk if you have NOT been given a bottle of water.

Jan. 25 & 29, 7:00am-10:00am; Limited to 12 registrants; $20; MOS

Matt & Lora Heyden (Space Coast Audubon Society); Jan. 25 with Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis (VENT); Jan. 29 with David Hartgrove (Halifax River Audubon Society) and Selena Kiser (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail)

Meet at 7:00am at the south parking area of Cracker Barrel Restaurant near I-95 exit 215.

28° 32' 55.39" N 80° 51' 35.61" W

Bring binoculars, water, cell phone, camera, light rain gear and scope if desired.

This is a 3-mile walk on the gravel road that surrounds the wetlands. The pace will be leisurely in order to fully appreciate the birds you will see. Explore the engineered wetlands of Blue Heron, an outstanding birding site and magnet for wildlife. American Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Gadwall, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Bobolink, Northern Harrier, Marsh Wren, Red Shouldered Hawk, and Gull-billed Tern are just a few of well over 100 bird species sighted at Blue Heron. Birders may also see alligators.

Jan. 26, 7:00am-10:00am; Limited to 12 registrants; $20; MOS

Matt & Lora Heyden (Space Coast Audubon Society) and John Puschock (Zugunruhe Birding Tours)

Meet at 7:00am at the south parking area of Cracker Barrel Restaurant near I-95 exit 215. Be prepared to carpool.

28° 32' 55.39" N 80° 51' 35.61" W

Bring binoculars, water, cell phone, camera, light rain gear and scope if desired.

This is a 3-mile driving adventure on the gravel road that surrounds the wetlands. Be prepared to pull completely off the road and exit your vehicle at intervals in order to gain better viewing and to use your scope. Explore the engineered wetlands of Blue Heron, an outstanding birding site and magnet for wildlife. American Bittern, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Sandhill Crane, Roseate Spoonbill, Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Gadwall, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Bobolink, Northern Harrier, Marsh Wren, Red Shouldered Hawk, and Gull-billed Tern are just a few of well over 100 bird species sighted at Blue Heron. Birders may also see alligators.

Jan. 28, 2:00pm-5:30pm; Limited to 20 registrants; $20; MOS

Jim Pedersen (Merritt Island Wildlife Association) and David Hartgrove (Halifax River Audubon Society)

Meet at Black Point Wildlife Drive on MINWR. Park on the grass along the road - make sure your car is off the road.

28° 38' 28.39" N 80° 44' 9.56" W

Bring water and snacks. Dress warmly!

Take a slow ride through a Florida paradise around Black Point Wildlife Drive. There's no better way to view so many birds!

Jan. 28, 8:30am-5:00pm (Intro 119, 8:30am-9:45am, Field Trip 10:00am-5:00pm); Limited to 32 registrants; $40; MOS

Adam Kent (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) with Michael Brothers (Marine Science Center), Gina Kent (Avian Research & Conservation Network) and Sarah Linney (Space Coast Audubon Society)

Drive to Smyrna Dunes Park for field trip after intro. Directions to Smyrna Dunes Park: From BCC, go north on US 1 to New Smyrna Beach. Turn right on Canal St. (3 blocks north of US 1 & A1A intersection) and go to the end. Turn left onto Riverside Dr. and go two blocks. Turn right onto Washington St., which immediately becomes North Cswy. After crossing the last bridge, turn left onto North Peninsula Ave. Park is 2 miles north at the end of the road. There is an entrance fee per car (up to 8 people). Drive time about 45 minutes.

29° 3' 57.91" N 80° 54' 53.08" W

Please make sure you eat lunch or pick something up to eat at the park. There are plenty of picnic tables. No food will be provided. Bring water.

You see them all the time - running from the surf, perched on pilings and soaring over the water. If you think they are nondescript grayish variations on the same theme, you are only partially correct. Have fun learning identification and natural history of the common but often difficult-to-identify birds found on Florida's beaches in the winter. What's the difference between a tern and a gull, or a sandpiper and a plover? Where does the Willet fit in? Explore their variations and sort through some of the subtleties of their shapes and behaviors in this look at these fascinating beach birds.

Smyrna Dunes Park is located on the south side of Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County, at the north end of New Smyrna Beach. This spectacular beachside park offers panoramic views of the ocean, inlet and estuary as well as the opportunity to get close looks at gulls, terns and shorebirds and do a sea watch of the ocean for loons, sea ducks and jaegers. There is always a possibility of finding rarities such as a Glaucous or Iceland Gull. Twenty species of shorebirds are probable here, including American Oystercatchers, Piping and Wilson's Plovers, Purple Sandpipers and Red Knots. The session begins near low tide. Participants will take a pontoon boat shuttle to the Disappearing Island sandbar for a close look at the numerous shorebirds, pelicans, cormorants, and up to 15 species of gulls, terns, and skimmers that gather there. Falling tide is the best time to visit Disappearing Island. After spending some time at the island, participants will return to the park when birds are concentrated along the shore near high tide, allowing for close observation and identification practice. The leaders will work closely with participants to demonstrate the process of determining age and separation of difficult gull plumages.

Jan. 26, 8:00am-12:00pm; Limited to 40 registrants; Free; MOS

Jan. 28, 1:00pm-5:00pm; Limited to 40 registrants; Free; MOS

Nancy Corona (US Fish & Wildlife Service), Cary & Betty Salter and Sandy Walters (Merritt Island Wildlife Association) Meet at MINWR Visitor Center. Classroom intro is followed by a free field trip by carpool to Black Point Wildlife Drive.

28° 38' 28.39" N 80° 44' 9.56" W

Birding is far more than a hobby. It is an open door to the world of nature, a touch point that connects people to the outdoors. Birding inevitably leads to a discovery of turtles, butterflies, wildflowers and all the interconnections of nature. In an informative talk, Nancy will cover field guides and other literature. She will provide helpful hints for beginners on where to find birds and how to identify them, pointing out interesting behaviors, typical silhouettes and identification tricks of the birding trade. Cary will give an overview of optical equipment and how to properly use it. A free field trip to Black Point Wildlife Drive will follow the classroom session so you can get right out in the field and put your new knowledge to work.

Jan. 28, 2:30pm-4:00pm; Limited to 20 registrants; Free; MOS

Joe Swingle (Environmentally Endangered Lands Program) with Laura Erickson (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) and Steve Swingle

Meet at the EFS: Drive south on US 1 about 8 miles to the south end of town and turn right on SR405/Columbia Blvd. Drive about ½ mile and turn into the entrance of the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary on the right.

28° 31' 58.39" N 80° 48' 8.8" W

Birdwatching is one of North America's fastest growing recreational sports - but did you know that a majority of people who enjoy birdwatching are beginners? This program is for anyone age eight to adult who considers him or herself a 'hatchling' birdwatcher. We will begin with a brief indoor presentation, introducing a few easy birding techniques. Next, we'll leave the 'nest' and head outside for some binocular skills practice (bring yours or use ours). Then, take your new skills for a test flight as we hike for 45 minutes on the trails in search of a few birds in the EFS!

Jan. 28 & 29, 6:30am-12:30pm; Limited to 16 registrants; $25; MOS

Paddy Cunningham (Birding Adventures)

Meet at the parking lot of the Oak Hammock Trail, ½ mile east of MINWR Visitor Center.

28° 38' 28.39" N 80° 44' 9.56" W

Bring water.

Birding by Ear and Habitat is a great way to increase your ability to identify birds. It is an essential birding skill and necessary to speed up ID and how to locate the bird. Birding by habitat helps you to determine what birds you are likely to see in an area. Using a variety of techniques in the field, you will learn how to recognize various species of birds through a process of elimination by critically focusing on what likely the bird is and isn't. The field trip will begin before daylight in an oak hammock searching for warblers and owls as birds awaken and begin singing. We will travel to various habitats including scrub, pinelands, open field, shoreline, open water, wetlands and roadsides to see the role of habitat in identification. During a short field break numerous handouts will be given and discussed. Two short stops for shorebirds at beach habitats will end the session. Due to the numerous habitats visited during this workshop in the past, 80-plus species have been observed with a high of 96 species for both days. Paddy Cunningham has been a naturalist in South Florida for more than 25 years. Her motto is "you learn the ID," and she excels in teaching birding skills in a non-intimidating field experience.

Jan. 25, 26, & 27, 4:00pm-7:00pm; Limited to 24 registrants; $25; CARPOOL

Mike Legare (US Fish & Wildlife Service); Jan. 25 with Paul Lehman; Jan. 26 with David Simpson (Birding With David Simpson); Jan. 27 with Michael O'Brien (VENT)

Meet in BCC bus circle at 3:45pm to create a carpool that utilizes as few cars as possible.

Dress warmly - it will be chilly on the marsh. Wear old shoes and bring water.

Join Mike Legare, US Fish & Wildlife Service Lead Biologist at MINWR, on a sunset hayride through the pristine salt marsh habitat of the restricted St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge. At various stops through the marsh, Mike will talk about Black Rails, their secretive habits, salt marsh habitat and the research he conducted on these elusive marsh birds at this site. The marshes of the St. Johns River west and northwest of Titusville are the only marshes along the St. Johns where Black Rails are found within the river's floodplains. That's because saline water seeps to the surface from a layer of salty water that lies above the Florida aquifer in this area, creating marinetype habitats in the midst of a huge freshwater floodplain. These biological islands are home to the same vegetation that you will find in the salt marshes of the Merritt Island NWR. As the sun sets on the marsh horizon, Mike will stop at different places and play tapes to try to entice Black Rails to call.

Jan. 27, 6:15am-5:00pm; Limited to 26 registrants; $75; BUS

Anne Birch (The Nature Conservancy) with Andrea Graves and Mike Renda (The Nature Conservancy)

Meet at bus circle at BCC.

Blowing Rocks can be windy with sea spray - bring light rain gear. Participants must be 48" tall to climb the lighthouse. Proper walking footwear; NO flip-flops permitted at the Lighthouse.

Discover two local treasures. Begin with a guided tour of Blowing Rocks, a 73-acre barrier island sanctuary located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. Explore four native Florida habitats - beach dune, coastal strand, tropical hardwood hammock and mangrove swamp. Learn about the 20-year native plant restoration effort that returned these natural areas to their historic condition. At the beach overlook, view the largest stretch of Anastasia limestone on the Atlantic coast and hear about the imperiled sea turtles that nest here each summer. Enjoy a picnic-style lunch on the back porch of the Hawley Education Center, then travel 1½ miles south to the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Learn the historical significance of this landmark 1860 lighthouse and climb its 105 steps for scenic views of the Jupiter Inlet, Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Visit the waterfront museum; Located in a restored WWII building, with exhibits on Florida maritime, Native American and Pioneer history. Tour outdoor exhibits, including the Tindall Pioneer Homestead, Pennock Plantation Bell and Oil House.

Jan. 27 & 29, 5:00am-4:00pm; Limited to 26 registrants; $75; BUS

Wes Biggs and Dave Goodwin (Florida Nature Tours); Jan. 29 with Roy Book (Space Coast Audubon Society)

Meet at bus circle at BCC.

Price includes lunch at Forever Florida Wilderness Preserve.

The extensive wetland and prairie complexes of Central Florida host a variety of wading and waterbirds including almost all of Florida's herons and egrets; Least and American Bittern, Glossy and White Ibis, Wood Stork; Limpkin, King Rail, Anhinga, grebes, shorebirds and various ducks as well as a unique suite of birds that includes the Sandhill Crane, Crested Caracara, Burrowing Owl, Mottled Duck and Grasshopper Sparrow. This tour will start at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area in the early morning hours to try to catch a glimpse of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Other pineland species expected at Three Lakes include Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler and Eastern Bluebird. White-tailed Kite is a possibility. Next stop is Overstreet Landing on Lake Kissimmee to look for Whooping Cranes that have been reintroduced to the Kissimmee River prairie. Overstreet Landing is a good place to look for Snail Kite, Bald Eagle and various raptors, Mottled Duck and other waterfowl; Longbilled Dowitcher, Purple Gallinule and Limpkin. Crested Caracara, Eastern Bluebird, American Kestrel, Sandhill Crane and Wild Turkey may be seen along the road. After lunch, a trip to Lake Lizzie Park will hopefully produce Red-headed Woodpecker and Florida Scrub-Jay. If time allows, other sites to be visited include Whaley's Landing, Cypress Lake and Lake Kissimmee.