*All field trips are scheduled for Friday, October 13th. Stormwater Treament Area 2 Birding Tour This is a trip to a large (over 15,000 acre) nutrient treatment wetland on the Palm Beach/Broward County border that is a part of the Everglades Restoration effort. An array of water birds including several species of raptors like osprey and red-shouldered hawk will be seen. Potentially snail kites and peregrine falcons may also be observed too. Most wading birds typically observed in South Florida are likely as well as several species of inland shorebirds and various songbirds (typically 40 to 60 species of bird are regularly observed). Further details will be available closer to the conference dates. When: October 13, 2023 Meeting Point: Gallery One hotel lobby Time: Meet at 7:45am. Departure time 8:00am sharp. Transportation: Attendees will be transported in a van and will depart from the hotel to Stormwater Treatment Area 2 (STA-2). Return time: Approximately 1:00pm Itinerary: The van will depart at 8:00am. Participants will need to fill out a one-page liability release (provided that morning) before going on the tour. There are no bathrooms available on the tour. We should be at the STA by 9:00am. The birding tour should take two to three hours inside the STA. Equipment: Bring a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope if you have them. A few spotting scopes will be provided. Tour Leaders: Brian Garrett, Wildlife Coordinator at the South Florida Water Management District and Natasha Warraich, Senior Scientist at the South Florida Water Management District What to bring: Please bring snacks, sunglasses, hat, water bottle, camera, and sunblock. We recommend wearing pants and long sleeves due to the direct sun (there is no shade out on the levees). You will have to sign a waiver before getting into the van. Lunch will be on your own once we return to the hotel.
If you are checking out on October 13, the hotel has agreed to hold your luggage in the lobby area or another room. Please coordinate with the hotel front desk. Cost $25 per person. Includes transportation (lunch on your own). |     | |
Everglades Ecosystem Airboat Tour - THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL. When: October 13, 2023 Meeting Point: Gallery One hotel lobby Time: Meet at 7:45am. Departure time 8:00am sharp. Transportation: Attendees will be transported in vans and will depart from the hotel to the boat ramp located off Interstate I-75 (Alligator Alley). Return time: Approximately 1:00pm Itinerary: The van will depart at 8:00am and have a bathroom stop near the boat ramp. The boats will launch around 9:15am. Note, there will be no bathrooms during the airboat ride. The boat will take you through the sawgrass marsh. Equipment: All airboats will be operated by certified airboat operators and staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). All the airboats belong to FWC. Tour Leaders: The field trip will be led by experienced wildlife biologists and managers. What to bring: Please bring snacks, sunglasses, hat, water bottle, camera, and sunblock. We recommend wearing pants and long sleeves due to the direct sun (there is no shade on the boats). You will have to sign a waiver before getting on the boat. Lunch will be on your own once we return to the hotel. A route of the map will be provided at a later date. Note that the exact route may change if the water levels are not appropriate on that trail. We will provide you with hearing protection and Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs/life jacket). All participants will be required to wear the PFD.
If you are checking out on October 13, the hotel has agreed to hold your luggage in the lobby area or another room. Please coordinate with the hotel front desk. Cost $50 per person. Includes transportation and airboat (lunch on your own). __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ALTERNATIVE AIRBOAT TRIP - THIS TRIP IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WATEBIRD SOCIETY. One of the conference attendees has registered for an all-day small group tour of the Everglades with EcoSafari and asked that I share the information with other people on the field trip waitlist. This is not being organized through the conference, so if you are interested you are invited to register yourself directly with the company at the link below. If at least 3 other people register, the trip will go ahead. Non-conference attendees may also be part of this tour, as it is not exclusive.
https://ecosafari.com/southeast-coast/ft-lauderdale-everglades-day-safari/
Duration
What to Bring
What's Included
Each Everglades Day Safari Adventure Includes:
Nature Walk Our nature walk is a leisurely 1-mile stroll into the ancient cypress swamp forests of the Everglades. These freshwater areas are home to old growth bald cypress that tower over the swamp and provide homes for owls, woodpeckers, bats, and raccoons. Orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and climbing vines create a lush sub-tropical landscape like no other place in North America. Alligators and turtles nest nearby and a variety of bird species can be found under in the shade of the cypress. Boat Cruise Embark on a 90-minute scenic boat cruise that navigates through Everglades National Park's mangrove estuary known as the 10,000 Islands. Dolphins, manatees, and many shore birds are often spotted throughout the back bays of Florida's southern frontier. Southern Lunch Our midday meal is served in the tiny town of Everglades City, renowned for its amazing seafood. Enjoy the relaxed ambiance as well as a delicious lunch with the following choices and more:
Big Cypress National Preserve This 720,000-acre primarily freshwater area is home to a vast array of plant and animal life including alligators, turtles, and dozens of species of birds. Your guide will narrate the van tour through the sawgrass prairies and cypress swamps in search of seasonal wildlife that occupy this rugged environment. Airboat Ride Our tours that depart from the Fort Lauderdale area experience an airboat ride that navigates across the sawgrass prairies and pond apples sloughs of the "River of Grass" in search of alligators and a variety of birds including the rare and endangered snail kite. Pickup Locations Our biologists/naturalist picks you up and guides you on a round-trip tour to the Everglades. Pickup is part of the tour and is required. If you are not staying at one of the 40 hotels below we offer pickup from: 7:15am – Galleria Mall, 2414 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL Fort Lauderdale Beach Area – 7:20am-7:30am Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruiseport – 7:30am-7:45am Weston – 8:00am-8:10am | ||
Birding on your own South Florida offers numerous places for birdwatching. If you are planning on birding on your own, we recommend you check out the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail maps for loops and hotspots in the area! South Section | GFBWT (floridabirdingtrail.com) |  |
