Lake Apopka Birding Festival January 18-21, 2018

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2 Lake Apopka Birding Festival January 18-21, 2018 The Lake Apopka Birding Festival is a weekend event, perfect for birders visiting Florida or locals wanting to learn more from well-known birding guides. One week before the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, this is a great opportunity for birders to add to their life lists and learn from knowledgeable leaders. The Festival is only minutes from Orlando s Attractions. Camping and hotel options, including one secured group rate, are listed on the festival website, www. orangeaudubonfl.org/festival. For Friday, January 19th through Sunday, January 21st, take a combination of field trips on the St. Johns River Water Management District s 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore. Trips will search for as many as possible of the 360+ species documented on this property, including recently sighted rarities. Timing is perfect to see a multitude of overwintering and resident species. The 2018 Birding Festival features 20 field trips. Your knowledgeable birding leaders include Greg Miller of The Big Year fame; Clay Taylor (Swarovski Optik and member of many competitive birding teams); David Simpson, one of Florida s best-known birders; and local birding experts, including Bruce Anderson, co-author of The Birdlife of Florida. All field trips will be conducted in individual vehicles 4-wheel drive is not necessary but high clearance vehicles are recommended. Carpools will be necessary due to limited parking and will be organized at the start of each trip. Registration With no registration fee and each event able to be selected a la carte, this festival is quite reasonable. For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday field trips, keynotes, and dinners Orange Audubon Society requests an online (or mailed check) donation for your participation. All funds go to support OAS environmental education center fund. Field trips are $50 for full-day or trip combo; $30 for morning halfday trip with lunch, $20 for afternoon trip without lunch. Advanced registration is required, and each trip has a maximum number of participants. For event details, including locations, leaders, past bird sightings, and to register, go to For further information, festival@orangeaudubonfl.org or call Donations to Orange Audubon Society, Inc., a Florida nonprofit [501(c)(3)] organization, are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, , WITHIN THE STATE. FROM OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA CALL VISIT FOR HELP. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION NO. CH2330 2

3 Lake Apopka North Shore: One of Florida s Top Birding Destinations Located in the middle of the Florida peninsula in northwest Orange and southeast Lake counties, Lake Apopka is Florida s fourth largest lake and the headwaters of the Harris Chain of Lakes and Ocklawaha River. Lake Apopka was once a world-class bass fishery. The lake s decline began in the 1890s with construction of the Apopka-Beauclair Canal that lowered lake levels by a third. For more on the history of the decline of the lake during farming days and the buyout of the farms to create the 20,000-acre North Shore Restoration Area, see the St. Johns River Water Management District website. See also the detailed history on the website of the Friends of Lake Apopka, an advocacy group that has worked over the years to save the lake. Water quality has dramatically improved over the 20+ years since the farm operations ceased and the District began lake restoration activities. Levels of the key nutrient phosphorus have been reduced by half. See next page for description of the Thursday, January 18th keynote by Dr. Gian Basili on this history. The 20,000-acre North Shore, in the middle of the Florida peninsula and north of this large lake, is a magnet for migrating, overwintering and resident birds. Bird diversity is extraordinary in this area, and the bird list continues to grow. That list, as of late 2017, includes 369 species, 16 of which are exotics. The North Shore has received the following recognitions: The Lake Apopka North Shore is an American Bird Conservancy Globally Important Bird Area (IBA). The Lake Apopka North Shore is a National Audubon Society State IBA and Audubon Florida Special Place. The Lake Apopka North Shore is on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Other wildlife include alligators, turtles, marsh hares, otters, bobcats, bears, and coyotes. In 2012, a trail was envisioned along the North Shore farm levee adjacent to the lake to give access to bikers, hikers, birders and other naturalists. Orange County partnered with the District on a recreational trail from Magnolia Park to the Lake County line. From there, the District worked with Lake County to increase the length of the trail to 18 miles along the lake shore. The Florida Coast-to-Coast Connector, a bicycling and multi-use trail that will link communities between St. Petersburg and Titusville, will run along the east and south sides of Lake Apopka. A scenic overlook and trailhead for the hiking/biking trail, funded by Lake County, opened on the west side of the North Shore. At the McDonald Canal a boat ramp with kayak launch now provides additional access to the lake. 3

4 Lake Apopka North Shore: One of Florida s Top Birding Destinations, continued In an exciting event for birders, the District constructed the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive that goes 11 miles on the old farm levee roads through the eastern portion of the property. First opened in May 2015, the Drive is open between sunrise and one-hour before sunset on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. District records indicate that approximately 200,000 people have visited the Drive. As of November 2017, the Drive is closed due to flooding from Hurricane Irma, but District staff continue working toward its reopening. The Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival and Birdapalooza, was founded by Orange County in partnership with Orange Audubon Society and other entities six years ago and is held at Magnolia Park in the southeastern corner of Lake Apopka. This free Saturday family-oriented festival has introduced over 20,000 Central Florida residents to the wonders of the Lake Apopka North Shore. Unfortunately, Birdapalooza was cancelled for 2018 due to flooding damage by Hurricane Irma on the Loop Trail and Wildlife Drive in the southeastern section near Magnolia Park but it will be back January 19, To increase awareness of birders from outside the area of the excellent birding opportunities on the North Shore, OAS worked with the District, Orange County, and other partners to expand Birdapalooza to a weekend event, starting with a pilot in OAS 2nd annual Lake Apopka Birding Festival, based out of the northwest part of the Lake Apopka North Shore, is able to go on despite cancellation of Birdapalooza. In the 2017 festival, participants came from 11 states including Florida, where 36 cities were represented, plus 3 provinces of Canada. These birding ecotourists boost sales at local hotels, restaurants and other businesses. Some comments were: My first time ever on a birding trip. I can t believe it took me this long to do this!!! and I really appreciated how the key message of the whole event was focused on the successful ongoing restoration of the north shore of Lake Apopka. It left us with a sense of hope that bird habitat can be successfully restored. The Groove-billed Ani (photo above right), a Southwestern bird occurring on the North Shore as a rarity, was seen by most of the participants in the 2017 festival and we hope will be back in One of the unusual birds of the Lake Apopka North Shore that is now seen regularly are the Fulvous Whistling- Ducks. Greg Miller (of The Big Year fame), who for the second year will be sharing his birding expertise on the field trips, affirms that Lake Apopka is one of the easiest places in Florida to see these interesting ducks (photo below). On the following pages are listings of the 20 field trips scheduled for the 2018 Lake Apopka Birding Festival. This schedule is presented on the festival website, festival, in an At A Glance form. Trip leaders and keynote speakers are profiled and more details on lodging and trip locations are provided on the website. As shown on the following map, some locations are not directly on the Lake Apopka North Shore property but are selected for ease in finding specific birds that visitors would be interested in seeing. The link to registration is also on the website at 4

5 01/18/2018: Thursday Details, including Possible Bird Sightings Pre-festival Thursday Keynote Speaker Gian Basili, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It takes a Village: A Story of the People, Partnerships, and Perseverance on Lake Apopka s North Shore. This is OAS monthly program at Harry P. Leu Gardens, Camellia Room, 1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando, and all Lake Apopka Birding Festival participants are invited to attend. The meet-and-greet with light refreshments and opportunity to purchase OAS fund-raising nature-inspired merchandise starts at 6:15 p.m. The program starts at 7:00 p.m. It is free but donations at the door are appreciated. Dr. Gian Basili is an ornithologist and conservation biologist who was one of the people most responsible for guiding restoration efforts on the Lake Apopka North Shore and for opening the area to birding and other passive recreational use. This fascinating and important talk, which was last year s Lake Apopka Birding Festival Friday Keynote, is returning by popular demand because the history of the Lake Apopka North Shore, the restoration challenges and successes, and its future are integral to birding opportunities. Gian will also be leading Friday all-day Trip 5. 5

6 01/19/2018: Friday Trip 1. Sunrise Photography and Birding Mostly driving, some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Lynn Marie Folts (Orange Audubon Society) and Scott Simmons (Learn Outdoor Photography). 5:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Maximum participants: 20. Lake Apopka has remarkable opportunities for sunrises from northern locations like Clay Island, and sunsets from Magnolia Park in Apopka and Newton Park in Winter Garden. Sunrise will occur at 7:19 a.m. on this date. Meet at the McDonald Canal Pavilion at 5:30 a.m. (it takes a while to drive to the lake shore). We will drive through normally locked gates to a tower overlooking beautiful Lake Apopka. Your trip leaders will provide both photo and bird identification tips at sunrise and throughout the morning (see Trip 4 for possible sightings). The trip includes lunch back at the McDonald Canal Pavilion, which will allow you to conveniently participate in an afternoon trip (Trip 7 starts from the same location and Trip 8 starts about 35 minutes drive away). Trip 2. Sparrows, Buntings, and other Wintering Birds Mostly walking. Ferndale Preserve, County Rd 455, Clermont, FL Meet at the preserve. $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Gallus Quigley (Florida Ornithological Society) and Becki Smith (Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society). 7:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Maximum participants: 25. Ferndale Preserve is a 192-acre Lake County Preserve on the western shore of Lake Apopka and just a few miles from Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida. The preserve has a mix of red maple-dominated wetlands, remnant oak hammocks, and other habitats in various stages of restoration. Over 190 bird species have been recorded in the area. This trip can be taken in combination with afternoon Trips 7 or 8. Lunch will be served at the McDonald Canal Pavilion, about 20 minutes drive from Ferndale Preserve and the starting place for afternoon Trip 7. If you are taking afternoon Trip 8, it is about 45 minutes drive from Ferndale to Seminole State Forest in a very rural area without convenient places to buy food, and the McDonald Canal Pavilion is basically on the way. Possible sightings include Le Conte s and Clay-colored Sparrows, Savannah, Swamp, Vesper, and Grasshopper Sparrows and others of 12 sparrow species recorded here, as well as other wintering songbirds. Trip 3. Waterfowl ID Field Workshop Mostly driving, some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Bruce Anderson (Florida Ornithological Society) and Tom Rodriguez (Orange Audubon Society). 7:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Maximum participants: 25. Bruce Anderson, coauthor of the Birdlife of Florida, has presented a similar waterfowl workshop at the Space Coast Wildlife and Birding Festival for many years, and you will learn a lot on this trip! Traverse the canals, wetlands and shore of the Lake Apopka North Shore in search of ducks and other waterfowl. Trip leaders will point out field marks to identify each species and distinguish the often brightly colored and distinctly patterned drakes and the often plainer and not-always-so-easy-to-identify hens. Information about migration and molting cycles will also be shared. The trip includes lunch back at the McDonald Canal Pavilion, which will allow you to conveniently participate in an afternoon trip (Trip 7 starts from the McDonald Canal Pavilion; Trip 8 starts approximately 35 minutes drive from the McDonald Canal Pavilion). Possible sightings include Fulvous Whistling Duck, Black-bellied 6

7 Whistling Duck, Wood Duck, and Mottled Duck, seen in the Lake Apopka North Shore wetlands throughout the year, plus winter ducks, such as Blue-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup. We will search for Purple Gallinule and may also turn up a Horned Grebe or Common Loon. Trip 4 Birding Lake Apopka North Shore Mostly driving, some walking. All day, McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $50, includes lunch. Leaders: Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours), Lorne Malo ( Orange Audubon Society), and other local leaders. 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. The trip includes lunch back at the McDonald Canal Pavilion. After this field trip work your way over to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (approximately 35 minutes drive away) for a meet-and-greet, Friday Keynote speaker and dinner. Possible sightings include Sora, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Wood Stork, American Bittern, Sandhill Crane, Wood Duck, Mottled Duck, and Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling- Duck, along with most of North America s wading bird species. The trip will traverse the canals and wetlands of the Lake Apopka North Shore and the lakeshore in search of ducks and possibly loons and grebes. We will see many of the waterfowl listed under Trip 3. Osprey, Redshouldered Hawk, Barn Owl, American Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine Falcon are raptors typically seen. Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Ovenbird are target warblers. Other possible sightings are Roseate Spoonbill, Black Skimmer, and American Avocet. While most Black-necked Stilts and Least Bitterns are on their more southerly wintering grounds, some are recorded here each year on Christmas Bird Counts. As many as 13 sparrow species have been seen, including rarities like LeConte s and Clay-colored. Unique flycatcher species like Ash-throated, Western, Cassin s, Tropical, Scissor-tailed, and Vermillion, as well as Say s Phoebe and White-faced Ibis are out-of-range birds that have been repeatedly seen, and Groove-billed Anis have been seen each winter starting in With such a large restoration area on the shore of Florida s 4th largest lake, off-course rarities frequently show up. Past rarities have also included Rough-legged Hawk, Swainson s Hawk, Eurasian Kestrel, Wilson s Phalarope, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Whooping Crane, White-cheeked Pintail, and Ross Goose. With skilled leaders and many eyes, we will be searching for what has turned up. Trip 5 Birding Lake Apopka North Shore Mostly driving, some walking. All day, McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $50, includes lunch. Leaders: David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson), Gian Basili (Florida Ornithological Society), and other local leaders. 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. The trip includes lunch back at the McDonald Canal Pavilion. After this field trip, work your way over to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (approximately 35 minutes drive away) for a meet-and-greet, Friday Keynote speaker and dinner. For possible sightings see Trip 4. Trip 6 Digiscoping Workshop Mostly driving, a minimum of walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $20. Leader: Robert Wilson (Kowa Optics). 12:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 20. This afternoon field trip from the McDonald Canal Pavilion to several North Shore locations will allow you to learn from an expert how to take great photos through a spotting scope. Digiscoping attaching a camera or smart phone to a spotting scope minimizes impact on wildlife because of extended focal lengths and eliminates the challenge of manual focus. Bring your own scope or request a loaner upon registration (some limits on availability). Possible sightings: Wading birds are great subjects on which to focus, and Red-shouldered Hawks and Ospreys 7

8 are common here. For other possible sightings see Trip 4. The early end time on this trip allows you time to bird on your own and then work your way over to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center for a 4:30 p.m. meet-and-greet, dinner and Friday Keynote. Trip 7 Raptors of the North Shore Mostly driving, a minimum of walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $20. Leaders: Bob Sanders (Orange Audubon Society) and Larry Martin (Orange Audubon Society). 12:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. The Lake Apopka North Shore, with marshes and grasslands that support rodents, gallinules and other prey, hosts many wintering and resident raptors (birds of prey). Possible sightings include Osprey and Bald Eagle, plus American Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper s Hawk, Northern Harrier, and Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks. Other possible sightings include Short-tailed and Broad-winged Hawks. Past rarities have included Krider s Red-Tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Swainson s Hawk, Eurasian Kestrel, and Golden Eagle. After this field trip, work your way over to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (approximately 35 minutes drive away) for a meet-and-greet, Friday Keynote speaker and dinner. Trip 8 Scrub-Jays and other Pineland Species Mostly driving, some walking. Seminole State Forest, south entrance, SR 46, just west of Wekiva River bridge, approximately 14 miles west of Sanford. $20. Leaders: Ralph Risch (Florida Division of Forestry) and Becki Smith (Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society). 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. The endemic Florida Scrub-Jay is restricted to Florida s ever-decreasing sand pine scrub habitat. The 25,812-acre Seminole State Forest hosts the nearest relatively stable population of this friendly and charismatic bird. After everyone gets up close and personal with scrub-jays, the group will search for other species throughout the afternoon. Possible sightings include Sandhill Crane, Wild Turkey, Eastern Towhee and pineland specialties such as Bachman s Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, and Brown-headed Nuthatch. After this field trip, work your way over to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (approximately 35 minutes drive away) for a meet-and-greet, Friday Keynote speaker and dinner. Friday Keynote Speaker Michael Brothers (Marine Science Center, Volusia County) Gulls and Terns. University of Florida Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, 2725 S. Binion Rd., Apopka, FL $20, includes dinner. 4:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. This enthusiastic expert will present everything you could possibly want to know about gulls and terns and their stages. Michael will inform us about breeding and wintering gull and tern biology and about the amazing evening gathering of tens of thousands of gulls at Daytona Beach Shores. This is a not-to-be-missed talk. Read more about Michael Brothers under the Speakers and Leaders tab on the festival website. Meet-and-greet starts at 4:30 p.m., dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., and the talk starts at 6 p.m. 01/20/2018: Saturday Trip 9 Sunrise Photography and Birding Mostly driving, some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Milton Heiberg (Orange Audubon Society) and Earl Horn (Florida Ornithological Society). 5:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Maximum participants: 20. Lake Apopka has remarkable opportunities for sunrises from northern locations like Clay Island, and sunsets from Magnolia Park in Apopka and Newton Park in Winter Garden. Sunrise 8

9 will occur at 7:19 a.m. on this date. We will meet at the McDonald Canal Pavilion at 5:30 a.m. (it takes a while to drive to the lake shore). We will drive through normally locked gates to a tower overlooking beautiful Lake Apopka. Your trip leaders will provide both photo and bird identification tips at sunrise and throughout the morning (see Trip 4 for possible sightings). The trip includes lunch back at the McDonald Canal Pavilion, which will allow you to conveniently participate in an afternoon trip. Trip 10 Ocala National Forest Woodpecker Extravaganza Mostly walking. Clearwater Lake Recreation Area, Ocala National Forest, near Paisley. $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Gallus Quigley (Florida Ornithological Society) and Becki Smith (Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society). 5:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Maximum participants: 25. The well-burned pine forests of the Ocala National Forest host all of the species of woodpecker that breed or winter in Florida. Possible sightings: The target species will be the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Other possible sightings include Red-headed, Red-bellied, Pileated, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers, as well as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Northern Flickers. Brown-headed Nuthatches and Bachman s Sparrows are other Southern pine land specialties that we should be able to find, and possibly other sparrows and winter songbirds. This trip can be taken in combination with afternoon trips. (Directions: From the junction of SR 42 and SR 19 in Altoona, north of Mount Dora, drive east on SR 42 towards Paisley. After 6.4 miles, you will see the entrance to the Clearwater Lake Recreation Area on your left.) Trip 11 Birding by Ear Walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours), David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson), and Larry Martin (Orange Audubon Society). 7:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Maximum participants: 25. This walking field workshop goes along the Lake Apopka Loop Trail and will focus on recognizing birds by their sounds. Birds are not as vocal in January as in breeding season, but there are still many vocalizations that can help with identification. Trip tip: To get a head start on distinguishing species on this walk, you might review a tape of sounds of Common Gallinule, Red-winged Blackbird, and Boat-tailed Grackle, as these are our most vocal wetland species. Trip 12 Beginning Birding with the Simpsons Walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL Beginning Birding with the Simpsons Walking. Target audience is scouts and other young people. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults $5, Children or teenagers under 18, $1. Leaders: David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson) and Dee Simpson (Space Coast Audubon Society). 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. Dee Simpson will start this walking field workshop with an easelboard orientation at the McDonald Canal Pavilion and then the group will walk about a mile searching for birds. For possible sightings see Trip 4. 9

10 Trip 13 Leaders Choice Mostly driving some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $20. Leaders: Chris Newton (Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society) and Greg Bretz (Orange Audubon Society). 12:30 p.m 4:00 p.m. This afternoon trip will look for exciting sightings of the previous days, at the discretion of your trip leaders. In addition to any of the possible sightings listed under Trip 4, this trip will include a visit to a site near Clermont where Florida Scrub- Jays live and a roost where Western Kingbirds have regularly occurred (and during some years, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers). The trip will end in time to work your way over to the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center for a meet-and-greet starting at 4:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the keynote presentation. However, you can stay at the roost site on your own to see the kingbirds, if you prefer. Trip 14 Dora Canal Birding Boat Ride Boating. Rusty Anchor - Dora Canal Tours, 400 W. 4th Avenue, Mount Dora, FL $40. Leader: Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours). 12:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Maximum participants: 17. We will travel with Captain Scott in his 38-foot pontoon boat across Lake Dora into the Dora Canal and back, with the delightful Greg Miller identifying birds and sharing information about them. Possible sightings include Ruddy Ducks, Wood Ducks, nesting Ospreys, Great Blue Herons (possibly nesting) and other wading birds, Bald Eagles, and wintering songbirds. Saturday Keynote Speaker Trip 14A Dora Canal Birding Boat Ride Boating. Rusty Anchor - Dora Canal Tours, 400 W. 4th Avenue, Mount Dora, FL $40. Leader: Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours). 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 17. We will travel with Captain Scott in his 38-foot pontoon boat across Lake Dora into the Dora Canal and back, with the delightful Greg Miller identifying birds and sharing information about them. Possible sightings include Ruddy Ducks, Wood Ducks, nesting Ospreys, Great Blue Herons (possibly nesting) and other wading birds, Bald Eagles, and wintering songbirds. Clay Taylor (Swarovski Optik) 40 Years of Birding Through a Camera Lens. University of Florida Mid- Florida Research and Education Center, 2725 S. Binion Rd., Apopka, FL $20, includes dinner. 4:30 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. In this Saturday Keynote, Clay will share bird photos taken over 4 decades, using both film and digital cameras, and talk about challenges encountered and solutions found. Being the Naturalist Market Manager for Swarovski Optik has given him the opportunity to travel extensively. His camera is ALWAYS with him. Oh, yes, his iphone, too. Read more about Clay under the Speakers and Leaders tab on the festival website. Meet-and-greet starts at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be pizza and salad, vegetarian included. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation at 6 p.m. 01/21/2018: Sunday Trip 15 Sunrise Photography and Birding Mostly driving, some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Lynn Marie Folts (Orange Audubon Society) and Reinhard Geisler (Friends of Orlando Wetlands Park). 5:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Maximum participants: 20. (See Trip 1 for more details.) This trip can be taken in combination with an afternoon trip that also meets at the McDonald Canal Pavilion. Your trip leaders will provide both photo and bird identification tips at sunrise and throughout the morning (see Trip 4 for possible sightings). The trip includes lunch back at the McDonald Canal Pavilion, which will allow you to conveniently participate in an afternoon trip. 10

11 Trip 16 Bird Banding and Sandhill Specialties Mostly driving, some walking. Lake Lotus Park, 1153 Lake Lotus Park Road Altamonte Springs, FL $30, includes lunch. Leaders: Andrew Boyle (Wekiva Bird Banding Station), Deborah Green (Orange Audubon Society) and Kathy Rigling (Orange Audubon Society). 7:00 a.m. 11:30 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. The Wekiva Bird Banding Station began in the 1990s, and now operates at Lake Lotus Park, a 150-acre park in Altamonte Springs. Over 75 species have been banded since the program began at Lake Lotus Park, with over 2,500 individual birds processed. Andrew Boyle, who leads the station, will demonstrate banding and explain what the station s studies have shown about migration patterns and life cycles of the birds. The group will then caravan to Wekiwa Springs State Park (1800 Wekiwa Cir, Apopka, FL 32712), a 7,000-acre state park considered one of the crown jewels of Florida s award-winning state park system. This trip can be taken in combination with afternoon trips and, for your convenience, a lunch is included with this trip. Possible sightings at Wekiwa: we will look for pine land specialties, including Brown-headed Nuthatches, Bachman s Sparrows, Eastern Towhees, Pine Warblers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and overwintering songbirds. Trip 17 Birding Lake Apopka North Shore Mostly driving, some walking. All day, McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $50, includes lunch. Leaders: Greg Miller (Wildside Nature Tours), Gallus Quigley (Florida Ornithological Society), and Becki Smith (Oklawaha Audubon Society). 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. See Trip 4 for possible sightings. Trip 18 Birding Lake Apopka North Shore Mostly driving, some walking. All day, McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $50, includes lunch. Leaders: David Simpson (Birding with David Simpson), Lorne Malo (Orange Audubon Society), and other local leaders. 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. See Trip 4 for possible sightings. Trip 19 Digiscoping Workshop Mostly driving, some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $20. Leaders: Clay Taylor (Swarovski Optik). 12:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 20. This afternoon field trip will allow you to learn from an expert how to take great photos through a spotting scope. Group will drive from the McDonald Canal Pavilion into several Lake Apopka North Shore locations. Bring your own scope or request a loaner upon registration. Possible sightings: Wading birds are great subjects on which to focus, and Red-shouldered Hawks and Ospreys are common here. For other possible sightings see Trip 4. Trip 20 Recording What You See: ebirding and Checklists, Lake Apopka Mostly driving, some walking. McDonald Canal Pavilion, CR 448A, Mount Dora, FL $20. Leaders: Chris Newton (Kissimmee Valley Audubon Society) and Kathy Rigling (Orange Audubon Society). 12:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Maximum participants: 25. On this afternoon field trip into various Lake Apopka North Shore locations, we will not only look for birds but also show you how to record your sightings on ebird and achieve recognition for levels of Florida birding achievement. For possible sightings on this trip, see Trip 4, Birding Lake Apopka North Shore. 11

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13 Photo Credits: p. 3, Red-shouldered Hawk in flight and River Otter, Photos: Joyce Stefancic. p. 4, One of the two Groove-billed Anis, Southwestern birds, that were must-see birds for birding festival participants, Photo: Steve Shaluta; Fulvous Whistling-Duck taking off, Photo: Joyce Stefancic. p. 6, 2017 Friday Sunrise Photo Workshop on Lake Apopka, Photo: Lynn Marie Folts; Ring-necked Ducks, Photo: Kathy Rigling. p. 7, 2017 Friday all-day trip led by Gian Basili, Lorne Malo, Greg Miller, Brook Rohman and David Simpson. Photo: Beverley Sinclair. p. 8, Bob Sanders, Photo: Joyce Stefancic; Michael Brothers with Shearwater, Photo courtesy Marine Science Center. p. 9, 2017 Sunday all-day trip led by Greg Miller and Gallus Quigley; Photo: Tina Pruitt; Florida Scrub-Jay, Photo: Susan Kirby. p. 10, 2017 Saturday keynote by Greg Miller. Photos: Steve Shaluta; Clay Taylor, Photo courtesy Swarovski Optik. p. 11, Searching for Brown-headed Nuthatches, Wekiwa Springs State Park, Photo: Deborah Green; Sunday all-day trip with David Simpson and Gallus Quigley (at scopes) and Becki Smith, Photo: Tina Pruitt; Northern Harrier, Photo: Michelle Nardone. p. 12, Clockwise: Sunday All-day field trip, Photo: Tina Pruitt; Bald Eagle at sunrise and Many of the wading species, Lake Apopka North Shore, Photos: Joyce Stefancic; Purple Gallinule: Photo: Kathy Rigling; and Ash-throated Flycatcher, Photo: Jennifer Hew. festival 12

14 2018 Lake Apopka Birding Festival Sponsors