Barefoot Beach Preserve Park Canoe Trip

Experience nature first-hand at Barefoot Beach Preserve Park, a 342-acre barrier island located in North Naples.  The Preserve remains one of Southwest Florida's most beautiful and fragile natural areas.  Here visitors will find a canoe trail that circles approximately 1.5 miles through an estuarine mangrove forest, one of the most productive eco-systems on earth.  Fish, mollusks, crustaceans, dolphin, manatee, and many bird species can be found at this estuary.

Big Cypress National Preserve - Raccoon Point Red-cockaded Woodpecker Trip

Join the preserve's wildlife biologist, Deborah Jansen, for a visit to Raccoon Point.  This wild and diverse area of the preserve, not open to the general public, is home to a variety of wildlife including several groups of the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.  Learn how preserve staff monitor this species and protect its habitat through prescribed fire.  You may not only get a glimpse of the red-cockaded woodpecker and other old-growth pineland birds, but may also see tracks of Florida panthers or bears.  

Big Cypress National Preserve - Birding Walk

From wading birds to migratory songbirds, Big Cypress National Preserve offers fantastic birding opportunities along with other wildlife viewing.  Join us to learn the easy-to-get-to spots in the preserve that can be enjoyed by both beginning and experienced birders. This includes a visit to our new ½ mile Kirby Storter Boardwalk for an easy walk into a cypress strand, followed by viewing with scopes at H.P. Williams Roadside Park and an optional car caravan along Turner River Road through cypress, pinelands and prairies. 

Big Cypress National Preserve - Turner River Canoe Trip

Join us for a relaxing sunset paddle through the heart of the Big Cypress Swamp.  There are possibilities of seeing a variety of wading birds, alligators, and turtles.  Canoes, paddles, and life vests provided.  Basic canoeing experience is required.  You must also be able to swim.

Clam Pass Park - Nature Walk

This trip will begin with an introduction to mangrove forest and estuary ecosystems and will emphasize the critical role they play in protecting and enhancing our environment. As we cross the bay, we'll look for wading birds and other beach critters. After a short break at the concession stand, you'll learn about the amazingly different lives of the two main divisions of shells. While strolling by the Gopher Tortoise area, you'll learn about these fascinating animals and about how many species of beach plants and trees help to stabilize the soil in this dynamic area. While heading back along the beach, we'll play "Stump the Guide" with the treasures you've collected.

Collier-Seminole State Park - Birding Walk (Saturday)

We will spend the morning exploring the extensive tropical hardwood hammock vegetation in Collier-Seminole State Park for wintering landbirds such as warblers, vireos, and thrushes. Birds we hope to see or hear include Pileated Woodpecker, Great-Crested Flycatcher, and Carolina Wren. Past trips have located winter rarities such as White-crowned Pigeon, Yellow-throated Vireo, Summer Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida - Rookery Bay Sunset Roost Cruise

Cast off for some great birding and cruise Rookery Bay on the Conservancy's Good Fortune pontoon boat. Join us for a beautiful sunset cruise in search of nesting Bald Eagle and Osprey, terns, gulls, shorebirds and waders. Dusk brings thousands of Fish Crows, Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, herons, ibis and other wading birds in to roost on a few mangrove islands in Rookery Bay. This is a true southwest Florida treat and a very popular outing.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Backcountry Truck Trip (Morning)

Rise and shine. Board a swamp truck to explore the "off-limits" back country of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's north end.  We will traverse several habitat types and will be on the lookout for the many birds of the back country, including hawks, warblers, ducks, sandhill cranes, wading birds, and more!  We will also keep a lookout for other wildlife and learn about the management of this 13,000 acre sanctuary.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Backcountry Truck Trip (Sundown)

The perfect end to a perfect day. Board a swamp truck to explore the "off-limits" back country of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's north end.  We will traverse several habitat types and will be on the lookout for the many birds of the back country, including hawks, warblers, ducks, sandhill cranes, wading birds, and more!  We will also keep a lookout for other wildlife and learn about the management of this 13,000-acre sanctuary.

Eagle Lakes Community Park - Birding for Beginners

Just starting out as a birder? Not sure what that big white bird in your backyard is?  Then join us for an easy walk at a great birding spot. This trip provides an introduction to birding and tips on how to identify the most common birds in the area. 

Eagle Lakes Community Park - Birding Walk

Just starting out as a birder? Not sure what that big white bird in your backyard is? Then join us for an easy walk at a great birding spot. This trip provides an introduction to birding and tips on how to identify the most common birds in the area.

Everglades National Park - Shark Valley Birding Walk

When many people think about Everglades National Park, they picture Shark Valley.  It is the classic "river of grass"-- a sawgrass marsh full of life and fantastic birding opportunities.  Participants on this morning's walk may encounter anhingas, limpkins, purple gallinules, wood storks, red-shouldered hawks, snail kites, warblers and gnatcatchers as well as a wide variety of nesting herons and egrets.  Alligators, turtles, otters, and deer may also be seen.

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park - Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk Tour

Take a walk on the wild side. The Big Cypress Bend boardwalk provides a unique glimpse into the past as it winds through a stand of huge virgin Bald Cypress. This is an opportunity to learn about the natural history of the swamp. Birds and animals that may be encountered include barred owl, pileated woodpecker and limpkin as well as river otters and alligators.

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge - Birding Walk

We will be hiking along a 1.3 mile long trail that meanders through several natural community types including hardwood hammock, pine flatwood, wet prairie, and mixed pine hardwood forest.  Bird species expected to be seen include a wide range of resident and wintering landbirds including up to five species of woodpeckers, warblers, and with just a little late season water, egrets, White Ibis, and Wood Storks.  There is also a good chance to see other wildlife including whitetail deer, raccoons, armadillos, and perhaps a Florida panther track!

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge - Swamp Buggy Tour

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last bastions for the endangered Florida panther.  Established in 1989 and leading the way for research & conservation, the tour will consist of a swamp buggy ride through the Northern end of the Fakahatchee Strand as well as the upland areas, including and a short walk to see some remnants of Florida's historical lifestyle of cattle ranching and hunt clubs. You will go through several upland habitats including hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and mixed pine hardwood forest. Don't expect to see panthers, but hopefully during the ride, the higher perspective might allow you to catch a glimpse of deer, turkey, armadillo, hawks, owls, woodpeckers and the other neighbors that live in the panther's habitat.

Little Estero Lagoon - Birding Walk

We will spend the morning walking along the inner path and outer beach that surrounds Little Estero Lagoon, a State-designated Critical Wildlife Area.  Wading birds such as egrets, herons, and White Ibis are likely and Roseate Spoonbills may still linger in the early morning.  Shorebirds likely to be seen include Western and Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, and up to 5 species of plover including Black-bellied, Wilson's, Semipalmated, Piping, and Snowy.  Additional shorebird possibilities include Red Knot, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, and American Oystercatcher.  Wintering gulls and terns (Royal, Sandwich, Forster's) should also be present.  If there is interest, and time permits, we will take a side trip to Bunche Beach, another important shorebird location in Southwest Florida.

Marco Island - Burrowing Owl Tour

Marco Island is habitat for approximately 65 pairs of Burrowing Owls, a State of Florida "Species of Special Concern".  From the meeting place, we will drive (carpool if possible) to two nearby locations to view the burrows and owls. Onsite information will be provided about the biology, history, habitat, behavior, etiquette in maintaining/viewing and the human impacts of the burrowing owls in the urban environment.   

North Collier Regional Park - Wetland Walk on Wheels (Tour 1)

Designed for those individuals with special needs, a Wetland Walk on Wheels is a 6-passenger club car tour around North Collier Regional Park's wetland preserve.  Driven by a Collier County Park Ranger/Interpreter visitors will have the opportunity to see and learn about the flora, fauna, and importance of wetland habitats.

North Collier Regional Park - Wetland Walk on Wheels (Tour 2)

Designed for those individuals with special needs, a Wetland Walk on Wheels is a 6-passenger club car tour around North Collier Regional Park's wetland preserve.  Driven by a Collier County Park Ranger/Interpreter visitors will have the opportunity to see and learn about the flora, fauna, and importance of wetland habitats.

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge - Oil Pad Road Birding Walk

We will spend the morning walking along the Oil Pad Road (2 miles roundtrip) which is the only road access into the Ten Thousand Islands NWR.  Wading birds such as Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and White Ibis should be plentiful and there is a good chance we will see Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills.  We will also attempt to draw out secretive marshbirds such as rails and bitterns and search for landbirds wintering in the tropical hardwoods along the road.  If time permits, we will look for Snail Kites on the way back.

Tigertail Beach/Sand Dollar Lagoon - Birding Walk

This natural area is the second most valuable resting and feeding site for coastal waterbirds on the west coast of Florida, with over 70 species having been recorded.  Among the many species we hope to see are Reddish Egret, Roseate Spoonbill, Peregrine Falcon, American Oystercatcher, five species of plover (including Snowy and Piping), plus other sandpipers, gulls and terns.