2023 FESTIVAL OF BIRDS
January 14-21, 2023
Join us for our 19th Annual event, Festival of Birds! Swamp tromp through Fakahatchee Strand or hear from local experts about their bird-related research during a 45-minute lecture. So many exciting field trips, lectures, and other activities to choose from during this event and registration opens December 6th.
MEMBERS! Check your email for exclusive access starting November 29th.
SPECIAL FEATURED SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Field Trips
Rookery Bay: Sunrise Flyoff Boat Tour
Venture out into the estuary at sunrise to witness over a thousand birds fly from the famous Bird Rookery Island in a massive unified fly-off!
Rookery Bay: Sunset Roost Boat Tour
Join us for a beautiful sunset cruise through Rookery Bay in search of nesting Bald Eagles and Osprey, terns, gulls, shorebirds and waders.
Big Cypress: Bear Island Bike Ride
Bike with us through the hardwood hammocks, pinelands, cypress swamps and prairies of the Bear Island Unit in Big Cypress National Preserve.
Big Cypress: National Preserve Kayak Tour
Bring your own kayak and paddle with us along one of the scenic waterways in Big Cypress National Preserve to explore the diversity of plant and animal life along the way.
Big Cypress: Birding Caravan and Boardwalk Tour
Join a Park Ranger to learn the easy-to-get-to spots in the Big Cypress National Preserve that can be enjoyed by amateur and expert birders alike.
Bunche Beach: Birding Walk
We will spend the morning walking along Bunche Beach, the mainland side of San Carlos Bay, to see an abundance of shorebirds and wading birds.
Clam Pass: Birding the Boardwalk
Walk through a mangrove forest along the boardwalk with an opportunity to see coastal water birds on the beach and fishing along the inlet.
Corkscrew Swamp: Backcountry Swamp Buggy Trip
Board a swamp vehicle to explore the "off-limits" backcountry as we traverse several habitat types, on the lookout for the many birds.
Corkscrew Swamp: Morning Birding Walk
Experience the sights and sounds of the awakening swamp with one of our naturalists guiding you on the boardwalk to look for birds.
Eagle Lakes: Birding for Beginners
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.
Fakahatchee Strand: Swamp Tromp
Wade through cypress forest and popash-pondapple sloughs in water from 1 to 2 feet deep! Discover a rich growth of tropical plants, as well as many birds and other animals.
Tigertail Beach: Lagoon Birding
Would you like to learn to identify shorebird species you see when you take a trip to the beach? If so, this is the program for you!
Activities
Essentials of Digital Photography
Learn how to get the most from your digital camera at this workshop!
Lunch & Learn Lecture Series: Birds of Rookery Bay
Enjoy a hot buffet from Carrabba’s Italian Grill, while learning something new about Research in the Reserve.
Watercolors & Wildlife: Herons
Paint the beauty of coastal Naples and the wildlife of estuary waters in this watercolor painting class.
Virtual Binoculars Workshop
Learn ID skills and discuss the amazing journeys of migrating and wintering shorebirds.
Seabird Social: Decoy Painting Workshop
Help biologists, volunteers, and students paint these cutouts known as decoys for next summers breeding season!
Become a Member
Connecting people with southwest Florida’s dynamic coastal environment in support of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
