Kite Tales - The monthly newsletter of the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail

ISSUE NUMBER 18   DECEMBER 2017 Kite Tales The monthly newsletter of the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail

4,612 Black Skimmers were counted in Florida during the 2011 count! by Larry Lynch Winter Events AUDUBON'S 118TH CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT December 14, 2017 through January 5, 2018 Since the Christmas Bird count began over 100 years ago, it has relied on volunteers to gather critical data about the patterns of bird behavior. Join an effort near you to participate. There is a specific methodology for the Count, so it’s important that you contact a coordinator near you if you wish to take part. This is a fun and rewarding activity for bird-lovers of any stripe. Many counts are held throughout Florida, just find the one nearest you! http://www.audubon.org/join-christmas-bird-count 31st ANNUAL FLORIDA MANATEE FESTIVAL January 13-14, 2018 The Florida Manatee Festival is held in January in downtown Crystal River, FL. The festival features vendors, food, entertainment and manatee tours. http://floridabirdingtrail.com/event/31st-annual-florida-manatee-festival/ LAKE APOPKA WILDLIFE FESTIVAL & BIRDAPALOOZA BIRDING FESTIVAL JANUARY 18, 2018 - JANUARY 21, 2018 This festival is perfect for birders visiting Florida or locals wanting to learn more from well-known, knowledgeable birding guides. Add to your life list at an amazing birding area, the 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore. Two full-day trips and 9 half-day trips led by well-known local birding guides are offered, along with two dinners and keynotes. On Saturday participate in the 5th annual Free family-oriented Birdapalooza festival with photo walks, bird banding and guided bus tours. http://floridabirdingtrail.com/event/lake-apopka-wildlife-festival-birdapalooza/ SPACE COAST BIRDING & WILDLIFE FESTIVAL JANUARY 24, 2018 - JANUARY 29, 2018 The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival is a 6-day annual event held in Brevard County, Florida the last week in January. We’re proud to assemble a prestigious group of locally, nationally and internationally recognized scientists, biologists, photographers, ornithologists, naturalists, artists and authors. http://floridabirdingtrail.com/event/space-coast-birding-wildlife-festival-2/ 2017 Big Year Certificates Did you bird in Florida in 2017? Did you see over 50 species? Then you qualify for a FREE 2017 Big Year Certificate featuring original artwork by Kayleigh Mitchell. How To eBooks for the trail All of our section guides are now available as eBooks from Amazon. You can download the guides to your Kindle device or download them to your smartphone and/or tablet and use the Kindle App to read them.  IN THIS ISSUE Winter Events Big Year Certificates eBooks The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (GFBWT) is a network of 510 sites across the state. The Trail is a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, supported in part by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The Trail is possible thanks to dozens of federal, state, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private landowners. Continued, broad-based support and grassroots community investment will continue to make the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail a success for Florida and for our feathered friends. Visit our website

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