A second VAAS birding tour to exotic Ecuador has been arranged for March 13-22, 2024. Due to the overwhelming interest in the January tour, Holbrook Travel has arranged another VAAS group tour, for which only 6 openings remain. We hope you'll be able to join the 10 day tour to the lush region around Mindo Valley, home to 500 species of birds including Andean Cock of the Rock, Squirrel Cuckoo, Masked Trogon, Flame Faced and Glistening Green Tanagers.
The itinerary will be similar to our January trip and includes hotel, meals, local transportation, expert guide and our own ecologist and group leader, Eileen Gerle. The cost for our group will be slightly less than $3000 plus about $500 for round trip airfare from Miami to Quito. Carpooling to Miami will enable us to fly together.
Passports must be valid through September 2024, six months after the tour. Please note: Renewing passports can take up to three months.
To obtain more details about this tour and to secure a reservation with a $200 deposit, please contact Roy Musick, VAAS co-president at rmusick@veniceaudubon.org.
We look forward to your joining us!
The threatened Least Tern has declined in population significantly in the last 50 years. These and other beach-nesting birds are threatened by numerous perils. Mary Lundeberg, conservation photographer, writer, and passionate shorebird protector, will talk about the life cycle of these birds, the challenges they face, and what people can do to help. Mary will illustrate her talk with images of the beautiful, threatened shorebirds and seabirds who nest on beaches in Florida (Least Tern, Snowy Plover, Wilson’s Plover, Black Skimmer and American Oystercatcher) and in Michigan (the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover).
Official results of the 2024 Birdathon will also be announced this evening before the program begins.
All are welcome - members of the public as well as Venice Audubon Members.
Participants are strongly encouraged to follow current COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
6:00pm: Refreshments and conversation 6:30pm: Announcements followed immediately by tonight's program
Sarasota’s premier beach for a wide variety of gulls, terns and shorebirds. Occasionally redish egrets and other rare birds are seen. Plenty of walking, but if you hit one birding location along the coastline, this is it.
Two to 4 miles walking along a sandy beach. Meet in the Siesta Key Beach main parking lot near the pavilion at 8 a.m.
Host: Jack Foard, captainjackfoard@yahoo.com
Liability waiver is required for all participants. Please download and complete the liability waiver to bring with you to the event.
Registration is appreciated but not required.
Join us for a 45-60 minute, docent-led sunset walk around the Rookery Pond. Gather at the Rookery Park pavilion to meet your walk leader, then head to the pond and the short, trail/path walk (approximately 1/3 mile) around the pond while learning about the natural history of the bird species on the Rookery island and in the park.
The walk will feature nesting Great blue heron, Double-crested cormorant, Anhinga, White ibis and more as the breeding season proceeds into the spring. Little blue heron, Glossy ibis, Green heron, Purple martins and other birds are also seen around the pond and park throughout the spring season.
Alligators patrol the pond surrounding the Rookery island. The walk ends in time to for you to watch the park's resident bats leave the bat houses near the pond to begin their nightly feeding.
Dress for the weather including a light jacket on cool evenings, bug spray, and water, if needed. Binoculars will enhance your viewing experience. Limited binoculars are available for loan.
Registration is not required.
Birding here in past years in spring has been great. We’ll look for waders, waterfowl, warblers and more.
About 1.5 miles walking along level trails. Meet in the parking lot at 8:00 a.m.
Host: Bailey Cleveland, baileyclevelant@veniceaudubon.org
This nearby state park at the south end of Manasota Key is a good place to see shorebirds and other birds such as snowy egret, osprey, black skimmer, least tern and possibly magnificent frigate birds and eagles. The park’s salt tolerant vegetation preserves the appearance of the old Southwest Florida.
The park is situated between the gulf coast beach and the calm waters of Peterson cut. The trail to the southern end of the park is about 1.25 miles long over soft sand. Charlie Woodruff will be our guide for the park. Entry fee $3.
Host: Bill Fairbank mailto:wgfairbank@gmail.com
The Celery Fields are spectacular birding hotspot, with ducks, herons, egrets and a good chance at Purple Gallinules, bitterns, rails, hawks and eagles. We will bike around the Celery Fields to see a much greater part than can be explored on foot. Bring your own bike. Meet at the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, 6888 Palmer Blvd.
Registration is required.
Join us on a Venice Area Audubon Society fundraiser cruise to the rookery islands in Sarasota's Roberts Bay.
The cruise on the Carefree Learner boat will last about 2 hours. We will see three islands covered with nesting Brown Pelicans, herons, egrets and cormorants. In the past, we were thrilled to also see nesting Roseate Spoonbills and Reddish Egrets. This has been a popular trip in the past.
The cost of the cruise is $35 per person. The number of passengers is limited to 20. Detailed directions to the Carefree Learner berth will be provided to cruise participants later. The Carefree Learner has a full length canopy which provides some shelter from the sun, however it is recommended that participants use sunscreen.
Registration is required for this trip. Host: Bill Fairbank, wgfairbank@gmail.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trip Cancellation due to circumstances beyond the control of Venice Area Audubon Society: Sometimes it becomes necessary to cancel the boat trip due to bad weather or other reason. When feasible the boat trip will be rescheduled at another date. Refunds will be made to those unable to accommodate the new date. If it is not feasible to reschedule the trip then refunds will be made to all of those who paid. Refunds will be sent to the mailing address on the reservation form.
Personal Trip Cancellation: Sometimes personal circumstances, such as illness, family matters, or other reasons require a person to cancel his or her participation in the boat trip. A refund will be made for personal trip cancellation up to 7 days before departure. If the participant finds a substitute, or the vacancy can be filled from the waiting list, within the 7 day period before departure then a refund will be made. Such refunds will be made only after the trip finishes. Refunds will be sent to the mailing address on the reservation form.
Venice Area Audubon Society Liability and Photo Release: At the start of the boat trip, all participants will be required to sign a form indicating they have read and agreed to the provisions of the VAAS Liability and Photo Release policy, as follows: By this agreement, I have voluntarily applied to participate in field trips sponsored by the Venice Area Audubon Society (VAAS). I expressly assume the risk of any harm that might occur directly or indirectly from travel to and from the field trip site and from any harm that might occur directly or indirectly from any forces of nature or wildlife that I may be exposed to that cause me injury. In addition, on behalf of myself and my assignees, heirs, personal representatives and legal representatives, in consideration of the opportunity to participate and attend the field trips organized by the VAAS and being eighteen (18) years of age or older, I hereby agree to release and hold harmless VAAS and its field trip volunteers, as well as the National Audubon Society. I grant VAAS, its representatives and members the right to take photographs of me and my property in connection with field trips and other VAAS activities. I authorize the use of same in print and/or electronically.
Lakeview Park in Sarasota borders Lake Sarasota and there are ponds and mature live oak trees on the property, so it is great for viewing herons, egrets, raptors, woodpeckers and songbirds. The park is located at 7150 Lago Street. After turning into the park (use the entrance next to Oak Park School), drive all the way to the end of the road. We will meet by the bathroom facilities at 8:30 am.
Host: Eileen Gerle, eileengerle@gmail.com
Board of Directors meetings will take place on the 2nd Thursday of the month (except November) from 1:00-2:30 PM at the Venice Audubon Center. Board meetings are open to members; members may address the Board at the beginning of the meeting.
Fort DeSoto is a hotspot for migrating birds coming back from Central and South America in late spring. Scarlet Tanagers, Orchard Oriels, humming birds, warblers, and many other migrating birds can be seen when condition are favorable. Also shore birds can be seen along the Fort DeSoto beaches.
6:00pm: Refreshments and conversation 6:30pm: Meeting to discuss plans for the coming year
Volunteer Saturdays are scheduled for from 9-11 AM. Whether you can volunteer just once or on a regular basis, please join us!
This month we'll be working to get our gardens and plants in good shape for the hotter and hopefully wetter months. We have plenty of tools but if you have favorite work or gardening gloves or clippers, please bring them along.
Projects may vary seasonally or by need. We suggest you bring a water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and sturdy shoes.
Contact Bailey Cleveland at baileycleveland@veniceaudubon.org if you need more information.
The newly-developed Grand Lake at Wellen Park served up 51 species at a VAAS-sponsored walk in January. No guarantees this time out, but it promises to be an enjoyable, slow-paced stroll on a level, hard-packed shell and concrete walkway around the lake. It is a 2+ mile loop, however, so not a walk for everyone. Meet in the courtyard in front of Foxtail Coffee House in downtown Wellen Park at 8:00 AM sharp to start a clockwise walk around the lake. Afterwards, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy conversation with fellow birders.
Hosts: Pattie Haynes, Bob Clark, and Tom Litteral. Contact: Bob Clark, rlwclark@gmail.com
Email: info@veniceaudubon.org
Telephone: 941-496-8984
Sarasota County Call Center: 941-861-5000 (General information and directions)
HomeJoinDonateVolunteerCalendarContact UsPrivacy Policy
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Copyright 2023 Venice Area Audubon Society