Year of the Owl: 22nd Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival has Something for Everyone
By Space Coast Daily // January 22, 2019
owls chosen to be the 2019 Festival Feature Bird
SET FOR JANUARY 23 TO 28
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – If you want to learn about the amazing birding and wildlife in East Central Florida, you don’t want to miss the 22nd Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, January 23-28, 2019.
Headquartered at the Titusville Campus of Eastern Florida State College (EFSC), the festival features some of the world’s most renowned birding and wildlife experts.
Everyone loves owls, right?
That is why owls were chosen to be the 2019 Festival Feature Bird. Mysterious, silent and ferocious, owls are majestic yet voracious predators.
From evening keynote presentations by two of the world’s leading owl experts to daily spotlight and/or classroom talks, and family activities on Saturday, there will be plenty of opportunities to see and learn about these elusive and beautiful creatures.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DAILY SCHEDULE
New to the SCBWF this year, is our family-friendly event, the Space Coast Family Wildlife Adventure Day.
Join us for a morning of fun at EFSC from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on January 26. Join our Owl Detective talk with owl research professionals; investigate the owl exploration room; dissect an owl pellet to see what they eat; learn about local Florida marine mammals and bats; learn about wildlife rehabilitation and rescue; do a guided beginner’s birding walk; or do a little nature art (extra fee: $10/adult, $5/child to cover supplies).
Registration for the Family Wildlife Adventure Day is $20 for adults, the first child 12 & under is $10 and $5 for additional siblings, and $15 for seniors 62 & older.
In order to plan, we ask that participants register on our website at www.scbwf.org. Click on the Wildlife Adventure Flyer for registration information.
As part of this specific registration, you are entitled to go through the Exhibit Center and participate in any other classroom presentations during the balance of the afternoon.
Also new this year is a discussion on water. In a state whose landscape is defined by water, as our waters go, so goes Florida.
Although vital to Florida’s ecological and economic health, our waters are increasingly besieged by pollution, neglect, and the groundwater demands of a thirsty state.
On Saturday, January 26, six individuals will speak their minds on various water quality issues.
Topics range from living shorelines and oyster restoration to harmful algae blooms, to the structure of government and the critical need to effect change in water management practices and funding with a new Florida Vision for Water.
Classroom talks and the Exhibit Center are based at EFSC Titusville Campus. Forty-five talks will cover remarkable places to visit, fascinating birds and wildlife, and more.
Some of America’s leading wildlife photographers will offer classes and field workshops to help you hone your photography skills. Seventy exhibitors can be found in the Exhibit Center, many of whom specialize in worldwide birding, nature and cultural tours.
A wide variety of environmental organizations, booksellers, crafters, and an outstanding representation of camera, video, and optics equipment will be available. Hours for the Exhibit Center are 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on January 23-25, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on January 26.
Field trips take place at the region’s best birding and wildlife sites by bus, van, car, eco wagon, pontoon boat, and on foot. Many occur on Brevard County’s unique Environmentally Endangered Lands (EELS) Program Sanctuaries.
Pontoon boat trips provide the chance to see wildlife on the water; if you are interested in Indian River Lagoon restoration, one excursion will focus on oyster reef and living shoreline projects taking place in Mosquito Lagoon.
A special trip to Blue Spring State Park with manatee experts to see manatees will include a pontoon boat trip on the St Johns River.
Entrance to the Exhibit Center is free and requires no registration.
Field trips, keynote presentations, spotlight talks, birding workshops, and photography workshops and classes require additional fees above the festival registration fee. All classroom talks are included in the regular festival registration fee.
CLICK HERE to register and to find the 36-page Festival Guide; field trip, photography, keynote, spotlight and classroom descriptions; daily schedules and more.
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