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Posted by Jim Duquesnel on 18:59:36 09/28/06
The 8th Annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival is scheduled for Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 2006 and will be anchored at Curry Hammock State Park, located on the Overseas Highway, at Mile Marker 56.2 in Marathon, Florida. Additional information is available by calling the Key Deer Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 305-872-0774 or Curry Hammock State Park at 305-289-2690.
An opening event will be held at the Marathon Garden Club, with hors d'oeuvres at 6:00 PM, followed at 7:00 PM by our keynote speaker. Admission will be $15, which also includes a goodie bag and the Festival's "Peregrine portrait" T-shirt.
Our keynote speaker is Kenneth D. Meyer, PhD, Executive Director of nonprofit Avian Research and Conservation Institute in Gainesville, Florida. He has directed research in Florida, Georgia, Mexico, Belize, and Brazil on the nesting and wintering ecology, habitat selection, demography, migration, and conservation biology of several species of birds, including Swallow-tailed Kites, Short-tailed Hawks, White-crowned Pigeons, Wood Storks, Jabiru Storks, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and the birds of south Florida's pineland communities. Dr. Meyer's talk is entitled "Ecology of Short-tailed Hawks and White-crowned Pigeons in southern Florida: Challenges for protecting two species of critical conservation concern".
On Saturday, September 30, Curry Hammock State Park will be the site of an Environmental Fair from 11 AM until 4 PM. There will be booths manned by many local environmental groups and agencies, as well as vendor booths. An important part of the festival are a wide variety of field trips to sites known for excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The schedule of field trips and other events is still growing, more events are being added, so check back frequently for updates. Contact the Park Office at 305-289-2690 for admission information.
Saturday evening the park will be open past the usual close of sunset. There will be astronomical viewing by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (http://www.scas.org/), songs by Grant Livingston (http://www.grantlivingston.com/html/bio.htm), and a marshmallow toast, roast, or incinerate for the kids.
On Sunday, October 1, Curry Hammock State Park will be the site of a Children's Environmental Fair from 11 AM until 4 PM. There will be booths manned by many local environmental groups and agencies, as well as vendor booths. Contact the Park Office at 305-289-2690 for admission information.
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