Join us for a cross Florida overnight adventure!

Friday, January 30, we will drive from Venice to the Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland where we will make a short bird walk and have lunch. In the afternoon we will drive to the renown Orlando Wetlands near Christmas, FL for another short bird walk, and then drive to our hotels in Titusville, FL for the overnight stay.

Saturday, January 31, we will drive from Titusville to the nearby Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve. We will gather at the Visitor Center, drive the Black Point Drive loop, known for its birds and wildlife, and make a stop at the manatee overlook. After having lunch we will return to Venice.  

It is desirable to carpool for this field trip. If you can carry a few passengers in your car, or need a ride, please contact the host, Bill Fairbank. The carpool will meet at the VAAS Center on 1/30 at 7:30 AM. Because this is an out of town trip REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.  The entry fee for the Merritt Island NWR is $10 per car unless you have a valid pass.

Because this is an overnight, out-of-town trip REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

IMPORTANT TRIP DETAILS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS: Each trip participant must make their own arrangements for overnight accommodations in Titusville for Friday night, January 30.  Most hotel/motels in Titusville are located near the intersection of I-95 and SR 50 – Cheney Highway.  The least expensive are the Quality Inn, Best Western, and Days Inn. They all include continental breakfast and other amenities with the room.  There are also a few less expensive motels, of unknown quality, in the older part of Titusville that do not include breakfast. It is suggested that overnight reservations be made early since room availability tends to go down and the price tends to go up the closer to the stay date.

MEALS: Please bring bag lunch for Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31.  There are no places to get lunch on those days.  All other meals are at your own expense.

TRANSPORTATION:

Carpooling: 

It is desirable to carpool for this field trip. If you can carry a few passengers in your car, or need a ride, please contact the host, Bill Fairbank (email address listed below). The carpool will depart from the Venice Audubon Center on 1/30 at 7:30 AM.

Not carpooling: If you are not planning to carpool from the Venice Audubon Center on Friday morning, then the meeting point will be at the Visitors Center for the Circle B Bar Reserve at 9:30 AM on 1/30. 

BIRDING SITE MEETING UP TIMES AND LOCATIONS: 

Friday, January 30 -

• 9:30 AM - Circle B Bar Reserve - 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland, FL 33803.
• Orlando Wetlands - 25201 Wheeler Rd, Christmas, FL 32709.

Saturday, January 31 -

• 8:00 AM - Merritt Island NWR Visitor Center - 1987 Scrub Jay Way #32782, Titusville, FL 32782 

ENTRY FEES:  The entry fee for the Merritt Island NWR is $10 per car per day unless you already have another valid pass. Passes can be purchased at the Visitors Center. Besides the day pass there are several other passes available, see www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island/visit-us.  One option is the Annual Senior pass which covers federal recreation lands and national parks and costs $20/year.

Carpooling: If you can carry a few passengers in your car, or need a ride, please contact the host, Bill Fairbank. The carpool will meet at the Venice Audubon Center on Friday, January 31 at 7:30 AM.

Host: Bill Fairbank: wgfairbank@gmail.com

Participants will be required to sign a waiver before beginning the field trip.