I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ann Paul since the late 1980s when she and her late husband, Rich, head of Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuaries, worked with the Sister Keys Conservancy and the Town of Longboat Key to make sure the keys remained as open space for generations to come.
Ann began her career with Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries in June 1991. Over the years, she has worked diligently to assure the protection of local wading bird species and was called “the wading birds’ best human friend” by the National Audubon Society. She was named the Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award winner in 2018 by Hillsborough County. Recently I got a call from Paul mentioning she was now heading the Florida Birding and Nature Festival Oct. 15-17.
The mission of the Florida Birding and Nature Festival is to promote appreciation and conservation of Florida’s birds, wildlife and their habitats through responsible nature-based tourism and public awareness. A lofty mission, the festival works to host a festival once a year.
This year their efforts reflect a sensitivity to the coronavirus, and all in-person events are located outdoors. Thirty-six field trips to special habitats in all of the region’s six counties will be led by expert birders and naturalists and the managers of the preserves we visit. Fourteen seminars will be presented by Zoom about Florida’s most beloved and iconic birds and other wildlife, including gopher tortoises, rattlesnakes, coyotes, bees and butterflies by the scientists who know most about them.
The festival coincides with the peak migration of more than 180 species and features expert-led field and boating trips to the best wildlife sites in West Central Florida.
Among them are the Cross Bar Ranch in Spring Hill; Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County; Egmont Key; Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve; Bullfrog Creek Mitigation Area and the Hillsborough River. A trip to the Shultz Preserve will focus on butterflies and other insects, as well as birds. Some of the trips are to areas normally not open to the public.
A Nature Expo on Friday and Saturday will be hosted at Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, using the open air under the elevated buildings so exhibits are both outside and in the shade. Two evening keynote talks with sumptuous appetizers are planned – on Friday, Craig Pittman, award-winning author and investigative environmental reporter for the Tampa Bay Times, and Saturday, Clay Taylor, long-time birder, naturalist and nature photographer with Swarovski Optik North America.
Pittman tells fascinating stories about Florida’s wildlife and history in such compelling books as “Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save The Florida Panther,” “Oh, Florida!: How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country,” and “Manatee Insanity.”
Taylor has been photographing birds for more than 45 years and is the Naturalist Market Manager for Swarovski. Taylor will discuss a birder’s photographic options and field techniques and show stunning bird pictures. He will address how digital cameras and smartphones have changed how people go birding.
The Nature Expo will include binoculars and optic companies Redstart and Swarovski. Other bird and nature-related merchandise, including butterfly plants by the Little Red Wagon Native Plant Nursery and agency and environmental groups will be featured.
The opening will include a dinner buffet, including hors d’oeuvres, and a beer and wine cash bar. Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith will give a special welcome to festivalgoers.
This is a robust and vigorous selection of opportunities for people to explore our region’s most significant preserves with the best naturalist interpretation about the wildlife and habitats during the height of the great North American bird migration season. It is a great opportunity to learn more, see more and appreciate more the area’s unique and special natural features. Space is limited so early registration is advised. Contact Andee Richards, Administrator, 813-444-0115; or email info@fbnfestival.org. For more information and to register for tickets, go to www.fbnfestival.org.
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