With mere days to go before the start of the 14th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, I’d like to find out who among you will be there. I can’t see your raised hands, so stake your claim in the comments section. Also be sure to let me know if you’ll be at The Noon Blog…

The Noon Blog
Jan. 27, 12:00pm-1:30pm; 121; Limited to 40 seats; Free
Mike Bergin (10,000 Birds)
Are you a birding or nature blogger? Get together at this special event to meet your online colleagues in real life. Mike Bergin of 10,000 Birds and the Nature Blog Network will lead a discussion about creating relevant content, integrating social media, and reaching your target audience. Bring your biggest questions and best ideas! Lunch will be served courtesy of the Festival.

I’m really looking forward to this event, both for the birds and the birdwatchers. Plus, I can’t wait to meet the dynamic team that organizes this highlight of the U.S. birding festival calendar. If you’re not excited to see phenomenal Floridian birds and meet most of your favorite birding personalities, you’re probably beyond hope. But Neta Harris, Executive Director of the Brevard Nature Alliance, mentioned the following highlights to futher pique your interest. Seriously, if you have the opportunity, meet me at Space Coast!

  • The Horse Shoe Crabs and Shorebirds of Delaware Bay – conceived, written and will be presented by Jeff Gordon (the new President of ABA, just in case you forgot!)  Delaware Bay is an area that Jeff knows well and this presentation is about a ritual of nature.
  • St. Sebastion River Preserve and T.M. Goodwin PSGHA were previously offered as one Field Trip.  However, Trip Leader David Simpson felt that trip participants were not able to spend enough time in either area in order so see more bird species and wildlife that fills each area.  In order to offer more time in each area, he divided the trips to provide the best birding experience in South Brevard County.
  • Tosohatchee WMA I & II – I is the original Field Trip with great bird finds potential.  II goes further into the WMA and offers an opportunity to see additional bird species not seen in I – maybe a lifer or two (I’m scheduled for II.)
  • Indulge yourself in Chuck Hagner’s presentation of 20 Years of Superb Photography.
  • Invest in soaking up some culture and history about North Brevard County by visiting the Historic Pritchard House and touring the Historic Downtown Titusville Area.
  • Don’t miss Kevin Karlson as he shares his expertise in photography in an indoor workshop with tips on composing photos as well as creating better images.
  • Hone your birding ID skills and match wits with birding all-stars in the Expert ID Forum.
  • The Pelagic Birds of Florida is presented by Michael Brothers of the Volusia County Marine Science Center and the unofficial Florida East Coast Pelagic Bird and Gull expert.

So, will I see you there?

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.