Day Trips
Join Gumbo Limbo’s Rick Newman, expert birder and the leader of Gumbo Limbo bird walks, for this special birding trip.
Southwest of Clewiston, near Lake Okeechobee, is a huge man-made shallow marsh that’s part of the Everglades restoration project. This area is referred to as Stormwater Treatment Area 5, or simply STA 5.
What makes STA 5 so special is the huge numbers of birds, sometimes in the hundreds, attracted to the waters and visible from the gravel roadway as we drive around the ponds. Designed to clean the waters from the sugar cane fields before they flow southward towards Everglades National Park, STA 5 has become a birder’s paradise.
Entry into the area is at 8:00 a.m. so we will have to get an early start from Gumbo Limbo. We’ll stop at the historic Clewiston Inn for a buffet brunch afterward ($14.99, not included in the price of the outing) and if time and weather permit, stop at another wildlife viewing location enroute home.
STA 5 has no shade so come prepared – hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, and wear closed toe shoes. Of course bring binoculars and camera; there’s always the possibility you’ll see something special.
Cost: $25/person for members, $35/person for non-members. Transportation is by van and space is limited, so register early. Water and snacks will be provided. We’ll depart Gumbo Limbo at 6 a.m., returning in the late afternoon.
Please register for this trip by February 11, stopping by the Center or calling the Program Hotline – 561-391-8110. Payment must accompany registration and is not refundable unless trip is cancelled. Trip minimum is 5 participants.
For more information about STA 5 see http://www.audubonswfl.org/STA5.htm.
This program starts on the following dates:
02/14/2010
The science of reclaiming the natural water system flowing through south Florida is an ongoing project. Part of the project is a unique outdoor laboratory on 80 acres of land in Loxahatchee Wildlife Preserve. This nearby lab replicates the Everglades habitats, a ”living laboratory” of tree islands, marshes, ridges and sloughs. The research area is actually part of Loxahatchee’s birding trail renowned for its wading birds – and alligators. We will explore their Living Laboratory through a power point presentation and discussion. We’ll have the opportunity to go out on the marsh trail.
This program starts on the following dates:
01/09/2010
Peanut Island is an unusual county park. It is actually an artificial island, first formed 90 years ago from the spoils of dredging the Lake Worth Inlet. The 80-acre island is just a 10 minute boat ride from the mainland marina. A few years ago, plans were discussed to salvage the island and make it a preserve of native flora and to highlight its historic place in the county. The plans became a reality. Today much of the island is planted in native coastal vines, shrubs and trees. The island’s old Coast Guard station has been carefully restored and is now a museum of maritime history. During the Cold War, a bunker was built for the safety of JFK and his family and staff. It’s an unforgettable feeling to step inside this presidential “White House”.
This program starts on the following dates:
04/15/2010
Many of South Florida’s coastal towns, from Miami to Jupiter, began as farms. But today most of those vast fields have been transformed into residential areas. The u-pick rows of strawberries and tomatoes and roadside vegetable markets have disappeared from the eastern seaboard. A few working farms do exist. One such farm is Green Cay, a small parcel of land in the once historic Hagan Ranch Road vegetable and plant area of the county. Charlie and Nancy Roe are innovative farmers. They work with university researchers to provide testing grounds for quality vegetables. In turn, several local restaurants and residents have the opportunity to buy direct from the farm during the October to May growing season. Walk down rows of tomatoes, okra, carrots and leaf lettuce with the farmer for a sampling of fresh smells and tastes.
This program starts on the following dates:
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