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Bird Outing to STA 5
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