Audubon of Martin County, Florida

Stuart Christmas Bird Count

The next Stuart Christmas Bird Count will be on Monday, January 2, 2012.

The precount seminar will be on Thursday, December. 8, 2011, at 7:00 pm, at the Audubon Office at 621 SE Palm Beach Rd. in Stuart. Experienced birders only, please!

Mark your calendars! Dust off those binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras!

The 2011 – 2012 Audubon of Martin County Field Trip and Speaker program is ready to roll.

Thursday, December 8th, features a presentation of Birds in Exotic Lands given by Sam Fried, a well known bird tour leader, photographer and journalist. Sam will be our leader on a birding expedition to the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area on Thursday, December 15th.

January starts with the Christmas Bird Count followed on the 12th with a presentation by Ellie Van Os, Director of Education and Exhibits of Florida Oceanographic Society, on the Biodiversity of the Mangrove Swamp. You will be amazed at what lives in those peaceful mangroves along our waterways. Ellie will be our guide on Saturday, January 14th while we search for owls and migrants in the mangroves at FOS, followed by a not to be missed tour of an Oyster Farm.

On February 9th Michael Yustin , Coordinator of Environmental Lands in Martin County will inform us on the important restoration work being done on Cypress Creek tributary of the Loxahatchee River. This is an integral part of our watershed in Martin and Palm Beach Counties. We will be travelling North on Thursday , February 16th, for a birding excursion through Merritt Island NWR looking for Spoonbills, Glossy Ibises , Red Knots and many more species of shorebirds. This is an excellent opportunity for photography. If time permits, we will make a stop at the popular Viera Wetlands.

Friday evening March 9 through Sunday morning March 11 will herald our annual weekend adventure with an absolutely not to be missed trip to Devils Garden Bird Park. Devils Garden is a paradise in the Everglades - birds, wildlife and stunning scenery – and an opportunity to view the elusive Snail Kites. This is another photographer's delight. Friday night begins with our "family" dinner at the Clewiston Inn followed by a presentation by Butch Wilson, Clewiston Museum curator. We'll bird Devils Garden for a long Saturday am, then later head to Uncle Joe's Fish Camp for the evening fly in. On Sunday morning we'll cruise Lake "O" with Capt. James. We will be led by the incomparable David Simpson who will also be giving us a presentation on Thursday, March 8th.

April rounds out our season with AoMC favourite Bob Montanaro. Bob will regale us with his account of "Critters, Cows and Cowboys" on Thursday, April 12th followed by a tour of Sexton Ranch, a working cattle ranch in Indian River County on Friday, April 13th. Don't forget your cowboy hats!

And with all that, we have more. Watch this site regularly and check our newsletter for social events and ad hoc birding excursions throughout the season. And for the children, our Education Committee will be offering programs and the very popular nature essay contest. Don't forget to sign up for Eagle Watch which begins in late November. Birders, please consider helping with the Breeding Bird Atlas – check this website for information, sign up or phone our Audubon House office. Training sessions will begin in November or early December.

Our calendar will be included in the October newsletter and will be available online. Please note there is a change in times for our monthly Thursday membership meetings. Hospitality starts at 11:30 a.m. with the meeting and presentation at 12:00 p.m. Please bring your lunch.

Details for most activities and events will be posted by early September. Don't forget to renew your membership so that you can support our AoMC chapter being able to offer all these great activities. To renew, see the JOIN US page on this website for our newly revised membership opportunities. If you aren't a member, just click on JOIN US – and welcome!

We're For The Birds!

Conservation Action AlertsConservation Action Alerts

Urgent conservation issues of importance to Audubon of Martin County members:

For more information, please see our Conservation Action Alerts page.

2012-2016 Breeding Bird Atlas

The Florida Ornithological Society will be coordinating its second Breeding Bird Atlas in Florida over the next 5 years. The first Atlas project was conducted from 1986 through 1991. Florida Audubon is a sponsor of this important Breeding Bird Survey and encourages Florida Audubon chapters to participate in the survey.

For each of the five years, volunteers will be asked to survey the species of birds breeding in their given area. Audubon of Martin County would like to participate in this all volunteer survey and needs your help. More information on our blog.

Please Join Us!

Audubon of Martin County, Florida invites birders, bird watchers and conservation advocates to join us. Through our program meetings, field trips and habitat-stewardship projects, discover the amazing variety of birds and other wildlife at our own preserves, Treasure Coast beaches, waterways, upland scrub and woodlands. Founded in 1955, we're a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation (incorporated 1965), dedicated to protecting native Florida birds and their habitat. When you join Audubon of Martin County you'll also become a member of the National Audubon Society and Audubon of Florida. more...