Migrating on the Space Coast!
Photo Credit: Jim Eager
Winter is the season of migration for the Space Coast. We love all our “snow” birds who visit this time of the year and bring so much joy and diversity to our area.
Photo Credit: Jim Boland
Did you know that over 330 different species of birds have been seen on the Space Coast? Birding is the fastest-growing passive sport in the US. It can be enjoyed by anyone in any physical condition, with minimal training and equipment. While many enjoy the solitude of birding, it can also be done with families, groups, classes, and even online. Once a birder has acquired the skill of bird identification, for some it becomes about making a list of the birds that you’ve seen, for others its about nature journalism, sketching, or photography. The thrill of finding a new bird can lead birders to explore new and unseen places.
Photo Credit: Jim Boland
Speaking of great birding spots, Cape Canaveral National Seashore, and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge are some of the richest, protected habitats on the Space Coast. Many community members have devoted their lives to conserving and preserving the lands in this area to protect habitats for migrating birds. Allan and Helen Cruikshank were a local couple who had the passion of environmentalists and the hearts of birders. They literally wrote the book on birding in Brevard County! Back in 1951, they began the Cocoa Christmas Bird Count, which counts the number of birds seen in a particular area each year. The Cruikshank’s also helped found the Indian River Audubon Society, which has become the Space Coast Audubon Society.
Photo Credit: Jim Boland
The society has continued the annual Christmas Bird Count every year to this day, even setting national records twice for most species seen in one day. It was because of the devotion of the Cruikshanks’ and many others that land not actively being used by the space program was set aside for conservation and was eventually designated a national wildlife refuge.
Photo Credit: Jim Boland
Nowadays, The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is famed as a birding destination and receives over 550,000 visitors each year. It will be featured as one of the many field trip destinations at this year’s 22nd Annual Space Coast Bird and Wildlife Festival. Coming January 23-29, birders from all over the world will flock to the campus of Titusville’s East Florida State Campus to meet famed owl researcher Denver Holt and other top researchers and enthusiasts in the birding world. Birders will have their choice of over 100 options of field trips, speakers series, boat trips, photography workshops, digiscoping workshops, classroom presentations on various topics, and an interactive expo center with over 80 exhibitors. Check out the website www.spacecoastbirdingandwildlifefestival.org for more information.
Photo Credit: Jim Eager
Special Thank you to Danica Romeyn for writing this fabulous and informative blog!
