International Birding Event Jan 22-27, 2020

Birders from all over the world are expected to flock to the Space Coast and to Titusville’s Eastern Florida State Campus for the 23rd Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival January 22-27. Find out what other enthusiasts in the birding world have been up to, sign up for field trips, photography workshops, digiscoping workshops, and more at: scbwf.org

Thank you to Danica Romeyn for this information:
“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.

Photo Credit: Jim Eager

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

Did you know that MORE THAN 330 DIFFERENT SPECIES of birds have been seen on the Space Coast? Learn more.

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is famed as a birding destination. It will be featured as one of the many field trip destinations at this year’s 23^rd Annual Space Coast Bird and Wildlife Festival.

Are you registered yet? You can do it here.