Water-Related News

Mark your calendar for this year’s Southwest Florida Birding Seminar

Mark your calendar now to attend the fourth annual Southwest Florida Birding Seminar on Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17. The annual event explores the science and value of birds in Southwest Florida and beyond.

The event, sponsored by UF/IFAS Lee County Extension and Conservation 20/20, will be hosted at Florida Gulf Coast University and include field trips to local birding hot spots. The seminar welcomes birders of all levels and anyone interested to learn more about birds.

Activities on March 16 are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include:

  • Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve bird-watching tour – Participants will join a guide for a sunrise tour along the elevated boardwalk at this popular wetland preserve in Fort Myers.
  • San Carlos Bay - Bunche Beach Preserve bird-watching tour – Participants will join a Lee County Bird Patrol guide to explore the natural beach habitat at this Conservation 20/20 preserve, which is critical to the survival of many shorebird species.
  • Photographing Birds instructional workshop at Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres – Participants will learn beginners’ tips for photographing birds, including scouting for birds, anticipating behavior, and recommended camera angles to tell a unique story through images.


  • Activities on March 17 are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Florida Gulf Coast University and include presentations from expert speakers. Topics will included rare birds, bird migration in Southwest Florida, and tips for local birding adventures. Among the list of speakers are Yve Morrell, a Naples-based birder who completed an American Bird Association big year competition in 2017, and Tyler Beck, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission focused on conservation efforts to protect the federally endangered Everglades snail kite.

    Registration is $35 for both days, which includes a catered lunch on Saturday. To register, visit https://2018birdingseminar.eventbrite.com.

    For more information, contact Jason Boeckman, Conservation 20/20 Coordinator, at jboeckman@leegov.com, or 239-204-1125.