Above: Brown Pelican by Adam Betuel
Central Florida
January 13 to 16, 2023
Only 2 spots remain!
Only 2 spots remain!
Above: Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Roseate Spoonbill. Photos by Adam Betuel.
Trip Leader: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Virtual Pre-trip Orientation and Workshop: Thursday, January 5, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM via Zoom
Group Size: Limited to 16 participants
Registration Fees
Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, on January 13 to 16, 2023, for an exciting weekend of birding across central Florida. During the three days of birdwatching, the group will visit the coastal marshes and beaches of Merritt Island, the pine forests and lakes south of Kissimmee, and the hotspots surrounding Lake Apopka. This trip can proceed with 12 people and is capped at a maximum of 16. Guests are responsible for their own food, travel (including tolls), entrance fees, and lodging charges.
Virtual Pre-trip Orientation and Workshop: Thursday, January 5, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM via Zoom
Group Size: Limited to 16 participants
Registration Fees
- Master Birders in good membership and volunteer standing: $325/person
- Georgia Audubon Members: $350/person
- Non-members: $400/person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, on January 13 to 16, 2023, for an exciting weekend of birding across central Florida. During the three days of birdwatching, the group will visit the coastal marshes and beaches of Merritt Island, the pine forests and lakes south of Kissimmee, and the hotspots surrounding Lake Apopka. This trip can proceed with 12 people and is capped at a maximum of 16. Guests are responsible for their own food, travel (including tolls), entrance fees, and lodging charges.
Please contact Adam Betual by email with any questions.
Trip overview
Click on each day below for more information.
Day 0 - JANUARY 13 - ARRIVAL
Participants should arrive in central Florida by the evening of January 13 in preparation for an early start on Saturday, January 14. There will be an optional, casual group dinner for those who are interested.
Day 1 - JANUARY 14 - MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Merritt Island is the second largest refuge in Florida and has the distinction of being the home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the wildlife refuge, and the Canaveral National Seashore. Offering varied birding opportunities, the refuge has recorded more than 310 species of birds. The field trips around the refuge will concentrate on wintering waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and the Florida Scrub-Jay, which is endemic to the Sunshine State.
Day 2 - JANUARY 15 - KISSIMEE, FLORIDA
South of Kissimmee, we will visit the Three Lakes Wildlife Management area, the well-known Joe Overstreet Rd. and its landing, in addition to other nearby hotspots depending on recent sightings. This area makes up a portion of Florida’s largest remaining dry prairie, significant pine stands, cattle farms, and a multitude of lakes. Some of the key birds we will target in this area include Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman’s Sparrow, Snail Kite, Sandhill Crane, and Crested Caracara, to name just a few.
day 3 - JANUARY 16 - lake apopka & departure
Our final morning will have the group visiting Lake Apopka, northwest of Orlando. This should be convenient for people returning to Georgia via car. Lake Apopka is the 4th largest lake in the state and has undergone a drastic restoration over the last 20+ years, from Superfund site to bird haven. The lake and its neighboring parks, marshes, and forests are now home to over 370 species of birds. We expect to find Purple Gallinule, Fulvous-whistling Ducks, Sora, multiple other duck species, and a diversity of wading birds. Lake Apopka is famous for attracting rare birds and it is possible, maybe even likely, for us to spot a Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, or Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. We will plan to wrap up around 12:00 to 1:00 PM on this day.
View the eBird Trip Report from our 2021 trip to Central Florida.
Additional details
Lodging, Meals, Entrance Fees, & Transportation:
Note: Guests are responsible for their own meals, transportation (including tolls), entrance fees, and lodging charges.
A block of rooms is available to the group at the Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Airport at Gateway Village (5460 Gateway Village Circle Orlando, FL 32812) near the Orlando International Airport. The rate for the rooms is $149 + tax per night. You are not required to stay here, but it will likely be beneficial to join the group here each morning. Each day will require an early start (leaving the hotel around 6:00-6:30 AM) in an attempt to take advantage of peak birding opportunities. We will need to drive 35-45 minutes each morning to reach our first destination. Ideally, the group will carpool in an effort to make travel easier, but you will be responsible for arranging your own transportation during this trip. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the airport in case you would prefer to fly to Orlando and carpool with other participants during the trip. The booking link for these rooms will be shared in the event registration confirmation email. Reservations must be received by the hotel by December 23, 2022. After this date, reservations will be accepted on a space available basis only at the best available rate.
Locations with additional entrance fees include:
Pace:
The birding will be easy to moderate, often on flat terrain or from a car. There may be times you are required to stand for an extended period of time. Weather in central Florida during this time of year can be hard to predict. One should plan for anything from breezy mornings in the 40’s all the way up to the 80’s. As noted, we will get an early start each morning (around 6:00-6:30 AM) and will enjoy full days of birding, with breaks for lunch each day.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they have received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster. Some people may be eligible to receive two boosters, but a second booster is not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by November 13, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card processing fees incurred by Georgia Audubon). If notice of cancellation is received between November 14 and December 13, 2022, a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given, unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card processing fees incurred by Georgia Audubon). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card processing fees incurred by Georgia Audubon). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given, less any non-refundable payments made to tour partners or incurred by Georgia Audubon. Georgia Audubon and its tour partners reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary that we think will improve the trip and/or due to local conditions, both before the trip and during. If changes are made to the itinerary prior to the trip, participants will be notified, but changes made to the itinerary do not change the terms of our cancellation policy. If it is necessary to change hotels or other accommodations, comparable accommodations will be substituted wherever possible.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Georgia Audubon Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
Note: Guests are responsible for their own meals, transportation (including tolls), entrance fees, and lodging charges.
A block of rooms is available to the group at the Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando Airport at Gateway Village (5460 Gateway Village Circle Orlando, FL 32812) near the Orlando International Airport. The rate for the rooms is $149 + tax per night. You are not required to stay here, but it will likely be beneficial to join the group here each morning. Each day will require an early start (leaving the hotel around 6:00-6:30 AM) in an attempt to take advantage of peak birding opportunities. We will need to drive 35-45 minutes each morning to reach our first destination. Ideally, the group will carpool in an effort to make travel easier, but you will be responsible for arranging your own transportation during this trip. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the airport in case you would prefer to fly to Orlando and carpool with other participants during the trip. The booking link for these rooms will be shared in the event registration confirmation email. Reservations must be received by the hotel by December 23, 2022. After this date, reservations will be accepted on a space available basis only at the best available rate.
Locations with additional entrance fees include:
- Blackpoint Wildlife Drive - $10 per vehicle. Free if someone in the car has an America the Beautiful pass (Senior, Access, Annual, or Military) or a Federal Duck Stamp.
- Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area - $6 per vehicle.
- Canaveral National Seashore - $20 per vehicle. Again, free if someone in the car has an America the Beautiful pass (Senior, Access, Annual, or Military) or if they are U.S. military veterans.
Pace:
The birding will be easy to moderate, often on flat terrain or from a car. There may be times you are required to stand for an extended period of time. Weather in central Florida during this time of year can be hard to predict. One should plan for anything from breezy mornings in the 40’s all the way up to the 80’s. As noted, we will get an early start each morning (around 6:00-6:30 AM) and will enjoy full days of birding, with breaks for lunch each day.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they have received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster. Some people may be eligible to receive two boosters, but a second booster is not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by November 13, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card processing fees incurred by Georgia Audubon). If notice of cancellation is received between November 14 and December 13, 2022, a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given, unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card processing fees incurred by Georgia Audubon). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card processing fees incurred by Georgia Audubon). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given, less any non-refundable payments made to tour partners or incurred by Georgia Audubon. Georgia Audubon and its tour partners reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary that we think will improve the trip and/or due to local conditions, both before the trip and during. If changes are made to the itinerary prior to the trip, participants will be notified, but changes made to the itinerary do not change the terms of our cancellation policy. If it is necessary to change hotels or other accommodations, comparable accommodations will be substituted wherever possible.
Terms and Conditions:
Please review the Georgia Audubon Travel Program Terms and Conditions prior to registration.
Above: Snail Kite, Painted Bunting, Florida Scrub-Jay. Photos by Adam Betuel.
