Trips for our program for 2025–26 (May through April) are listed below:

Note:   We do not charge for field trips unless our destination requires an entrance or tour fee, but a paid membership is required to participate in any field trip unless otherwise noted. For trips that are open to non-members, a liability form is required before or at the time of the trip. Trip leaders will have this form. You will be required to sign this liability waiver to participate. Trip leaders do not collect membership fees. If you wish to participate in a trip, contact the trip leader within three months of the date of the trip. We will ask if you need a ride for the trip or if you are willing to provide a ride. A gratuity to the driver is suggested.

General recommendations for bird-watching:  walking shoes, long pants, cameras, binoculars, water, and sunscreen. Eagle Audubon will not be responsible for personal injuries or losses incurred by anyone while taking part in its suggested activities.

Note:  All costs are as of the printing of this brochure. Members will be notified if prices change. Also please note that there are schedule changes since the last newsletter was printed. The website has the latest schedule.

TRIP DATE	TRIP TITLE	TIME	Trip Leader	DESCRIPTION
Tuesday, October 2	BIRDS & BREW Bahia Beach Nature Preserve, 253 W Shell Point Rd, Ruskin	3:00 Meet at preserve.	Jan Burkholder jan@janandsteve.com	Enjoy an easy walk along fresh and brackish ponds. No cost for hike. Drinks/Dining afterwards at your expense at the Lazy Gator restaurant. Carpooling recommended due to the small parking lot at the Preserve.
Tuesday, October 28	Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S, St Petersburg	9:30 Meet at entrance	Steve & Jan Burkholder steve@steveandjan.com	Enjoy a guided tour of the Birds of prey Aviary and a guided bird walk. Limit 20. Cost $12.
Saturday, November 1	Little Manatee River State Park, 215 Lightfoot Rd, Ruskin	9:00	Julie Stocksdale 727-418-5119	Meet at the parking lot beside the ranger station for a hike on the Red Trail. We may see fall migrants, and fall wildflowers should still be abundant. No cost except for park entry fee $4 for 1 person, $5 for 2-8 per car, no limit, open to non-members.
Monday, November 10	BIRDS & BREW Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve, 10243 Elbow Bend Rd, Riverview	3:00	John Stocksdale 813-841-7227	Approx 1.5-mile hike through woodland to overlook on the Alafia River. Drinks/meal at Tiki Docks in Riverview after. No cost for hike, no limit, open to non-members. Carpooling recommended due to small parking lot at preserve.
Saturday, December 6	Moody Branch Wildlife & Environmental Area, 13805 Taylor Grade Rd, Duette	9:00 Meet at preserve parking lot (get directions from Julie)	Julie Stocksdale 813-841-7227	This is your chance to experience the rapidly disappearing Florida scrub and see the iconic (and threatened) Florida Scrub-Jay. 2–3-mile hike, no facilities, walking in soft sand. Limit 15. No cost.
Tuesday, December 16	Manatee Encounter, Zoo Tampa 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa	Carpool from SSC at noon or meet at Zoo entrance at 12:45	Catherine Smith 262-424-7250	Go behind the scenes at the Manatee Critical Care Center to witness the lifesaving work to save these iconic creatures. Zoo members $14.95, non-members $19.95, pay in advance to EAS. Additional Zoo entry fee to be paid at the entrance for Zoo non-members. Limit 10.
December Exact date TBD	Christmas Bird Count	7:00 am to approx. 1:00 pm	Steve & Jan Burkholder steve@steveandjan.com Julie Stocksdale 727-418- 5119	Be part of the nation-wide annual bird count. Always looking for helpers; no experience needed. Join us for the fun and participate in the longest-running citizen science project in the nation.

TRIP DATE	TRIP TITLE	TIME	Trip Leader	DESCRIPTION
Thursday January 1, 1ST DAY HIKE	Little Manatee River State Park, 215 Lightfoot Rd, Ruskin	9:00	Julie Stocksdale 727-418-5119	Meet at the Equestrian Parking Lot for an easy hike to Dude Lake. No cost except for park entry fee $4 for 1 person, $5 for 2-8 per car, no limit, open to non-members.
Wednesday, January 21	Circle B Bar Reserve, 4399 Winter Lake Rd, Lakeland	Meet at 11:00 for BYO picnic lunch and casual birding before tram ride	Chris Bouton 630-476-3500	We’ll ride a tram with birds and alligators for viewing and walk a trail. Bring lunch and we’ll eat together at picnic tables. Restroom available. No cost, limit 20. Must register by end of December.
Tuesday – Wednesday, January 27–28	Orlando Wetlands,  Tosohatchee, Three Lakes, Joe Overstreet, 2-day trip	9:00 Meet at the parking lot at Orlando Wetlands	Steve & Jan Burkholder steve@steveandjan.com	2-day trip to Orlando Wetlands (waterfowl)/Tosohatchee (woodlands) on day 1 and Three Lakes/Joe Overstreet (pine & prairie) day 2, guided by one of Florida’s finest professional guides, David Simpson. Limit 10. Cost $100, covers cost of guide only. Must register by the end of December.
Tuesday, February 3	BIRDS & BREW Bahia Beach Nature Preserve 253 W Shell Point Rd, Ruskin	3:00	John Stocksdale 813-841-7227	Easy hike along fresh and brackish ponds. The trail may be wet in places. No cost for hike; dining afterward at [to be announced] at hiker’s expense. No limit, open to non-members.
Wednesday, February 25	Tampa Bay Watch boat trip, St Pete Pier	Meet at the Dollar Tree parking lot at 8:45 for carpooling or at the pier at 10:00	Joanne Finney 954-540-5985	This boat trip includes a 90-minute tour of ecosystems & birds on Tampa Bay, including on-board animals for research & education. Admission to the Discovery Center is included. Lunch after at the Pier. Cost to be determined based on number of people signing up. Must sign up by Feb 15. Limit 45.
Wednesday, March 18	Myakka River State Park, 13208 State Rd 72, Sarasota	Meet at Ranger Station Parking Lot at 10:00	Chris Bouton 630-476-3500	Birding prior to the tram tour of back country. $22 + tax for the tram, $6 exact change per car entry. Easy walking. Bring lunch or buy there after the tram ride. Registration required. Pay at dock. Minimum 25 or 1st come – 1st served
Thursday, March 26	Celery Fields, 6799 Palmer Rd, Sarasota + Felts Preserve 4600 24th Ave E, Palmetto	Meet in SSC at 8:00 to carpool or 9:00 at Celery Fields Nature Center	Kim Jones 941-587-2037	The Celery Fields is on the Great Florida Birding Trail and is a prime spot to see Purple Gallinules, Limpkins, Soras and other water birds.  There is also a garden that has feeders and warblers. We also will make a stop at Felts Preserve, where the bird blind is an excellent birding spot, especially for Painted Buntings. No cost, no limit, open to non-members.
Saturday, April 4	Butterfly Habitat & Camp Bayou, 4140 24th St SE, Ruskin	Meet at Camp Bayou’s parking lot at 9:30	Donna Carty 215-534-7686	Half the group will walk through the Butterfly Habitat/Florida Native Plant Garden, while the other half takes a 20-minute golf cart tour of the nature preserve, and then switch. Limit 12, no cost.
Saturday, April 11	Little Manatee River State Park, 215 Lightfoot Rd, Ruskin	9:00	Julie Stocksdale 727-418-5119	Meet at the picnic area parking lot. We’ll do a 1.5-mile hike on the Sand Pine Trail and hope to see some spring migrants and spring wildflowers. No cost except for park entry fee $4 for 1 person, $5 for 2-8 per car, no limit, open to non-members.
Tuesday, April 21	Fort DeSoto, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde	9:00 to noon Meet in front of flagpole at Park Headquarters	Steve & Jan Burkholder steve@steveandjan.com	$5 park entry fee along with road tolls. Extensive but easy walking. No limit, open to non-members. Come join us at this world-renowned birding site during the height of migration. Email me and I’ll send you a birding map of the park.