We welcome you to our monthly programs. Our meetings take place in the Fellowship Room at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1239 West Del Webb Blvd, Sun City Center on the third Monday of each month from October through April. Meeting dates and times are listed below. The doors open at 1:00 PM for social and sign-up time; the public is invited. The meeting and program begin at approximately 1:40 PM.
2026–2027 Monthly Programs
| Date | Speaker & Program |
|---|---|
| Oct 19 | Mike Rounds — Birding the Black Swamp Explore spring migration along Lake Erie’s southern shore during the Biggest Week in American Birding. Mike’s photos highlight birds of the Magee Marsh Boardwalk and surrounding areas. |
| Nov 16 | Nick Muzia Environmental restoration specialist Nick Muzia explores how Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) — from freshwater plants to seagrasses — can improve water quality and biodiversity. See how SAV is being incorporated into wetlands, coastal systems, and waterfront restoration projects. Speaker Bio » |
| Dec 21 | Hilary Flower, PhD — The Bird That Saved Itself: The Everglade Snail Kite Story Author and scientist Hilary Flower tells the surprising story of the Everglade Snail Kite and its adaptation to changing conditions. Speaker Bio » |
| Jan 18 | John Lampkin — 1000 Species and Counting: Life on the SCC Nature Trails Since EAS assumed stewardship of the Nature Trails in 2015, John Lampkin and others have documented remarkable biodiversity there. More than 1,000 species are now recorded on iNaturalist. More Details » |
| Feb 15 | Barbara Walker Meet Charley the osprey, Joe the barn owl, and Aster the peregrine falcon — three globally distributed raptors. Barbara will compare these fascinating species, with time for questions and photographs. Speaker Bio » |
| Mar 15 | Scott Heckler — Shorebirds Know No Borders Travel from the Americas to Asia through stories of efforts to save rare shorebirds. Scott highlights the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper and the remarkable recovery of the Atlantic Coast Piping Plover. |
| Apr 19 | Kim Jones — The Wilds of Antarctica: A Journey To The End Of The Earth Journey from Ushuaia to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. Kim shares penguins, skuas, albatross, seals, whales, spectacular landscapes, Shackleton’s final resting place — and perhaps a polar plunge. |
About Our Speakers
Nicholas Muzia, PE
November 16 — Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)
Nicholas Muzia is a Professional Engineer and Design Builder for Sea & Shoreline Inc., a prominent nationwide environmental restoration company. Nicholas is an award-winning designer specializing in the use of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to remedy water quality issues in freshwater and seawater natural and constructed systems.
Submerged aquatic vegetation, encompassing both freshwater macrophytes and saltwater seagrasses, serves as a powerful natural infrastructure tool for enhancing water quality and biodiversity. Nick’s presentations illustrate the use of SAV as a natural tool for water quality & biodiversity remediation and enhancement. His expertise illustrates how SAV can be engineered into hybrid green/gray infrastructure.
SAV can be utilized as a physical and ecological tool to address environmental challenges. Incorporating SAV establishes natural processes to stabilize sediment, dampen wave energy, and improve water clarity, creating vibrant ecosystems for marine and freshwater species, from invertebrates to fish, enhancing ecological resilience.
The presentation will explore SAV’s integration into innovative stormwater and water quality projects, such as constructed wetlands, resilient coastal systems, and urban waterfront restorations in both freshwater (e.g., lakes, rivers) and saltwater (e.g., estuaries, coastal zones) environments.
Hilary Flower, PhD
December 21 — The Bird That Saved Itself: The Everglade Snail Kite Story
Hilary Flower is a scientist and author who finds the human pulse in the wild heart of Florida. Her engaging presentations use the surprising lives of endangered species as a lens for understanding climate change, cultural iconography, and what it means to live in uncertain times. Whether speaking to students, the general public, or environmental advocates, Hilary transforms complex science into a compelling narrative about our evolving relationship with nature and the courage required to protect it.
For the endangered Snail Kite, hope appeared in the unlikely shape of an invasive species that became its lifeline. This extraordinary true story invites readers to explore how resilience emerges in the wild—and how the same forces of adaptation, connection, and perseverance shape our own lives. Whether you love birds, care about conservation, or simply appreciate a powerful underdog story, this journey reveals the unexpected ways hope takes flight.
Barbara Walker
February 15 — Charley the Osprey, Joe the Barn Owl & Aster the Peregrine Falcon
Barbara Walker is the President of Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue, and as such, is a full-time volunteer for the City of Clearwater, Parks Division. Her area of expertise is in management of bird populations in urban areas. She served on the Audubon Florida Board of Directors for three years and has been president of the Clearwater Audubon Society. She has been a frequent speaker for our EAS meetings, where she has wowed us with various live birds including the magnificent bald eagle at last year’s March meeting.