CANCELLED – Sparrow Banding – Weekiwachee Preserve, Hernando County

This Space Coast Audubon Field Trip has been cancelled.  If you would like to attend the event on your own call Jeff at 321 610 4443 for details.

Space Coast Audubon will be carpooling from Cocoa  to Weekiwachee Preserve (west coast of Florida) on February 4, 2017 to attend the 10 annual sparrow drive hosted by Clay Black and Marianne Korosy

Participants of the sparrow drive will walk in a line through tall grass and scattered shrubs, over a limestone rubble at two different sites in the Preserve. Participants will  be working together to flush grassland sparrows and other grassland birds into a long line of mist for banding and release on site. This is a great opportunity to see all the birds up close and for photographs of each species captured.

Expected species at these sites are LeConte’s, Henslow’s, Grasshopper, Swamp, and Savannah sparrows, House Wren, Sedge Wren and possibly others.

The sparrow drives begin promptly at 9 a.m. and will end around noon.
Since there are no facilities or concessions on site, you will need to bring your own snacks.   Long pants are strongly suggested for leg protection; a hat is suggested for sun protection. Early morning temperatures are often very cool or even cold so wearing layers is a good idea.  Wear closed shoes, with ankle support if you prefer. The uneven ground at the site consists of limestone, limestone rubble, shrubs, and grass. Your feet may get wet from early morning dew in the thick grass so wear appropriate foot gear to be prepared. Cameras and binoculars are welcome.

Space Coast Audubon participants will meet at Sam’s Club in Cocoa, I95 Exit 201.  Meeting time is EARLY. We meet at 5:00 AM and leave promptly at 5:15 AM  so we arrive in Weekiwachee by 8:00 AM.

If you are attending, you must RSVP Jeff at [email protected] no later than February 1, 2017 so we have an accurate headcount.
For more info:
Marianne Korosy
[email protected]
Palm Harbor, FL