Audubon Assembly in Cocoa Beach in October

By Sarah Linney

After being cancelled last year due to hurricanes, Audubon of Florida will once again attempt to hold the Audubon Assembly at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Resort in Cocoa Beach. The meeting will be held Thursday - Saturday, October 19-21, the weekend before the FOS meeting in Titusville. Space Coast Audubon and Orange Audubon Society are organizing the field trips and there will be a special screening of the movie "Hoot" Thursday evening.

The theme this year is Saving Birds and Special Places. Please join your fellow Audubon members to get inspired and sharpen skills for advocating for birds and their protection! There will be engaging programs that highlight Florida's coastal environments and issues that affect their well being. Hear scientists share insights on global warming and its consequences for Florida's extensive coastal areas. Collaborate with other environmentalists and birders from across the region to shape policies and take an active part in saving our birds, wildlife, and habitats.

Field trips include a specially organized trip into the Orlando Wetlands Park, a Sunset Boat Tour on the Indian River Lagoon (Space Coast Nature Tours), MINWR, Lori Wilson Park, and the newly acquired EELs Indian Mound Station Sanctuary in Titusville where Judy Gregoire of EELs will join us for a history of the site.

At this time we are still planning on having our regularly scheduled Program Meeting on Friday, Oct. 20, which will be during the Awards Dinner at the Assembly. Registration and additional information for the Assembly is available online (http://www.audubonofflorida.org) or through the Florida Naturalist magazine.