Great Florida Birding Trail - Winter 1999 Trail Update


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The Great Florida Birding Trail Update

Winter 1999 -- 2000

For those of you I have yet to meet, I replaced Nancy Jordan in August as coordinator of the fledgling Great Florida Birding Trail. Nancy left the Trail to pursue a lifelong dream -- a graduate degree in wildlife biology -- and I am flattered she is comfortable leaving her project in my hands. I was previously the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission's regional education specialist in Lakeland, and may have met many of you in that capacity. Thanks to all of you who have contacted me in recent months, voicing your support for the Trail and your interest in helping shape this exciting initiative! Birders like you will make this Trail a reality.

As you know, the Trail ultimately will be a 2,000-mile highway trail unifying existing and new birding sites statewide. To make this task more manageable, we have divided the state into four sections.

The first section slated for completion is the East Florida Section, which had its site nominations close this fall, with a whopping 190 nominations from 18 counties! Thanks to all the birders, citizen conservationists, land managers, and tourism professionals who nominated sites in these counties. I will visit all nominated sites before March to gauge their appropriateness for the Trail. The Trail guide publications will be created in summer, and the East Section is projected to have its grand opening at the The Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival in fall 2000! The sites I've visited offer a healthy mix of high profile birding spots like National Wildlife Refuges, as well as more obscure, sometimes privately owned sites, previously known only to local birders.

Site nominations for the West Florida Section will open in late spring 2000, at which time I will encourage anyone with information about birding sites in this area to nominate them. The Panhandle and South Florida sections will follow, respectively.

Because of the magnitude of this project, it is projected that it will take 3-4 years before the Trail comes to the entire state. In the meantime, birders are playing important roles in shaping the Trail!

	Buck and Linda Cooper of Polk County were on hand for my first site visits, sharing their insights on what makes a good birding site, as well as their knowledge of the nominated Polk hotspots. Visiting sites with local birders is crucial since the birds at sites may vary seasonally, or hourly. Unfortunately, because of the number of sites nominated, I can't visit each at its optimal time.
Buck and Linda Cooper

Not only did Laurilee Thompson of Brevard County accompany me to many of her county's sites, but she also coordinated their nomination! A strong voice for ecotourism in Florida, she has spoken to her county commission, local merchants, and anyone who will listen, to solicit their support for the Trail in Brevard. The result? The nomination of over 40 Brevard County sites! With input from the local birding community, Brevard has proposed the lion's share of site nominations in the East Florida Section. Titusville also hosts the annual Space Coast Flyway Festival, another of Laurilee's "hobbies."

Laurilee Thompson

There are many ways you can help to make the Great Florida Birding Trail a reality. Individuals or organizations can adopt sites, coordinate clean ups, lead birding hikes, or enhance sites with native plant gardens, boardwalks or educational signage. For example, West Volusia Audubon adopted Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge and oversaw the donation and construction of a birding overlook complete with a binocular scope. They also lead seasonal tours for beginning birders!

Finally, it is important that all of us birders call attention to the economic value of birds. When birding, make sure communities know why you're there. Many birders leave "calling cards" when paying their bills at restaurants and hotels. This encourages communities to conserve their resources as well as tailor their services to birders. A template is available for you to make your own calling cards! Simply copy the card section double-sided on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of heavy paper, and cut the cards apart for use! In this way, you'll not only support local conservation efforts, but herald the coming of the Trail to new areas of the state.

Thanks to all of you who continue to be supportive of this important effort, and please don't hesitate to contact me with insights or questions about the Trail. Until then, best wishes and happy birding!

Julie
Julie Brashears, Birding Trail Coordinator
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission