Join us for an afternoon walk on Fern Trail to see who's flying around out there. This takes us back to where we first started Birds & Brews. Loaner binoculars are available!
Juli deGrummond will lead a walk of the shoreline and maritime oak hammock at this amazing stopover for migrating birds, looking for shorebirds along the beach, warblers in the maritime oak hammocks, wading birds, and birds of prey in and around the marsh areas.
For young people (ages 8–18) and their parent or guardian, this guided walk offers mentorship and a chance to connect with peers who share a love for birds, nature, and conservation.
Join us for an afternoon walk on Fern Trail to see who's flying around out there. This takes us back to where we first started Birds & Brews. Loaner binoculars are available!
Click to register via Mobilize. Limited to 20 participants.
Spring refuge visitors. Starting in upper left corner: Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, male Indigo Bunting, male Summer Tanager, female Summer Tanager. Photos by Nick Petryk.
Meet up with Nicholas Petryk at the Visitor Center parking lot at 8:00 AM. See map below, which links to a PDF map of the refuge. We’ll set our itinerary for the morning once we have gathered and set out driving Lighthouse Rd. This will be a combination of driving and walking trails.
Nicholas Petryk is an FSU alumnus and professional naturalist. Growing up, he always had a fascination with the wild outdoors. The culmination of over a decade of working with animals has led to countless hours of studying the behavior and training methods of dozens of species. He has worked with several zoological facilities and nature centers, and his favorite animals have always been reptiles and birds.
In his spare time, you can find him outdoors in forests, parks, and around his home photographing and interacting with wildlife. Nick has been an avid birder in this area for 5 years, and knows St Marks NWR like the back of his hand, as the refuge is basically in his backyard.
Meet at the Visitor Center parking lot at 8:00 AM. Click to view a full-sized, downloadable PDF map of the refuge.
Click to register via Mobilize.
Please join us for a guided bird walk at Piney Z Lake along the Lafayette Heritage Trail! At this time of year, we are hopeful to see both departing overwintering birds, including the park's bald eagles, and arriving spring migrants and summer residents such as summer tanager, prairie and hooded warblers, swallows, and vireos. The eBird hotspot is referred to as Lafayette Heritage Trail Park.
Lafayette Heritage Trail is one of the most popular hiking spots in Tallahassee, with flat, wide trails and long levees offering good views of the lake. We will plan to walk up to 2 miles as we scan the lake and high forest canopy. The trail is very well-established, but closed-toed shoes are still recommended. William will keep an eBird list that will be shared after the trip, but participants are also welcome to keep their own. There is a public parking lot with bathrooms at the trailhead with plenty of spaces. There will likely be other hikers with dogs, runners, and bikers recreating on the trail.
Water, sun protection (the path is shaded, but the levees are not), cameras, binoculars, although AAS will have some available to borrow.
William Heinle is a lifelong outdoorsman and birder. A former outdoor adventure leader, he graduated with degrees in biology and geography from the University of Richmond in 2023, and now helps agencies, communities, and governments in Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean make decisions about sustainability and conservation with environmental data analysis. He has also published research on his fascination with reptiles and amphibians, and has participated in numerous bird counts, hawk watches, rarity roundups, and big days with friends across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and now, northern Florida. William can commonly be found at Lake Jackson before sunrise, out in Apalachicola, or working with his family restoring lands along the Suwannee River.
Come join us for a walk around Cascades Park! Amicus always has a food truck available for a good bite too.
Juli deGrummond
Click to register via Mobilize.
For young people (typically ages 8 - 18) and a parent or guardian.
These gatherings are designed to provide mentorship and create a peer group for young people who are developing as birders and are passionate about nature and conservation.
This month’s event will be held at St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge. We will visit a few different spots on the refuge as we look for some continuing rarities and keep an eye out for signs of the beginning of Spring migration.
We will meet in the parking lot in front of the Welcome Center at 8:30 a.m. Juli deGrummond will be there to help everyone find the birds!
Click to register via Mobilize.
This will be a single day, caravan road trip. For those who do not wish to drive please let us know that you would like to ride with one of the driving participants. For those who want to, or are willing to drive please let us know if you have space in your car for any participants who would like to be a passenger.
We will meet up between 7:30-7:45 AM in Village Commons (where Fresh Market is located). We will meet in the parking lot in front of Newk's and Village Pizza in the lot near the electric car charging stations. We will aim to hit the road at 8:00 AM This will be a full day of birding and traveling. Please bring a packed lunch, snacks, and plenty of water! Also bug spray and sun protection is recommended.
Our first stop will be Rest Stop 265 in Madison County. This is about an hour's drive from Tallahassee. At this rest stop we will take a break from being in the car and do a little birding. This is a known location for White-winged Dove, which is considered a rarity in this county.
Next we will head to Sweetwater Wetlands. (Details pending)
We will aim to get back on the road to Tallahassee by 3:30-4:00 PM putting us back in town around 5:30-6:00 PM.
We’ll take an hour walk around this county park and we're hoping for some seasonal ducks! Then we'll go next door to Taqueria Miranda for Mexican fare.
Juli will be leading a guided bird walk around Lake Elberta Park. This park is one of Tallahassee’s best-kept birding secrets, tucked away between Florida A&M University and Florida State University!
Southwood Golf Club is where we will meet at 4pm. Please try and arrive a few minutes before 4pm so we can sign waivers and we'll depart at 4:10pm. Loaner binoculars are available. The restaurant at the clubhouse is open until 6pm on Sundays.
We'll park and meet up at Las Brazas Mexican Grill and follow the trail behind the restaurant to visit the pond that is off of Ginger Drive. There is plenty of parking behind the restaurant on the left side. We will have extra sets of binoculars to loan out. Please email Lisa to reserve a pair. We'll have our walk around most of the pond and head to the restaurant by 5 PM to enjoy some delicious Mexican cuisine!
This outing is FULLY BOOKED as of November 4. Mobilize now has a waitlist that you can sign up for and we will notify you if a vacancy occurs.
Click here to register via Mobilize.
December is prime duck time at St. Marks! Depending on weather conditions, we will be trying to maximize sightings of duck species while also including other wintering birds. We expect to see between 50 and 75 species during the course of the field trip.
We will drive the thirteen-mile round trip from the Visitor Center to the Lighthouse, making several stops based on weather conditions. One stop may include a 1.75-mile hike. The remaining stops should have minimal walking.
We will be carpooling from the visitor's center to limit our carbon footprint. The 2:00 pm end time is aspirational, and we do plan to continue birding after the field trip. Anyone can join us, but everyone is free to leave after 2:00 pm.
Early December weather can be freezing to warm, often during the same day. Dress in layers. Bring optics, lunch, water, sunscreen, and a joyful attitude. This will be a good day of birding!
Banner Photo: Blue-winged Teal by Philip Sidran
Click to register via Mobilize.
Nicholas Petryk will lead a guided bird walk at the St. George Island State Park Youth Camp. Registration is limited to 15 participants. $6 per vehicle state park admission fee or State Park Annual Pass. Carpooling is encouraged. It will start at 9:15 AM in front of the restrooms and will end at about 11:30 AM.
Banner photo: American Redstart by Bonnie Samuelsen
Click to register via Mobilize.
We'll meet in the parking lot at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. Park entry is $6 per vehicle. If you don't already have a park pass, you can purchase a single day pass on the park website or buy one at the gate. https://www.floridastateparks.org/MaclayGardens
If you arrive a few minutes early, we can sign waivers and will officially start at 8:40 AM. Loaner binoculars are available.
Walking path at Maclay Gardens State Park
Banner photo, Tufted Titmouse by Will Riccio.
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
We will meet in the parking lot at the Southwood Golf Club at 4 PM (time change for the end of DST). Please try and arrive a few minutes early so we can sign waivers, and we'll depart at 4:10 PM. Loaner binoculars are available. The restaurant at the clubhouse is open until 6 PM on Sundays.
Click to register via Mobilize.
Limited to 15 people. For young people 5 - 18 years of age and a parent or guardian.
This month’s event will be held in Tallahassee at a VERY birdy yard. Location will be provided upon registration. Juli deGrummond will be there to help everyone find the birds!
Juli deGrummond will lead a walk of the shoreline and maritime oak hammock at this amazing stopover for migrating birds, looking for shorebirds along the beach, warblers in the maritime oak hammocks, wading birds, and birds of prey in and around the marsh areas.
If you don’t have binoculars, we will have loaners available. Please also bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and a camera if you’d like.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot near the overlook boardwalk at the North End; Park admission fee required ($4/vehicle) or a state park pass. For more information and a downloadable map, visit the website for Bald Point State Park website.
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
We'll meet in the parking lot at the end of the sidewalk from El Jalisco and walk down Green Ivy Trail to reach the nature trail. Our event will start at 8:15 AM, we'll get liability waivers signed, take a group photo, and start our walk at 8:30 AM! We'll have our hour of birding and maybe more! Extra binoculars are available. Email Lisa Lazarus to reserve a pair.
Hope to see you there!
Banner Photo, Immature Eastern Bluebirds, by Lisa Lazarus.
This will allow us to communicate with you about this event. You will receive reminders and you can cancel if unable to attend.
We will meet up at the Lafayette Community Center at 5:45 PM to sign waiver sheets. This will give us enough time to start our walk at 6:00 PM. After our walk we'll head down to the Brass Tap and have a bite and a brew. Brass Tap has an extensive menu for both beer and food. I’m https://www.brasstapbeerbar.com/midtowntallahassee
Extra binoculars will be available if needed. Email Lisa Lazarus to reserve a pair.
Juli deGrummond will lead a walk of the shoreline and maritime oak hammock at this amazing stopover for migrating birds, looking for shorebirds along the beach, warblers in the maritime oak hammocks, wading birds, and birds of prey in and around the marsh areas.
If you don’t have binoculars, we will have loaners available. Please also bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and a camera if you’d like.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot near the overlook boardwalk at the North End; Park admission fee required ($4/vehicle) or a state park pass. For more information and a downloadable map, visit the website for Bald Point State Park website.
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
Join us for a guided bird walk at the Southwood’s Central Lake! We hope to see migrating songbirds in the fields, woodlands, and forests around the lake as well as waders and shorebirds in the water. The eBird hotspot is referred to as “Central Lake Nature Trail - Southwood.”
What to Expect: The Southwood neighborhood’s Central Lake is surrounded by a paved 1.8-mile trail that can be shortened via two bridge paths; however, better views of birds may necessitate walking through medium-high grass, so closed toe shoes are still recommended. William will keep an eBird list that will be shared after the trip, but participants are also welcome to keep their own. There is a public, paved parking lot at the Southwood Community Center and Pool with plenty of spaces. The Southwood neighborhood is adjacent and there will likely be other walkers, runners, and bikers recreating on the trail.
What to Bring: Water, sun protection as not all of the path is shaded, cameras, binoculars although AAS will have some available to borrow
Bio: William Heinle is a lifelong outdoorsman and birder. A former outdoor adventure leader, he graduated with degrees in biology and geography from the University of Richmond in 2023, and now helps agencies, communities, and governments in Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean make decisions about sustainability and conservation with environmental data analysis. He has also published research on his fascination with reptiles and amphibians, and has participated in numerous bird counts, hawk watches, rarity roundups, and big days with friends across Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and now, northern Florida. William can commonly be found at Lake Jackson before sunrise, out in Apalachicola, or working with his family restoring lands along the Suwannee River.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker, by Lisa Lazarus
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
We will meet up at Amicus Brewing Ventures at 6 PM, then take a bird walk and see what's at Cascades Park. Afterwards, we’ll head back to Amicus and have a beer. Non-alcoholic beverages are available as well.
There will be a food truck on site until 6:30 PM, so if you want food, plan to arrive and dine before the walk. That day it will be Wok N Roll Tacos—Tallahassee’s ONLY Mexican/Asian Fusion food truck!
Loaner binoculars are available. Let us know if you need a pair when you register.
Amicus Brewing Ventures
Wading White Ibis flock at Cascades Park. Photo by Kathleen Carr
Click to register via Mobilize.
Juli deGrummond will lead a young birders walk through the woods and fields of Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park. The trails are relatively easy, but do have some topography and occur on natural terrain. Park and meet up at Gate A, 1275 Miller Landing Rd.
Meet at 8:15 AM to sign liability waivers before setting out at 8:30 AM.
Click to register via Mobilize.
Nicholas Petryk will lead a walk through the woods and fields of Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park. The trails are relatively easy, but do have some topography and occur on natural terrain. Park and meet up at Gate A, 1275 Miller Landing Rd.
Meet at 8:15 AM to sign liability waivers before setting out at 8:30 AM.
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker. Photo by Lisa Lazarus.
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
We will meet at the parking lot on the corner of Lafayette and Suwannee Street and walk through Cascades Park. Loaner binoculars are available. Email Lisa to reserve a pair. We look forward to seeing you!
Cascades Park
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
We'll meet up at 6 PM at The Hub at Feather Oaks on Miccosukee Road, and cross the street to take a shady walk on the Miccosukee Greenway. We suggest arriving early to enjoy delicious food from that day’s vendors, Blackberry Mimosa, Rays Bakery, and Zap Zap!
We'll gather for beverages after the walk and we can socialize inside or outside. Loaner binoculars are available. Email Lisa to reserve a pair. We look forward to seeing you!
The Hub at Feather Oaks
Click to register via Mobilize. Limited to 16 participants.
Join Juli deGrummond at Faulk Landing Drive and search for early fall migrants during a one-mile or so birding walk.
Please meet in the parking lot at 8:15 AM to sign a liability waiver form. The walk will start at 8:30 AM and last approximately 2 hours. The trail at Faulk Drive Landing is flat and easy to walk, but can be quite shrubby and muddy at times so you may want to wear waterproof shoes. Also recommend that you bring bug spray, sunscreen, water, and snacks.
We have loaner binoculars available. Please email apalacheeaudubon@gmail.com if you want to reserve a pair.
Banner photo, Prairie Warbler by Juli deGrummond.
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
Bring your favorite morning brew and we’ll walk the trails at Southwood. We'll meet in the parking lot behind El Jalisco and walk down Green Ivy Trail to reach the nature trail. We'll have our hour of birding and people are welcome to stay and bird longer if they wish. Extra binoculars are available.
Banner Photo, Immature Eastern Bluebirds, by Lisa Lazarus.
Click to register for this event via Mobilize.
We will meet up at Amicus Brewing Ventures at 6 PM on Sunday, July 6, then take a bird walk and see what's at Cascades Park. Afterwards, we’ll head back to Amicus and have a beer and food from that day’s on-site food truck. Loaner binoculars are available. Let us know if you need a pair when you register.
Red-headed Woodpecker. Photo by Lisa Lazarus.
Click to register via Mobilize to receive reminders and notifications of any last minute changes.
Bring your favorite morning brew with you! We'll start at 8:30 am in Tom Brown Park, off of Conner Blvd. We will meet in the parking lot at the Lake Leon Playground.
We have loaner binoculars if needed. Email Lisa Lazarus to reserve a pair.
Resident Limpkin at Gil Waters Preserve at Lake Munson
Lake Munson. Photo by Nick Evans.
Click to register for this event. You will receive reminders and updates.
We will view birds from a boardwalk through a scope and then go for a walk down to the dam and look for birds in the wooded area. We can expect to see limpkins, egrets, herons, Wood Ducks, and Black-bellied Whistling ducks, and possibly nesting Snail Kites!
