April 2019 Activities of Hernando Audubon Society

Hernando Audubon Society Meeting: Thursday, April 25. Audubon Plants for Birds, designed by National Audubon Society, will help anyone create a bird-friendly yard. By planting native plants, we can restore habitat for birds. Linda Vanderveen and Debbie McKevitt will demonstrate how to use this resource and will talk about and display native plants. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Community Activities Center, 205 E. Ft. Dade Avenue, Brooksville. Information: Bev Hansen, 352-686-0460, bevalhansen@gmail.com

Birding Trips of Hernando Audubon Society

Hernando Audubon Birding Trip to Croom Tract, Withlacoochee State Forest (Hernando County), Saturday, April 6. Find Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman’s Sparrow, and other resident forest birds and look for early spring migrants. At 7 a.m. meet on the south side of Croom Road (CR-480) at the intersection with Forest Road 7. This is 7 miles east of US-41. For information: call Bev, 352-686-0460 or bevalhansen@gmail.com. 

Hernando Audubon Field Trip to Goethe Forest (Levy County), Saturday, April 13. We expect to see several species of carnivorous plants, spring migrant birds, wildflowers, and butterflies, and maybe a Red-cockaded Woodpecker. To carpool from Brooksville, meet at 6:30 a.m. in the Big Lots parking lot (20050 Cortez Blvd.) at the intersection of Cortez Blvd. and US-41 (Broad Street). To carpool from Spring Hill, meet at 6:45 a.m. in the parking lot south of Hardee’s (6292 Commercial Way) on US-19. Both groups will meet at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the southwest corner of the Crystal River Mall (1801 US-19 in Crystal River). It will take another 30 to 45 minutes to get to the forest. There is a $2 forest entrance fee. For information, call Clay 352-592-4949 or (cell) 352-238-2002. 

Hernando Audubon Birding Trip to Lettuce Lake Park (Hillsborough County): April 17.  At 8:15 a.m. meet at the Visitor’s Center, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa. We will look for birds on the boardwalks along the Hillsborough River. There is a $2 park entrance fee. To carpool, meet at 7:30 a.m. at Sunrise Plaza, 31150 Cortez Blvd., 0.5 mile east of I-75. For information, contact Linda, 352-428-2629, lindalark85@gmail.com 

Hernando Audubon Birding Trip to Bayport Park and Private “Hot Spot” (Hernando County): April 20. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the canoe-kayak parking lot at Bayport Park, 4140 Cortez Blvd. We will look for any migrating birds that are passing through the area as well as resident land birds and water birds. Then we will carpool a short distance to a small private lot that has an Australian Silk Oak tree. When this tree is in bloom, it acts as a magnet to attract a variety of migrating songbirds. Bring a chair so that you can sit a while and watch the migrants! For information: call Bev, 352-686-0460 or bevalhansen@gmail.com.

Hernando Audubon Beginning Birding (Hernando County): Friday, April 26. Meet at 8 a.m. at Chinsegut Conservation Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville. Learn to identify birds at feeders and during a short walk. There will be binoculars and bird books available for use. For information, text Linda at 352-428-2629 or email lindalark85@gmail.com.

Hernando Audubon Society meetings and activities are free and open to the public. For more details about these activities, check hernandoaudubon.org