Hernando Audubon Meeting about Imperiled Shorebirds and Seabirds of Florida with speaker Holley Short.

In her presentation, Audubon Florida staff member Holley Short will discuss monitoring, management, and stewardship of imperiled shorebirds and seabirds in the Tampa Bay region on both beaches and rooftops. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 23, at 7 p.m., at Brooksville Woman’s Club, 131 S. Main Street, Brooksville. All are welcome at this free meeting. Contact Bev: bevalhansen@gmail.com or 352-686-0460.

Hernando Audubon Birding Trip to Heartwood Preserve and Starkey Market (Pasco County): Saturday, February 11.

Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Heartwood Preserve, 4100 Starkey Blvd., New Port Richey. In the habitat of longleaf pine flatwoods and cypress wetlands, we hope to see or hear Brown-headed Nuthatch, Northern Bobwhite, Bachman’s Sparrow, etc. Then we will go to the wetland behind Starkey Market, which is a mile south of Heartwood Preserve. Since Fall 2021, 85 bird species have been reported there. Contact Bev: bevalhansen@gmail.com or 352-686-0460.

Hernando Audubon Big Day/Birdathon, Saturday, February 18.

Everyone can participate by trying to find as many species as they can during the day, whether it is in your own yard or your favorite park. At the end of the day, submit your list of species to bevalhansen@gmail.com. This is a fundraiser for Hernando Audubon Society, with proceeds going to help fund local conservation and education programs and our Junior Audubon Club. Mail a pledge to P.O. Box 1678, Brooksville, FL 34605. Contact Bev: bevalhansen@gmail.com or 352-686-0460.

Hernando Audubon Beginning Birding, Friday, February 24.

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 available for use. Contact Linda: lindalark85@gmail.com or text 352-428-2629.

Hernando Audubon Class on eBird for Beginners, Saturday, February 25.

Meet at 9 a.m. at Chinsegut Conservation Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville.Learn how to enter your bird sightings into eBird. eBird is a free app developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology that can be used on a computer or smart phone with which you enter your bird sightings and share them with others. eBird keeps track of all the birds you have seen, including when and where you saw them. These entries then provide researchers, scientists, and amateur naturalists with real-time data about the abundance and distribution of birds. We will watch a video about how to enter reports of bird sightings, and will have time for questions.

 All are welcome to these free activities.