From Paddy Cunningam, birdadventure.com

Dear Birding Friends,

I am just back from my incredible trip to Harlingen Texas
and the Rio Grande Briding Festival. It was a excellent
festival-great birds and great people. I had 172 species in
6 days. 13 Life Birds, 6 North American Life Birds and a
total of 34 years birds for my Big Year. (I'll give you
an update on my BIg Year soon-it is very exciting news).
Highlights include the real Muscovy Ducks, Tropical Parula,
Red-billed Pigeon, Green Jay, Olive Sparrow, North Beardless
Tryannulet and so much more. I also added my first
Long-billed Curlew and Cinnamon Teal, that I know I have
been searching for her in Florida for more than 10 years. It
was so intense and exciting all at the same time.

BONNET HOUSE-Nov. 22, 2008-8:30-11:30, contact Linda at
www.bonnethouse.org
Field marks as a strategy for quicker identification. This
workshop will include a discussion of field marks &
slide show, a hands-on activity, hand outs to reenforce
knowledge, and a hike to apply gain skills.

12/6-BONNET HOUSE FIELD TRIP-LONG KEY N.A.
Search the Live Oak hammock and restored wetlands for the
greatest number of bird species possible. Meet in the
parking lot of Long Key Nature Center in Davie or car pool
from Bonnet House. Reserve with Linda S.

12/13-STORM WATER TREATMENT AREA 5 & CENTRAL PRAIRIES
This trip netted more than 80 species last year such as
Snail Kite, R. Spoonbill, Am. Bittern & lots of ducks.
After STA 5 we will travel through the prairies to look for
Sandhill Cranes, winter specials and White-tailed Kite.Bring
lunch. Meet at S.S.T.R. at 6:30. Cost-$50. Limit to 5 in my
van.

12/21-CHRISTMAS COUNT-contact Mary Butterfield for team
assignments.

1/10 BONNET HOUSE BIRDING CLASS

EVERGLADES BIRDING FESTIVAL
JANUARY 14-19, 2009
www.birdadventure.com
Hollywood Beach Golf Resort
www.hollywoodbeachgolf.com
Become one with the River of Grass!!
Journey through southern Florida searching for an array of
beautiful and rare birds in ancient moss-covered Cypress
Swamps, Everglades prairies that join the sky, and brilliant
beaches that sparkle with flashes of roseate wings. Scan
across the tips of sawgrass searching the horizon for
hovering Snail Kites, transverse over alligator ponds and
hear the squeal of the elusive Limpkin. Watch and listen and
see.

Imagine a place of peaceful relationship with nature, where
the intense excitement of finding new birds merges with a
serene sense of shared joy with fellow birders.

Increase your skills and knowledge base where expert
instructors facilitate your participation in the birding
experience and you learn the i.d.

Gain a deeper connection with the environment, becoming a
Bird Seeker who joins the peaceful flow of the river of
grass.

Target Birds
*Snail Kite
*Limpkin
*Painted Bunting
*Purple Gallinule
*Peregrine Falcon
*Roseate Spoonbill
*Smooth-billed Ani
*Wood Stork
*Reddish Egret
*Lesser Nighthawk
*Burrowing Owl
*Crested Caracara
*Pileated Woodpecker
*Sora
*Brown-headed Nuthatch

WHAT YOU WILL RECIEVE
*Expert guides whose time and attention is focused on
increasing the interaction and intensity of your experience.
*Detailed instruction on birding technique and field skills
including behavior, silhouette, field marks, habitat,
birding by ear, impression, and all aspects on the
environment such as ecology, butterflies and plants during
mini-workshops and field application.
*Intense excitements in finding new birds and joy in
sharing it with fellow birders.
*Daily mini workshops that include daily printed materials
to reinforce gained skills.
*Eco-friendly emphasis, which includes donations to all
non-profit organization we visit.
*Tours that begin and end in the same location.
*You will gain a deeper connection with the environment
allowing for reflection through purposeful activities and
experiences.
*An environment where you will leave the stress of all the
details far behind and become immersed into an intense, yet
relaxing culture with great meals, inspiring field trips and
comfortable lodgings.

WEDNESDAY
1/14-OPENING RECEPTION-included in regristration
FESTIVAL & EVERGLADES ECOLOGY ORIENTATION,
HOLLYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB RESORT-
REGISTRATION-3:00-4:00 p.m. COST-$30
FESTIVAL & EVERGLADES ECOLOGY ORIENTATION-4:00-5:15
p.m.
HAPPY HOUR & FUN ACTIVITIES-5:15-6: 30 p.m.
Dinner on your own
**Mini workshop-Everglades Ecology**

THURSDAY
1/15-EXPLORE BROWARD ADVENTURE
MANGROVE EXPLORATION-KAYAK TRIP or NATURE CENTER TOUR/HIKE-

9:00 a.m.-12 noon Anne Kolb Nature Center
Explore the largest preserved mangrove forest in south
Florida at nearby West Lake Park. This trip includes a
Naturalist led hike, and a tour of Anne Kolb Nature Center.
Another option would be a 2-hour Kayak trip through the
mangroves sneaking up on Yellow-crowned Night Herons and
wading birds. EASY Cost-Kayak Trip-$35 Hike-$18 with
transportation
LUNCH ON YOU OWN at Le Tub-named the Best Hamburger in the
U.S.

BROWARD HOT SPOTS & SPECIALITIES 2-6:00 p.m.
We will search for what makes Broward County such a great
place for birding such as-Smooth billed Ani's, Burrowing
Owls, Common Myna, Black-hooded and Monk Parakeets. This
tour includes walk at Long Key Nature Center and tour of
Brian Piccolo Park. It is mostly a van trip with easy
boardwalk and trails. THIS TRIP WILL GO DIRECTLY TO BONNET
HOUSE. COST-$35 with van.

HISTORICAL BONNET HOUSE EVENING 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Travel back in time to open porches, exotic gardens and
tropical living while visiting the famous historical Bonnet
House. This enchanting evening will include a guided house
tour and night hike to search for Owls and other night
creatures. A candlelight dinner in the Island House with a
special Florida menu and complimentary wine will make this
an unforgettable night. Cost-$48
**Mini workshop-family groups & checklists as a
strategy for i.d. success**

FRIDAY
1/16-FLORIDA='S WEST COAST ADVENTURE
CENTRAL PRAIRIES, AUDUBON'S CORKSCREW SWAMP, EAGLE LAKES
PARK, TIGER TAIL BEACH-6:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.=
The adventure will begin with Government Road through the
Seminole Indian Reserve to look for Crested Caracara,
Sandhill Cranes and the possibility of wintering sparrows,
Western Kingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and
White-tailed Kite. The National Audubon Societies' famous
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a 'must' when visiting
south Florida with its famous 2-mile boardwalk. Its beauty
is legendary and there is always a chance for Painted
Buntings, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Barred
Owls and Limpkin, Night Herons and wintering warblers.
During lunch we will have a speaker gives us an update on
Corkscrew and the fate of the Wood Stork. At Eagle Lakes
Park we will hope for Bronzed Cowbird and ducks such as
Widgeons and Teals. On Marco Island we will visit Tigertail
Beach, which is one of the top wintering spots for
Wilson's, Piping and Snowy Plovers. We will also search
for Reddish Egret, Black Skimmer and other larids at this
top
shorebird beach. COST-$75 With lunch and transportation.
**Mini workshop-Behavior as a strategy for i.d. success**

EVENING EVENT
30 Strategies for Better Birding
Special dinner & Birding Olympics-6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
A fun evening of contests and activities including
"name that bird'.
COST-$25

SATURDAY
1/17-PALM BEACH & EVERGLADES WETLAND RESTORATION
ADVENTURE
STORM WATER TREATMENT AREA 5, LAKE OKEECHOBEE, OKEEHEELEE
NATURE CENTER, GREEN CAY WETLANDS-6:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
We have an excellent opportunity to see Everglades
Restoration at it's best while touring the Storm Water
Treatment Area 5. Target species include Snail Kite,
American Bittern, Roseate Spoonbill, Fulvous Whistling Duck
and up to 10 species of wintering ducks. We will have lunch
at Lake Okeechobee to look for Osprey and wintering
warblers. At Okeeheelee Nature Center we will view one of
the best feeders in south Florida for Painted and Indigo
Buntings. This area can also produce possible Wood Ducks and
Sandhill Cranes. Green Cay Wetlands are created filtering
marshes that have attracted numerous wading birds, ducks and
the possibility of Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Sora,
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and much more. All easy
boardwalk and hiking trails
This trip should yield 80 plus species.
**Mini workshop-Habitat as a strategy for i.d. success**
COST-$70 includes lunch and transportation

Evening Activity-Discover Hollywood Beach's 'Famous
Broadwalk'
Van will leave from the hotel at 6:30, return at 8:30 pm
Dinner on your own

SUNDAY
1/18-EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
LUCKY HAMMOCK, ANHINGA TRAIL, GUMBO LIMBO TRAIL, LONG KEY,
FLAMINGO-6:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Early risers get the birds so we will start at Lucky
Hammock and Annex, part of the Southern Glades Wildlife
Environmental Area. Lucky Hammock has become locally
famous, for producing many excellent birds such as Bell's
Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Clay-colored Sparrow,
Brown-crested Flycatcher, Painted Bunting, Cave Swallow, and
wintering warblers. At the visitor's center we will have a
short orientation and possible Ovenbird and hummingbirds
We will spend a lot of time at the famous Anhinga Trail
getting a very close up view of wading birds, alligators and
possible American Bittern. The close-by Gumbo Limbo trail
usually has wintering Black-throated Green warbler and
possible Brown-crested Flycatcher. We will lunch at Long
Pine Key and will search the pinelands for Eastern Towhee,
Eastern Bluebird and possible Brown-headed Nuthatch. Then it
will be off to Paurotis Pond to see Roseate Spoonbills and
Woodstorks. Flamingo is great for scanning
Florida Bay to search for shorebirds, Reddish Egrets,
Black Skimmers, Bald Eagle and who knows what else. This
will be a long but amazing day at this unique ecosystem and
globally recognized International Biosphere.
The day schedule may change depending on the tide and
possibility of rare birds.
**Mini workshop-Birding by Ear**
COST-$70 includes lunch & transportation

EVENING EVENT
KEYNOTE SPEAKER & DINNER-6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
AWARD CEREMONY
Cost-$35

MONDAY
1/19-UPPER KEYS
CARD SOUND, KEY LARGO HAMMOCK BOTANTICAL PRESERVE, JOHN
PENNEKAMP STATE PARK, FLORIDA KEYS WILD BIRD CENTER, OLD
CUTLER WETLANDS-6:45 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
The day will start out at Card Sound Bridge where we will
have a quick look for Clapper Rail and 'Cuban' Yellow
Warbler. Stopping at the Key Largo Hammock Botanical
Preserve for wintering warblers, hawks and some of the
rarest plants in the U.S. We visit the Florida Keys Wild
Bird Center where you can view many species of rehabilitated
birds for great comparison studies. This spot also has been
a good spot to see wild Great 'White' Heron, Horned
Grebe and wintering songbirds. We will visit John Pennekamp
State Park to search for White-crowned Pigeon and
Black-whiskered Vireos at lunch. There will be time to see
the aquariums and displays at the visitor center. The day
will end with a quick look for wintering ducks and
shorebirds at Old Cutler Wetlands.
Mini workshop-field marks as a strategy for i.d. success
COST-$70

**5 DAYS OF TOP BIRDING** 120 PLUS SPECIES** TOP GUIDES***
EXPERTS SPEAKERS**UNIQUE HABITATS**WORKSHOPS**FUN**

REGRISTER ON-LINE with PAY PAL paying by credit or debit
card.
OR Download regristration form on-line and send check made
payable to
Patricia Cunningham EBF
SEND TO Patricia Cunningham EBF
1653 Plunkett St.
Hollywood, Fl. 33020
for more information (954) 805-6810

CONNECT TO SPACE COAST BIRDING FESTIVAL
For those going on to the Space Coast Wildlife &
Birding Festival you will have a travel day on Tuesday to
get to Titusville that is about a 4-hour drive away. I can
recommend places to bird along the way. www.nbbd.com