Florida Keys Birding & Wildlife Festival Sep 23-27
September 11th, 2009
Marathon, Florida Keys – Nature enthusiasts can get acquainted with some of the unique birds and wildlife native to the Florida Keys at the 11th annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival set for Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 23-27. The family-friendly event is to be staged at the quiet oceanfront preserve of Curry Hammock State Park, mile marker (MM) 56.2 in Marathon, with field trips scheduled throughout the Florida Keys.
Though the primary festival program starts Friday, additional field trips await early arrivals. Wednesday, Sept. 23, a Curry Hammock State Park ranger is to offer an interpretive 90-minute walk through a palm hammock. Free for festival registrants, the walk is to start at 10 a.m.; space is limited.
A Curry Hammock ranger also is to lead a 90-minute paddle around Little Crawl Key beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. A portion of the route takes kayakers along a twisting, narrow mangrove creek that offers a rare experience of unspoiled Florida. Personal kayaks are welcome, or gear can be rented from the park at $16 per single kayak or $20 per double. Space is limited.
The festival’s opening reception is to be held Friday, Sept. 25, at the Marathon Garden Club, MM 50 bayside. The schedule includes dinner, a silent auction and keynote presentations by photographers Dick Fortune and Sara Lopez, whose images promote conservation and awareness of delicate natural resources by focusing on wading birds and their habitats.
Saturday, Sept. 26, festival participants can enjoy their choice of field trips and eco-tours. In addition, a popular environmental fair is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Curry Hammock, with booths manned by environmental agencies and vendors to arouse curiosity and encourage eco-adventure enthusiasts. Admission is free.
Saturday evening, plans call for Curry Hammock State Park to stay open for a night concert, an astronomy program and a marshmallow roast for kids. Admission is free and campsites are available.
Overnight guests can head out early Sunday, Sept. 27, for an all-day birding excursion to Dry Tortugas National Park with professional birder Larry Manfredi. The ferry to the remote birders’ paradise boards at 7:30 a.m. in Key West and returns around 5 p.m. Reservations are required, and fees depend on residency and whether attendants have a park pass.
Alternative tours are offered Sunday to the Middle Keys’ Dolphin Research Center, Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, Marathon’s Turtle Hospital and Bahia Honda State Park for snorkeling at beautiful Looe Key.
The entrance fee at Curry Hammock State Park is to be waived for festival registrants. Event registration is $15 per person and provides access to all programs. Additional fees may apply.
For more information, visit www.keysbirdingfest.org or call James Bell, refuge manager at the National Key Deer Refuge, at (305) 872-0774. For area accommodations, contact the Marathon Chamber of Commerce at (305) 743-5417 or (800) 262-7284, or visit the Florida Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com.
