Activities
Upcoming Events
Orange Audubon Society (OAS) offers many events and volunteer opportunities from September through June, with something for every activity level. See our menu of field trips, classes, and workshops to the right.
This includes OAS’ NORTH SHORE BIRDING FESTIVAL, held the first weekend in December to highlight the best of Central Florida Birding.
See the monthly calendar of events below. You can also download OAS’ annual brochure, on the About Us page which has at-a-glance information about all our activities throughout this program year!
Events in January 2025
| MonMonday | TueTuesday | WedWednesday | ThuThursday | FriFriday | SatSaturday | SunSunday |
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December 30, 2024
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December 31, 2024
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January 1, 2025
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January 2, 2025
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January 3, 2025
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January 4, 2025(1 event) 7:00 am: Limited Edition Field Trip: Biggest Year Yet, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive Join Kathy Rigling, Lorri Lilja, Alex DeBear and Jimena as we scour the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive with binoculars and scopes to start off your 2025 birding as your "Biggest Year Yet". We'll meet at the Bike Parking Lot (just to the right before the entrance) at 7:00am and carpool through one of eBirds hottest hotspots. Limited Edition Field Trips are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Reservations required via the web. Questions contact Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive |
January 5, 2025
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January 6, 2025
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January 7, 2025
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January 8, 2025
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January 9, 2025
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January 10, 2025
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January 11, 2025(1 event) 8:00 am: Beginner's Bird Watching - Class 1 of 3, Orlando Wetlands Park – Beginner's Bird Watching is a 3-part class that combines classroom and field work to maximize your bird-watching skills. We'll be going over binocular use and skills, bird ID and resources available to birders. Our first session is at Orlando Wetlands Parks where we will look for wetland birds and raptors after the classroom session. This class is part 1 of a 3-class workshop. Leaders: Kathy Rigling and Susan Thome-Barrett. Cost for 3-class workshop is $60 members, $75 non-members. $10 youth (12 and under) with registered adult. Register on the web. Loaner binoculars or questions contact Teresa Williams at (407) 718-1977. Orlando Wetlands Park |
January 12, 2025(2 events) 7:30 am: Birds of Prey Identification Class with Bob Sanders – Join raptor expert Bob Sanders at the Apopka Wildlife Drive where you will learn to search and identify various raptors on the drive. Raptors found that time of year may include Peregrine Falcon, Snail Kite, Norther Harrier, Bald Eagle, Merlin, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and others. Class size is limited. Cost is $15 members, $25 non-members. Meet-up directions sent upon registration. Register on website. For questions call Bob Sanders at (407)459-5617. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive 7:45 am: BIRD SURVEY - Wekiwa Springs Monthly Bird Survey at Wekiwa Springs Park. We will split into 2 groups led by Park Naturalist Paul Lammardo and OAS's Kathy Rigling. We will survey two areas of the park counting all birds we see and hear. We will travel through the sandhill and scrub, near small lakes and other transitional areas. Possible birds: Red-headed Woodpeckers, Bachman's Sparrow, Wild Turkeys, Northern Bobwhite, the occasional Short-tailed Hawk. Registration is required with entry directions provided upon registration. Note: survey begins before park opens so DO NOT enter through main entrance. For registration & to check for any date changes contact Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com. To be provided upon registration |
January 13, 2025
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January 14, 2025
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January 15, 2025
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January 16, 2025(2 events) 5:45 pm: OAS Monthly Board Meeting – OAS Board Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month in the Camilia Room at Leu Gardens from September to May (except for December) at 5:45 prior to the General Monthly meeting. In December, the Board meeting is held via Zoom. Meetings can be moved to zoom for safety at the discretion of OAS. Check the most recent OASis for details. 7:00 pm: OAS Monthly Program - Know Your Gulls and Terns by Michael Brother – Join us LIVE at the Camilla Room at Leu Gardens for this free program by gull and shorebird expert Michael Brothers following a short update at our monthly membership meeting. |
January 17, 2025
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January 18, 2025(1 event) 7:30 am: Monthly Field Trip to Pear Park Conservation Area, Leesburg Enjoy the native plants, butterflies, and of course, birds, at Pear Park Wildlife Conservation Area in Leesburg. Our FREE monthly field trip will take us through restored habitats of uplands areas and walk along a riverbank with large oaks. Expect uneven surfaces and roots. Residents include Eastern Bluebirds and American Kestrels. We might spot Red-tailed Hawks and other raptors overhead. Sparrows like the grassy areas. Field trip is FREE and limited to 15. Additional details upon registration. Guest Leader: Maxfield Weakly Register via web. Questions contact Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com. P.E.A.R. Park Wildlife Conservation Area, Leesburg |
January 19, 2025(1 event) 8:00 am: Beginner's Bird Watching - Class 2 of 3, Oakland Nature Preserve – Our second session continues with bird and habitat education along with field work at Oakland Nature Preserve, the site of extensive replanting of native plants. We will continue our practice with binoculars and spotting. This class is only for those who have pre-registered for the 3-class workshop or need to make up a class. Leaders: Kathy Rigling and Susan Thome-Barrett. Register on-line for 3 part class For questions contact Teresa Williams at (407) 718-1977. Oakland Nature Preserve |
January 20, 2025
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January 21, 2025
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January 22, 2025
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January 23, 2025
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January 24, 2025
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January 25, 2025(2 events) 7:30 am: BIRD SURVEY: Apopka Birding Park Monthly surveys will be held on the property of OAS' new Apopka Birding Park located just north of the entrance to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. These surveys will help us monitor the birdlife as we begin restoration of this 67 acre property. We'll meet in the bike parking lot located on the right just before the gates to the Drive. To register contact leader Alex Debear at alexdebear@icloud.com. 8:00 am: Beginner's Bird Watching - Class 3 of 3, Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive – Our final BBWC takes us to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive (LAWD), 11 miles of wetlands, several wooded areas and several areas of open fields/grass. We will meet at the bike parking area to the immediate right of the entrance. LAWD has the highest bird counts in Central Florida. We'll refine our birdwatching techniques as we search for waterbirds, shorebirds, raptors and others. This class is only for those who have pre-registered for the 3-class workshop or need to make up a class. Leaders: Kathy Rigling and Susan Thome-Barrett. For questions contact Teresa Williams at (407) 718-1977. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive |
January 26, 2025(1 event) 7:30 am: BIRD SURVEY - Oakland Nature Preserve – OAS performs quarterly bird surveys for the preserve to determine the effectiveness of its sandhill restoration and native plant gardens, a joint project of the preserve and the Tarflower chapter of the Native Plant Association. We'll meet in the parking lot and walk several trails through wooded areas and sandhill restoration areas. We'll be looking seasonally for overwintering Grasshopper, Savannah, Field, and possibly White-Crowned Sparrows; migrating warblers, Pileated, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds and many more. Registration is required, via website or contact Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com. Oakland Nature Preserve |
January 27, 2025
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January 28, 2025
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January 29, 2025(1 event) 7:45 am: BIRD SURVEY - Rock Springs Run This quarterly bird survey by OAS and the State Park Service helps Park Naturalist Paul Lammardo check the effectiveness of conservation activities at the Park. We will be meeting at the Rock Springs Run Equestrian Camp and carpool from there with the goal of starting at 8:00am. Rock Springs Run is a large park with several families of scrub jays although not all routes are through scrub jay habitat. Raptors, Towhees, Red-headed Woodpeckers, even deer and bear can be seen. Originally scheduled dates can change to due weather, check Facebook or the OASis for the latest. Leaders: Kathy Rigling and Paul Lammardo. To register contact Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com. Directions upon registration. Note: for Google/Apple Maps, use the Rock Springs Run Equestrian Camp for directions. Rock Springs Run |
January 30, 2025
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January 31, 2025
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February 1, 2025(1 event) 7:30 am: Limited Edition Field Trip: Gainesville Highlights Overnight OAS will once again travel north looking for birds in the Gainesville/Alachua County area under the direction of Tim Hardin and Alan Shapiro. Our destinations will be decided closer to the field trip dates depending on what birds are being seen. Reservations are required and costs are $85 members and $110 non-members. Details and host hotel information will be provided upon registration. Register via the web. For questions email Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com |
February 2, 2025(2 events) 7:30 am: Limited Edition Field Trip: Gainesville Highlights Overnight OAS will once again travel north looking for birds in the Gainesville/Alachua County area under the direction of Tim Hardin and Alan Shapiro. Our destinations will be decided closer to the field trip dates depending on what birds are being seen. Reservations are required and costs are $85 members and $110 non-members. Details and host hotel information will be provided upon registration. Register via the web. For questions email Kathy at riglingkathy@gmail.com 7:30 am: Birds of Prey Identification Class with Bob Sanders – Join raptor expert Bob Sanders at the Apopka Wildlife Drive where you will learn to search and identify various raptors on the drive. Raptors found that time of year may include Peregrine Falcon, Snail Kite, Norther Harrier, Bald Eagle, Merlin, American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk and others. Class size is limited. Cost is $15 members, $25 non-members. Meet-up directions sent upon registration. Register on website. For questions call Bob Sanders at (407)459-5617. Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive |