Public Programs

woman with falconer's glove holding a short-tailed hawk
Dark morph Short-Tailed Hawk from Avian Reconditioning Center. Photo: Nicola Dronoff-Guthrie

Guest Speakers

Orange Audubon Society’s guest speaker programs are free and open to the public. They take place on the third Thursday of the month, September through June, at 7:00 PM. Most programs are at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando (directions). The December program is aired LIVE on Orange Audubon Society’s YouTube channel. Please consult the OASis or Facebook page for updates.

Third Thursdays in 2025

  • Sept 18 – Warblers! The Journey of a Lifetime
    • Alexander DeBear
  • Oct 16 – Bats, Myth and Reality
    • Shari Blisset-Clark
  • Nov 20 – The Owls of Safety Harbor, Florida – A Local Tragedy, A National Issue
    • Mark Schocken
  • Dec 18 – Photo Tips
    • TBA

Third Thursdays in 2026

  • Jan 15 – Tracing Florida Journeys 
    • Leslie Kemp Poole
  • Feb 19 – Breaking New Ground with Florida Scrub-Jays
    • Karl Miller
  • Mar 19 – Butterflies and Native Plants : Making the Connection  
    • Linda Cooper
  • April 16 – Rehabilitating Native Animals
    • Debbie Helsel, Back to Nature
  • May 21 – Habitats  of Central Florida and the Mead Sandhill Restoration Project
    • Catherine Bowman, Tarflower Chapter, FNPS
  • Jun 18 – 38th Annual Chertok Nature Photography Contest Awards Program
    • Teresa Williams
florida scrub jay in bush
Florida Scrub-Jay. Photo: Mary Keim

Bird Chats

Bird Chats are OAS’ online conversations, featuring expert guest presentations following presentation of a mystery bird quiz and latest bird sightings. Bird Chats are held the first, second and fourth Thursdays from 7:00–8:00 PM with summer break.

To automatically receive receive the Zoom link each week, register at: https://mailchi.mp/18d77cc16d26/bird-chat-registration

  • Bird Chats will restart in September
Alan Shapiro speaking to a garden club. Photo: Ellen Shapiro

Speaker’s Bureau

OAS has a list of speakers who are willing to address schools and organizations on subjects such as bird-friendly plants and gardening, the environment, and Florida outdoors.

For more information, see here.