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 2024

  • Sept 19 Orange Audubon Nature Center at the Apopka Birding Park
    • OAS and Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
  • Oct 17 Bats: Myth and Reality
    • Shari Blissett Clark
  • Nov 21 Wildlife and Nature Photography Little Things Mean a Lot
    • Wayne Bennett
  • Dec 19 The Urban Birder (Online on YouTube LIVE from the UK)
    • David Lindo

Third Thursdays in 2025

  • Jan 16 Know Your Gulls and Terns
    • Michael Brothers
  • Feb 20 The Uniqueness and Conservation of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System
    •  Ashley Konon
  • Mar 20 Plants for Birds: The Caterpillar Connection
    • Deborah Green
  • April 17 Rehabilitating Raptors
    • The Avian Reconditioning Center
  • May 15 Saving Indigo Snakes:The “Orianne” Project
    • Dr. James Bogan
  • Jun 19 37th Annual Chertok Nature Photography Contest Awards Program and Online Auction
    • 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

  • October 3 – Snail Kites with Monica McKenzie
  • October 10 – Tour the Dry Tortugas National Park with Mitchell Harris
  • October 24 – International Shorebird Survey with Lisa Schibley
  • October 31 – with the Bird Chat Team
  • November 7 – Birding Central Florida with Maxfield Weekly
  • November 14 – Being a Seabird Observer on a Research Vessel with Allison Black
  • November 28 – No Program -Thanksgiving Break
  • December 5 – No Program – North Shore Birding Festival
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.